Chapter XIII
December, 1540
Lavish celebrations were held in Hampton Court-more extravagant than before. It was Christmas, and both Mary and Jane had given birth safely to boys.
The new Prince (Henry, Duke of York) was born a week before Christmas.
Mary laboured for ten hours and successfully had a son (Thomas Edmund Brandon) on Christmas Eve and immediately named him after Sir Thomas, who had died peacefully a few days previously. As expected, Henry VIII was displeased (again) with the choice of name, but was mildly placated by the suggestion of his middle name being 'Edmund'.
As a gift for bearing him many surviving grandchildren in some way to secure the House of Tudor, Henry VIII issued a patent, declaring Charles and Mary's children as Princes and Princesses of Suffolk, making them more desirable as spouses to the rest of Europe.
To Mary's horror, an alliance with France was suggested once more.
"What if one of our children are chosen?" she said hysterically.
"Calm down," soothed Charles. "Henry VIII has two sons now, and your children are still quite meaningless to him. Don't worry. Our children are still safe. He has no right to use your children for his own advantages. In a few days, the proposed treaty will be over."
"Mary! Charles!" called Henry VIII, gesturing imperiously for them to join him in his supper with Jane. "I have news that might interest you!"
Mary gave Charles a nervous look and the two of them sat down in front of him.
"Queen Jane," greeted Charles.
"Charles," said Jane politely. "Mary. Would you like some venison? It is delicious."
"Your eldest daughter is seven," said Henry VIII, chewing on a chicken leg. "It is time for her to be at least betrothed to a Prince or Duke. Now that she is a Princess of Suffolk and a royal Tudor, she is more valuable in the marriage market than before. I have been talking to the French Ambassador Charles de Marillac, and he has given me interesting news. Francis I had proposed an alliance between our two great nations against Charles V! He is ready to support me as the Head of the Church of England, and in return, I shall send him troops against Charles V for him to regain Milan. To cement it, we thought of your daughter, Princess Katharine of Suffolk, to marry Francis I's youngest son, Charles de Valois, Duke of Orleans. I'm sure you are aware that his eldest son the Dauphin Francois, had died and was replaced by his middle son Henri, as the Heir to the French Throne. I have to admit that there is quite an age difference, but think of the advantages for England!"
"You have acknowledged the Catholic faith," Mary said through gritted teeth. "You've agreed to renounce your heretic thoughts, and there is a large age difference between Katharine and the Duke of Orleans. Katharine is seven and Orleans is eighteen. Orleans will have to wait another eight years before their marriage can be in anyway consummated."
"I never meant to keep my word. I am supreme head of the Church! Not the Roman bishop!"
"You speak heresy."
"I am the King! I can speak in anyway I wish!"
"Katharine WILL NOT marry the Duke of Orleans for your foolish, heretical dream of acknowledging yourself as the Head of the Church of England! Katharine has long been betrothed to the Prince of Asturias since the day of her birth! I will not break her betrothal!"
"That wasn't even a formal betrothal with my consent! I am the King and I decide who marries and who doesn't! I gave your children the titles of 'Prince' and 'Princess' for my own purposes, not yours! You will agree to this betrothal with full enthusiasm and I expect you to write to Charles V, renouncing the false betrothal between the Prince of Asturias and Princess Katharine and tell him the legitimate engagement of Katharine and the Duke of Orleans!"
"I will not!"
"Yes you will, or I will take your children away from you!"
"You won't dare!"
"Please stop!" said Charles loudly before Henry VIII could retort a nasty reply. "Mary had just been through a difficult labour and not thinking straight! We will write to Charles V and we consent to the betrothal of Katharine and the Duke of Orleans! We will go and compose the letter immediately with Your Majesty's permission to be excused."
Henry VIII nodded, stroking Jane's blonde hair absently.
Charles dragged a furious Mary out of the room before she could lash back at the King. They were in no position to argue in politics with Henry VIII.
