Chapter 2!
I feel the morning sun's rays caress my skin. My bed is so soft that I can't bring myself to open my eyes. But then my memories return and I remember what happened the day before and I pray that it was all just a dream. I open my eyes to see it wasn't a dream. I see the vanity from the day before and in the mirror I see myself lying, in a satin chemise, in a four poster bed. I'm not back in my stinky college dorm room in the 21st century.
I'm here... in the 16th century. I'm in my ancestors home, that is not far from the future Queen of England's home. I'm acting as the youngest child of my ancestor, the Duke of Derby. How did any of this happen?
As much as I have always wanted to see the Tudor era, how can a modern person like me survive in a place like this. I'm not sure all my studying can't help me here. I understand basic etiquette but things like the dance styles, playing instruments (except for playing the guitar, which in this case my knowledge can be transferred to the lute, even though they're both completely different, I have no other option), and other elegant lady pursuits I know absolutely nothing. Sure I guess my positive traits are riding horses both astride and side saddle, speaking and understanding French and Spanish fluently (thank you mandatory college language classes), a little mending sewing, and singing. I pray I can keep that up till I find a way out of here.
My thoughts are interrupted by Bess coming in.
"Are you ready to get dressed my lady?" I might as well enjoy the luxuries of my ancestors till I can get home while I can. And like I said before, I've always wanted to see the life of Tudor England. As a history student, this is the chance of a lifetime.
"Yes I am...and Bess?...Please just call me Christine. I hate all the formalities."
"Oh no my lady that wouldn't be proper." She says shaking her head frantically.
"Well how about when it's just us then...Please?"
After thinking about it for a few seconds she reluctantly nods.
"Great. Then let's get this day started shall we?" I say way to bubbly for my tastes and she giggles at my over enthusiasm.
As I'm getting dressed, I think about my encounter with Elizabeth and Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth looked like she was only two years old. It made me wonder when Anne was due to be beheaded. It had to be soon, so I ask Bess.
"What day is it?"
"It's the 10 of July my l...oh I mean Christine." She corrects her almost calling me lady.
"Oh alright, thank you." My next question will probably puzzle Bess, but I have to ask it.
"Bess, what year is it?" Sure enough she looks at me like I'm insane.
"It's 1535, my lady." I ignore the title of lady because I'm going through my head trying to figure out what happened in 1535 and when Anne Boleyn dies.
It hits me hard. In 1535 nothing to my knowledge happens, but it is less than a year from Anne Boleyn's trial and execution. Oooooohh shit!
"I'm sorry Bess my head is somewhere else today."
I say just as she finishes the laces on a light blue gown pearls embedded on the square neckline, while the rest of the dress is plain with no extra things added on. I love these gowns. I've always been a simple person and this is just what I would like. The only thing, is that I'm dying from my lungs being constricted by this damn corset. Again, I ask myself, how do these people survive like this. This corset is hurting me so much. No wonder King Henry's wives miscarried. I'm sure daily life in this corset would just squeeze a baby out of anybody. Though I'm sure his wives were much thinner than me. I have a slightly larger build. My chest is larger than I would like and my hips are a little wider than a normal person. I guess I can be described as having a hourglass figure, or thick boned but still considered thin. I guess?
Well this corseted dress really shows off my curves! And I feel so elegant wearing it.
I follow Bess downstairs only for my 'sister' to run up to us, quickly dismiss Bess and pull me towards the dining room for breakfast.
"Sister you will not believe it!" She squeals with excitement.
"What!" I laugh at her over enthusiasm, like Bess did with me. She seems just like what a sister ought to be; bubbly, caring, and cares about loving life instead of surviving it. I never had siblings so it's nice to have her and the rest of this family to act as the family I barely had. I only had my mom, no dad, no grandparents, no aunts, no uncles and no cousins. It was just me and her, she never said anything about my dad's side of the family, and even then she wasn't there for me. I always found my family in the past. Looking at the lives of my ancestors and where I came from. It seems right that I call these people my family, they are indeed my distant family but I have been given more love that I ever received from my one family member in the 21st century. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad here...
"We received a letter from the Hatfield house. And dear sister would you like to know what it says?"
"For goodness sakes Bethany let your sister sit down and eat before we tell her." My father says from the head of the table.
She reluctantly nods and moves to sit. While I move to the left of my 'father' and sit next to him. I look across and see Bethany jittering in her seat. She is clearly waiting to burst with the news she wants to tell me.
Once the servants set down our plates and leave, Bethany instantly begins her long awaited news.
