“Tell us of Thomas Culpepper, Catherine. Is he tall? Is he handsome?”
“He is both tall and handsome.”
“Tell me, did he kiss you well and heartily?”
“But once,” said Catherine. “And that in the paddock when he talked of marriage.”
“And he kissed you,” said Nan. “What else?”
“Hush!” said Isabel. “What if she should tell Her Grace of the way you have talked!”
“Her Grace is too lazy to care what her ladies may say or do.”
“You will be dismissed the house one day,” said Isabel. “Caution!”
“So your cousin kissed you, Catherine, and promised he would marry you. Dost not know that when a man talks of marriage it is the time to be wary?”
Catherine did not understand; she was aware of a certain fear, and yet a vivid interest in this unusual conversation.
“Enough of this,” said Isabel, and Nan went to her bed and lay down, reaching for the sweetmeats.
“Your bed,” said Isabel, “shall be this one. Are you a good sleeper?”
“Yes,” said Catherine; for indeed the only occasions when she could not sleep were those when she was afraid of ghosts, and if she were to sleep in a room so full of beds, each of which would contain a young lady, she need have no fear of gruesome company, and she could say with truth that she would sleep well.
Isabel looked at her clothes, asked many questions about Lambeth and Hollingbourne; and while Catherine was answering her, several ladies came in, and some gave her sweetmeats, some kissed her. Catherine thought them all pretty young ladies; their clothes were bright, and they wore gay ribands in their hair; and many times during that afternoon and evening a young man would put his head round the door and be waved away with the words “The Duchess’s granddaughter, Catherine Howard, is come to share our apartment.” The young men bowed and were as kind to Catherine as the ladies were; and often one of the ladies would go outside and speak with them, and Catherine would hear muffled laughter. It was very gay and pleasant, and even Isabel, who at first had appeared to be a little stern, seemed to change and laugh with the rest.
Catherine had food and drink with the ladies and their kindness persisted through the evening. At length she went to bed, Isabel escorting her and drawing the curtains around her bed. She was very soon asleep for the excitement of the day had tired her.
She awoke startled and wondered where she was. She remembered and was immediately aware of whispering voices. She lay listening for some time, thinking the ladies must just be retiring, but the voices went on and Catherine, in astonishment, recognized some of them as belonging to men. She stood up and peeped through the curtains. There was no light in the room but sufficient moonlight to show her the most unexpected sight.
The room seemed to be full of young men and women; some sitting on the beds, some reclining on them, but all of them in affectionate poses. They were eating and drinking, and stroking and kissing each other. They smacked their lips over the dainties, and now and then one of the girls would make an exclamation of surprise and feigned indignation, or another would laugh softly; they spoke in whispers. The clouds, hurrying across the face of the moon which looked in at the windows, made the scene alternately light and darker; and the wind which was driving the clouds whined now and then, mingling its voice with those of the girls and young men.
Catherine watched, wide-eyed and sleepless for some time. She saw the youth who had aroused Nan’s displeasure now kissing her bare shoulders, taking down the straps of her dress and burying his face in her bosom. Catherine watched and wondered until her eyes grew weary and her lids pressed down on them. She lay down and slept.
She awakened to find it was daylight and Isabel was drawing her bed curtains. The room was now occupied by girls only, who ran about naked and chattering, looking for their clothes which seemed to be scattered about the floor.
Isabel was looking down at Catherine slyly.
“I trust you slept well?” she asked.
Catherine said she had.
“But not through the entire night?”
Catherine could not meet Isabel’s piercing eyes, for she was afraid that the girl should know she had looked on that scene, since something told her it was not meant that she should.
Isabel sat down heavily on the bed, and caught Catherine’s shoulder.
“You were awake part of last night,” she said. “Dost think I did not see thee, spying through the curtains, listening, taking all in?”
“I did not mean to spy,” said Catherine. “I was awakened, and the moon showed me things.”
“What things, Catherine Howard?”
“Young gentlemen, sitting about the room with the ladies.”
“What else?”
Isabel looked wicked now. Catherine began to shiver, thinking perhaps it would have been better had she spent the night in a lonely chamber. For it was daylight now, and it was only at night that Catherine had great fear of ghosts.
“What else?” repeated Isabel. “What else, Catherine Howard?”
“I saw that they did eat...”
The grip on Catherine’s shoulder increased.
