The Tudor Rose: A New Age

Chapter 24

As the days turn into weeks, the investigation of Katherine Howard had grown into interrogating Thomas and Francis. The interrogations were left under Edward Seymour and Charles Brandon's supervision while James, along with Thomas Seymour, to tell Katherine that she was placed under house arrest. James walked through the halls of Whitehall Palace with Thomas Seymour behind him along with the Sergant and a couple of guards, making their way to the Queen's chambers. Lady Jane was the one to open the doors to see James first. She curtsied and said, "Your Royal Highness. What is brings you here?" James nodded his head in acknowledgement and replied, "We've come to see the Queen. Is she in her chambers?" Lady Jane nodded and said, "Yes, she is, Your Highness. This way." The principal lady-in-waiting led the men into the bedchamber where she grabbed Katherine's attention. Katherine was dancing to musicians with all of her ladies, as they giggled and talked amongst themselves. As the men walked in, James signaled for the guards to surround the young women as they danced, which made them stopped. Katherine turned at the sight of James and said, "Prince James? Sir Thomas? What is the meaning of this?" James took the scroll from Thomas and replied, "My Lady, you are confined to your apartments with only Lady Jane Rochford to attend you for as long as it pleases the King." Thomas signaled the guards to take the other ladies-in-waiting away as he stood next to James. James was sure that Elizabeth could've heard them since they weren't too far from her confinement chambers. He closed his eyes as the ladies begged and cried out for Katherine, calling out for her. The prince then made his way out of the bedchambers, followed by the Sergant and Sir Thomas. Katherine went to follow but was stopped by the guards, who blocked the entrance way, and said, desperate, "Why? Why must I stay here?! Please, tell me! I don't understand!!" The Sergant shared a glance with James and replied to Katherine, "Forgive us, my Lady, but from now on, there will be a guard posted just beyond the door." He bowed his head and followed the other men, while James stayed behind. The prince turned to Katherine and watched her desperately trying to get out, while Jane stayed behind her. Katherine looked at James and said, begging him, "Please, Prince James! You must help me!! I don't know what's going on!!" James walked over to her and replied, "You made your bed when you came to court, Lady Katherine. Now, you must lay in it." He stared at her, allowing his message to sink in, then turned to leave.

A couple weeks later, the prince walked down the hallway, he let out a deep sigh. He hated that he had to do that but he was ordered to. Katherine was only seventeen, a child. She was supposed to live her life but since she came to court, she signed her life away to Henry then moment he laid his eyes on her. From a few feet away, Sir Thomas saw James alone with his thoughts and walked over to him. He took a deep breath and said, "Are you alright, Your Highness?" James jumped, startled, and replied, "I'm fine, just thinking." Thomas smiled and replied, "Shall we walk? How is Her Highness?" James smiled at the thought of his wife and said, "She is well, ready to be out of confinement. She's already hit her seventh month mark and the babe should arrive soon." Thomas chuckled and replied, "Have you thought of any names?" James nodded and replied, "Elizabeth likes the name Fredrick Arthur for a boy." Thomas said, "I'm assuming that 'Arthur' is for the King's brother? What about for a daughter?" James smiled and replied, nodding, "I like Adeline Rosaline." Thomas smiled and said, "I'm sure that those names will befit the babe just fine." Just then, Edward started to walk towards the two men with Charles Brandon next to him. James looked at the men with confusion and said, "My Lords? What's the meaning of this?" Edward sighed and replied, "His Majesty has order that all of Lady Katherine's belongings are to be confiscated and that their marriage had been annulled. He also ordered her to be taken to the tower." James' eyes widened and said, "Oh, my God." Edward nodded and replied, "The King has ordered that you and myself shall tell her, Your Highness." Thomas stood next to Charles as they watched James and Edward walk off with a few guards behind them, causing courtiers to move out of the way.

In Katherine's bedchambers, Katherine was pacing around the room while Jane was getting ready to put up the dishes from their last meal to tidy up a bit. They both paused when they heard footsteps come in, causing them to turn to James and Edward. Edward bowed and said, "My Lady." James only bowed his head since his title was higher than Katherine's since now she was demoted from her title "Queen". Katherine rushed over and said, a hopeful look on her face, "Sir Edward? Prince James? What is it?" Edward sighed and replied, "Madam, we've come to tell you that because of all your offenses of the King, all of her household has been discharged. Your coffers and chests will be sealed under guard." James continued for Edward, as Edward signaled the guards to do as they were told, "We've also come here to collect all of your jewels and return them to His Majesty." Katherine had a desperate look on her face and she said to the two men, "Thomas, James, where is the King? I must see him!" James sighed and replied, "I must tell you that the King and his council of ordainment have ordered that, for your offenses, you have for-fitted the title as Queen and must be known as Lady Katherine Howard. You will be taken to Syon Abbey today upon the King's further pleasure." Katherine placed her hands on James' chest and said, her voice now breaking as she began to sob, "Where is the King?! I must speak with him! You don't understand! I have to speak with him, then everything will be alright. Don't you understand? Everything will be alright!" Edward shared a glance with James and replied to Katherine, "His Majesty is at chapel. I fear he will not speak to you." Katherine let out a sob as Edward and James moved to bow to her before leaving the room.

As they did, Katherine then took the chance to burst out of the bedchambers to try to find Henry. James turned around to see her rush past him and he immediately ran after her. Edward shouted, as he followed James with the guards, "Lady Katherine!!" With Elizabeth, she looked up from her sketch pad at the sound of shouting from outside her confinement bedchamber as did her midwives and ladies. She turned to Eleanor and said, confused, "What in God's name is that? Can you go see, please, Eleanor?" Eleanor nodded and replied, "Of course, Elizabeth." She walked to the door and opened it to see Katherine running past her with James, Edward, and guards behind her as they tried to catch up. Eleanor closed the door and said, "It is Lady Katherine Howard. She's trying to escape from her arrest." Outside, Katherine rushed into the council chambers as the men behind shouted at her to stop. The council members turned to see Katherine racing in and moved out of the way. One of the guards shouted, "Katherine Howard, stop!!! You are under arrest!! Do not precede!! Stop!! Katherine Howard!! The guards reached forward and were able to grab her. Henry walked into the room with Thomas Culpepper at his side and stopped in his tracks to see his ex-wife. Katherine struggled against the guards and said, begging hysterically, "Your Majesty!!! I must speak to you! Please! Please, Your Majesty! Please! It's me, Katherine! It's Katherine! It's Katherine! Please!" Henry stared at the young teenager for a moment, watching her struggle to get to him. He slowly began to back away, causing Katherine to plead even more, and turned to leave the room. Katherine shouted, sobbing as she begged, "Henry, please!!! No!! Your Majesty!! No, please!! Henry!!!!! No, please!!! Please, Henry!!!" The more she begged, the higher her voice got as she realized that she was done for. The council members only watched as the former Queen was dragged out of the room.