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?’
