Edward's Reign
July 1554. King Edward reluctantly meets with his sister, Mary. Discussions for the marriage of Princess Elizabeth begin. Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, informs Mary of what the King is planning. Princess Elizabeth goes behind her brother's back and invites Mary to court. Frances Grey plots with the Duke of Northumberland to put her daughter, Katherine, into the King's bed.
Chapter VI: Truth and Lies
25th July 1554: Whitehall Palace, England: King Edward's Chambers
"Your Majesty?"
King Edward glanced up from his documents, his hand still in his flaxen hair. His friend, and former whipping boy, Lord Barnaby Fitzpatrick, heir to the Baronety of Upper Ossory, was stood in the doorway.
"Yes, Barnaby, what is it?"
"Lady Mary is here," Barnaby replied "As ordered by Lord Northumberland."
The King's eyes narrowed for a moment, and he sighed "Fine. Let her in. But Lord Northumberland is not to enter my presence. I do not wish to see him."
"Understood, Your Majesty." Replied Barnaby, bowing and leaving the King's presence.
Once Barnaby had left, the door swung open again, and Lady Mary Tudor, Duchess of Suffolk was stood in the doorway. Her eyes caught Edward's and he looked away for a moment, closing his eyes as he did so.
"Your Majesty."
"Sister."
King Edward gestured to the chairs in his chambers and his sister took a seat. He joined her a few moments later and his eyes lingered on her stomach for a moment. Her pregnancy was not showing yet, for she was only a month pregnant, though, when it did show she would look fatter than she actually would be, for she, unlike Elizabeth and Edward, was of a short stature, like her mother, Katherine of Aragon.
"Your Majesty, I-"
"You deliberately disobeyed me, as you have done time and time before!" Edward roared, silencing his sister immediately "I have only spared you from the chopping block because Elizabeth asked me too. If she had not interfered then I would have sent you - and your husband and child - to the chopping block without a second thought. I have the documents all written, sister, do not make me use them." The King stood up, and loomed over his sister "If you ever disobey me again, Mary, then know that you will face the chopping block if you do so. Now, leave. I have work to do."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Lady Mary rose, curtseyed and left and King Edward sat in the chair at the end of his desk, before letting his head fall onto the desk.
26th July 1554: Whitehall Palace, England: King Edward's Council Chambers
"And onto our next order of business," Began King Edward "The Marriage of the Lady Elizabeth."
"There are three choices, Your Majesty," Replied William Cecil "Eric of Sweden, Frederick of Denmark and William of Orange. They're all princes and are all first in line to succeed their father's as kings of their country."
"Eric of Sweden and William of Orange are the same age as her, are they not?" Questioned King Edward "And Frederick of Denmark a year younger still."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Replied Cecil "But that is not the pressing matter; the pressing matter, Your Majesty, is that Eric of Sweden and Frederick of Denmark are Catholic, not protestant."
"That is no matter, Cecil," replied King Edward "They may be Catholic, but they will be married to Elizabeth, and I would rather have Elizabeth's heir, Catholic or not, in the succession after Margaret. If Margaret does not have a brother and succeeds me as Queen of England, then her heir or heiress presumptive, would be Elizabeth's child."
"They would be her heir or heiress, Your Majesty, even if Catholic?"
"Yes," Replied the King "Elizabeth, even if her child is a Catholic, would raise her child to be loyal to me. Elizabeth - despite her mother being whom she was, is a loyal subject - certainly more loyal than my sister, Mary."
"Is the Princess Mary to be informed of this, Your Majesty?" Questioned Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester.
"No!" Replied the King, swifter than he wished "And none of you are to tell her, on pain of death." He glanced over to Northumberland, sat next to Gardiner "Write up all the advantages and disadvantages of the respective marriages, and bring that information to me. I will make my choice based on that, Lord Northumberland."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Would it not be easier, Your Majesty, to put the Lady Mary to death?" Questioned Northumberland.
For one moment, The King looked like his father. However, he did not reply to the Duke, said "Dismissed." and at the King's word, his councillors rose, bowed and left the room.
27th July 1554: Westhorpe Hall, Westhorpe, Suffolk, England: Home of The Lady Mary
"The King intends to make her a Queen through marriage?"
"Yes, Princess," Replied Stephen Gardiner "He intends to marry her to either a Prince of Sweden, Denmark or Orange. They are the three choices."
"She would be a Queen, mother, sister and loyal to England to boot." Mary noted "The perfect sister. She is not hated by His Majesty, and can do anything she wishes. Anything."
"Not anything, Your Highness," Replied Gardiner "The King still keeps a close watch on her,"
"As he does me," Mary interrupted "That does not mean anything, Your Grace. The King merely wishes to keep us in his sight, or Elizabeth at least. He wishes for me to be away from his sight. My child will be born, raised and confined at Westhorpe hall for all their life. If my child is a son, he will, most certainly, not be able to succeed his father as Duke of Suffolk and eventual Baron Willoughby De Eresby, as the King will not want nobility being in my blood. No, it will be my husband's first son from a second wife who will succeed him."
"You cannot know that, Your Highness," Protested Gardiner.
"His Majesty may look like his mother, god rest her kind, loving and gentle soul, but he has the temper of our father. He would never allow anyone of my blood to rise to a high position. My child is a grandchild of King Henry VIII and a Spanish Claimant to the throne of England through both my mother and father. The King knows that, Lord Gardiner, and will never forget it."
29th July 1554: Whitehall Palace, England
"His Majesty, The King!"
