Chapter XIV
August, 1527
There was rejoicing and celebrations all over England and Spain. Henry VIII and Catherine were ecstatic and overjoyed with the news.
Archduchess Catharina and Princess Mary have both given birth to sons!
Catherine and Henry VIII were grandparents!
Both the Princess of Wales and Princess of Asturias had survived as well.
Princess Mary named her son Philip (Felipe in Spanish) after Archduke Charles's father and swore that her next son will be named after Henry VIII. Archduchess Catharina named her son after her husband, the Prince of Wales and Henry VIII.
"Another Henry," said Henry VIII happily. "How can we identify them?!"
It was decided to call the little Prince Heinrich (German of Henry).
Joanna was curious at her new nephews.
She was only ten years older than them.
There was news from Portugal.
Apparently, Isabella was pregnant with her first child.
Catherine didn't know whether to be delighted or worried.
Her two older children already had sons and now her third child is pregnant.
In a couple of years, Christina and Blanche will both be mothers. They were both fourteen and quite young to have children. Soon, Princess Margaret, William, Elizabeth and Joanna will be all married and will have their own children. Catherine hoped her daughters will survive childbirth. It was quite common amongst Queens and Princesses to die in childbirth more than wives and daughters of peasants. Catherine knew that there's always the risk of it, and wanted to warn her children about it, but knew that Henry VIII would laugh about it.
Men never understand this.
The House of Tudor is officially secure.
The Duke of Norfolk watched from his place of honour as celebrations continued.
Next to him was the Countess of Wiltshire.
"Catherine broke the betrothal," Lady Boleyn commented. "She decided to use you and then betray you for her own family."
"I know," grumbled Norfolk.
"What's your plan now?"
"I'm sorry?"
"It had been years and you didn't have your revenge yet!"
"You're very observant."
"What are you going to do?"
"Have revenge on Catherine."
"When?"
"Once the King goes to visit his daughter in the Netherlands. I'm sure he wants more children and grandchildren aren't satisfactory for him anymore. I'm sure you understand the necessity to move your children from France to the Netherlands. "
"Yes. I understand."
"Good. How old are they?"
"You can hardly call them children anymore! It's time for you to organise marriages for them. Mary is twenty five, Anne is twenty three and George, twenty one. I believe you mentioned a couple of times that the Careys are interested in one of our girls."
"The Careys aren't exactly the most powerful family in England."
"They are rich and influential though."
"Related to the Percys, I believe?"
"Yes. Unfortunately through the maternal line."
"Hmm. I suppose the Careys do seem desirable now."
"One of them, William Carey, is a favourite of Henry VIII. He's been created the Earl of Portland and
made a Knight of the Garter. He also has a slight line of royal blood in his veins. Through his mother though, not his father."
"I suppose it should be Mary."
"Exactly. The Careys might appreciate a handsome dowry."
"What?"
"If we give the Careys a dowry of a thousand pounds, they'll owe us for the rest of their lives. What do you think of that?"
"I don't trust the Careys."
"Really, Elizabeth? Why not?"
"They might betray you."
Norfolk nodded slowly.
His plan was too delicate to involve new allies.
He could only trust Oxford at the moment.
Norfolk stood up.
"Where are you going?" asked Lady Boleyn.
"To congratulate the royal family," answered Norfolk. "I need to let them know that the Howards are still loyal supporters of the Crown. Oh, and to remind them that the Howards still exist and will still be receiving favours hopefully. I have a feeling that the King had forgotten about us. Hopefully he'll give one of us the post of Captain of Calais or any other important post. Perhaps you can remind your extremely uncooperative husband about his family promises."
Lady Boleyn nodded.
Norfolk went to the royal table.
There was a special feast that day, and the premier nobles had to give up their seats.
"Norfolk!" said Henry VIII happily.
"Your Majesties," said Norfolk, bowing. "Your Royal Highnesses. On behalf of the Howards, we congratulate you on your grandchildren."
