Kittenallie: Thanks for the review! And don't worry, it isn't going to mimic his wives that much. The personality of the later queens will be different to Henry VIII's queens, though there will be some similarities. Edward's going to be like Henry - father like son. But I'm going to work really hard so that its not too similar to history. Again, thanks for the review!

Part One - The Spanish Queen

Chapter Two

Love and Betrayal

1550

Isabel, now Queen Isabel, found herself pacing frantically up and down her bedroom.

"Infanta, calm down!" Señora Rodriquez urged. "He is not going to kill you!"

Isabel stopped. She was only in her nightgown, awaiting the arrival of the king to consummate their marriage. "From what Maria said in her letters, it seems it will not be far off!"

Maria, her eldest sister, had written to her two weeks after she had been wed. She told her how painful the consummation process was for her, especially since her husband was a virgin and didn't know what to do. And since the king was only thirteen, she had no doubt that he never laid with a woman.

"It shouldn't be too painful," the duenna insisted.

"How would you know?" she asked as she resumed her pacing. "You've never been married!" she stopped suddenly. "Have you lain with a man out of wedlock, duenna?"

"No!" Señora Rodriquez said quickly. "Of course not. I'd be an awful hypocrite if I did, always telling young ladies to save their virtue for marriage."

Isabel nodded. "It's just, from what I heard from my mother, it hurts a little, but then it becomes enjoyable," the señora told her.

"Why must women be the ones who suffer all the pain? The pains of childbirth, the pains of bleeding, the pains of lying with a man for the first time? It is not fair!"

"It is not fair, infanta, but -"

"Your majesty," said Margarita Jimenez, after bursting through the door, "the king is here."

Isabel nodded stiffly, too scared to say anything. She had known this man - this king - for two weeks, and now she was expected to lie with him?

"Go," her duenna ushered.

Isabel nodded once again. She went into the main chambers, her ladies and her duenna following her. She dismissed them all.

It was just her and her husband now. She curtsied to him and he bowed. Both didn't want to do this, both were children forced to act like adults. They were forced to lie together, to conceive an heir. Edward didn't want to penetrate her, he didn't want to get her with child while she was so young. But yet, he had to. Or else Northumberland would he on his case.

Edward swallowed. "Should we go to the bedroom?"

Isabel rose from her curtsy. "Yes, your majesty," she choked out.

"You may call me Edward if I may call you Isabel," Edward said.

"Yes, Y- Edward," she replied, seeming more at ease.

"Perhaps we should go into the bedroom."

Isabel nodded stiffly, terrified of the night ahead.

After lying with Edward, and after him making a few painful mistakes, she promised herself she'd never lie with anyone again.

#2#

1553

Of course, she didn't keep that promise, and after three years of marriage, she found herself with child for the second time. The first time ended with a miscarried boy, conceived three months after the marriage and had died after three months of pregnancy.

The queen was now four months pregnant, and Edward prayed everyday for a healthy male heir. The Tudor dynasty was not yet fully established, and a female couldn't rule in England, Empress Matilda had shown them all that!

Most of her Spanish ladies had been sent back to Spain, save her duenna, Catalina Perez and Luisa de Aguilar, on orders from Northumberland, the king's former Lord Protector and now Lord Chancellor.

Her trusted Spanish ladies had been replaced by English ladies, some of who Señora Rodriguez had suspected were spies.

Isabel only trusted her three Spanish ladies. The English were too ambitious and cunning for Isabel. The only Englishmen and Englishwomen she would trust was her husband and their future children together. She prayed that they would have many children together, especially many sons. Daughters, though, would be good for political matches. She hoped that if they had daughters one of them would be married to the King of Spain. She didn't like the French, like most Spaniards. She thought them conniving, vain and selfish, especially the new king, King Henry. Before she came to England, she had often heard the guards speaking of how rude and vain he was, and Señora Rodriquez complained about him many times. Señora Rodriquez was a proud Spaniard, albeit less so than Isabel. Both had been raised to hate the French on principle.

There had been rumours around court that the king had begun an affair with Katherine Brydges, one of her ladies and a Baron's daughter. Isabel had dismissed the rumour, she couldn't believe that Edward would conduct an affair with another woman, especially one of her ladies! Señora Rodriquez had tried to explain to her that even the most virtuous of kings sometimes have mistresses, but Isabel wouldn't have it. Even though she was with child, he wasn't a lust driven beast! His father was, yes, but Edward was nothing like his father!

