monarch

Lambeth Palace in the swamp on the south bank of the Thames is the residence of the old lady of the Howard family and the mother of the Duke of Norfolk. However, the old duchess rarely visits here throughout the year.Therefore, when the old lady and the Duke both arrived within a day, the whole house fell into a certain degree of chaos.However, this chaos only lasted for a long time before everything returned to normal-the Howard family must always be in order.

The fire in the living room was burning brightly. After getting old, the old lady hated the dark and damp environment of the swamp where Lambeth Palace was located, especially now that it was winter.She took a sip of the mulled wine in the glass and added her favorite nutmeg. She glanced at her son with some dissatisfaction: "Seriously, sir, do you really have to torment your mother like this?"

The Duke of Norfolk still wore that mocking smile: "Sorry for the inconvenience, mother, but what we need to do this time is really important, and I dare not take the risk of letting one of your handsome attendants Get involved. But I assure you we'll be over soon, and you'll be back with your young friends soon."

The Duchess's face was slightly red, but she quickly calmed down, "So, sir, do you have a favorite candidate?"

"I think so, ma'am, I have my eye on Catherine."

"Catherine? Your niece, my granddaughter, Catherine Howard?" The old lady burst into ecstasy, but was soon replaced by anxiety, "But, there is something I must tell you. There are some rumors about her and a dick The Ram boys..."

"Dirham? Ah, the family, from Ireland, our distant relations," said the duke. "Who told you that?"

"It's Vera, Catherine's roommate who lives in the same house." The duchess replied, "She said that Catherine and that Francis Direham seem to have a private life...but this is just a rumor..." The old lady hesitated .

"Then it's just young people's gossip. You should tell Miss Vera that as a lady, you should be cautious in your words and deeds." The Duke's voice was a little low, "You have adopted so many Howard family collaterals and poor people in Lambeth Palace. The children of relatives, I don't want their reputation to be damaged by some unfounded rumors."

The old duchess was a little shy. She had always been afraid of this son who was very rich in the city, but she really didn't like this granddaughter. Her innocent face could deceive others but not her.She was a little jealous of the granddaughter, perhaps because her husband's favorite mistress was so much like this girl? "Does it have to be her? There are many good girls, like the Miss Vera I mentioned before..."

"I don't need a gossip around the king, imagine her chattering around the king, I can't sleep well even if I'm dead and lying in the tomb." The Duke sneered, "Catherine has the most outstanding appearance, and she That manner is the king's favorite of late."

"But none of the previous ones were like her..."

"Your Majesty is old. Although he doesn't admit it himself, he no longer has the energy and capital to play the young people's love games. What he loves now is exactly like Catherine. How do you say that? A rose with thorns?" laughed the Duke, "believe me, dear mother, the king will love her."

"As you wish, sir, I will send her here."

……

Catherine Howard trotted down the dark corridors of Lambeth Palace.Why is grandma here at this time!She adjusted her hood as she ran, hoping to make herself less disheveled.Blame Francis, if only he hadn't stayed last night... She's panting, she's almost there, hope Grandmother won't be mad, god damn hat got my hair in it... She's finally reached old man Her hood is still a little askew.She breathed a sigh of relief, opened the door and walked in.

Catherine Howard curtseyed, looked up to find her grandmother looking at her disapprovingly.Oh my god, that damn hat!She looked around the room and was surprised to see a man sitting in front of the fire with his back to her.My God, could it be... The man stood up and turned his head slowly...

It was her uncle, the Duke of Norfolk.

Catherine's mind went blank, she instinctively felt that she should say something, but her mouth seemed a little uncontrollable: "Your Excellency, it's a pleasure...to meet...to meet you." Oh my god, even this I can't say a word well, what did I do!Catherine kind of wanted to slap herself.

The Duke let out a deep laugh, reminding her of the owl's cry at night, "Dear niece, don't you just come from Germany, haven't you learned English well?"

The old Duchess let out a disdainful laugh.Catherine blushed up to her neck, "I'm sorry, sir." She lowered her head, like a mole trying to hide herself.

A little girl, thought the duke, just what we need.

"Would you like to go to the palace, Catherine?" The Duke had no intention of going around in circles.

"In the palace?" Catherine was a little stunned, she had never thought about this.All her impressions of the palace come from her grandmother, who lives in Lambeth Palace every year before her grandmother goes to the Christmas palace banquet, and she will prepare for a few days each time, and when she comes back, she will brag to them for a long time : Luxurious decorations in Whitehall, roasts made with oriental spices, lifelike pies one person tall... Ah, and of course "Our Prince Edward and Princess Elizabeth", Cousin Anne's children, the old lady's great-grandson and Great-granddaughter.She always talked about the two children as if she were describing the angels in the stained-glass windows of the church, though Catherine doubted whether she had ever had the opportunity to say more than ten words to the two children.

"I...don't know, sir." She really didn't know.She really wanted to go to the palace to see those things, but she had promised Francis, hadn't she?She promised to be Mrs. Durham, and go back to Ireland with him, to that estate of his, and he gave her such a pretty ring.If she went to the palace, Francis would be angry, wouldn't he?Maybe he'll ask for the ring back?

"You don't know?" The Duke smiled mockingly.

"It's because of Mr. Dillham." The old lady did not hide her disdain. "The ring you are wearing on your hand was given to you by him, right?"

Catherine quickly hid her hands in her sleeves, but it was too late.

"A sapphire ring, not more than thirty pounds." The Duke said coldly, "Do you know how much the first gift your cousin received from the king, a diamond brooch, was worth?"

Catherine shook her head.

"Fifteen hundred pounds! And she has received six of these gifts in a month!" The duke looked at her as if he were looking at an idiot. "You know now what is in the court? Beautiful jewels and clothes, and Handsome nobleman, you might marry an earl or duke instead of going off to be the wife of a squire in the Irish countryside!"

