"Milady I got word that you wished to see me," you curtseyed, not wishing to overstep your role as lady's maid.

You had been the ladies made of Catherine since before her first marriage, having been paid for by her soon to be first husband Sir Edward Burgh but as you had gotten along well, she asked for you to stay in her service after his death and even now after her second husbands death. You got along well, almost as though you were best friends, even if she was a noble woman and you a servant; you were her confident, the only person whom was there to care for her regardless of her station, wanting nothing from her unlike the men whom sought to marry her.

Catherine didn't say anything, instead held out a sheet of parchment with the royal seal upon it. Tears were in her eyes, a handkerchief held to pat them away, as she waited for you to read whatever had caused her such distress.

She was a caring and loving woman, wanting a new world for women and encouraging education, no matter whom they were born as. Before your employment with her, you had been educated past learning to read a couple of words that you needed to know but Catherine had personally sought you an education, making sure you were as educated as any noble woman.

You read over the letter and you instantly knew why she was upset. The letter confirmed her engagement to the king, demanding her presence within the week to hold the wedding. Not only had marrying the king been a death sentence or near enough as bad for his previous five wives but beyond that Catherine was in love with another and wished to have his hand. Sadly, if the king wanted something from you and you wanted to keep your head, then you would have to put up with it and do as you were wished. Catherine would have to give up the man whom she loved and instead be the wife of the king.

"I'm terribly sorry milady," you apologised, wishing you could stop her from being forced to marry the king against her will. "Is there anything I can do to help you?"

She paused before nodding her head. "Hold me?"

It wouldn't be the first time you held Catherine, willing to do anything to comfort her and without a loving husband who could hold her you were happy to do so. You did as you were told, sitting beside her on the edge of her bed, wrapping your arms around her, allowing her to silently sob onto your shoulder, gratefully cuddling close to you. You allowed her to stay cuddled up to you until she was able to calm down and thank you for always being there for her.

~*~

Written by Charlotte.

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