As the days passed, Elizabeth had gained a lot of support and respect during her short regency not only from the court but from the people. She made sure that the treasury was full as well as the food holding and that state matters were being attended to. The princess also made sure to haven enough time for her family as well. Her son was now almost eleven and her daughter was nearly one year old and they needed their mother more than ever. As for the matter she had asked Master Cranmer to take hold of, it turned out that Katherine Howard had a very dark past. Before her arrival at court and becoming Queen, Katherine was staying with her step-grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, where she earned a education. However, rumors had spread that Katherine learned something much more than just a good education. She learned the ways around a bedchamber that should've never been taught to her until she was older. According to the rumors, Katherine had men coming into her chambers and they would do much more than sleeping. One of them being her music tutor, Henry Mannox. Now, Elizabeth had to find a way to bring the newfound information to her father when he returned before things become much worse. The princess was taking a stroll in the gardens with her ladies-in-waiting as she watched her son race around with her niece, both laughing and giggling. She smiled and said, addressing Mariana, "So, tell me, Mariana. How goes your new courtship with Lord Seymour?" Mariana blushed and replied, "Very well, Your Highness. We take strolls almost everyday and we take horseback rides as well. He's very grateful for your kindness in letting him see his nephew. All he talks about is the young prince." Elizabeth chuckled and said, "I'm glad that we were able to settle our differences. Is he treating you well?" Mariana nodded and replied, "Yes, Your Royal Highness." Elizabeth nodded and said, "I'm glad." Lady Eleanor let out a soft scoff and said to her friend, "Oh, look who's coming. Queen Bee herself."
Elizabeth shared an annoyed look with all of her ladies-in-waiting, stopping in their tracks. Katherine came towards Elizabeth and said, as the princess and her ladies-in-waiting curtsied to her, "Ah, Princess Elizabeth! I have been looking for you all over the castle. Such a lovely day for a stroll, is it not?" Elizabeth replied, "Indeed, Your Majesty. How may I help you?" Katherine linked her arm with Elizabeth and said, "You and Princess Mary are close, are you not?" Elizabeth nodded and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. We are sisters and twins after all." Katherine nodded and said, "Could you maybe persuade Princess Mary to be more courteous towards me? She and I have been at odds recently and I've done all I could think of for her to like me more. She shows more respect for Lady Anne of Cleves more so than myself and she's no longer Queen." Elizabeth pursed her lips and replied, "Well, I can't think of anyone more deserving than the upmost respect she deserves than Lady Anne. She was the most kind and thoughtful Queen to my father as well as others. She deserves the best. I shall see about speaking with my sister." Katherine then smirked and said, "Good, thank you. And if she doesn't agree to, do tell her that I will take away a member of her staff, whether it be a lady-in-waiting or a valet to her husband." Elizabeth glared at her and replied, "You wouldn't dare." Katherine said, "I dare because I can! I am Queen after all." Elizabeth replied, "And I am Princess Regent. My father, the King, left me in charge so I say that you won't do anything to my sister or her family or her household. If you do, there will be dire consequences." Katherine glared and said, "You dare threaten me? I am the Queen!" Elizabeth replied, smirking slightly as she used Katherine's words against herself, "I dare because I can."
Behind Elizabeth, her ladies-in-waiting all smirked and snickered to themselves, covering it up with coughing. Elizabeth and Katherine then had stare-down as courtiers began to gather. Elizabeth then curtsied deep to Katherine, almost mockingly, and said, "Your Majesty." Katherine glared at the princess before stomping off with her ladies-in-waiting in tow. Eleanor rushed over to Elizabeth and said, as Elizabeth rose from her curtsy, "I cannot believe that you just did that, Elizabeth. You just mocked the Queen of England! His Majesty won't like it when he hears about this." Elizabeth sighed and replied, "I cannot just stand idly by and watch as she torments my sister. Mary has been through so much, she doesn't deserve any more pain or suffering. Neither does Lizzie. As the elder sister, it is my job to make sure that they both are happy and safe. Even if it means defying the Queen. Besides, Katherine isn't going to do much." Eleanor took a deep breath and said, "If you say so. Oh, Master Cranmer had spoke with me earlier and he would like a private audience with you whenever you were available." Elizabeth replied, "Yes, I shall go see him now. You and the others can do as you wish." Eleanor nodded and said, "Would you like me to come with you?" Elizabeth thought for a minute and replied, "It would be good to have someone else on this matter. As well my husband and my two sisters and Nathaniel. Where are they?" Eleanor said, "Prince James is with Duke Nathaniel in the library. Princess Mary and Princess Elizabeth 2nd are at Princess Elizabeth 2nd's dancing lesson. Shall I send Lady Natalia to fetch the Princesses and Lady Mariana for the Duke and Prince?" Elizabeth nodded and replied, "Yes, please. You and Lady Caterina will come with me. I feel that this is a matter that Lady Caterina must be in." Eleanor nodded and curtsied to Elizabeth, before turning to the other ladies-in-waiting to give them their assignments.
