Duchess Boleyn|The Tudors

Catherine Howard

Narrator POV

Young Catherine Howard, poor girl, sweet, naive, clueless girl,
Never stood a chance...

Charles and Elena sat infront of the fire place, playing cards with the king as he looked up at them, troubled
"Certain accusations have been made against the Queen..." he said

"What kind of accusations?" Charles asks

"Oh, that she was light, immoral, dissolute...with certain men...before she came to court"

Elena chimed
"Surely they are just rumours, there are rumours about all of us"

Henry clears his throat "yes...I can't believe the accusations to be true. But since the accusations are made, I must know all the facts" Henry's face turned serious as his eyes darted between them "But as this inquisition is in progress, be careful who you speak to, I'll have no spark of scandal against her name"

"Yes your majesty" Charles and Elena said at the same time, Charles with a sympathetic face, Elena's more thoughtful
___________________________

Elena POV

The investigation against Catherine had started, everything Charles had heard or been told from the council meetings, he had come back and told me.

Poor child, truly I hope that the accusations against her are false, if not then may god have mercy on her, for then no one would be able to save her from the kings deranged wrath.

Catherine had come running down into the hall screaming to talk to Henry whilst the guards yelled at her to stop, till she was grabbed by them and Henry stood in front of her

"Your majesty! I must speak to you, please! Please! Your majesty! Please, it's me Catherine! It's Catherine. It's Catherine. Please. Please."
Catherine begged.

So the accusations were proved true...
Pity filled my body, as the poor girl begged mercy as Henry walked away

"No Henry! Henry please!"

___________________________

A few days went by and Catherine had been arrested, as well as Dereham, Thomas Culpepper and Lady Rochford, my ex sister in law...

I was waiting near the council chamber for Charles to come out and tell me what he'd been told when I heard a screaming, a furious yelling

"How much fortunate I am to have so many air-conditioned wives. I vow at any pleasure that wicked bitch got from her wantonness will be nothing, Nothing! in comparison to the pain she is about to feel at the hand of my torturers!"

He came storming out of the room and charging down the hall way, Charles met my eyes and told me all I needed to know.

1. That the rumours were true
2.That Henry would make Catherine Howard suffer
And 3. Nothing could be done to stop him

___________________________

Charles and I were walking into the kings chambers, not only to give him a letter but to also feel him out, see how much this has pushed him over the edge...

"Have you ever read the bible?" Henry starts

"Yes, majesty, of course" I answer honesty

Charles laughs at himself for a second
"No, your majesty, I've always allowed others with more knowledge than I to read it for me"

Henry shut the bible and turned to us
"In that case, you have missed many great sayings and truths like this one here in the book of Solomon, where it says the lips of a harlot are a dropping honeycomb. Her throat is softer than oil get in the end. She's bitter as wormwood and a sharp has a double edge sword."
He sits down
"Why have you come?"

Charles hold up the paper
"King Francis has sent you a letter"

"What does it say?"

"I am sorry to hear of the displeasure and trouble which has been caused by the lewd and naughty behaviour of the queen, my brother to be a prince of prudence virtue and honour. I do require him to throw off the said dysplasia and wisely temperately like myself, not reputing his honour to rest in the lightness of a woman, but thank God of all comforting himself in God's goodness, the lightness of women cannot bend the honour of men"

I try not to roll my eyes

Henry is about to snap before biting his tongue " tell his majesty we thank him for his solicitations. Now what about Durham and Culpepper have they been arrested for treason?"

"They were tried together, at the last moment, Culpepper changed his plea guilty, they were both found so, they are to be hanged, drawn and quartered together at Tyburn"

He ordered the judge to commute Culpepper's sentencing to beheading, and that he hates Dereham more, that he spoiled Catherine for him And then he ordered that a bill would be passed so that it is legal to execute an insane person for treason, so that he could kill lady Rochford

___________________________

It was happening,
Dereham and Culpepper were dead,
And today was the day that Catherine and Lady Rochford would join them.

The Queen's last words were "I die a Queen but I would rather die the wife of Culpepper"

And that was it.

Young, sweet, naive, Catherine Howard was dead.

I actually hate this chapter!
I hate how I wrote it,
I might rewrite it idk, I just wanted to get this out

Anyway
Hope u enjoyed (I didn't)

Only 5 chapters left (+epilogue)

Have a lovely day and thank you for reading!
-Issy ♥️♥️

P.S
My hotd fic
"The Red Queen" has officially started
Around 3-4 chapters +introductions are up now
Check it out if you're interested!