[Keisari]: 36.The Queen's Court

In The Style of Phillipa Gregory write a short story, about the following:
(Note: This is NOT fanfiction. My English teacher gave me the title below, and for an assignment told me to write in the style of Phillipa Gregory. My writing style, especially with time pieces such as this, has always been close to Gregorys style of writing. I admit that I lost myself in writing this, and ventured off from what the assignment was. Luckily, my teacher, didn't seem to notice.)

“In the Court of Queen Elizabeth I, kitchen maid Rebecca Haze is found murdered. She’s holding a piece of paper which reads ‘the bastard Queen will be next’”

The young Queen waved her hand, dismissing the rumours that filled her rooms. Her serving ladies shut up immediately, wondering how the Queen could look so calm. Elizabeth stood and laughed, reading the note that was in her hand. “The bastard Queen will be next”. Her seductive laughter rang around the room. “Who would be foolish enough to even think about killing the most powerful woman in the world?” Laughing again, she gracefully made her way into her private chambers, followed by several of her advisers.
The door clicked shut, and the chamber of ladies burst into chatter again. Catherine Harper quietly made her way into the room, from the bustling corridor outside.
“Where have you been?” One of the eldest ladies-in-waiting sneered at her coldly.
“Sarah, my where-about are none of your business. However, as you are most likely to start rumours, I will quash any unsavoury thoughts that you are likely to have at this moment. I have been saying a brief farewell to my husband, as he leaves for France today.”
Her tone was icy towards the woman, but she kept a smile on her face. The older woman was less kind, as she glared at the young woman. Catherine passed her slowly, whispering in her ear, “I was married at the age of 16 – and now three years later, I am still the Queens favourite and have most of the court dying to dance with me. Yet you are nearing your 30’s, still unmarried and have yet to receive a kindly glance from the Queen. I would wipe that expression of jealousy off your face – not even the cook would want to court you, with that look. And in future, try not to act so bitter towards me.”
Catherine smiled sweetly. She had spent most of her life at court, and knew of the poison that the women at court could spread, learning many years ago the weapon of well-placed lies and wit.
Sarah had stalked away at Catherine’s last comment, her face a mixture of pure poison. At that moment, a few of the Queens most cherished courtiers entered the room, preceded by Robert Dudley – the Queens rumoured lover.
As Dudley made eye contact with Catherine, he gave a sly grin. Catherine, of course hadn’t been saying farewell to her husband, she had been in the Dudley’s private rooms discussing the latest events with Lord Robert.
Robert left the courtiers as they swanned around the Queen’s flirtatious ladies. He approached the Queens inner chamber with Catherine at his heels and without knocking they entered the chamber.
Elizabeth was as poised as ever, her eyes snapped from her advisers to Robert and Catherine.
“And what do you both think your doing, bursting into my rooms without knocking and addressing yourselves?”
As Catherine curtsied and murmured an apology, she snuck a look at Robert – he was lowered in a deep bow to the Queen, murmuring an apology as Catherine was doing, but his gaze remained on the Queen, who was smiling fondly at the handsome man in return. She acknowledged the apologies only briefly, and proceeded to turn back to her advisors, dismissing them with a laugh.
“I have many enemies gentlemen, most are locked up in the Tower, as you well know. I am the most powerful woman in the world. I am the Queen of England! Of course I have enemies. There is nothing to worry about, and I ask you in future, not to jump to conclusions so quickly. Otherwise it may be you with your lives being threatened.”
The aging men quickly left the Queens chambers in silence. As the door closed behind them, Elizabeth’s face dropped.
“Catherine, tell me exactly what happened this morning. Don’t miss a single thing out. I trust you, and wouldn’t want to see you being locked up for lying to me.”
Although it was a command, there was a pleading look in the Queens eyes. Catherine knew that the threat of being locked up was hollow. She loved the Queen too much to lie anyway. Robert moved towards Elizabeth, and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. Both their eyes were fixed on Catherine.
“Her name was Rebecca Haze – she’s been in your service as a kitchen maid for two years now. A nice girl, though full of gossip. She was never harmful to anyone, never had the mind or wit to understand anything that would concern the likes of the Queen. Who is bedding with whom, is all that she busied herself with. One of your serving boys – one of her many lovers – found her early this morning, when she failed to turn up to her kitchen duties. She had been strangled, as she lay in bed. The note that your Majesty has, was found in her hand.”
Catherine took a breath, and regained her poise. Although the girl was only a kitchen maid, she had befriended Catherine. Her death didn’t matter much to the Queen and Lord Robert, and Catherine resolved not to concentrate on the personal details of their friendship – it would have just made the Queen impatient.
