Part Five
The Narrow Sea, August 1507
Katalina clung to the railing at the bow of the ship, her hair blowing into her face. The twelve year old wanted to be the first to catch a glimpse of land. She had been sad to leave behind all her brothers and sisters and the graves of her sister Madalena and her brother Ander. She would miss meeting Mama's new baby. Katalina had never left Navarre before and she was excited not only for a glimpse of the world outside but also that she was the first of her siblings who would get to see it.
The initial marriage treaty hadn't included Katalina coming to England until she was fourteen or fifteen and old enough to consummate the marriage but Mama had pushed for Katalina to spend the last years of her childhood learning what would be expected of her as second lady of the Tudor court. Navarre was frequently harassed by its more powerful neighbors and better she had one less daughter to worry about, Mama had said.
"Katalina!" Her nurse called for her and Katalina sighed. Becoming the Duchess of York hadn't meant a change in the way certain of her attendants treated her. Age trumped even rank, it would seem.
Katalina ignored her, even though she knew it was pointless.
"KATALINA!" Her nurse's voice grew in volume and urgency. "The captain tells me we will make land soon and you must be presentable to meet the English."
Katalina took a last, longing look at the ocean. "Coming!" She called back.
Westminster Palace, August 1507
Catherine, Princess of Wales waited until her dear friend María finished arranging her hair before rising to her feet. "Where are the children?" She asked. A ship bearing the Navarrese flag had been spotted by the keen eyes of watchers stationed along the White Cliffs of Dover. It would not be long before Catherine's sister-in-law would make her way by horse to Westminster and the king wanted every member of the royal family present to greet her.
Lady Salisbury rapped on the open door and curtsied. "Your Highness." On each hand, she held the hands of four year old Henry and two year old Catherine.
Catherine smiled at the sight of her two beloved children. "Come," she urged them, holding her arms out. The pair ran to their mother, Henry remembering to bow to his mother while little Catherine latched on to her mother's legs.
Releasing them, Catherine touched her stomach involuntarily. She and Arthur had not yet announced her pregnancy but she suspected after today, it would not be necessary.
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