Festina Lente

Chapter Thirty-Five: The Fall from Grace

28th of July 1532 - London, England

Trying to keep her hands from shaking while she waited for her mother to arrive, Mary let out a breath and glanced around the room where they were meeting in secret; she felt anxious about meeting here but this would be the last chance she got to see her mother. 

Today Katherine would leave to head back to Kimbolton and Mary didn't know when she would see her again especially with how things were likely to end here. 

Katherine would leave court with little fanfare, her departure was not one that people would take note of when she was no longer a person of importance to the court; she was a disgraced woman that had tricked her way onto the throne. 

The sound of the door opening snapped Mary from her thoughts and she got to her feet to greet her mother; she tried to hide the shaking of her hands when she came face to face with her. 

"Mary," Katherine greeted softly, she had been most surprised when she had heard that her daughter wished to see her before she left especially given the fact that Mary had ignored her requests. 

There was no doubt in her mind that Mary's new husband was responsible for such a thing but it mattered not especially now that her daughter stood before her. 

"Mother," Mary replied, her eyes sweeping over the woman that she had once admired so and wondered if there was any part of her that felt even slightly remorseful for what she had done. 

The danger that she was putting Mary in just by plotting could lead to her daughter being executed, surely, she knew what had happened during the cousin's war considering she hoped that Mary would take the throne as her own grandfather had done so. 

Moving further into the chamber, Katherine was relieved to see that they were alone and they could speak freely; it would not do for guarded words now when they would not have a chance to speak again. 

Henry had only invited Katherine back to court for Mary's wedding so that people could not accuse him of being unkind to her; Mary was their only child afterall and she did not fit into this court anymore. 

"I am pleased that we could speak, there is much to discuss," Katherine stated with a sigh wishing they had more time but she was expected to leave this day and Henry would not stand for a delay.

Her position was not what it had once been and Henry's kindness would only go so far and she could imagine what would happen when he died; her position would worsen and not even her nephew would be able to protect her. 

Kimbolton was her home but that could easily change and Katherine could imagine much worse residence for a woman in her position; she had not forgotten the days when her father abandoned her here after Arthur died and Henry VII had left her practically destitute. 

"My contacts assure me that our allies are growing in strength and will recognise your claim for the throne, the North will not support the prince when they have always looked so favourably on us," Katherine murmured, her voice soft in the chamber and her eyes searching Mary's face for any sign of doubt or anything that could give her a clue to what her daughter was thinking. 

Her reaction last time had been far from pleasing but Katherine was willing to believe that it was from the stress of having to marry that bastard; her actions on the day had caused great concern for Katherine. 

Fishing an item from her skirt, Katherine placed it into Mary's hands and gave them a squeeze knowing that this was the most important thing of all; she recalled her mother doing the same when she left for England to marry Arthur. 

"You must take this root daily, it will prevent pregnancy until the time is right and we can do away with the Medici bastard," Katherine insisted, she now understood why her mother had encouraged her to do the same.