"So we received a letter from the Hatfield house and sister it invites you to spend the day with the princess. THE PRINCESS! Oh isn't this exciting! You'll be ..."
"BETHANY! Please lower your voice and calm yourself. You make a spectacle of yourself." Our 'father' scolds cutting her off.
She lowers her head in shame. "I'm sorry papa."
"Yes well even I must admit this is exciting news." He admits bringing Bethany out of her shame. 'Father' looks to me then.
"Well Christine this is certainly an honor to be the princesses companion. But I must remind you to be polite and courteous, and remember, your behavior reflect on your family. So be respectful." He warns.
"Yes papa. I promise." Please the last thing I want to do is insult the royal family. I'm a history major, I know what happens to those who insult people of power. It's exciting yet terrifying at the same time to be in the time of King Henry VIII. But hopefully I won't see him at all. I'll be his child's companion till I get out of here. But I must admit I would like to see him in person, and see if the Holbein painting did him justice. The portraits of Anne Boleyn certainly did. I recognized her instantly. No no no way. I can never meet the king. In my opinion when he decided to kill Anne Boleyn he went nuts! I believe history says she was the first queen to be put to death. Yeah he's insane. It still baffles me how any woman could marry him after that. No matter how much they wanted power, it wasn't worth it to lose your head.
Well I'll never know, why, because I'm just going to stick to being Elizabeth's companion. I doubt the king of England would visit her so often. I mean he's her father and everything but he's still the king of England. Also considering how he always got rid of a queen because they couldn't give him a son, I'm sure he doesn't pay Elizabeth much mind anyhow.
We finish eating and my 'father' informs me of a carriage waiting outside to take me to Hatfield. I really don't think its necessary considering we live close through some woulds, but he's stern on it saying it would look bad if I walked through the woods to Hatfield.
Riding in the carriage was cool. The whole time I was comparing the ride to that of a car and it is definitely different. While a car is a smooth ride A carriage is much more unstable. It sways a lot. But then I guess that factor is due to the dirt road that won't be paved with asphalt for another couple hundred years.
In less than two minutes we arrive at Hatfield.
I look out to see little Elizabeth with a wide smile lightly jumping up and down. There are two women beside her but I only look and smile at Elizabeth. It amazes me that she will be England's greatest ruler one day and I get to be with her, talk with her and play with her. I may be going on 19 but I still have a little bit of my inner child that likes to play. It makes me think I can be a wonderful mother someday. Which I've always wanted to be but since no guy ever payed me any attention it seemed like I wouldn't be a wife or a mother for awhile. So I stick with playing with kids, dreaming of the day when I could have a child.
I climb out of the carriage and walk up to Elizabeth and the other two women. The older one looks to me and smiles.
"Lady Kingston welcome to Hatfield. I am Lady Bryan, her highness' governess." This is Lady Bryan. I remember a brief lesson about her and her letter to Thomas Cromwell about begging for money for Elizabeth. I curtsy as best as I can.
"And this is the Lady Mary one of her highness' servants." Lady Mary gives Lady Bryan a slight glare then turns to me. Of course how could I have not recognized her. This is Mary. The first daughter of King Henry and Queen Catherine of Aragon. I curtsy lower this time.
"Lady Mary it is a pleasure to meet you." I say with as much awe and praise as I can. I know who she becomes later in life but I can't help but be conscious of the fact that she is royalty.
She looks at me with kind eyes. "Lady Kingston it is wonderful to meet you as well."
I smile as she smiles back. I hope that she and I may become friends. She certainly doesn't have many now with being called a lady instead of her proper title and working as her sisters servant. Maybe with a friend she may not be so cruel in the future. Whoa! No that can't happen. As much as I would love to spare thousands of Protestants dying. I cannot change history. I guess I have to be careful. But I still hate the fact that she is just considered a servant. It's not right.
Elizabeth, Mary and I are playing tag in the gardens. They're both so wonderful. Knowing what happens in the future, it's weird being friends with them now. Mary is very kind but I can tell that she is growing bitter at her mistreatment and I wouldn't blame her. Elizabeth is so bright and smart for a two year old. She has already spoken to me in French fluently. It's kinds scary that a little girl can be so smart. But again I shouldn't be surprised, she grows up to be a great Queen.
Our game is interrupted by Lady Bryan.
"Your Highness I'm sorry but it's time for your lessons."
"But I don't want to study I wanna pway wif Christine!" She wines. Fearing that it will grow into a tantrum, I kneel down to Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth, you need to study. Learning is very important. You want to make your mama and papa proud don't you?"
