I woke up with someone jumping on me. "Mama wake up!" I woke up to Caleb and the young prince jumping on me. I heard laughter and saw Lord Brandon waiting at the door. His smiled stopped and he moved out of the way. the king stepped in the children not noticing. "Children what are you doing?" They turned and stopped immediately. They slowly crawled off. "Who is to blame for this?" I could see him holding back a laugh. My ladies came in looking confused. "I am sir. Edward didn't want to." "I wanted to." The king started laughing. the prince ran over to his father. Caleb stood there. "Sir Seymour come here." He slowly walked over to the king. "You have sacrificed yourself for your prince, why?" "because it was the truth." Henry laughed. "you are a good boy. go on with your fun." they ran back on the bed trying to jump on me. I laughed as the two children attempted to tickle me. my ladies stood giggling and the men with a smile on their faces. "OK enough you two." They stopped and looked at me. "Now young prince what did you learn from this event?" He gave me a puzzled look. "that telling the truth is good." "yes but also that your subjects will protect you no matter what as long as they feel as if you truly care for them." i played with his little curls as Caleb curled into my side. "now I have to get dressed. Please excuse us good sirs." the King and Charles left. My ladies kept the boys company as I dressed myself. "Come we have people to go meet." I carried the prince as Caleb walked holding my hand. i knocked on Mary's door. her ladies opened it. "Is Lady Mary here?" She let us in. Mary had a big smile on her face. Edward jumped down and ran to his sister. "Mary." Caleb looked up at me and I kissed his forehead. "Mary this is my son Caleb." She walked over and knelt in front of him. "did you know your mother loves to talk about you?" he nodded with a smile. Mary was playing with them for a bit. "I have to go now marry. I will bring them back later." She smiled at me. I picked the young prince back up and Caleb grabbed my hand. We walked to the queen's chambers. "your majesty." She turned and smiled. "Edward and Caleb." She knelt down and opened her arms. they both ran to her. "Oh you both are adorable. not to mention very handsome." She stood up. "They are precious. Thank you for bringing them to me." I took them outside so they could play. I sat in the grass as they ran around. i gave my ladies the day off. to bad I was being watched.
"What do you think of her Charles?" They peered down at the lovely women. "she's a true treasure." The king turned to his best friend. "you should go for her." Charles shook his head. "No it is to soon." Henry nodded. they both laughed when the two boys tackled her. "I would court her Charles but i have my queen you should get her before someone else tries." The young women was laughing and letting the two boys attack her. "what are you two doing?" they all looked up to Sir Francis Bryan. "We are playing sir what does it look like." "Boy watch your tongue." "Sir Francis this is Prince Edward. he doesn't have to watch anything." Sir Bryan turned to Caleb. "And who are you to speak to me." My motherly instincts took over. "He is mine Sir Byran." He looked us over. "why aren't they inside learning?" "Because they are boys and they are learning. Being outside in the sun does them some good." "You are the tutor." "Why are you here sir?" "I thought you were being attacked by two rambunctious boys." "I was but in all good fun. go on you two." they ran off playing tag. "Why such hostility towards the children?" "I'm not a huge person on children." "then you must not have any." he smirked. "That is because I have no wife to give me children." "Or is it because no woman wants to marry you." We both turned to the voice. it was Charles. I smiled, he kept saving me. "Sir." Francis left and Charles sat next to me on the grass. "thank you." he smiled. "You do not fend for yourself." "No I fend for others so they can one day fend for me." He laughed. The children came running back this time attacking both of us. Charles didn't mind, well he did have children. Caleb and Edward just laid on me. "Mistress Kendell will you tell me of my mother?" I smiled at the boy. "Your mother was beautiful and her kindness matched her beauty. She had a good heart just like you." "Why did she die?" I sighed and looked at the boy. "she gave up her body, heart, and soul to give England what it wanted. do you know what that was?" he shook his head. "that gift she gave us was you. Do not be saddened by it young prince she loved you enough to give you life and lose her own." "but she didn't even know me." "Exactly so how much do you think she loved you without even knowing you?" "A very large amount." I smiled at the young child. "One day when your old enough I'll show you letters of how much she cherished you." "What about Caleb's daddy?" "He wasn't a very good man but out of our marriage I got my beautiful gift as well." They both smiled and cuddled into me.
The next day at the ball it was New Years feast. I was excited to meet Anne of Cleves. Mary wrote me grand things about her. I waited for her to come in. The Lady Mary came in first. She was somewhat decent to the queen. Mary came over to me with a big smile on her face. "Lady Kendell." "Lady Mary, I have a gift for you." She smiled. i pulled out a small velvet box. She smiled and slowly opened it. "Lady Kendell it's beautiful." she held the small Latin black bible. the pages were also black but written in melted silver. "Here is your gift." She handed me a small velvet bag. Inside was a beautiful pearl necklace with a cross on the end. "Help me put it on dear." She assisted me. "Mary it's so generous of you." i held her close to me. "You are such a pure pleasure." She smiled and we bowed. I left her side. I ended up right next to Lord Brandon. "are you enjoying yourself Lady Kendell?" "I am having a grand time sir. What about you? Are you enjoying the festivities?" He smiled. "My enjoyment has increased with this conversation." "Well i'm glad that i can raise your spirits so quickly." he laughed at that remark. "Excuse me my lady I have to present Anne of Cleves." I bowed and he left. "You two are very comfortable." i turned to see my cousin's wife. "Anne." "Kendell, are you behaving yourself?" "I know how to keep to myself. I don't need men to make me feel happy." She frowned at me. "You wouldn't want Edward to think anything wrong of you." "Edward hates you so anything you say either makes him hate you more or do the opposite of." I turned and left her there. "Edward I can't stand your wife." He chuckled. "neither can I." Then she walked in with Charles. She was a very lovely young women. "She's so pretty." Edward smiled. "She does have a certain charm about her." Katherine took a liking to the young woman and so did Henry I walked over and decided to chat. "Anne I would like you to meet Lady Kendell Seymour." I bowed. "Hello Lady Anne nice to meet you." Henry looked like he was in pain. I leaned over. "Your majesty are you alright?" He smiled in pain. "is it easy to tell?" "No your majesty but my son makes the same look." he smiled. "Would you go get the boy for me?" I stood to go find him. "Mr. Culpepper the king needs you." he bowed and went to the king. another hour went by. "Edward I'm going to go to my room now." He bowed. "goodnight." I left and headed towards my room. i bumped into Mr. Culpepper on the way out. "I am sorry sir." "no it is my fault madam. Are you off to bed so soon?" "Yes sir. I have lessons to teach tomorrow." I left him and went to my room. Only one lady was with me. "Lady Berns would you please so kindly help me untie the back of my dress?" She came over and helped me. "Lady Berns happy new year. Now go enjoy the ball." there was a knock at my door after she left. i grabbed my robe and answered it. Queen Katherine rushed in. "She hates me." "Who does your majesty?" She huffed and sat in a chair. "The lady Mary." I sighed. "Did she say anything cruel to your highness?" "No but it's the way she acts towards me." "give her time she is getting you used to you." "She adores you and Anne of Cleves." "I've been in contact with Mary for five years and Anne was married to her father for a year. do not fret over it your highness. It is Christmas." She smiled. "You are right. I will leave you to rest now Lady Kendell." I closed the door and climbed into my bed.