“It wasn’t written by her,” Catherine continued, “Rebecca couldn’t read nor write anything but the basics, and as you know the note was written in Latin.”
Robert moved to a seat, and sank into it. “Why would someone want to kill a mere maid, just to threaten the Queen?” His question was to himself, rather than to Catherine.
“What are you thinking Robert?” The Queens gaze had moved from Catherine, to that of the Lord.
“I don’t know my Queen. Things have been strange these last few months. My men have reported to me, that at least three servants in my household have been trying to spy on me. They have had nothing to report on, of course, and they have been dealt with accordingly.” He winked at Elizabeth, and as Catherine observed, she realised that this wasn’t just about the note. They had been up to their old tricks again. More plots, she thought. But what was there to plot about? There was no Queen to overthrow. Elizabeth had reached the position that she had always wanted – was there anything to aim higher for? There was nothing that could stop Elizabeth getting whatever she desired, or so Catherine thought.
As if he had read her thoughts, Robert laughed loudly, “Catherine, you foolish girl, there is always something to plot about. There is always someone that we could do without, and there is always some Lord or Bishop, that will get in our way while doing so.” His eyes sparkled, as he watched Catherine’s carefully planned reaction. She smiled faintly and curtsied a small apology, “Of course, My Lord. Please forgive me; my mind is no-where near the level of intellect as yours is, and I sincerely doubt it ever will be.”
Elizabeth cleared her throat, bringing the attention back to herself. Her gaze pierced that of Catherine’s, forcing the young lady-in-waiting to glance at the floor. Catherine’s cheeks blazed red, and she realised that she had been close to flirting with Lord Robert; and even worse still, it was in the presence of the Queen.
“Is there anything else we need to know? You have told of her work and behaviour in the Queens service, and how she died. What of her background? Family?” Robert spoke, ignoring Catherine’s discomfort and Elizabeth’s scorn.
Catherine paused before she answered, trying to collect up all the information that she knew about the kitchen maid.
“I believe that she was from London – her family are quiet poor, her father a baker I think. Her mother died from disease, along with three of her siblings last summer, when the court was away from London. I believe that they are all Protestants…”
“Wait…” Robert interrupted her. He stood sharply, and paced to the window. After a few minutes of silence, Catherine looked at the Queen, wondering if she should continue. Elizabeth smiled slightly, at Catherine. The look on her face, told her that she must be patient. A few moments later, Robert snapped around, and sat on the bay window. He rested one hand on his chin, and sat staring at the two women.
“John Simmons” He murmured, after a few more minutes of silence.
Elizabeth’s face creased slightly as she thought for a few seconds, before looking directly at Robert and smiling slyly.
“You really think so?”
Robert nodded at her question. Catherine looked between them, as she frowned. Her stomach sank. She did not know who this John Simmons was, but she knew what the looks on Elizabeth and Roberts face meant: more plans and plots. More death and more danger.
“Who…?”
Catherine regretted opening her mouth in an instant. She could have just left them to it, only being used to spy on other ladies and servants, passing on a few messages that she didn’t even understand and occasionally relaying her inept thoughts and feelings to Roberts, when they met for their private discussions in his chambers. However, as he turned his attention on her, the glint in his eyes told her that she would be much more deeply involved this time – she would not be just a pawn in their games. Robert rose off the window, and lead Catherine into a chair. He placed his hands on her shoulders and faced her, making Catherine feel as if she was being interrogated. With a quick glance at the door, he whispered in her ear.
“Come to my rooms tonight – we cannot talk properly here, one name has already been mentioned and who knows who is listening outside. I’ll send one of my most trusted men to fetch you when the place is quiet. If your husband asks, tell him that you have to attend to the Queen.”
“But Sir,” Catherine replied, “My husband has left for France, you yourself signed the...”
Catherine stopped, she didn’t understand: Robert had requested that her husband leave for France to take care of business in Calais. The Queen had supported the decision too. Robert had even been there when he left court, that very morning. She sighed, realising that it was probably just another ploy, and would mean that she would be free to move around day or night, without arousing suspicion from her husband.
Robert’s manner had turned cold at the mention of her husband. Letting Catherine go, he nodded to her and smiled slightly, as he returned to his seat at the bay window.
“Not a word Catherine. Not a word to anyone” He warned, although she already knew.
Elizabeth shot a dazzling smile at Robert “Are we done?” As he nodded, she rose and turned to Catherine. “Keep your eyes open.” She smiled yet again at Robert, and headed towards the door. Opening it, her women rose to their feet along with the courtiers. They took their places behind the Queen, as she led the way to the banqueting hall.