She reluctantly nods while pouting, which I have to say is freaking adorable. "Then you go with Lady Bryan and I will be here when you are done. D'accord?" I ask alright in french.
"Qui." She says and I smile and I pull her in and tickle her senseless. While we continue to giggle I nudge her towards Lady Bryan. Once they walk off I turn to Mary.
"Shall we take a walk?" I ask her. She nods and we take a turn around these beautiful gardens.
"I understand that you are meant to be received at court soon?" More of statement than a question coming from Mary.
"Yes I was but then I met your sister. And I would much rather serve as her companion than be in court."
She nods trying to understand my reasoning.
"I sincerely wish that during my service for her that we may become great friends. What say you, your highness?" I ask. She stops and stares in disbelief.
"You..you called me highness." Yeah and I won't take it back. It's the title she deserves.
"YesI did."
"Why? Everyone calls me Lady and considers me a bastard."
"Well while others may say that you are not a princess. To me I believe you are. Both you and Elizabeth." Yes I can't let her think I favor her side and not Elizabeth's.
"But why?"
"I just do. You were born a princess and no one can ever change that. It will always be known throughout history that you are Princess Mary. Even if others disagree."
"Thank..thank you." She chokes back tears.
"You welcome. But the answer to my last question, may we be friends?" I give her a gentle smile.
"I believe we may." We both smile at each other.
Once Elizabeth is released from her studies we play another game of tag then hide and seek.
In a few hours she's called in for dinner and I'm told that my carriage awaits to take me home. As the carriage lurches forward I wave goodbye ,out the window, to Elizabeth and Mary.
When I reach home I'm shown into the dining room where my 'father' is speaking to two young men.
"Aaahh here she is." He motions me forward. The two men turn around for me to see that they are identical twins.
"Well there is our little sister. Father has been telling us what you've been up to lately."
OH! These are my brothers! Ok time to act the part. But how do I know which one is which? One is wearing blue the other red.
"Charles! William!" I rush to hug them at the same time. "It's so good to see you both." I must be an excellent actress because I am killing it at playing the loving younger sister.
"It's good to see you too sister." The one in red says. "While we love court we couldn't miss our baby sisters debut to court. Although I guess court will have to wait, now that you are in service to the princess."
"True, when we left the King told us he was looking forward to meeting you. I guess we talk about you a lot more than we thought." The one in blue says. I shudder slightly at the thought of King Henry wishing to meet me. 'Nope sorry buddy. I'm staying far away from you.'
"Well his Majesty is gracious indeed. Before we sit down for dinner I need to speak with you Charles about some matters." Father says the man in red. Ok so that's Charles.
"Why can't you talk with me father?" William says in mock hurt.
"Because I'm older." Charles says with mock pride.
"Only by three minutes!" They all laugh.
The second the two leave, Bethany joins us.
"Oh your back! How was it? How was the princess?..." I answer while she takes a breath of air so she can't keep talking.
"It was wonderful. The princess and I played with the Lady Mary." I inwardly flinch for calling her Lady. I still want to call her princess. But I guess in this day and age, saying the wrong thing like calling Mary a princess, instantly makes you a traitor.
"Oh you met the Lady Mary too! Aren't you just the luckiest sister alive!"
"Ah yes the Lady Mary. How does she faire? I would be glad to send a good report of his majesty's eldest daughter. He would like to know how she is." William says.
"She is well. But the Lady Bryan mistreats her. I know that she is no longer a princess under his majesty's command, but still. Even as a lady she should be treated with a little respect." I try to reason my thinking, hopping that they agree somewhat. Thankfully...
"I couldn't agree with you more sister. Catherine was once a great queen, but she let her Spanish stubbornness ruin her daughter. It is so unfair that the Lady Mary is being punished for Catherine's stupidity." Bethany says shocking both William and I.
"Sister I know it seems unfair but the King demands that she submits to the oath and agrees that she is a bastard and that her father is head of the Church of England. I feel bad that she feels that she doesn't want to sign it at the risk of disappointing her mother. She has yet to realize that it is her mothers fault that she was ever put in this situation." William says.
I nod.
Father and Charles return and we all sit for a family dinner. The discussions are mostly about court. It does sound amazing. In the 21st century we could only dream what court may have been like through movies. But hearing about it through real people makes it much more real. It might be possible to see court maybe once. What's the worse that could happen?
Here is re-written chapter 2.
I am sorry it's taking so long between each chapter. But hopefully I can get some more writing in this weekend and next.
Sincerely,
Steelegirl19