"Why did you stop me?!" said Mary angrily. "I will not have my eldest daughter married to a bloody Frenchman! Especially a second son! Katharine is destined to be the future Queen of Spain since her birth and I will not allow it to be broken just because the King wishes it! He has no right to control the futures of our children! She will be the future Queen of Spain!"
"He is the King of England," said Charles quietly. "Nothing and no one can stop him."
"Why are you giving up?!"
"I'm not. Now is not the best time to argue. Betrothals can be broken, and if Katharine is engaged to the Duke of Orleans, there's a possibility that the betrothal won't go through. Remember those times you were betrothed and ended up marrying me? Don't fret. If you really hate the match, ask Jane and her Seymour family to plead on your behalf. Our Mimi is betrothed to their Viscount Beauchamp. Jane is securely on the Throne now that she's given birth to two sons. Relax and stop worrying. You're only twenty four. We will have plenty more children and you won't have to worry. What is it? Did I say or do something that had offended you?"
"I love our children, but I am still afraid of childbirth. What if I die giving birth to a child? Without me, our children will be constantly viewed as threats and won't receive as much support as they will if I'm alive and well. I'm tired of politics."
"We can take a break if you want."
"No. It's my duty to bear children till my death."
"Do you want to go back to Westhorpe Hall and take some time from Court life? I know we've just went back for a couple of days, but would you like to stay there for a while? Our children will be pleased to see us, and you won't have to worry about the King and his plans. What do you think? Afternoon teas with our friends and watching the children grow?"
A smile slowly spread on Mary's face, as she imagined the idea of sitting leisurely on the freshly cut grass hills and enjoying a family picnic under the oak trees and the warm sun, and the thought of her children laughing and running around in the gardens.
"Let's go," whispered Charles, kissing her lovingly.
As they walked out, Mary noticed Anne watching her at the corner of her eye.
"Wait a minute," said Mary, stopping in her tracks. "I need a moment with Anne."
Charles nodded and left to prepare the carriages.
"How are you?" said Mary, nodding at Anne courteously.
"Pretty well," replied Anne, astonished at Mary's friendly tone. "I'm surprised you bothered to speak to me when you walked past with your husband. The King's allowed me to return permanently to Court as the Countess of Northumberland, and I will take my place as one of the Queen's Ladies-in-waiting. Of course she won't be pleased, but it was the King's command. I suppose you're returning to Westhorpe? You've travelled back and forth a numerous amount of times."
"Yes. Charles and I are hoping to stay at Westhorpe Hall for more than a couple of days. I'm praying for us to be allowed to reside in Westhorpe Hall for at least two months. It may surprise you, but I rather watch my children grow than play my part in Court intrigues."
"Motherhood is very tempting to courtly duties."
"How are your children? Little Anne and young Harry Percy?"
"They are wonderful. Of course they're still too young to be educated, but from the letters I received from their governesses, they are healthy and content. I wish I could see them, but I have chosen to be at Court rather than to be with them at Alnwick Castle."
"I know you might find this unusual, but would you like to come with me and Charles to Westhorpe Hall and see your children, Elizabeth and Eleanor?"
"I always wanted to visit them since our conversation when I was three months pregnant with Annie. I know it's been months, but I was afraid the King would find something to blame on me. Tell me truthfully, did the King ever see Elizabeth and Eleanor after they were declared illegitimate? Did he ever visit them when he saw your children in Westhorpe? Were they ever allowed to join your children in other royal palaces when they go to Court?"
"They were never allowed away from Westhorpe Hall."
"Princess Mary, this cannot go on. As their mother, I want them to have a taste of Court. Please. Are you telling me that the King never goes to Westhorpe Hall anymore?"
"I'm afraid so. Whenever he wanted to see my children, he would summon them to Court. Do me a favour and call me 'Mary'. Just Mary. At the moment, I cannot ask the King for anything. He wanted a match between my Kate and the Duke of Orleans and I refused to give consent for the betrothal. However, I can cover for you if the King ever wants to know why you abandoned your duties to the Queen. I'm sure your daughters would love to see you."