~

As the palace settled down for the night, Catherine stood awake and fully dressed by her window. A sharp and quiet knock was placed on her door. Catherine opened it to find a man dressed in the Dudley livery. He turned without a word, and led Catherine quietly to Lord Dudley’s rooms.
As they entered Robert’s rooms, Catherine saw him standing at the fireplace, with his back turned to the door. Elizabeth was sat next to him, along with another man, whom Catherine had never seen before. Frowning slightly, as she wondered what was going on, Catherine stood, waiting for orders to be seated. After a few moments of deadly silence, Robert turned around, and motioned for her to sit. Doing so, Catherine’s heart plummeted – both Robert and the Queen looked best from pleased. They looked at Catherine as if they had never seen her before. The Queen held a letter in her hand, from the print on the front, Catherine could see that it was addressed to a John Simmons, in her husbands writing. Robert had followed Catherine’s gaze, and sounding weary he broke the silence.
“Your husband has been arrested Catherine, and is currently residing in the Tower.”
Catherine sat in disbelief; she couldn’t bring herself to say anything. The colour dropped from her face, and her hands trembled as she tried to hold them steady in her lap. Shortly she managed to bring herself to whisper a few words.
“My I enquire as to why?”
Her question was not answered, but Elizabeth gave the letter to Robert, who passed it to Catherine. As she read slowly through the letter, her stomach sank. It seemed like a normal letter – but she had been involved with so many plots, that she knew that it wasn’t what it seemed. Her own name was mentioned several times. Catherine knew that if her husband had mentioned that she was involved in any plot – even if she didn’t have any knowledge of it – then she would be arrested, and end up in the Tower just like him.
She finished reading the letter, even she could see that it hadn’t been that well disguised. Catherine saw several encrypted messages from just reading it once. It mentioned plans of a Catholic revolt, to get rid of the Protestant Queen, who had inherited the throne illegally. If Catherine was standing, then her legs would have given way. Although she was meant to be interrogated, Robert took pity on her, and handed her a glass of warm wine to steady her nerves.
“How long…” She paused to steady her shaking voice. “How long has this been going on? How long have you known that my husband was involved?”
“For awhile now. We had suspicions, especially when some of their spies were caught. But it wasn’t until the murder of that kitchen maid…”
“Rebecca Haze” Catherine spoke up, much to the surprise of Elizabeth and Robert. She looked him directly in the eyes, and he nodded.
“It wasn’t until Miss Haze was found murdered, that we realised that it was all connected to Simmons and your husband”
Catherine swallowed, scared at what was coming next. “And me?”
“From your reaction this morning to the name Simmons, then we know that you cannot be directly involved. You aren’t that good at hiding things Catherine” The Queen spoke up. So the meeting this morning had all been a set up, Catherine thought. They had known all along what had been happening. They needed to find out what I knew, and see if I’d slip up anywhere.
“What do you know Catherine? We ask you kindly; I’d hate to be the one to put you on the rack, if you don’t talk. Did your husband ask you to do anything? Pass on any messages?”
Catherine shook her head, “Nothing – he never asked me to do anything. Except leave the room when he and his cousin would want to discuss various things.”
“And you didn’t think to stay and listen” Robert snapped at her.
“I didn’t think there was anything to listen to.” Catherine snapped back at him coldly. “If I did then I would have listened.”
“You would have told us?” The Queen implored. “You would have given your husband away to us? Let him be arrested?”
Catherine hesitated, although she loved the Queen, could she have really given her husband to the Tower, where he possibly awaited death? Although the match between them wasn’t a happy one, Catherine was his wife after all.
The Queen sneered slightly “I thought not”
“Your majesty, I cannot say that I would – nor could I say that I wouldn’t. I love your Majesty, but I am also promised in marriage to him. All I can say, is that I’m happy not to have been involved, or heard anything going on, I would not have liked to been seen in that predicament. Although not much love is shared between my husband and me, I am not sure I could have offered his life to you. But I tell the truth when I say, I know nothing.”
Robert nodded and sank in his seat, “Elizabeth I believe that she tells the truth – she has been trustful to you for five or so years now and to my family since she was a child.”
The Queen nodded in agreement. Catherine’s nerves had settled slightly, but there was still one question on her mind.
“My husband? Will he be sentenced…?”
“To death.” Robert nodded glumly. “I’m sorry Catherine. But he has been found plotting against the Queen, along with five others. Depending on the evidence we uncover, he will more than likely be sentenced to the scaffolds.”
Catherine looked to her glass of wine. She nodded slightly in return, as she accepted the news. She looked up as Robert moved towards her.
“You may go Catherine. And you have my permission to visit your husband at the Tower tomorrow.”
She rose to leave slowly, and handed the letter back to Elizabeth. As she walked along the passages, back to her husbands’ rooms, she thought about her husband in the Tower awaiting his death sentence – and the long night that Robert, Elizabeth and her advisers would have, collecting evidence and pulling together the sentences of each five men.

