The Lord's Forced Bride

‘Yes, I know that my parents hope that I may take Will Shearer, but I am not sure I wish to wed him.’

‘Well, you need not if you do not wish it,’ Harry told her with a fond look. ‘You know that I would always support you if you refused him—besides, the parents only want what is best for you. Father would not see you unhappy, Cat.’

Catherine nodded, because she knew that he was right. She looked about her as she followed the serving woman up a wide wooden staircase to the next landing; the house appeared to be adequately furnished with carved oak and walnut pieces that she thought looked foreign rather than English. When her bedchamber was reached, she was pleased that it was clean and sweet with crimson damask curtains at the windows and around the half-tester bed. A coffer on a stand had been provided for her clothes and there were stools and a trestle table. The room seemed a little bare, the dark crimson furnishings rather dull and heavy, but she thought it comfortable enough.

‘Your things will be brought up shortly, Mistress Melford. Is there aught you wish for? Some refreshment perhaps?’

‘Nothing for the moment, thank you, Tabbitha,’ Catherine said and smiled at her. ‘I shall dine with my brother later, I dare say. For the moment I should prefer to make myself comfortable.’

‘If you need anything, you have only to send for me, Mistress Melford. It is my pleasure to serve you.’

Catherine thanked her and she went away, leaving her to settle into her new surroundings. She went to look out the window, but the glass was thick and grey, giving her a distorted view. She opened the window and looked out at the garden. It was rather damp and dismal for it was a dull day, though she could just about see the river at the far end.

Leaving her bedchamber, Catherine went out on to the landing, glancing out of the window at the front of the house; she opened it to see the view. From here she could just see the Palace of Westminster with its imposing towers and all the other buildings crowded into the streets leading there. As she looked down into the street below, leaning out to get a better view, a small group of richly dressed gentlemen walked past and one of them glanced up. He grinned as he saw her, touching the arm of his companion, who also looked up. Catherine recognised the second gentleman instantly as the Earl of Gifford. Her heart jerked with shock, as she knew that he had seen her and she drew back swiftly, closing the window. She would not like him to think she had been spying on him! However, she heard the sound of their amusement as she withdrew and suspected that they were laughing at her.

Catherine’s face felt hot with embarrassment as she went back to her room. The earl had given her such a look! Almost intimate! It had made her heart race and she had wanted to smile and wave to him, but her pride had held her back from making a spectacle of herself in front of his friends. Yet the knowledge that he was already here in London was making her tingle with anticipation, because there was every chance that they might meet.

She was just thinking about what she ought to do next when she heard her brother’s voice at the door of her chamber. ‘May I come in, Catherine?’

‘Yes, Harry.’

He opened the door, glancing round the room, a little frown on his brow. ‘Shall you be comfortable here, Catherine? The house is not as well furnished as Father expected.’

‘It will be well enough once I have my own things.’

‘Yes, I dare say. If there is anything you lack, tell me. I shall buy it and you may take it home when you leave.’

‘Oh, no, I am certain there is nothing,’ Catherine said. ‘I am quite content here.’ Her heart was still racing and she could not put the look on the earl’s face from her mind. She became aware that her brother was speaking to her. ‘Sorry, Harry. My mind was elsewhere.’

‘You look guilty, little cat. What are you thinking?’ Harry gave her a roguish look as she blushed. ‘I suppose you are dreaming of the beaux you will find at court, but you must listen to what I say. I was telling you that Lady Anne has sent word to say that she will be here this afternoon. She has made an appointment with her dressmaker and her note says there is no time to lose, because everyone is so busy.’

‘Oh…yes,’ Catherine said, bringing her thoughts back to what her brother was saying. ‘I suppose everyone must want new clothes for the wedding.’

‘I am certain of it,’ Harry said and looked at her intently. ‘Is something wrong, Cat? You seem a little distracted.’

‘Oh, no,’ she said quickly. A faint flush stained her cheeks, because she did not know what Harry would think if she told him she was very attracted to his friend the Earl of Gifford. ‘It is just that everything is very different here. I had not realised that London was so big or that so many people would be here.’

‘The city is growing,’ Harry told her. ‘Henry Tudor has brought the breath of new life to England and we all benefit from it. Explorers are opening up new worlds to us, and scholars teach us much that only a few knew before. This marriage with Spain will make our seas the safer and help to hold the peace for us all. King Henry talks of other marriages—perhaps his daughter Margaret to King James IV of Scotland, but that is for the future because she is still a child.’

‘She is two years younger than me.’ Catherine smiled at him. She knew that Harry worked tirelessly in the service of his king, as her father had once. ‘I am looking forward to seeing his Majesty.’

‘You will meet him at court. The King asked Father to bring you before this, but he wanted to wait until you were older. Many girls wed before your age, Catherine, but neither Father nor I would have you marry too soon. All we want is your happiness.’

‘I have not thought of it, Harry. I am happy with my father, mother, sister and younger brother at home. I wish that you were with us more, but I know that your life is at court for some years yet.’

‘Yes, that is as it must be,’ he said, giving her a fond look. ‘But you must marry one day, Cat. It is your destiny and your duty to marry and give your husband a family; it is the destiny of most women to be a wife—unless you wish to devote your life to the service of God?’ She shook her head and Harry nodded his agreement. ‘I did not think it. You are of an age now to think of marriage, and Mother will have our sister, Anne, at home for some years yet, for she is so much younger.’

