Chapter Ten

                                    

                                          
"Charlotte, can you hand this to the messenger. Tell him it's urgent and to be delivered with the day." I asked her, sealing off the letter with my wax seal.
                          
"Of course."
                          
Sitting in my study, I diligently worked on the several letters that had arrived that morning. Suitors writing to my father for my hand, other asking for information regarding his departure from England. Signing them on his behalf, the door to my study open as a young servant boy enters.
                          
"Your Grace, the Spanish Imperial Ambassador, Eustace Chapuys."
                          
Setting my quill down, I rose my chair and moved over ot the side as Chapuys walked in quietly with his hands behind him.
                          
"Your Grace." He whispered to me.
                          
"Ambassador Chapuys, I didn't expect you to visit."
                          
"Apologies, I was hoping I could speak with Your Grace over some concerns." He added.
                          
"Please, Katherine..." 
                          
"Lady Katerina...could we take a walk? It's a beautiful day out, and your home has a garden out back, doesn't?" He chucked.
                          
"Of course."
                          
Following the double doors from my study, Chapuys and I made our way around the gravel paths through large green bushes and patches of flowers scattered around the land.
                          
"So, may I ask what you're visiting about? Charles doesn't receive royal visitors unless they are guest from the King." I asked.
                          
"I come here as a friend of Catherine of Aragon. You were a good friend of hers."
                          
Nodding my head, I felt the light tulle cape, which past just over my shoulders, brushes against my arms.
                          
"Yes, she was very good to me while I lived in Spain. I'm sorry for her families loss, Mary was been consistent in writing to me, it helps her, I suppose..."
                          
"If I may, in some ways you hold a small part of Catherine inside of you...you make her memory live on."
                          
"Well...thank you, Ambassador Chapuys."
                          
"Which is why the Pope holds you very dear to his heart, I hear that you were christened by him when you were merely a few days old, were you not?" He asked as we passed the green archway to the other side of the garden.
                          
"Yes, I was."
                          
"So, you still have a close relationship with Catholicism, then?" 
                          
Halting, my eyes snap over to Ambassador Chapuys as I stood underneath the shadows when he passed me.
                          
"I recently declared myself to the King...I chose to keep my head, Ambassador."
                          
"I respect that, Lady Katerina...but I'm sure some small part inside of you still wishes that this country was true to its religion, do you not?"
                          
"Of course? But what power would I hold with my station, not much, Ambassador? I may be Catholic, and I may despise the King as much as you do with how he has been towards Catherine and Mary, but...he holds more power over me than you can imagine."
                          
"I doubt that...you are a woman. One of high station and of virtue, you were engaged to the Holy Emperor-"
                          
"Were. Listen to your words Ambassador, I was engaged to the Holy Emperor...I suggest you listen to the people around you. You may be just a guest here at court, but without Charles, you hold no power here."
                          
Continuing on, I walked past the Ambassador and over ot the cement bench when I hear his voice call out for me.
                          
"You are not safe, Lady Katerina." He blurted out.