Chapter 20

Mary sat at in her new office with her cousin, the holy roman emperor with her. Between both of them was a document that would seal their countries and dominions together until the end of time. He reads and seems to nod his head every few seconds. Every so often he looks up at her and she nods her head. She pours herself a glass of the wine that they have in the office. She has feeling she'll need it with the long conversation that is soon to follow. There are two things that she has learned about Charles over the years; one is that he is not an overly patient man. She learned that when she was betrothed to him. He couldn't have waited to marry and have heirs to until she turned twelve so instead he married Isabella of Portugal. The second thing that she learned about him is that he overanalyzes matters of state. She knows that she will be in this room waiting for him to finish thinking about her deal for hours. She doesn't see his need to read the statement so deeply. Chapuys had explained to him earlier that day what the contract entailed. It was simply a marriage agreement to ensure a military alliance nothing more nothing less but of course the man of her privy council who she charged with the contract had to be long winded even in writing. She sits up straighter when she sees the man put down the document.

"It's brilliant prima!" He says with laughter in his voice. "Together we can be a force to be feared."

"Then you will not mind if the witnesses are called?" Mary asks praying that the hope doesn't shine out through her eyes and voice.

"Of course I do not. How else are we supposed to get the viper of Borgia out of Papal linens?"

"I'm sure our cause will be heard all over Christendom." Mary says as she waves to the boy at the door to call the witnesses. When the two men entered the room, the monarchs signed the document.

Elizabeth has been furious for weeks. How dare they! How dare Charles yell at her for losing their child! It was not her fault that she was distressed at the death of her father and brothers. She had helped Edward in his studies and was Arthur's godmother. Perhaps her father had not been her favorite person in the world but she still had held affection for him in her heart. She had still loved him and he had died so suddenly and so terribly. Then Mary, perhaps what Mary did was worse than what Charles did, told her the death of her unborn child was for the best. How could her loving sister be such a hypocrite? Mary had told her the importance of motherhood and the love and pain that comes with it. Mary had told her to try and get over it while Mary had two healthy and happy children. Mary has been so happy yet Elizabeth has stayed miserable. Mary has married such a handsome and jolly man while Elizabeth's husband was silent and constantly pensive. Mary was married to a man built like an oak while her own husband was as thin as a willow. Elizabeth fund herself dangerously attracted to Mary's handsome husband, and it almost broke her heart the he only spared her attention to ask about Mary's likes and interests. The only woman he seemed to look at with any sort of longing was his beautiful royal bride. Though he was not the only man, nearly the entirety of the men at court seemed to look at Mary in lust. Elizabeth had a plan to get vengeance for the slights against her. She was not sure if it would work.

When Mary enters into the ballroom, she hears nothing but gasps. She is dressed in the latest style in Europe while all the ladies in court stuck to the old fashion. She was wearing a beautiful embroidered green gown with brown furs. The neckline was lines in lace and pearls and she was wearing a magnificent pearl necklace which had been gifted to her by her late father. But that was not the showstopper on her ensemble; it was a large piece white lace sticking up surrounding her neck and parts of her head. The seamstress who had made it said that it was all the rage in France and made her neck look more long and beautiful. When her husband saw her gown his breath had been taken away. He then had smiled and told her that she had a throat made to be kissed. She then walked up to the main table then sat down next to the emperor.

Elizabeth felt angry and embarrassed. She felt angry that even though Mary was older she still was the most beautiful woman in any room that she walked into and embarrassed that she wore this red dress with a daringly low cut bodice and still no one noticed. How could they when Mary was wearing such an ornate gown. Luckily for Elizabeth the dancing was about to start and maybe that could be a way she can attract attention away from Mary. Her maternal Aunt used to tell Elizabeth that dancing was the way her mother used to attract the King's attention.

Elizabeth has been dancing for an hour attempting and failing to attract the attention of James MacDougal, the new prince consort, when the dancing was interrupted by the announcement by the herald. She didn't hear who was being announced but she moved aside like the rest of the dancers. Two children walk down the newly made aisle both holding a hand of the Bishop of London. One she recognized as her niece, but she has never seen the boy beside her before. He had dark red hair and dark eyes with pale skin. Both children are guided to opposite ends of the table and helped to stand on the chairs.

"Princess Alexandria." Master Secretary Baker states. As he states so Alexandria is helped to stand on the table. "May I introduce you to Prince Phillip of Spain, your future husband."

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