Isabel soon realised that she wasn't trying to convince Señora Rodriquez, she was trying to convince herself.

"Even the most virtuous of king's take mistresses," Señora Rodriquez had told her. "Especially when their wives are with child."

The Señora's words echoed through her head. She was right, she realised. Though she wasn't going to listen to rumours, especially court rumours. She took into account that he might have taken Katherine Brydges as a lover. And he probably would have mistresses in the future, she just had to deal with it.

#2

1554

And that she did.

Katherine Brydges was taken out of her household and given one of her own. Edward was besotted with her, he went to her chambers every night.

"Edward," Katherine said, her voice trembling. The king had insisted she called him Edward in private. "What... What if I become with child?"

"Then I give him or her a household of his own in the countryside, or I have him or her raised in the royal nursery," Edward replied. He had obviously thought of what he was to do if he had illegitimate children, whether with Katherine or another woman. God knows how difficult life was for women with bastard children that weren't recognised, even if those bastards were the children of a king. He wouldn't have that happening to any woman, especially not his Katherine.

Katherine seemed very relived. Edward smiled at her and pressed his lips to hers. She wrapped her arms around him and he scooped her up from the ground.

He carried her into the bedroom where he practically through her onto the bed. He kissed her passionately and removed her dressing gown. He sucked her breasts fondly. Katherine moaned in delight. She took off his bed wear and wrapped her legs around his bare bottom.

Edward grabbed his member and thrust it into her gently before going in faster and faster. Katherine moaned in delight. Edward smirked as he heard her scream his name. When he laid with Isabel it was strictly duty, she was a lovely lady, of course, and a suitable queen, but there was no passion or love there, while with his Katherine he had both.

They went on for hours before finally getting into bed, panting wildly.

#2#

1554

Katherine Brydges position became more stable as the months went on, and five months later, in June, she was granted the title Maîtresse-en-titre. Her household had had increased in numbers, and she was no longer obliged to curtsy to the queen. She had received the informal title of the King's concubine by courtiers.

The Queen, now nine months pregnant and in confinement, had become quite upset by the news, though her household of seventy was still double the amount of Katherine's. She had hid her feelings well, but it was mostly due to the child.

Isabel felt a liquid trickle down her leg. She began to squeal and panic.

"Majesty, what is the problem?" her duenna asked.

"I think the child is coming," she answered as calm as she could muster.

#2#

"It was a girl," the physician explained to Edward. "Born dead. Fully grown."

Edward nodded grimly. At least it was just a girl, not a boy. Isabel would scold him like a child if he said it to her. 'They are all God's children!' she'd say in that annoying Spanish accent of hers.

What good was she? Yes, she was good company, but so was his darling Katherine! And she proved herself a good lover as well! Isabel was just a blockage to his dreams. His dreams of marrying Katherine. He wanted to make a modest woman of her. He had taken her womanhood! Her greatest dowry! He couldn't give it back now. She would die unmarried and the mother of his bastards. He wished he could marry her, and let her be the mother of his heirs.

Isabel hadn't even given him a living child! He wished he had met Katherine before he agreed to marry Isabel.

"Thank you, sir," Edward said. "How is the Queen?" oh how he wished those words could be used to refer to Katherine.

"She is well," the physician replied.

He nodded. The physician, seeing nothing else was needed to be said, bowed and left the king to his thoughts.

'Where was Katherine?' Edward found himself wondering. 'Probably in her chambers. I should visit her.'

He knew his wife would want him to visit her, but he was not up to it. He wanted to see Katherine! His beautiful Katherine!

Edward almost ran to Katherine's chambers. One of Katherine's ladies announced him.

"Edward!" she greeted joyfully once everyone left the room, a smile gracing her perfect lips. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Edward smacked his lips hungrily on hers. He didn't plan to make love when he ran to her chambers, but he was very glad he did.

#2#

"Where is the king?" Isabel asked her duenna.

Señora Rodriquez shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Why must she be the one to tell her the heart wrenching news.

"Señora..." Isabel warned.

The duenna sighed. "He is with the Lady Katherine Brydges." She almost slapped herself after calling that woman a 'lady'.

Isabel felt herself go red with anger. "Does he not see it fit to be with his wife at her time of need?"

The señora stayed quiet. "Does he think I wanted to bare a dead child? Does he not care how I feel?"