"I thought you hated me."
"I guess I finally learnt the truth. It wasn't your fault you replaced my mother."
Anne and Mary shook hands, forging a somewhat strange bond of friendship between the former Queen of England and the daughter of the late Catherine of Aragon.
"Elizabeth, Eleanor," said Mary, steering her two half-sisters towards Anne. "Do you recognise this woman? She is your mother."
"Mama?" repeated Elizabeth, staring at Anne.
"My doves," said Anne, embracing both Elizabeth and Eleanor warmly, tears of joy running down her cheeks. "I missed you so much! My, you've grown!"
Eleanor pushed her away and hid behind Mary's skirts. Anne's smile faltered and her heart crumbled at being rejected by her youngest daughter who looked at her strangely. She was pleased Elizabeth recognised her as her mother, but was hurt that Eleanor preferred Mary. She was an infant when she was declared a bastard, Anne thought. Of course she wouldn't have remembered me as her mother. It'll take time for her to adjust to the truth that I'm her mother, and she is Mary's half-sister. I can't believe Henry VIII would be so cruel and abandon his daughters.
"She won't hurt you," said Mary gently.
Eleanor buried her face in her skirts, cracks rapidly appearing in Anne's heart.
'I'm sorry," apologised Mary. "Why don't you and Elizabeth have a private talk? I'll go with Eleanor to the gardens. You can join us whenever you want to. I'll ask Mrs Fitzgerald to arrange a simple lunch for all of us in the gardens."
Anne waited until Mary and Eleanor left before she had a proper look at Elizabeth. Elizabeth stared back with her black eyes (matching Anne's) patiently.
"I wanted to see you earlier," said Anne quietly. "You are my Elizabeth."
"Why am I here?" said Elizabeth innocently. "When will I learn to be a Queen?"
"I thought it would be best for you and Eleanor to be raised alongside Mary's children so you will have good friends throughout your life. Your father now has two sons, and you won't be the future Queen of England anymore."
"Why am I called 'Lady Elizabeth'? I am a Princess!"
"Not any more, my darling. The King and I have separated and both remarried. You are now the King's daughter, but not a Princess. You will live here with Eleanor until you're old enough to go to Court and be a lady-in-waiting to the Queen, or the future Princess of Wales or Duchess of York. Wouldn't that be something to look forward to?"
"Am I now a bastard?"
"How do you know?! Did Mary tell you?!"
"No. I heard the servants talking."
"Oh, Elizabeth! It is not ladylike for you to listen at doors! Promise me you will be more the Princess I know you are and cause no trouble."
"Alright Mama. I promise you I won't do it again. Kate and I both listened to the maids and servants talk when they prepared our meals and helped dress us. We even went down to the kitchens once and heard them speaking about what happened at Court. Is it true? Is Kate and her sisters and brothers all Princes and Princesses like Mary?"
"Darling, you should not be hearing this."
"Alright Mama. Mrs Fitzgerald is teaching me and Kate how to sew and embroider dresses for our dolls, and I've made my own! See?"
She showed Anne the crooked stitched dress she proudly made herself. Anne smiled and promised to visit and help her with sewing in the future.
"I hate sewing," complained Elizabeth. "Why can't I climb trees?"
"Ladies don't climb trees!" laughed Anne.
Elizabeth blinked solemnly and cuddled close to Anne. On sudden impulse, Anne picked Elizabeth up (even though she was quite heavy) and walked to the gardens, feeling happier than she had ever felt since her marriage to Northumberland. From the hallway closest to the stone pavilion in the gardens, Anne heard children's laughter and squeals, and the relaxed words of adults. She opened the door and was welcomed by the rays of sunlight that shone on her.
"Anne," said Mary, waving her over. "Put Elizabeth over there with the others. They're waiting to play hide-and-seek in the hedges with her and Charles. We will have lunch in fifteen minutes. The children all love to play before they eat."