"Thank you, Your Grace," said Archduchess Catharina pleasantly.
Harry viewed Norfolk with suspicion.
He never trusted the Howards.
The Duke wondered whether Catherine told him to be mistrustful.
"Yes, thank you, Your Grace," agreed Harry.
Catherine watched the Duke cautiously.
He had a granddaughter, around the same age as Heinrich.
Will he want her to marry him?
She swore to herself that Heinrich won't marry a Howard girl. He'll make a brilliant marriage to the advantage of England and Spain. She would be thrown in the Tower for working for a Spanish advantage, but what can she say?
She is a Spanish Infanta.
The Duke bowed and departed.
Henry VIII hurried after him.
"We need to talk," he murmured. "It's regarding my illegitimate children. I heard some rather disturbing news about Matilda from Italy."
The Duke's mind was reeling with plans.
"What happened?" inquired Norfolk.
"She conducted herself with the worst behaviour ever," grumbled Henry VIII.
"Oh no!"
"Oh yes, she seemed to have no dignity."
"What does the Pope say?"
"He wants to send her back to England. He said that unseemly behaviour won't be accepted in Italy any longer. Besides, Matilda finished her education. We need to get her married to someone at once. An illegitimate foreign Prince won't want a bride who has no sense of dignity. Do you have any idea who we can marry her to? I'm also looking for a wife for Edward. He's only ten, but a wife will be needed. Not many nobles or royals will want their daughter to marry the illegitimate son of a King! I'm asking a great favour of you, Norfolk. You don't have to agree, but I really wish for you to! I'm hoping that a member of your family can marry Edward."
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty?"
"Perhaps you have a Howard girl to be future Countess of Pembroke?"
"My Howard girls are at your disposal."
"I don't want to treat them like horses, but is it possible if I can inspect them? I want a perfect Howard for my Edward."
"Why, of course!"
"You're a good man, Norfolk."
He patted the Duke's shoulder and went back to the royal table.
Norfolk didn't know whether to be pleased or annoyed.
The King wanted a match between a Howard and his bastard!
At least the bastard's half-royal.
He had hoped for a royal Prince or Princess, but a bastard would do.
After the feast, Norfolk summoned all the senior Howard members to tell them the unexpected news about the young Edward Tudor's marriage to a Howard girl. Catherine won't be happy, but the King of England himself requested it. Norfolk was relieved that there was no talk about a marriage between another Tudor bastard and a Seymour or a Neville. Norfolk promised himself that he'll bring Oxford's family into greater prominence once the Howards reached their height of power and hopefully stay there without falling into disgrace.
Norfolk talked to other Howards discretely.
At the end, it was decided on the girls closest to Edward's age.
Another clause was to choose them closer by blood to Norfolk himself.
A couple of days later, Henry VIII visited them in Norfolk Castle.
"The girls are lined up for your inspection," said Norfolk pleasantly. "Would you like to inspect them first, or have a bottle of ale?"
Henry VIII laughed.
He wanted an intelligent and beautiful lady for Edward.
Secretly, he wanted a mistress.
Catherine would be hurt, but he had his own desires.
He was loyal and faithful to Catherine for years, but he couldn't contain it any longer.
A man had to prove he's still capable of having children!
For a moment, Henry VIII hated Catherine.
Why did she have to be so weak?
It was hard to believe that a daughter of the Catholic Monarchs would choose her own life rather than duty to bear children till her death. Duty had been drilled into Catherine since she was a young girl, and now she shied away from it!
Henry VIII grew unhappier by the minute.
He thought about Edward.
An earldom's not enough, he thought. My son needs more than an earldom, even if he's not a legitimate son. Catherine will be hurt if I give him a royal dukedom. Perhaps I should make him a Marquess instead. A noble one, not a royal Marquisate.
"Norfolk," said Henry VIII thoughtfully.
"Your Majesty?" said the Duke, pulling out a chair for him.
