89 Chapter 6: King and friend

Hello guys! English, it is not my motherly language, I'm French so I apologize if there are some mistakes. Don't hesitate to tell me where they are so that I can improve.

This is my first full length fiction, with chapters, I hope it will please you. It is a AU where Katherine Howard does not marry Henry and where Cromwell is spared. Instead of katherine, Henry marries a french noble lady, on the advice of Cromwell.

I hope my little story will please you..

Sincerely

Marina Ka-Fai

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The French Bride

Chapter 6: King and friend

One week after Katherine recieved the letter from Joan, the young lady arrived at court. Katherine did not greet her the way Joan was expecting to. She noticed she had changed. Katherine seemed more... feminine, more adult. Then, she was introduced to the new queen of England. She immediately felt little compared to her. She looked amazing in a purple gown with embroideries of gold. Her dark chestnut hair were curled and put in a lovely ponytail. She had a tiara of gold and amethysts. She has a necklace and a brooch in the same tones. ( AN: Just like the outfit Anne wore in season 1 when she said « I care nothing for Catherine ») Joan bowed deeply.

' Lady Joan Bulmer.'

' Majesty.'

Lady Rochford took a bible and presented it to the newcomer.

' Place your right hand upon the holy bible. Do you swear to serve truthfully and virtuously our mistress, Queen Marina, so help me God?'

' I do so promise.'

Marina asked Joan to follow her, she wanted to speak to her in private.

' Lady Bulmer. Since it is the very first time you come to court, just like it is for Lady Howard, you will be under the protection of Lady Rochford and of Lady Missledon, just like your friend. You can still habe this relationship with her as long as you do your work.'

' I thank Your Majesty.'

' There is something else.'

Joan raised her eyes. She got scared. Marina's blue eyes became trully cold.

' Lady Howard told me about your past and the possibilty you have to blackmail her. I have forgiven her. Be certain and warned, Lady, that if you try anything against her in any way, I will be merciless.'

' Yes Your Majesty.'

The queen softened.

' Off you go, you have a long day.'

Joan left the queen while Marina sat with her ladies and continued her sewing.

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Charles was playing cards with Henry, who looked trully happy in his marriage. He did not envy him, he was glad for him, since his king never had any chance in love. He even started to think that having Cromwell spared was the best thing Henry did. He could not say the same for his marriage. Catherine loathed him, it trully hurt, his only consolation were the children Margaret gave him: Eleanor, Frances and Henry. Ah Margaret! She loved him with her life and yet, he had been a terrible husband to her. Was she happy with him? He did not know but he felt that she loved him dearly.

' How is your marriage Charles?'

' It is at the same point. My children are my only consolation.'

Henry felt sad for Charles. Even if they had arguments, he was certainly his only and truest friend. His sister had been happy with him. He gave him the happiness of being an uncle and having his nieces and nephew next to him. He was true and loyal. He did not deserve that. And he had a solution for this problem. A solution which would solve two problems at the same time.

' Why don't you divorce then?'

' Because there are no proofs that our marriage is unlawful. And even if she had lost every child she was carrying, we concieved children together.'

' There is one proof Charles. I had doubts when I heard her speaking with Lady Heartford. Cromwell discovered the truth. Your wife is a lutherian.'

Charles looked shocked. Catherine, a heretic? No, this could not be possible!

' We discovered books hidden in your house. I know you are no able of such a thing, your children and you are not guilty. So is Lady Heartford.'

' Are you going to... burn her?'

The king heard a wave of pain in his friend's voice.

' No friend. This is what I will do. I'll ask her to divorce you, she will be established in a castle far away from you and free of living at one condition. Never return to her faith again.'

' Thank you, Your Majesty.'

Henry became shocked when he heard that Charles was actually sobbing. He knew he loved his wife but he never imagined how much he did. He decided to speak of the woman he thought for being his wife later. It would be too hard for Charles at the moment.

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In Marina's rooms, all was quiet . Katherine tried to sew but she was not at ease at all. It made Lady Rochford angry, while Ursula tried to explain her where she did wrong. Both of them realized that it was always going wrong even if she obeyed them. The young woman was getting desperate when Marina got up and went to see her.

' This way Lady Howard.' she said, helping her with her fingers

Katherine managed to do it and a smile spread on her face.

' Thank you Your Majesty.'

' You're very welcome Lady Howard.'

' Your Majesty, Mister Culpepper is here.' announced Joan

Culpepper? Marina did not know him yet. But when she saw his uniform, she immediateley knew who he was. The young man bowed deeply to the queen.

' Mister Culpepper?'

' Your Majesty. I have a present for you from His Majesty the king.' he said giving her the little parcel he had

Marina opened it and found a beautiful ring, simple but elegant, made of silver and sapphire.

' This is trully beautiful. Please, tell the king that I am deeply touched by this present, I am trully grateful to him.'

Culpepper nodded. He did not left, he had another mission to do but he felt ill-at-ease, it would be an offense to Marina, as far as he was concerned.

' Mister Culpepper?'

' I have also... a gift from His Majesty to Lady Katherine Howard.'

The young man wished he was not here. He was certain that the queen was going to yell at him and after, doing harm to Katherine. He noticed her already, he found her trully pretty.

' This is great new, Mister Culpepper! She will be so happy! Lady Howard, come. There is something for you.'

Katherine looked surprised. A gift? For her? Why the king would offer her something since he had the most honourable wife on Earth? When her hands touched Culpepper's, she felt her heart beating faster. She opened the parcel and she found lovely earings made of pearls. There were a note with them:

For a lovely rose without a thorn who makes my wife and I more than happy to know her.

' Mister Culpepper... I... Please... Tell His Majesty that I thank him with all my heart, that I am more than honoured by this wonderful gift though I am not sure to deserve it.'

' I am sure that if His Majesty thought of you, it must mean that you worth it. This is what I think for if I were a King, if there was such a gracious woman like you, I would like to honour her.'

Marina looked at them. She found them very cute. And if they wanted to go further, she would be the godmother of their love, in dignity, of course. She knew that Ursula was to be married. Maybe it would be soon Katherine's turn.

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A month later, Henry had the great desire to go for a walk in the garden with Marina. His charming little french woman had the good idea to celebrate Elizabeth's birthday and she promised to do the same for Edward and Mary. He had fun. And he was so proud of his daughter, especially when he danced with her. So, it was a happy Henry who arrived to his wife's rooms. He heard her sobbing.

' What is it?' He asked Katherine, who greeted him when he entered.

' The matter is a bit... delicate Majesty.' she simply answered before adding a request that surprised him

' Please, do comfort her.'

Katherine went to announce the king's arrival to Marina. She got up and he saw how much she was crying. Her eyes were all red. A bad new from France? An illness?

' Sweetheart, what is it?' He immediately asked

' I am so sorry... I have failed...'

' In what?'

' Last month, I noticed I did not have my bleedings... I thought I was with child, but I did not tell you because I wanted to be certain... but today...'

She could not finish. Somehow, a part of her died. She wanted so badly to carry Henry's child!

' You and I are still young, we can have children later. I am not angry at all. Why are you so sad?'

' Because I know how much a little Duke of York will make your happiness. And above all, I want my husband to be happy.'

It broke Henry's heart.

' Do not worry. We will have him. And if God wants our Duke to be a Duchess, I will be happy as well.'

Marina finally smiled. They went out for a walk and she felt trully better. Henry explained her for Charles' wife. The queen was trully saddened for him. But her husband told her that he was now free and that he had an idea for his new wedding. When he told her the name of the fiancée he thought of for Charles, Marina agreed happily.