King Edward entered, followed by his grooms. Reaching his sister, who was the only person in the room who had not curtseyed or bowed, he swept into a bow, saying "Madame," as he did so.
Princess Elizabeth curtseyed, saying "Your Majesty," in reply, as she did so. Edward moved forward and took her hands in his as Elizabeth continued "It makes me happy to see your spirits much improved."
"I had a good physician." Replied Edward, smiling. Both he and his sister knew that he had not been ill, but the news of Mary's pregnancy had made Edward become rather angry since he had discovered it and he had remained in his chamber sulking for a few days until he had recovered from the news "Nevertheless, I intend we shall visit the shrine of Sir Thomas Beckett, and give our thanks."
"I have arranged for something else," Elizabeth replied, mentally praying that what she had planned would work "Which, I hope with all my heart, will make you very happy."
She, in the absence of a Queen, stood, still holding Edward's hand, by his side.
Lady Mary Tudor, Duchess of Suffolk, emerged from around the corner, as the Herald cried "Your Majesty, the Lady Mary Tudor!"
Mary, head held high and staring directly at the King, strode down the gap between all of the people. All of the courtiers bowed as Mary stopped about a foot away from her brother and sister. King Edward was not smiling.
Mary dropped into a deep curtsey, and said "I ask Your Majesty for his blessing."
"My own sister." He held out a hand for her to take, which she did, and rose "You know, Elizabeth, of course."
Mary leaned forward and kissed Elizabeth on the cheek, causing Elizabeth to smile.
"I remember some of you were desirious that I should put this jewel to death." Began King Edward, his eyes lingering on Northumberland for a moment.
Mary, who had looked around, had recognised the words from her own father's reign when she and he had been reconciled by Edward's mother, Queen Jane Seymour. Her breath caught in her throat, and she slumped, fainting into her brother's arms.
"I've got you," He whispered, quietly to her "You're safe."
Helping her up, and holding her hand, Edward steered her gently away.
"Be of good cheer, Mary," He began "For I swear, nothing now will go against you."
He kissed her hand, and placed it into the waiting hand of Elizabeth, before calling "Continue!" and backing away.
"Are you happy?" Questioned Elizabeth, as she and Mary began to walk together. Several courtiers, including Robert, Ambrose and John Dudley all moved aside to let them pass.
"Yes, Elizabeth." Replied Mary, smiling, which was something she had not done since their father, King Henry VIII, had died.
"His Majesty has agreed to give you lodgings at court, and others at Westminster." Elizabeth informed her sister "I have seen them both; they're beautiful."
"I am very grateful to his Majesty..." Replied Mary "...And to you."
King Edward, stood nearby, smiled at Elizabeth and Mary, before leaning close to Barnaby Fitzpatrick and whispering "Everyone says my sister, Mary, is innocent. That she doesn't know any unclean or foul speech. Do you believe that? Do you believe that anyone could be that innocent?" Barnaby looked to his King, who continued "Go and find out; keep an eye on Mary, Barnaby, but do not let her know."
Barnaby bowed, and left.
"What are you up too, Mary?" Muttered King Edward.
"What makes you think that your sister is up to something, Your Majesty?" Questioned a voice from behind him, and King Edward glanced over his shoulder. It was his cousin, Edward Seymour, 1st Baron Beauchamp of Hache and 1st Earl of Hertford, who had been restored to his father's titles after his father's execution.
"She is my sister, Lord Seymour," Replied King Edward "And she is a daughter of King Henry VIII, not to mention the fact that she has Spanish blood, and a claim to the thrones of Spain and England. As well as this, she has many Catholic supporters and she would, I know, willingly see me, Margaret and Elizabeth die so that she can take the throne. And now, being pregnant, she is more of a threat than ever before."
30th July 1554: Bradgate Park, Leicestershire, England: Home of Lady Frances Brandon
"Would it work?" Asked Lord Northumberland.
"Katherine has been noted as having inherited her grandmother's beauty," Replied Frances Grey, Nee Brandon, Dowager Marchioness of Dorset "And the King likes beautiful women - his first wife was a beautiful woman after all."
"Indeed she was." Replied Lord Northumberland "But the King would never take your daughter into his bed at her age - his first wife was almost fifteen when she died and Katherine is only fourteen. The King will want a wife that is at least sixteen."
"It does not have to be now," Frances interrupted "But, eventually, she must be Queen. She comes from a fertile family."
"Yet, Lady Frances, your son did not live to adulthood."
"No," Agreed Frances "He did not. But the children of my daughters will survive to adulthood. Jane's son will be the future Marcquess of Dorset and Katherine's son - when she has him - will be the future King of England."
"If the King chooses her." Replied Lord Northumberland "He is, currently, contemplating an imperial marriage, to smooth relations with the Emperor, without having to go back to the see of Rome."
"Why would he contemplate a Catholic marriage?" Frances asked "He despises Catholics."
"If he marries a Catholic, then Rome and the Emperor are appeased as is Lady Mary." Replied Lord Northumberland "It keeps all of the King's opposition happy. His sister, the Emperor, and all the Catholic monarchs that have dealings with England."
"So, who does he intend to marry?"
"Eleanora of Austria," Replied Lord Northumberland "Daughter of Ferdinand I, King of the Romans, Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia and his deceased wife, Anne of Bohemia and Hungary."
"So his Majesty is marrying the daughter of his sisters cousin?"
"Nothing has been arranged yet, and the King is still in mourning for his first wife." Replied Lord Northumberland.
"Then I have several years to groom Katherine into the perfect Queen." Replied Frances, smiling.
To Be Continued
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The next chapter will have a time jump to 1556