"What do you say to a Howard girl being a Marchioness?"
"I don't understand, Your Majesty. I thought you said she'll be a Countess-"
"I changed my mind."
"Your mind, Your Majesty?"
"I'm going to give Edward the title Marquess of Pembroke!"
"What about the Queen?"
"Don't worry about it, Norfolk. I'll please her at the same time. Edward won't be a royal Marquess, just
a noble one. The premier Marquess of England."
"Of course."
"Where are the Howard ladies?"
"If you follow me, Your Majesty."
Norfolk led the King to the great hall, where all his nieces and grandnieces (around the same age as Edward Tudor) stood waiting.
They curtsied when they saw the Duke and the King.
Henry VIII eyed them.
Norfolk had conveniently left them as simple as possible.
Henry VIII's eyes fell upon a girl with auburn hair and blue eyes.
She could be passed off as a daughter of the Catholic Monarchs.
She was the exact image of a younger Catherine.
He felt his heart swell with desire.
"Norfolk," Henry VIII whispered. "Who's that one?"
"Lady Margaret Howard," the Duke murmured back.
"Who's her father?"
"My brother, Lord Edmund."
"Edmund Howard? How did he and Jocasta produce such a beautiful creature?! I believe Lord Edmund is still in Calais at a time like this! He seemed to be a hard working man the last time I saw him. It's about time I reward him! I can't have the future Marchioness of Pembroke the daughter of a penniless Howard lord, now can I? I also wish to see his other children. They must go to Court! I believe Lady Jocasta married before, am I right?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. To a late, Sir Ralph Leigh, I believe."
"They must come to Court as well!"
"I'll send for them immediately."
"I want them here in two days at the most! Would you mind if I stay the night here? I wish to sort out the betrothal as quickly as possible."
"Be my guest, Your Majesty."
"Good man!"
Henry VIII stepped out of the great hall.
Norfolk followed him out.
Henry VIII glanced around.
"What is it, Your Majesty?" said Norfolk slyly.
"I want to have children again," he admitted. "Catherine won't be able to have anymore, so I might have to be unfaithful to her. You might take this as an insult, but hear me out. I really want an illegitimate child that has Howard blood."
Norfolk froze.
There were calculations in his mind.
He could always improvise…
"Give me a day," he decided. "And tomorrow, you'll be astounded at what will show up!"
Henry VIII laughed.
He was in a good mood.
A wife for his son, and a mistress for himself. In Henry VIII's eyes, nothing could be more perfect than that! Apart from a certain things.
Like France falling completely to England.
Princess Margaret sat by the window, sewing quietly. She had never been the same since she returned from her terrible ordeal from Scotland.
A sense of dread crossed her.
In three years' time, she'll return to Scotland permanently.
Since Princesses Mary and Isabella left for the Iberian kingdoms, Princess Margaret had been the eldest
daughter of the King in England. She sat away from Elizabeth and Joanna. She didn't want to trouble them with her worries and fears. Princess Margaret knew that her childhood was ruined, but she didn't intend to ruin their childhoods.
She stayed away from her brothers.
Of course Harry spent most of his time in Ludlow Castle with his wife, and now son.
Richard and Arthur were occupied with hunting and other manly sports, but Richard would occasionally sit and talk with Christina of Denmark. Arthur hadn't paid a great deal of attention to his wife Blanche at the moment, but he might in the future.
Princess Margaret put down her sewing.
She had sewed continuously for a while now.
I don't want to go, she thought. I don't want to go back to Scotland.
To her, Scotland was Hell.
The Duke of Rothesay was the Devil himself!
"Margaret," said Catherine, sitting on a chair, next to her. "You seem to be rather quiet these last couple of months. Are you thinking of Scotland? Don't think about it. You will have three Christmases to celebrate before you leave England. Scotland will seem scary to you know, but by the time you have your own family, you'll call it your second home."
"I don't want to go," Princess Margaret said miserably.