"Your majesty..." Señora Rodriquez warned.

"No! He thinks that I had choice! I did not want this to happen!"

"Of course you didn't," Rodriquez agreed.

"But yet he blames me!" the queen's voice was cracking and her usually composed posture was shaking. "I want to go home, Señora. To Castile. I want to play with Felipe and Maria and Juana, I want to have freedom! I want a husband who respects me and loves me and comforts me! And who cares about how I feel!"

Señora Rodriquez did something that shocked everyone in the room, even herself, she held the queen in her arms as she sobbed into her shoulder.

"There, there, princess," she cooed, using the queen's former title while rubbing her back affectionately. "It will be alright. It will all be okay."

Señora Rodriquez just prayed she was right.

#2#

1557

Oh how Edward hated sleeping with Isabel. It wasn't that she was bad, she was average and he had some pleasure. It was because he felt guilty.

He felt like he was betraying Katherine. It was odd. He felt like he was betraying his mistress by sleeping with his wife.

It had been three years since the queen had conceived, and Edward was rejoicing that he had managed to get her with child again. He took measures with Katherine to make sure she hadn't become with child, and it seemed they were working.

The queen was six months with child, she was confined to her rooms on her own orders. She wanted this child to be healthy, to prove to everyone she was capable of baring children.

Edward had been spending more and more time with his mistress. She had taken the place of queen in celebrations, and even sat on the queen's throne!

Many had been appalled to see the little whore's smug face. She had been a young girl of thirteen when she met the king. He was four years her elder. And here she was, three years later and undisputed. She didn't love Edward, she loved the king. She loved all the gifts he gave her, of course! Her dresses rivalled the queens! As did her jewels. Her father said she was queen in all but name! She didn't even need to be charming or intriguing or anything at all! She just had to look pretty and he was taken with her!

She didn't want to have children, they would ruin her body, wouldn't they? She wouldn't be as attractive as she was, and Edward would lose interest in her.

Edward looked sideways. He pictured her with a crown on her head and found himself smiling.

Katherine felt Edward's eyes on her. She turned her head and gazed into his eyes, faking passion. Edward leaned forward and kissed her.

When they pulled back, Katherine sat upright in her seat, watching the courtiers mingle.

She had another lover. Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk. They kept the affair a secret, of course. If it got out both of them would be sent away.

Katherine was the newest rising star, but any slip up could easily tear her down.

#2#

1557

"So she sat on my throne," Isabel repeated to the Lady Jane Howard, who had been apart of the court festivities of the previous night.

"Yes, your majesty," said the girl, two years her elder. "The little harlot looked very smug on it. Not at all proper in the presence of the king."

She had taken a liking to the girl. She was a nice Englishwoman, which was very rare. She obviously had received a good education, for she was very learned. "Was he... gazing at her."

"Yes, your majesty," Jane had been taught to never lie, even little white lies. The Queen should know of her rival. And Jane was a horrible gossip as well. "His majesty seemed quite besotted with her. She didn't seem as much, though I suppose she wouldn't be. Likes the power, I suppose. Mistresses love power."

Isabel was taken aback by the girl's bluntness, though she was happy to have someone who said it like it was. "Indeed."

"I doubt she's faithful to him, my lady. I say she has a few lovers. She doesn't seem the wisest," Jane went on.

Isabel nodded. "I would think so. What wise woman would give themselves to a man out of wedlock?"

"Whores," Jane answered. The Queen looked at her questioningly. "Oh, sorry milady, please excuse my bluntness."

Isabel smiled at her. "No, I quite like your bluntness actually. Though I've never seen a lady so daring."

"My aunt, Aunt Mary, Dowager Duchess of Richmond and Somerset, says I'm too blunt for my own good. That it'll get me into trouble someday. Though I've always liked my bluntness, I'd rather be blunt than lie. Lying is a sin against God, while bluntness is not," Jane told her mistress.

"You reason well," Isabel noted, smiling brightly.

"Thank you, your majesty," Jane replied. "If your majesty would allow me to gossip."

"Oh, please tell," she beckoned.

"Well," Jane began. "My brother told me not to tell anyone, but... The king is said to have had a falling out with his whore."

"Really?" Isabel asked hopefully, smiling widely.

Jane nodded. "My brother told me last night, I didn't want to tell, as I had promised, but I couldn't control myself."

"Your secret is safe with me," Isabel said, unable to keep the smile off her face.