Anne cautiously placed Elizabeth down and watched her run towards the Brandons.
"Do you play with them?" she inquired, sitting next to Mary.
"Of course!" answered Mary, offering her a plateful of fruit. "They love it when both me and Charles join in their games. They will play Knights and Damsels, run around and try to push each other over, but their favourite game is hide-and-seek."
"If you don't mind me saying, you seem more calm and cheerful now that you're in Westhorpe Hall rather than in Court. Apart from my daughters, who else do you and Charles foster? I'm sure many nobles would want their children raised by the both of you. Is that Edward Seymour, Viscount Beauchamp I see with your sons over there?"
"Yes. He is engaged to Mimi."
"It's sweet that you give your children shorter names."
"It can avoid confusion between me and my namesake. Viscount Beauchamp's younger sister and brother, Lady Anne and Lord Henry, are also in our care. They are both in the nursery with the younger children. Catharine! Join us! Catharine Willoughby and Richard Compton's children are also with us, as both Catharine and Richard."
"What is she doing here?" said Catharine, eyeing Anne with disdain.
"I invited her," replied Mary. "She is the mother of Elizabeth and Eleanor. You may dislike her, but please do it in private. Lady Anne is a guest and I expect her to be given the proper courtesy that is shown to a Countess. Lady Anne will be dining with us and perhaps staying the night. As a mother yourself, you understand the love a mother has for her own child."
Catharine nodded and smiled thinly at Anne.
Anne nodded back politely.
She was a Countess-wife of one of the most powerful and wealthy Earls in all of England-while Catharine was nothing but a Baroness in her own right and a Baroness Consort.
"I always wanted to meet you," Catharine admitted, looking directly at Anne. "My mother had constantly told me about your witchy powers and it was your fault that the King broke with Rome and Queen Catherine was put aside. I guess I just accepted her word without questioning it. You always fascinated me if you don't mind me saying. Are you Catholic or Protestant? Many people said that you were the servant of the Devil."
"I'm…" Anne hesitated.
All the other ladies had looked up from their needlework and watched her.
"You are dismissed," said Mary, gesturing for them to depart.
Anne gave Mary a grateful smile as the ladies shuffled from the pavilion, disappointed. They had clearly hoped to hear more about the controversial Anne Boleyn (now Percy).
"I am…Protestant," Anne confessed, a little shamed as she felt Mary's stern blue eyes stare through her
like the piercing eyes of a hawk. "Ever since I was young, I always questioned Catholicism."
"It is true?!" gasped Catharine, astounded.
"At least you are truthful," Mary said reasonably to Anne's astonishment. "Not everyone would admit that they're a heret-a Protestant when they talk to a Catholic. I imagine that you're a fervent Protestant like I am a devout Catholic? I'm pleased that you are faithful to your religion. Catharine, you look very surprised. Didn't you know that Anne is a Protestant?"
Catharine gaped at her open-mouthed like a fish.
"What are you ladies talking about?"
A sweat-infested Charles staggered into the pavilion, a grin on his face and joy and cheerfulness radiating from his presence like the sunrays.
"We were introducing each other," said Mary, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Come and sit. Have you finished chasing the children around the garden? I noticed that our Charlie and Harry had tackled you done a couple of times! Charles, you remember Anne? She insisted on coming to Westhorpe Hall with her own carriage rather than to join us coming here together. Catharine and Anne were getting to know each other before you interrupted us."
"My pardon ladies," said Charles with a laugh, sweeping them a deep bow.
"Mama!" said Mimi, running towards them as fast as her legs could carry her. "Mama! Eleanor had fell over and hurt her knee!"
Instantly, Mary, Charles and Anne were by Eleanor's side, comforting the distressed girl.
"Don't cry," said Anne, carefully taking a look at Eleanor's injured knee. "It isn't too bad. I can fix it for you with a little magic! Do you like that, Eleanor? Do you want to see some good magic? I can heal you in a few seconds, dear one!"
Eleanor nodded tearfully.