~

As the sun rose to a frosty morning, Catherine made her way to the boat that would take her along to the tower. As she approached the Tower, she felt calm. She had met Robert briefly in the corridor before she had left. He told her that her husband was faced with treason and would face execution along with the other four men, just before midday.
Catherine was accompanied to the room with a guard, who tried to enter with her. Catherine turned and spoke quietly to him, “I would prefer it if you stayed outside. He is for the scaffold after all. There are no messages that I have, or could have that will help him now. Please let me say farewell in privacy.”
The guard hesitated, but let her proceed into the room alone. Catherine saw her husband sitting in front of a small fire. His face was dark, but as he heard Catherine enter he turned and jumped to his feet.
“My wife, I am glad to see you. I never…”
Catherine put a hand to his lips, to quieten him. “Husband, you and I both know that you had every intention to succeed in your plots.” She laughed softly and shook her head. “You have been a fool. And I one for marrying you. Did you ever think you could dethrone or kill Elizabeth? It is not possible.”
He smiled slightly. “We all have our dreams my dear Catherine. I hope yours are more promising than mine. I only wish that we had more time to get to know each other. Somehow I think that three years was no-where near enough. We did not even have child”
“Maybe it was God’s way of telling us that it was not to be.”
“Yes, maybe you are right.” He went to stand next to the small window, and watched as the remaining parts of the scaffold were set up.
Catherine stood next to him, in silence. She thought that they’d have more to say to each other. Any moment, she and her husband would be sent for. She would go back to her Queen, and her husband to his death. These were their last moments together, yet no words came to either of them. Presently the door opened.
“Miss, you have to leave now. It’s time.”
Catherine nodded at the guard, and turned back to her husband, who had turned pale. “Well, this is goodbye, my dear husband.”
Her hands were grasped tightly by him, as he turned and looked loving into her eyes. “Goodbye my dear Catherine.”
She left a lingering kiss on his cold lips, and left him to await his destiny. As she left the gates, she heard the stroke of the axe fall, but she split no tears. Pulling her cloak around her, she walked briskly back to her life at Court.