"You have too!"
"Why can't Elizabeth or Joanna go instead? Elizabeth is younger than me and she'll be an Empress of a prosperous empire! Why do I have to be Queen of a barbarous, tiny kingdom? Isabella and Mary are Queens of great kingdoms! Mother! Why can't you stop this marriage?! You are the Queen of England! You can tell the Scots that you changed your mind and you don't want me to marry the Duke of Rothesay! I don't want to marry him! I'd rather marry a Habsburg Prince or Archduke and live in Spain or the Lower Countries wherever my future husband is. Anywhere there, will be sunnier and brighter than any palace or castle in Scotland!"
"I don't want to anger the Queen of Scots anymore."
"Mother! You'd rather see me slaughtered by the Queen of Scots than appeal for my happiness, and perhaps my life?! Is it just because you have another four daughters to spare? Joanna will probably be the most happiest girl in the world."
"Joanna will be nothing more than a Duchess! You'll be a Queen!"
"She doesn't have to leave England!"
"She does!"
"The Duke of Orleans is born and raised here! With an older brother in France, the Duke of Orleans has no need to go there, and my Lord Father will find it more safe if Orleans stays here! Mother! Joanna will be in England forever!"
Catherine was silent.
She had underestimated Princess Margaret's intelligence and knowledge of politics around England and the palace. The Duke of Orleans will most likely remain in England for the rest of his life as a political hostage. If he's lucky, he might marry Joanna. Henry VIII hadn't thought of marriage plans for Joanna yet, but had thoughts on marrying Joanna off to the Dauphin of France, who's father was penniless, degraded and almost kingdom-less.
Catherine herself wouldn't approve of the match.
Even though Joanna's her youngest, she still deserves to be a Queen consort!
If worst comes to worst, Catherine promised herself that she would arrange a match between Joanna and an Archduke of Austria, or an Infante of Spain. In her eyes, any Habsburg is better than a second son of a penniless and defeated King.
Princess Margaret stood up. She had never felt this angry and frustrated at her mother before. She had always admired Catherine, but at the moment, she was furious. Catherine won't lift a finger to help her from a loveless marriage!
She excused herself (rather icily) and left a bewildered Catherine by herself. Princess Margaret wandered through corridors, uncertain of her destination. She only knew to get away from Catherine as much as possible. She wished she could choose a husband of her choice and live anywhere she wanted to, not in a cold, bleary Scottish castle.
"Hello there!"
Princess Margaret turned around, and saw a handsome, young man smiling at her.
"Why, it's Her Royal Highness, the Princess Margaret!" he said, bowing. "Pardon me, Princess! I failed to recognise you without your entourage of ladies and guards! May I ask why a little Princess is by herself wandering in the corridors?"
Princess Margaret was speechless. She had never seen such a witty, good-looking and youthful man in her life before! The only men she saw were her father, brothers, cousins, her tutors and the stern-faced men of her father's Council. Henry VIII never allowed his friends to see his daughters (in fear of abduction and assault) and forbade them to make any contact with them. He also feared his daughters would fall in love with commoners like how his sister Mary did.
The man flashed her another charming smile.
Princess Margaret blushed.
"I'm Lord George Boleyn," he introduced himself. "I'm sure you've heard of my uncle, the 3rd Duke of Norfolk? He's my mother's brother."
"Lord George," Princess Margaret said shyly. "I'm afraid I haven't heard of you before. Indeed, I do know your Lord Uncle, the 3rd Duke of Norfolk. My father doesn't allow us girls to meet his male courtiers often. We never really saw them."
George Boleyn smiled again.
More to himself than to the Princess.
The English Court seems rather fascinating, he thought. The first person I happen to meet is the Princess Margaret herself! That can make the Boleyns and Howards rise to the stars, or fall to Hell with our heads on plates being served to the King.
I found this story while looking through old documents and decided to continue it with another chapter. Please review :)