Anne sang soothingly and gently bandaged her knee. Mary wondered what the 'good magic' was! She glanced at Charles, and he was equally as confused!
"See?" said Anne, helping Eleanor up. "It didn't hurt, did it? You're a good girl. Do you want me to carry you to your room? I know a lot of stories that might interest you. I know many magical spells too if you want to hear them."
Eleanor nodded enthusiastically.
"What exactly is this magic?" Mary couldn't help asking.
"Songs and lullabies," Anne mouthed at her, as she picked up Eleanor and began walking towards the manor. Mary nodded and watched them go.
"When do you think we should give Elizabeth and Eleanor back to her?" inquired Charles. "She is no longer a threat to the King, and is now the Countess of Northumberland. If Henry VIII refuses to acknowledge them as nothing more than his bastards, she should be granted custody over them. They are her children. I love having Elizabeth and Eleanor around, but don't you think Anne would love to have them under her care? She is their proper mother, and they need to see their Percy half-siblings. Do you think Northumberland will agree to be stepfather to Anne's children? Are you willing to give up your young half-sisters to Anne?"
"I don't think we'll be allowed," Mary murmured.
Charles sighed and kicked a pebble to the other side of the gardens.
Elizabeth followed Anne into the chambers she shared with Eleanor and watched their mother sing to calm Eleanor down. What will happen to us? Elizabeth thought. Our father never wants to see us, and our mother may not be allowed to visit us anymore. Will we have to stay with Mary and Charles forever? Will we be confined in Westhorpe Hall for the rest of our lives?
Anne noticed her, and gestured for her to join her and Eleanor.
"I'm happy to see both of you again," she said, embracing both Eleanor and Elizabeth tightly. "I saw you many years ago when you were both very little. I don't know when I will see you in the future. If it's the last time I see you, I want you to know that I will always love you and watch you from afar. Even if I'm in a different kingdom, I will always protect and visit you in your dreams."
"Tell us a story!" said Eleanor eagerly.
"Once, there lived a handsome Prince," Anne began. "The most youthful and athletic Prince that was
born in all of Christendom. He was loved by all the people, and when he became King, he married his widowed sister-in-law, the beautiful and intelligent Princess from Spain. Together, they had six children, but God found it fitting to take five of the six children to be with him by his side. The King soon changed and decided it was time to marry a younger woman, who would bear him sons. He fought with his wife and left her heartbroken while he married the new love of his life."
The two girls leant closer.
"She was hated by the people," Anne continued. "Everyone thought of her as a witch, a she-wolf or a wicked enchantress. Even though she was loved by the King, the woman was unhappy and wanted to be with her true love, a mere nobleman. She only had two lovely Princesses before she was cruelly discarded for another lady, who would eventually fall to the King's wrath one day."
"It's King Henry VIII!" exclaimed Elizabeth.
Anne nodded sadly.
"You were the second wife!" said Elizabeth, pleased with herself.
"Marry for love," Anne advised, caressing her flaming red curls. "You are young yet, but see what marriage to a powerful King can do? My family pushed me to accept the King's passion and proposal to be his Queen, but it led to devastating consequences. I hope the both of you will find men who love you for what you are, and not for your position and wealth. You will understand eventually. For now, enjoy my story as a sad fairytale and nothing more."
"I will always love you!" vowed Elizabeth. "Even if I marry a loving man and have children, I will always put you first in my prayers and love you with all my heart!"
Mary and Charles's children:
Katharine 'Kate' Brandon (1533), Charles 'Charlie' Brandon (1534), Henry 'Harry' Brandon (1535), Mary 'Mimi' Brandon (1535), Isabella 'Bella' Brandon (1536), Elizabeth 'Bess' Brandon (1537), John Brandon (1538), Eustace Brandon (1539), Thomas 'Tom' Brandon (1540).
Anne Boleyn's children:
Elizabeth Tudor (1533), Eleanor Tudor (1534), Anne Percy (1539), Henry 'Harri' Percy (1540).