The Sulking Wives

              The Sulking Wives

Suzanne Marsh

‘Another boring night, nothing ever happens here at the Windsor Art Gallery. What I would

not give to talk to King Henry VIII, or maybe his six queens.’ Harry Hampton, security guard extraordinaire strode down oak paneled hall. He walked tall, he thought about Henry again. Was Henry a handsome man? What did he think about? Why six wives. Harry always thought about these questions, perhaps one day he would have the answers. ‘What it have been like to be Henry, at seventeen he became king, he married his brother Arthur’s widow, Catherine of Aragon. Harry shrugged his shoulders striding past the portrait of Henry VIII. Spooky was not a word used at Windsor Castle, but tonight it certainly would give Harry Hampton thought.

The portrait of Henry began to rock back and forth, wind blew the door open, suddenly there stood Henry VIII, a young virile man. Henry jumped down onto the floor:

“Well, my friend, you must be the court jester, I see you are dressed as such.” Harry wanted to speak but found himself tongue tied, he was in awe of the man standing in front of him. He could not run, he was the only one here. Henry, found Harry rather amusing, laughing heartily. Catherine of Aragon, stepped gently from her portrait. The Infatana was beautiful, she bowed to Henry:

“Henry, why are we here? We have nothing to say to each other, it was all said long ago.” It was Henry’s turn to stare at the woman who had been his wife and ally for twenty years:

“Catherine, I am completely befuddled, this person I took to be the court jester apparently

is not. Where are the candles? It is dark in this part of the castle.”

Harry, had no idea what to do or say, he bowed to Henry, trying to escape back to the present day. He stopped quickly as the next portrait, that of Anne Boleyn. She carefully stepped down, stalked down a few feet to where Catherine and Henry stood. Catherine, with tears in her eyes faced her rival:

“Anne, why? You were my lady in waiting, I trusted you. You betrayed me, you used me

to get to the king.”

Anne, a dark haired, dark eyed beauty glared back Catherine:

“Apparently, Henry needed more than you were giving him. I welcomed him into my bed,

yes. I also refused to marry him, unless he divorced you. I played a very large role in

reforming the church, Henry headed the church of England. That was me, you wretched

old Spanish harpie.”

Henry, stood silently, his mouth agape as Catherine retorted:

“I loved him for twenty years and at least I was never treasonous, I did not have lose my

head because I betrayed him.”

The speaking portrait glared back:

“Don’t start Catherine with my losing my head. It was a just punishment for what I did.

You have no idea what it was like for me to find myself a guest in the tower, having tried

and failed to give Henry a son. At least Catherine I died with dignity. I dressed as a queen

placed my head on the block. I died valiantly with joy and pleasure.”

The words tumbled out of Anne’s mouth when Jane Seymour stepped into the fracas:

“Really, Catherine, Anne stop this immediately! Anne, you got what you deserved,

you betrayed Henry with your brother George. That was dispicable, Henry suffered

a great deal because of you. He betrayed me in his own peculiar way, he ordered the

physician to remove Edward from my womb, it did not matter if I died, as long as his

heir did not.”

Henry, listened to all of their problems, what killed them and why. He wished to say something, anything to make things right. He wanted a son, that was what he got finally. When Jane Seymour passed away, Henry felt as if a part of him had died. Edward, Vi was king of England for only a short time. He died at the age of eighteen.

Henry, noted the rumbling noise as Anne of Cl eves clamored down, her nostrils flaring:

“Listen to the three of you going on like fish mongers! Henry any time you would like

to say something feel free to do so.” She turned toward Catherine, Anne and Jane:

“I found myself in a worse predicament, Henry was disappointed in me, I did not have

your beauty Jane, Anne I did not have your cunning and Catherine, I did not have his

love. This must be settled tonight, this young man standing here next to Henry looks as

if he has seen a ghost. Have or are you seeing ghosts young man?”

Harry, had no idea what to say to this apparition who obviously was calling a spade, a spade:

“Your highness I am but a humble security guard, I don’t understand why all of your

are standing here arguing with each other.” Henry, took pause:

“Young sire, where are we?” Harry, stared at Henry:

“Sire, you are in the portrait gallery of Windsor Castle. I wish you would have these ladies

stop arguing.”

Henry, stifled a chortle:

“Young sire, even though I am king, I can not stop them, I was married six times. You must

meet my fifth wife Catherine, yes another Queen Catherine.”

The introduction, though short and to the point, Catherine Howard appeared, she stepped daintily out of the portrait. She appeared to be mournful, sad to the point that she really did not wish to take part in the conversation the other four were having. Anne of Cleves, turned to Catherine, graciously saying:

“Queen Catherine, you replaced me, yes, but I did not lose my head as you did. You were

more a child than a woman. Eighteen is a very young age to face death.”

Catherine, felt as if she wanted to return to whence she had come. Henry stood grappling with the idea that he had made mistakes from the time he divorced Catherine of Aragon, but how was he going to contain the damage he had done. Catherine, cast a lingerling glance at Henry:

“Henry, why did you have me beheaded, I was a child. I know that I had affairs of the

heart, and I am sure that hurt you. But you could have spared my life. I attempted to

be brave. I had the block brought to my rooms so I would not make of fool of myself or you..

I at least died with dignity, Anne of Cleves. I was sorry I had those affairs and lied to

Henry.”

Harry, hoped the last wife of Henry Catherine Parr, would hurry, appear and they could all leave. No one would believe him is he told them about the conversations taking place. Henry stood silently, as Catherine Parr rumbled then strode out of the portrait:

“Henry, it has been some time. I out lived you, I know you thought I was getting to

powerful, you were planning to have me executed weren’t you. I survived, I am glad you

died, you couldn’t hurt anyone else.”

Cartherine Parr turned back toward the portrait, disappeared within it. The other queens did the same. Finally, Henry moved, he faced Harry:

“Young sire, with your help I have seen the errors of my ways. I must also return to the portrait. Just for my knowledge who is monarch now?’

Harry, was so surprised he blinked like an owl before answering:

“His Royal Highness King Charles.”