Catherine laughed. ‘Anne may be young, Harry, but she thinks of marriage more than I have.’

‘If she were a princess, she might have been wed before this, but Mother would not allow it, and nor would Father. You are at a good age for a woman, though I think men should be older and have some knowledge of life. Prince Arthur is young and the King has arranged his marriage, but it is different for a prince. His marriage is important to England.’

Catherine nodded. It was the way of kings to marry their children young, often by proxy some years before a true marriage could take place, but in a family like hers it was not as important. Her twin was considered of an age to marry had he wanted, but she knew that he had no intention of it until he had made his way in the world. As a woman, she would normally be expected to marry at a younger age, but her father had not wished it for her.

‘Come down and have some light refreshment now,’ Harry said. ‘Then you may change your gown and prepare to visit the dressmaker with Lady Anne.’

Catherine was well pleased as she left the seamstress’s house later that day. She had spent some hours there deciding on the silk for her new gowns, and in the end had chosen a dark green silk, a pale yellow damask embroidered with silver and a cream figured velvet. After the choice of cloth had come the discussion concerning style and decoration, which she had settled at last in her own way. All three gowns were to be made in the same style with squared necklines and tight, tapered sleeves with hanging cuffs and flowing skirts, but the detail lay in the embroidery. One was to be heavily embroidered with beads at the hem and shoulders, another was to be plain but for some stitching about the waist, and the third was to be braided and sewn with pearls.

‘I think you have chosen well, Catherine,’ Lady Anne said as they emerged from the house, carrying some trifles of lace that had taken their fancy and would make pretty trimming for caps. ‘You have excellent taste, my dear. You must have that from Melissa.’

‘Mother has taught me all I know,’ Catherine agreed and smiled because she liked to hear her mother praised. ‘I know she would have loved to be here today, for she has talked of seeing you again, Lady Anne.’

‘Your mother and I are good friends,’ the older lady said, giving her an appraising look. ‘It has been our wish for some years that our families may have even closer ties in the future.’

‘Yes, Father has spoken to me,’ Catherine said, blushing shyly. ‘I do not know…it is such a long time since I met William…’

‘You will meet him this evening,’ Lady Anne told her with a look of approval. Catherine was modest and well mannered, and Lady Anne would welcome her as her son’s bride. ‘I know he is looking forward to seeing you again, Catherine.’

Catherine was silent. She could not respond in kind—she did not know whether or not she truly wished to meet William Shearer. It was difficult to find the right words and she felt awkward as Lady Anne looked at her expectantly.

‘It is always pleasant to meet with friends,’ she managed at last. ‘I thank you for your kindness this afternoon…’

Catherine’s attention was distracted as she suddenly saw a gentleman coming along the street towards them and her heart began to race wildly when she realised it was the Earl of Gifford and he had seen them.

‘Lady Anne…’ Andrew said as he swept off his flat velvet cap and made her an elegant leg. ‘Your servant, ma’am—and Mistress Melford. It is delightful to see you again.’

Catherine’s cheeks heated as she stumbled over her words, and remembered his last to her. ‘Good…afternoon, sir.’

‘My lord,’ Lady Anne replied with a polite smile that had no true warmth. ‘Are you to attend the royal wedding too?’

‘I was bidden here by his Majesty,’ Andrew replied. His manner gave no indication of his feelings, though there was something in his eyes that made Catherine shiver in delight. ‘I believe I am to have the honour of riding somewhere in his train on the way to the Cathedral.’

‘Then no doubt we shall see you at court.’ A slight frown wrinkled Lady Anne’s brow as she glanced at Catherine and sensed her inner agitation. ‘Am I to take it that you have met Mistress Catherine Melford before this, sir?’

‘We have met on more than one occasion,’ Andrew said, his gaze seeming to dwell almost too intently on Catherine’s face for a moment. ‘I chanced upon her party as they journeyed here. It was no more than a fleeting acquaintance…is that not so, mistress?’

‘You did us great service, sir,’ Catherine replied, her throat a little tight. Why was it that every time she saw him he made her feel breathless? ‘I was grateful for what you did that day.’ Lady Anne looked at her curiously, her brows arched. ‘We were attacked by rogues, ma’am, and Lord Gifford came to our assistance. I think things might have gone hard with my brother had he not.’

‘Indeed?’ Lady Anne was thoughtful. ‘Then it was fortunate you were there, sir.’

‘I did only what any decent man would for a fellow traveller. I hope we may meet at court, Mistress Melford—Lady Anne.’ Andrew bowed again and walked on past them. Catherine resisted the impulse to turn and watch him, though she longed to do so.

‘I am not sure that your parents would wish you to know that gentleman, Catherine.’

Catherine looked at her companion. ‘Why do you say that, ma’am? The earl has saved my brother’s life twice and they have become friends. I believe my mother would thank him for that if she knew.’

‘It is not for me to explain,’ Lady Anne said, looking at Catherine oddly. ‘But I would not become too friendly with Gifford if I were you. You may regret it later if you do.’

‘What are you saying to me?’ Catherine was puzzled. ‘I wish you would explain.’