And I Love Her

CHAPTER THREE

NOVEMBER 1565;

Katherine awoke the next morning, blinking and rubbing her eyes. She sat up in bed, running one of her hands through her long hair and bringing the other to her mouth as she yawned. The sun was yet to rise, and all that was visible through the window of her room was darkness, bar a few silhouettes of things in the distance that Katherine couldn't make out in the pitch black of the early morning.

She got out of bed and sluggishly prepared for her day, getting changed into her gown and elaborate layers of undergarments. The floorboards creaked slightly as her bare feet stepped over them before she put on her leather shoes. Her thoughts wandered as she brushed her hair, to her sister, Grace, and how she was faring without her. Rationally she knew that she would be fine, and that if she wasn't, Katherine would be informed immediately, but there was this nagging fear in her chest. What if her parents were too ashamed, too embarrassed of her sister's condition, to tell anyone of her death? They already told anyone who would listen that they only had one daughter, was it so much of a stretch to wonder if Grace's death would be kept as secret as her life?

Katherine's memories of before the discovery of Grace's condition were hazy and blurred. A baby, her sister, in her mother's arms, excitedly babbling nonsense to anyone around. Of course, back then, there were a lot more people around, and a lot less prayers and priests and worries of demonic possession. That was back before the secrets, the arguing, before Katherine was constantly pushed to the side to make room for her little sister's ailment.

She sighed, finishing with her hair, which was now pinned up in a braided style, and put all thoughts of her sister, and the rest of her family, out of her mind, preparing to put on a brave face when at breakfast.

The seat at the head of the table, Anne's seat, was empty when Katherine came down to breakfast, and she took her seat at the dining table feeling slightly melancholy. This was the norm of course, as Katherine knew, she knew that Anne preferred to eat in her own private chambers, yet she couldn't help the small tug on her heartstrings she felt when she glanced at the space where she expected Anne to be, where she wanted Anne to be.

She began to eat her breakfast, manchet and eggs, not oblivious to the strange looks she was getting from across the table. Esther and Elizabeth were not remotely attempting to hide the odd stares they were aiming at her, and Katherine was completely at a loss as to what she had done to deserve the unexpected attention. Margorie was paying her no attention at all, staring down at her plate, barely looking up. Neither of the four said a word, Katherine could feel the awkwardness filling the air. She breathed a sigh of relief when Constance finally arrived in the dining room and took her seat next to her, praying that she would lighten up the atmosphere.

Constance smiled at Katherine, seemingly unaware of the dirty looks she was getting from across the table, and began to dig into her breakfast.

"So, what did you and Anne get up to last night then? We," She gestures at the other ladies-in-waiting on the other side of the table, "were so confused when she said she only wanted you. I mean, we tried to reason that it was because she wanted to get to know you, because you were new, but that didn't make sense, she didn't do that for any of us!"

At that point, Elizabeth and Esther abandoned their food all together, glaring at Katherine, clearly waiting for a response to Constance's question.

"Well," Katherine answered, not really knowing what to say, trying to act unfazed by the cruel looks, "I just helped her get ready for bed I suppose, nothing special. I- I just assumed she did that for all of you when you arrived."

Constance swallowed a bite of her food and shook her head animatedly, "No, no, she didn't." She smiled, putting down her knife and patting Katherine's shoulder briefly, "You must have made quite the impression on her, Katherine, for her to want only you to attend her. I'm sure your parents will be pleased."