“I understand.”
“And so it is impossible for there to be a child of the marriage because it was not consummated.”
Katharine nodded.
“Thank you, my dear. I hope you do not want to leave us.”
“You have been so kind to me . . . in particular you, my lady.”
“My dear daughter, I want to go on being kind to you for as long as we both shall live.”
“I shall go back to Spain. I am sure my parents will send for me . . . soon.”
The Queen hesitated. She was taking a good deal on herself but she felt rebellious, which was rare with her. She was sorry for this young girl who had been sent to England away from her friends and now was being bartered so blatantly, passed from one brother to another for the sake of the thousands of crowns which made up her dowry.
She said: “The King and I have grown very fond of you since you have been among us.”
Katharine did not believe for one moment that the King had grown fond of her. It was hard to imagine his being fond of anyone.
“We should be very sorry to see you go,” went on the Queen. “And there is one other among us. No doubt you have noticed the warm regard of our son Henry.”
Alarm showed itself in Katharine’s eyes. She half guessed what was coming. Oh no. She could not bear it. She wanted to go home to her mother. She had been reconciled to Arthur because he was kind and gentle and life had been so much happier with him than she had dared hope it would be. But to be passed over to his brother . . . that young boy . . . She had been a little older than Arthur even. Oh, how desperately she wanted to go home.
“The King would give his consent to a match between you and our son Henry.”
“Henry is but a boy.”
“Boys grow up. He is old for his age. He could marry at sixteen . . . fifteen perhaps.”
“I do not think my parents would agree,” said Katharine.
“There could, of course, be no match without their agreement,” the Queen answered. She laid a hand on Katharine’s arm. “Say nothing of this. I told you because I thought you should know what is in the King’s mind.”
The two looked at each other for a few moments and then Elizabeth opened her arms and Katharine went to her. They stood for a few moments in a close embrace.
It was only a few days later when the King sent for her. He greeted her with a show of affection, which was rare with him, and it was obvious that he was very pleased about something.
“My dear daughter,” he said. “I have good news for you. I have heard from your parents.”
Her face lighted up. They were going to send for her. They would never agree to her marrying young Henry. It was wrong according to the laws of the Church and none could uphold the Church more strongly than her mother. Henry was her brother-in-law. That was the important fact, not that he was five years younger than she was. That meant nothing to them.
The King’s next words dashed her hopes. “They agree to a marriage between you and Prince Henry.”
“But . . . that is . . . impossible. I was his brother’s wife.”
“No, my dear child, the marriage was not consummated. That makes all the difference. All we need is a dispensation from the Pope. And we can rest assured that if I wish it and if your parents wish it there will be no obstacles to that.”
“I . . . I . . . I do not wish . . .”
“I know your feelings. You have so shortly become a widow. You loved Arthur. My dear child, you know nothing of marriage. That will come . . . in due course. You will be betrothed to Henry and when he is of an age to marry the ceremony shall take place. You will be the Queen of England one day.”
“Does Henry know of this?”
“He does and he is overjoyed.”
“He is too young. . . .”
“Nay, he understands well. He was, to confess it, a little jealous of his brother’s good fortune.”
The King’s face was twisted into a smile as he tried to look jovial. Katharine thought it was as though his features resented being distorted into such unusual lines.
“It will be a long time . . . yet,” said Katharine faintly.
“Ah, time passes quickly. It gives me great pleasure to convey to you this excellent news.”
He rubbed his hands together and his eyes glinted.
He is seeing one hundred thousand crowns which have already been paid to him and is congratulating himself that he will not have to part with them, thought Katharine. And he is seeing the hundred thousand coming to me when I marry Henry.
The King put his lips to her cheek and she was dismissed.
In her apartment she called for writing materials.
