but bessie blount's son can never be the legitimate heir to the throne of england, and the king respectsis queen enough to send bessie away from court. this must have been awful for catherine-- her husband's mistress giving him a boy where she'd failed-- but then, after 5 pregnancies, 4 stillbirths, one infant death, and 6 years of marriage, god smiled on catherine. she gave birth to a healthy baby who lived. only problem was it was a girl. [distant laughter] mary? worsley: the princess mary is now 6 years old. mary? mary: mother? worsley: since her daughter was born, catherine has tried and tried to give henry the son that he desperately craves, but now her age is against her. she's 37 years old. it looks increasingly likely that mary will be her only surviving child. henry is putting on a pageant. catherine's ladies-in-waiting are playing virtues, such as perseverance, beauty, kindness, and they await rescue by knights. catherine: mary? worsley: but the queen is a spectator. she hasn't been invited to take part. catherine: mary? a more apt description i couldn't imagine, although... "b