Chapter 21:
The King had constantly been trying to avoid the Queen in public when ever he could. So when Fitzroy saw her sat alone at that nights feast he and the Duchess Richmond immediately approached her and bowed. Her now very familiar smile beamed across her face.
"Your Graces, please come and sit with me." The young couple took the two free seat to the left of the Queen.
"Your Majesty, how are you today?" Mary's question was truly censer.
"I am very well Lady Richmond. Everyone has been very helpful to me here. I am also very glad that have been able to spend time with the Ladies Mary and Elizabeth and also your Grace." They both smiled and the trio leaned in closer to talk more intimately. "Elizabeth of course cannot help but show the world her grace, beauty and intelligence."
"Luckily for me your Majesty my sister does have the habit of out shining all around her." Fitzroy grinned at the women before him.
"Yes your Grace, is that why you have brothers spend their time with Elizabeth?" Henry's grin quickly disappeared.
"I trust my brothers to look after Elizabeth my Lady and she can teach them about life at court and I always make sure that the King does not see them with her." His domineer became very uncomfortable as knew what would happen if the King ever found out. The three of them continued to talk amongst themselves happily. It took some time for the Duke to pay attention of what was going on around them. When he did he noticed that his sister Mary was dancing with some unknown man.
"Who is Mary dancing with?" His voice was somewhat aggressive. His companions looked out and the Queen smiled and turned to the Duke to respond.
"That is my cousin Duke Philip of Bavaria. He requested to come to England to pay court to Mary which his Majesty agreed to." This had surprised Richmond as the King had never seem too concerned in finding a husband for Mary. The Duke shuffled in his chair watching his sister dancing with this stranger. He then saw this "Duke of Bavaria" limp off the floor. Henry could not help but think that it served him right. However, he then saw Mary following at his heels. He stood to follow the pair but his wife grabbed his arm and pulled his ear closer to her.
"Husband, where are you going?"
"I have to check on Mary and make sure ..." Fitzroy trailed off so not insult the Queen.
"You do not need to so, Mary is an honourable Lady."
"I know this but I do not ..." Again he trailed off as not to insult Anne. He encouraged his wife to release her grip of his arm and he then fought his way through the crowd. As he reached the entrance hall he found Mary and Phillip smiling at each other. When Phillip looked up he saw Richmond seething and so he turned and calmly walked away. Mary did not even notice that Henry was stood behind her. He saw her brush back her hair in a girlish fashion, he had never seen her like that.
"Mary." She spun around, shocked to hear her bother. At that moment Richmond could not be angry at her and smiled at her. "Be careful." She seemed angry at the suggestion. At that moment Lady Richmond and the Duke's brothers came running in on them in search of Henry. The Tailboys boys both red faced and puffy eyed. "George, Robert, what wrong? Why are you upset?". Both brothers stuttered and stammered unable to say the words. Lady Richmond stepped forward to once again take her husbands arm.
"Henry, your mother, she's..." At that moment he saw a letter in his wife's free hand in an unfamiliar hand.
"No, she cannot be ..." Richmond stumbled to the walk and clutched at the door frame in an attempt to catch his breath. His mother had died of consumption the week before. Henry had not seen his mother since she gave birth to her last child. Elizabeth and her final husband had had a total of three daughter's all in quick concession of only a few years. The first Bridget Richmond had met on his reunion with his mother's family the next two had been were quickly after their births as so much was happening. Their second daughter was Katherine and the third was Margaret only months before and Fitzroy had never seen his mother again. The next day Henry returning to Clinton's estate in Lincolnshire with his wife and brothers. Mary and Elizabeth had both asked if he wanted them to come with them but he thought better of it. All them escaped the Duke's carriage in their finest morning cloths. Before them stood their step-father Edward Clinton, their sisters Elizabeth and Bridget in her arms and the two youngest in the arms of two maids. George and Robert stepped forward and bowed to Lincoln and then walked into the house red eyed. Lincoln and Elizabeth both bowed to Fitzroy and Mary and the couple both bowed in return.
"Lady Richmond, welcome." Clinton looked at Henry but seemed to be unable to speak to him. He had always disapproved even though Fitzroy's position improved his own but this behaviour at such a time seemed to be extremely cold.
"Where is my mother?" Lincoln slowly walked into the house. As Henry past Elizabeth he gripped her free hand before continuing on after their step-father. As the Duke entered the privet chapel he saw his beloved mother's lifeless body laid out in front of the alter adorned in white cloth. George and Robert were stood at her side and Henry walked to their sides to comfort them both. After a few minutes they both had to leave because their emotions had overwhelmed them. Richmond looked at his sister Elizabeth Tailboys and tears fell from his eyes. Elizabeth was only a few years younger than his self and she looked so much like their mother. "How can I make this up to them? I took them away from her in her final days." Richmond buried his face in his hands and Mary rushed to his side. Only then did Clinton step out of the shadow of the door way.
"She truly want all to know each other better Henry. I know you think I sent to you to gain favour but it really was what she wanted. Your mother was proud of all of you and you should all know that... And I am also and I am so sorry that I could not say that to you when she was alive." Fitzroy did know what to make of all that Clinton had said but at that moment he did not care of motives. Over the next few days until the funeral the entire family presented a united front. Even though the King cannot attend funerals he sent a letter to the family to offer his sincere sympathy. The King also offered court appointments for Clinton and for Elizabeth to become one of the Queen's ladies which was highly shocking to them all as the King had begrudged allowing Robert and George to court. However, Henry was quick to encourage them to court because he could be closer to his enter family especially his sisters who he had never spent much time with and he did not mind that Lincoln would be coming as well as their relationship had improved through their grief.