Afterwards, Elizabeth then asked a chamberlain to send for Master Cranmer and tell him to meet her in her bedchamber. As she waited, Elizabeth sat in an armchair with her husband behind her and her sisters sitting in chairs beside her. Lady Eleanor and Lady Caterina sat near the fireplace as they worked on their needlework. There was a knock on the door and Lady Mariana and Lady Natalia walked in with Master Cranmer behind them. The two ladies curtsied to their mistress and Mariana said, "Your Royal Highnesses, Master Cranmer is here to see you." Elizabeth smiled and replied, nodding at her ladies, "Thank you, Mariana. You and Lady Natalia may go. Lady Eleanor and Lady Caterina may stay." Mariana and Natalia both curtsied to Elizabeth then exited the bedchamber, closing the door behind them. Elizabeth turned to Master Cranmer and said, "Yes, Master Cranmer. You wished to see me?" Master Cranmer bowed to the princess regent and replied, "Yes, Your Highness. I thought that this certain matter would be private between us." Elizabeth said, glancing around her family, "You can speak freely here, Master Cranmer. My husband, sisters, brother-in-law, and my ladies have my trust. They won't let this matter be known." Master Cranmer nodded and replied, "It seems what I have discovered is true, Your Highness. And I have a witness who has been brought forward." James looked at his wife in confusion and said, "What's been discovered, Elizabeth?" Elizabeth turned to her husband and replied, announcing to the others, "It seems that our Queen Katherine has kept something from us and the King. Before she became Queen and married our King, Katherine was not the virgin she claims to be. Rumours have been spreading and I decided to take a look into them before it reached His Majesty." Mary turned to her sister and said, "What do you plan to do?" Elizabeth replied, looking at her beloved sister, "Master Cranmer will send a letter to our father and tell him of what has occurred. Then, he shall confront Katherine and interrogate her. I thought it would be best if you all knew what was going on better than just myself."
On the sidelines, Caterina took in what was being discussed about her cousin. She was shocked of the news but she wasn't surprised. She knew of her cousin's secret because she too lived with her Dowager Duchess grandmother but she mostly kept to herself. The young woman wanted the best future she could think of and she was glad when the King appointed her to be in Elizabeth 2nd's household when the princess was only 16. Katherine had begged her not to go, being a young girl at the time, but Caterina had no choice. Elizabeth 2nd turned to Caterina and said, as all eyes in the room turned to her lady, "Lady Caterina? What do you think of all of this?" When Caterina didn't respond as she was still lost in her thoughts, Elizabeth grew concerned. She said, calling out to her lady again, "Caterina?" Eleanor then leaned forward in her chair and touched her friend's arm, startling her. Caterina looked at Eleanor who nodded at their princess and turned to her. Elizabeth gave her a sad smile and said, "What do you think of all this? I know that the Queen and yourself are family." Caterina sighed and replied, "Your Highness, I do not wish to see my cousin in any harm or distress but with these rumours, I feel that it has gone too far. I too lived with our Dowager Duchess step-grandmother but I kept mostly to myself and stayed to my education rather than leisure activities unlike my cousin. I was thrilled when His Majesty called on me to serve Your Highness and I have done so with my loyalty and respect for you. Whatever you feel must be done, I shall respect and obey your wishes." Elizabeth nodded and said, then addressed Master Cranmer, "Very well. Master Cranmer, send a letter to the King and began confronting Her Majesty. But do so, discreetly. We do not need to start an uprising against the Queen or do cause suspicion or distress amongst the court." Master Cranmer then nodded and replied, "Of course, Your Highness. Right away." He then bowed to the princess regent and left the room, leaving the rest of the royal family in peace.