Catherine's eyes widened.Duchess!My God, just like my aunt, that noble lady wears gorgeous jewelry every time I meet her, she is spotless, and always ignores her, can she be like that?She also wanted to bring those gorgeous jewels, so that everyone she met would not dare to look up at her... Catherine raised her head and said timidly, "Will I have these things as long as I enter the palace?"

"Yes, the premise is that you obey my arrangement. As long as you complete your tasks well, you will get what you want." The Duke's voice sounded like the devil who was tempting Faust.

"Okay, sir!" Catherine didn't hesitate for a moment, and she smiled like a blooming rose.

"Very good, as a reward for your cleverness, I will ask the housekeeper to spend two thousand pounds to help you prepare clothes and jewelry. After half a month, the king and Princess Anne will hold a wedding. You will enter the palace before then. I have already arranged , you will be the personal maid of the new queen. Your cousin, Mrs. Rocheford, is the head of the attendant, and she will take care of you."

God, two thousand pounds, her friends would be so envious of her.At that time, she must look at the expression of that woman, Vera, she will probably die of anger. "Thank you, sir!" Catherine couldn't hide her excitement.

"Now, then, I want you to tell Mr. Dillham that everything you promised him was impulsive, and that you have now realized that it was a huge mistake and have decided not to see him again. Would you please He is going back to Ireland and wishes him well."

Catherine was stunned. She just forgot about Francis.He must be very sad, but she really wanted the two thousand pounds of clothes and jewelry.And it is said that Ireland is a swamp, the houses there don't even have windows, because they can't pay taxes, she still wants to be a duchess...

"Why, what's the problem?" The Duke noticed her wandering, and his voice became a little cold.

"No, sir, no problem!"

She really wanted the two thousand pounds of jewelry and clothes.

……

"A silly girl, as I said," said the old princess sharply.

"Anne Boleyn is a clever girl, what happened?" the Duke said with disdain, "at least this one will not pretend to be clever."

"Do you think the king will like her? Seriously, she is still a little girl, and there is really nothing to say except a pretty face." The old duchess was still dubious, "She is as good as those girls His Majesty liked. Children are completely different."

"Your Majesty is getting old." The Duke said meaningfully. "People change."

"You think she is capable of being the king's mistress?"

"No, I don't think so." The Duke smiled slightly, "I want her to be queen."

The old Duchess had a "you're crazy" look on her face, "Ha! Catherine? Queen of England?" Her son was always ambitious, but she never imagined that he had come to this point. "It's not like Anne Boleyn! Catherine's name is Howard! We take all the risks for her!" Her great-grandson was already the future king, and she really didn't feel the need to take any risks.

"Edward has only a quarter of Howard's blood. If Catherine can give birth to a prince, then he will have half of it." His mother's thoughts are still so easy to see, the Duke thought sarcastically. "Your Majesty is nearly fifty years old, and the new king is likely to need a regent. Who do you think this person will be at that time?"

Greed burst out on the face of the Duchess for an instant, but it was replaced by worry in an instant.She was obviously hesitating, thought the duke, but she would agree, he knew his mother well enough to know that she would not be able to resist such a temptation.

Sure enough, after struggling for a few minutes, the old lady finally made up her mind.She glared at the Duke, and her son was still sneering, he obviously knew he would agree, she thought.She was a little irritated by the Duke's slightly contemptuous attitude: "Okay, sir. But I have to say that all this is your own decision."

"Of course, madam. But when everything blossoms and bears fruit, I will still give you a dividend in line with your status, as a son's expression of kindness to his mother."

The old Duchess stared at her son as if she wanted to swallow him in one gulp, while the Duke still sat there nonchalantly, sipping the wine in his glass, as if nothing had happened.

……

Catherine Howard walked back to her room excitedly, and she was surprised to find that Francis Direham was still waiting for her at the door of her room.Why hasn't he left yet!Catherine was a little panicked. She originally wanted to go to the palace and attack Direham first, but what should she do now... She tried her best to smile, "Hello, Francis."

Francis Direham is a 27-year-old red-haired Irishman, not outstanding in appearance, but he always has a smile on his lips that adds a lot of charm to him. "How do you do, my dear Mrs. Direham," he said, smiling at Catherine.

Catherine was taken aback by the phrase "Mrs. Direham", and then she remembered that she had agreed to his marriage proposal before, and she also agreed with him to call herself that.She wanted to say something, but couldn't say it.What an idiot I was before!She scratched her fingernails hard on her palm a few times, and there was a pain in her palm.

Francis Direham didn't seem to notice her slight gaffe, "My dear lady, I'm sorry, but I have some urgent matters and I have to go back to Ireland right away, but I promise I will get back to you as soon as possible .” He said, gently flicking Catherine's hair a few times with his hands.

Catherine was overjoyed, it was really good news, she had already gone to the palace when he came back, and she didn't need to see him, she just needed to write a letter to make it clear. "It's so sad," she said, trying to sound sad. "I hope you come back safe and sound."

"It's all for us, dear. I can make a lot of money on this business, and when I come back we'll be married." He took out a money bag, and Catherine opened it to find it was full of Gold coins, "There is a hundred pounds in it, which is all my savings. If I can't come back, you can keep this money."

Catherine looked at the money bag, and her rationality told her not to accept it, but the golden color in the money bag made her unable to take her eyes away. When she realized it, her hand had already grasped the money bag in her hand.Whatever, he's probably going to die after all, isn't he? "I will miss you day and night, my dear." She stood on tiptoe and kissed the corner of Mr. Direham's mouth.

Francis Direham left Lambeth Palace with a contented smile and an empty wallet.