Read Online Cor Rotto: A novel of Catherine Carey by Adrienne Dillard - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Adrienne Dillard
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fulfilled my duty to my husband. “He has an heir, he has an heir,” I muttered to myself before exhaustion took over and I fell into a deep sleep.
“Catherine, your husband is here to see you. Can you wake up for me please?” A soft voice dragged me out of my slumber. Slowly I opened my eyes. Mother was leaning over me, stroking my hair.
“Francis is here and he is waiting to see you,” she said smiling.
I closed my eyes and heaved a contented sigh. Carefully, she eased me into a sitting position to receive my visitor.
The door to my chamber creaked open and he walked slowly out of the shadows. He was even more handsome than I remembered. Light stubble graced his jawline and though his dark eyes look tired they were bright and shining with pride. My mother patted me on the hand and made a quiet exit.
Francis drew a chair near to the bed and before he sat down he bent over and kissed me gingerly. I could taste the rain on his lips and knew he had ridden a long way in the storm to be by my side.
“How are you, my love?” he asked, stroking the back of my hand.
“I am vastly improved now that you are here.”
He gave me a coy smile and then the serious look returned to his face. “I had faith that you were in good hands with your mother and Matilda, but I must admit that I was very concerned. All I could think was of Queen Jane and how distraught I would be if I lost you.”
I glowed at these words of love. I had always hoped to marry a man who would feel such affection for me and here he was sitting before me.
“Francis, I have many more heirs to give you. I would never forsake you nor leave your side, even in childbirth.”
He squeezed my hand. “Where is that boy of mine?”
My mother must have been eavesdropping at the door because as soon as Francis’s words were spoken, she bustled in with a bundle in her arms and placed it in mine. I pulled away the blankets and found my angelic son wrapped inside. I could not help but stare at this miniature person we had created. Wisps of tawny hair stood out from his tiny head. His eyes were azure blue like my mother’s and his tiny rosebud mouth was pursed looking for my breast. I held his little hand on my finger and instinctively he tightened it into a fist. I was instantly in love. I knew I would do anything in my power to protect him and keep him safe.
Francis climbed into bed with us and we sat together as a family, both of us in awe at the little life before us.
I was the first to break the silence. “We will call him Henry in honour of our beloved brothers. May he have your brother’s compassion and kindness and my brother’s dedication to learning.”
Francis squeezed us both into a hug. Then he said “You do realise the king will think we’ve given him a namesake?”
I gave him a sly smile and raised my brow. “Well then, we will let him believe that we are obedient courtiers who name their first born for their monarch and the truth will be our little secret.”
Baby Henry cooed in agreement.
Francis spent a week with us before he was called back to Court. The night before he left I peppered him with questions about what I had missed and how Katherine was getting along in her new role.
“The Lady Mary hates her,” he laughed. “Queen Katherine sent away her favourite ladies because she refused to show her respect in front of the court. Mary was livid and made an excuse to leave and has not been seen since.”
“Poor Mary. She has been suffering for so long. The king’s marriage to my aunt Anne caused her so much pain and now after two kind and gentle queens, I am sure she believes she suffers at the hand of yet another dreadful Howard woman.” As much as I sympathised with Mary, I could not help but laugh. “Do you think I am a dreadful Howard woman?”
Francis stared at me in mock surprise. “Of course not! Now you are a dreadful Knollys woman!”
I shook my head. “I will show you dreadful.”
Francis laughed and planted a
“Catherine, your husband is here to see you. Can you wake up for me please?” A soft voice dragged me out of my slumber. Slowly I opened my eyes. Mother was leaning over me, stroking my hair.
“Francis is here and he is waiting to see you,” she said smiling.
I closed my eyes and heaved a contented sigh. Carefully, she eased me into a sitting position to receive my visitor.
The door to my chamber creaked open and he walked slowly out of the shadows. He was even more handsome than I remembered. Light stubble graced his jawline and though his dark eyes look tired they were bright and shining with pride. My mother patted me on the hand and made a quiet exit.
Francis drew a chair near to the bed and before he sat down he bent over and kissed me gingerly. I could taste the rain on his lips and knew he had ridden a long way in the storm to be by my side.
“How are you, my love?” he asked, stroking the back of my hand.
“I am vastly improved now that you are here.”
He gave me a coy smile and then the serious look returned to his face. “I had faith that you were in good hands with your mother and Matilda, but I must admit that I was very concerned. All I could think was of Queen Jane and how distraught I would be if I lost you.”
I glowed at these words of love. I had always hoped to marry a man who would feel such affection for me and here he was sitting before me.
“Francis, I have many more heirs to give you. I would never forsake you nor leave your side, even in childbirth.”
He squeezed my hand. “Where is that boy of mine?”
My mother must have been eavesdropping at the door because as soon as Francis’s words were spoken, she bustled in with a bundle in her arms and placed it in mine. I pulled away the blankets and found my angelic son wrapped inside. I could not help but stare at this miniature person we had created. Wisps of tawny hair stood out from his tiny head. His eyes were azure blue like my mother’s and his tiny rosebud mouth was pursed looking for my breast. I held his little hand on my finger and instinctively he tightened it into a fist. I was instantly in love. I knew I would do anything in my power to protect him and keep him safe.
Francis climbed into bed with us and we sat together as a family, both of us in awe at the little life before us.
I was the first to break the silence. “We will call him Henry in honour of our beloved brothers. May he have your brother’s compassion and kindness and my brother’s dedication to learning.”
Francis squeezed us both into a hug. Then he said “You do realise the king will think we’ve given him a namesake?”
I gave him a sly smile and raised my brow. “Well then, we will let him believe that we are obedient courtiers who name their first born for their monarch and the truth will be our little secret.”
Baby Henry cooed in agreement.
Francis spent a week with us before he was called back to Court. The night before he left I peppered him with questions about what I had missed and how Katherine was getting along in her new role.
“The Lady Mary hates her,” he laughed. “Queen Katherine sent away her favourite ladies because she refused to show her respect in front of the court. Mary was livid and made an excuse to leave and has not been seen since.”
“Poor Mary. She has been suffering for so long. The king’s marriage to my aunt Anne caused her so much pain and now after two kind and gentle queens, I am sure she believes she suffers at the hand of yet another dreadful Howard woman.” As much as I sympathised with Mary, I could not help but laugh. “Do you think I am a dreadful Howard woman?”
Francis stared at me in mock surprise. “Of course not! Now you are a dreadful Knollys woman!”
I shook my head. “I will show you dreadful.”
Francis laughed and planted a
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