I looked at myself in the mirror astounded at what Catherine had done to me. I was wearing a dark green satin dress with silver pins in my hair. My hair was up in a bun with two wavy strands in the front supposedly framing my face. I wrung my hands in nervousness. Catherine and I were going to enter quietly if at all possible.
"Andrea we have to go," Catherine said coming in. I fingered the Tudor Rose jewel on my neck and sighed.
"I feel as if this is too much what if I make a fool out of myself," I asked her.
"You will be fine besides if we do not arrive soon Henry might worry," Catherine said. Henry's name brought a smile to my lips. I clamed down and took a deep breath.
"Let's go then hopefully there will not be a big scene," I told her. She just started to push me out the door and down the hall towards where the court was, which happened to be the dining hall. When we walked in people stared at me. I saw Charles talking to Henry but I only took five steps into the room before Henry got out of his chair and headed towards me. I cursed in my head but smiled.
"Andrea sweetheart you are here," Henry said as he came towards me. He took my hand and kissed it gently. The whole court seemed directed towards us now.
"Everybody is staring," I whispered. Henry looked around.
"That is because you are the most beautiful being here. Ladies and Gentleman may I introduce Andrea Brandon, my future wife and the Future Queen of England," Henry announced all smiles with pride in his voice.
"Cheers Lady Andrea," the ladies and gentleman of the court replied. I just smiled and Henry took my hand and led me towards where his chair was. He sat me right next to him.
"Andrea I would like you to sit for a portrait for Master Holbein and some sketches as well," Henry said as he took a sip of his wine. Wine was not very good in my opinion but I always drank it in small quantities. Henry laughed at this at first but has grown to accept it somewhat.
"Henry, I am too plain for a portrait, I am here in real life why would you need a portrait," I asked him. Henry turned to look at me and put his goblet of wine down.
"Sweetheart, when will you accept that you are the most beautiful and pure light in my dark world. I also wish for the future Tudor Kings and Queens to know where they come from," Henry said. I love how he says Kings and Queens but I know we both desperately want a boy.
"Very Well if it pleases you Henry I will sit for the portrait but only when there is time," I told him. He took my hand and kissed my knuckles. When he looked back at me he looked very pleased.
"I will get Cromwell to contact Holbein tomorrow," Henry said. I looked around the Court and saw Charles and Catherine dancing. He said something in her ear and she laughed. I smiled at their happiness. I heard Henry's chair push back and then he stood in front of me. The whole court stopped what they were doing and turned to us.
"Sweetheart a dance I think is in order," Henry said holding out his hand. I took a deep breath and put my hand in his. I remembered the steps that Catherine taught me and prayed that I did not mess up. Henry brought us out to join the dance and signaled for the music to start. I took a deep breath, looked Henry in the eye and began to dance. For some reason I felt as if Henry and I were the only two people in the world during that moment. Cheesy I know but that is how it felt to me. He treated me carefully as if I would break. When it was over he took me in his arms and held me close.
"Isn't she like an angel? She barely touches the ground," Henry said to the court.
"Of course," was the reply from the court. I just smiled and inclined my head just a bit.
"Well done sweetheart," Henry said in my ear. I smiled at him and he smiled back.
"The Honorable Lady Mary Tudor," the guard that stood by the door called. I turned towards the door and Henry held my hand as we stood waiting. I saw a young girl with a head of dark hair and dark eyes enter the room. Her gown was a dark blue bordering on a dark purple. I felt Henry tightened his hold on my hand. I caressed his hand gently with my fingers and he relaxed. Mary came in front of us and gave a curtsey.
"Andrea, may I introduce my daughter Mary. Mary this is my future Queen and the future mother of my children Lady Andrea Brandon the sister to my friend Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk," Henry said. Mary looked at me and curtseyed once more.
"My Lady Brandon," Mary said keeping her eyes low. I took her hands and raised her up. I kissed both of her cheeks.
"It gives me great pleasure Lady Mary to see you here at court and reconciled with your father," I said. Mary just looked at me and smiled.
"A toast to a golden future for England," Henry said. He ordered three goblets of wine to be brought to us.
"Here, Here," Charles said.
"Here's to my future wife and my daughter. Together we shall all have our own golden world," Henry said taking a big gulp from the goblet. I like Mary took a small sip.
"Excuse me sweetheart but I must go discuss something with your brother in private," Henry said kissing my cheek and walking into the back room with Charles by his side.
"Lady Mary won't you come sit by me," I asked her.
"Yes my lady," Mary said. We walked back towards the table and she sat down to my right.
"Are you hungry Mary for there is plenty for you to eat," I said to her.
"No my lady but I wish to thank you," Mary said looking up at me.
"Thank me? For what?" I asked her.
"My restoration, my mother being buried in Westminster. Everything," Mary said.
"Do not thank me. Your father is a kind and caring man I just wish the whole world knew," I said to her.
"They will soon know it and may god bless you with a child," Mary said.
"That is my dearest hope and if you need anything just ask" I told her.
"My Lady is there anyway I could be of service to you for all that you have done for me," Mary asked.
"You are in a line of succession Lady Mary serving under me or serving me would not be on your father's list of priorities being betrothed will most likely be the first" I said to her.
"If he should allow it will you let me service you," Mary asked.
"Maybe but for now let us forget the past and think on the future. Come I wish you to meet my sister in law Catherine Brandon the Duchess of Suffolk," I said to her.
"Yes your majesty," Mary said.
"Mary amongst ourselves I am simply Andrea and may I remind you that I am not Queen yet," I told her as we walked over to Catherine.
Meanwhile Henry and Charles were discussing in the back room. Henry kept peering out of the curtains to see Andrea conversing with his daughter Mary. How he missed Mary during his marriage to that whore Anne Boleyn.
"Henry well what did you want to talk about," Charles asked. Henry abandoned looking through the curtain for a moment.
"Oh yes. I wish to discuss with you how the wedding plans are going and how the people are responding," Henry asked.
"The wedding plans are almost finished your majesty and the people once they heard were overjoyed. It seems that before you began to court my sister she helped people around London and is seen as a Lady of the people. One man even said that the King is one lucky man to have such a jewel love him," Charles said. Henry smiled. Andrea was his jewel and he wanted everyone to know it.
"Very Well a coronation will be planned after the wedding am I right," Henry asked.
"Yes the boat that you asked specifically for is being prepared as we speak many people had offered services free when they heard that Andrea was to be your wife," Charles said.
"Good I want everything to be perfect," Henry replied.
"Henry as your friend I am asking you to not hurt my sister. I know that you have encountered problems in your previous marriages and I must tell you that she has given her whole heart to you. Please do not break it," Charles said.
"Charles I make you this promise. No harm shall ever come to your sister whilst I walk this earth," Henry said.
"Very well then may god bless you both," Charles said with a smile on his face but his thoughts were plagued about his sister's safety.
