Виктория Холт: The Rose Without a Thorn

It was obvious that the need for a son still existed. That was why the ladies of the Court walked in fear.

And at last she appeared—this lady who was destined to be the next victim. She was gracious, elegant, intellectual, and twice widowed, having been married to men many years older than herself. She was well acquainted with all the royal children and a favorite with everyone. She was the perfect stepmother, sober, good-looking in a quiet way—in fact, everything that Katherine had not been. She was, in fact, ten years older than the late Queen.

Poor woman! I wondered what her feelings could have been? She must have been in a state of shock, for she remarked to the King when he told her she had been chosen: “It would be better to be your mistress than your wife.” This, from one of the most sober and chaste of ladies, betrays the state of her fear.

Alas for her! It was not a case of choosing, but being chosen: and on the twelfth of July of the year 1543, one year and five months after Queen Katherine Howard had lost her head, the King was married to Catherine Parr.

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