Elizabeth had not realised how much she had missed Annie until they were walking in the gardens engaging in court gossip. Usually Elizabeth didn't care for such things but listening to Annie talk about it made Elizabeth feel at ease. Elizabeth didn't have to be serious when she spoke with Annie, they could act silly and childish with one another without fear of judgment. It didn't mean Annie was silly or frivolous. In fact she was quite clever as many underestimated Annie thanks to her mask of childish innocence. Elizabeth couldn't use childish innocence as a mask as her eyes always gave her away. Annie always told Elizabeth that anyone who looked into those dark brown eyes would know that Elizabeth was wise beyond her years and such wisdom could not be hidden.
Elizabeth could already tell her cousin George possessed that same trait as he was constantly observing what was happening in court and asking many questions. He had already made friends with Lord Hertfords' children. Edward Seymour obviously didn't think the boy was a serious threat and his wife Anne Seymour was highly amused by George Staffords' charming ways. Lady Hertford had privately asked Mary Stafford if a betrothal agreement could be arranged between George and one of her daughters but Mary Stafford politely declined.
Elizabeth could tell her Aunt Mary Stafford was uncomfortable dealing with the Seymours and Elizabeth could hardly blame her given their shared family history. However Elizabeth tried to be civil with Lord and Lady Hertford as they were the strongest supporters for her mothers' vision. Elizabeth had once suspected it was just a ploy to be in her fathers' good graces but after listening to Anne Seymour speak passionately about her various charity projects Elizabeth view of her changed. Edward Seymour on other hand Elizabeth would never trust. In Elizabeths' mind he was just as bad as Norfolk in the way he used Jane to secure his position in court and then abandoned her when she was no longer useful. Elizabeth may not have liked Jane but Elizabeth knew enough to know that Jane was just pawn and nothing more.
"Jane doesn't look much like a Queen." Annie commented as they walked through the gardens.
"She's not a Queen now." Elizabeth corrected, "She's the Dowager Queen."
"What did your father ever see in her?" Annie continued to comment, "Aunt Anne was ten times the woman she is."
"How would you know?" Elizabeth was beginning to be tired of this conversation, "You've never met my mother."
"I know you." Annie smiled at her cousin and linked their arms together as they walked. "Come on Lizzie, you don't have to pretend with me say what you really feel about her."
"You want to know the real truth?" Elizabeth turned to cousin with a serious look on her face. "I pity her. She didn't choose my father. As far as I can tell she never even loved him but she married him as her family wished. I don't think she has been happy for a long time."
"It still surprises me how you could be so diplomatic and mature about this." Annie herself couldn't imagine how she would feel if she was in Elizabeths' position. Although Annie's mother had been a mistress to the King of France and given him a son, Francis never even looked at another women when Mary was in the room. When Queen Eleanor conspired to kill Mary the King had the Queen banished for daring to harm his love. Annie had been lucky but Elizabeth was not so lucky as her mother died at her fathers' hand all for a woman he did not love.
"Believe me Annie I didn't always feel that way but someone showed me that holding onto such bitterness wasn't the answer." Elizabeth blushed, thinking of Hal and the moment they had shared.
"This person must be really special if he has managed to make the Princess of England blush." Annie noticed Elizabeths' blush and instantly wanted to know who had gotten Elizabeth so flustered. "Tell me."
Elizabeth quickly looked around to see if anyone was listening. When she realised the coast was all clear she spoke quietly, "If I tell you will you promise not to tell a soul, not even your mother." Annie nodded after realising how serious Elizabeth was. "Henry Brandon."
"The Duke of Suffolk?" Annie was very surprised, "I thought his father was an enemy of our family."
"His father maybe but Henry is not like that." Elizabeth remembering the wrongs Charles Brandon had committed against her mother. "He's like no one I've ever met. He's humble, kind and honest."
Annie listened as her cousin spoke about Brandon. From the way Elizabeth had talked about him it was clear that she was in love with him but something bothered Annie. "What about the Prince? What about Charles?"
"I don't feel that way about Charles. I've never have done." Elizabeth spoke sadly not wanting to disappoint her cousin as she always favoured Elizabeth and Charles getting married. Most of France was in favour of the match and it could still happen depending on what marriage her brother would arrange. The very thought filled her with dread. It made Elizabeth wonder if this is what Henrys' mother had felt when she was forced to marry someone else. "I've tried to make myself love him the way he loves me and I can't do it."
Annie knew Elizabeth had tried. Annie saw how Elizabeth would laugh and smile with Charles. To anyone who didn't know Elizabeth everyone would assume there was genuine affection between the Prince and Princess. To a certain extent there was but it wasn't love Annie could see that now. "And do you love this Henry Brandon?"
"It doesn't matter what I feel. I doubt my siblings would allow it." Elizabeth looked away sadly and continued their walk.
"You're that certain?" Annie didn't know Elizabeths' siblings' that well. King Edward was a sweetheart and adored Elizabeth. The Duchess of Richmond was more serious but Annie could tell she loved her sister dearly. "They would support the match if you asked them."
"I'm a Princess and a Princess must marry for duty not for love." Elizabeth spoke solemnly. They both continued their walk in silence. Elizabeth may have accepted defeat but it didn't mean that Annie did but then she did promise not to speak of this to anyone. Elizabeth had trusted Annie with this secret and she didn't want to break her promise.
Mary Stafford wasn't certain why the Duchess of Richmond summoned her to this private meeting but she assumed it must have been important. Mary was still surprised at the significant change in Mary Tudor, gone was the naïve woman who blindly believed in her mothers' words. Now Mary Tudor seemed jaded. The Countess of Boulogne could only imagine what the woman had seen in Spain to make her lose faith but Mary Stafford paid it no mind. The only thing that mattered to the Countess was Elizabeths' future and what Mary Tudor had planned for her.
"Firstly I must apologise Lady Stafford for judging you too harshly." Lady Mary Tudor began, "As a child I didn't want to believe that my father would willingly hurt me or my mother and I was looking for someone else to blame. Even after your sisters' death I was unwilling to admit to myself of how cruel and harsh he could be."
"He was your father my lady." Mary Stafford spoke with sympathy, "I myself tried to make excuses for my own fathers' actions but after what he did to Anne or more precisely what he didn't do to help her when those vile men made those accusations I could no longer make excuses for him."
Mary Tudor had almost forgotten about Thomas Boleyn. Despite Henry's many faults Mary doubted her father would use her or Elizabeth so callously in the way Thomas Boleyn used his daughters. "I agree madam your father was a horrible man but he wasn't working alone. Despite his banishment your uncle is not without some power."
"What has he done now?" Mary Stafford should have known her uncle wasn't one to just give up.
"Nothing yet but has some power with the Catholic faction." Lady Richmond explained.
"Forgive me my lady," Mary Stafford stating her confusion, "but I was under the impression that you were a devout follower of the Catholic Church."
"In some ways I am." Mary Tudor confirmed, "My mother was deeply devout and it stood to reason that I would follow her example. However despite my mothers' devotion and all the ways she suffered for her religion the Pope turned against her. He proclaimed her liar to all of Europe and that is something I cannot forgive. Though I still do not understand the ways of the Reformation I can understand its appeal given the corruption I have witnessed."
"You tend to find my lady that where there is wealth there is corruption." Mary Stafford had learned that from her father. The higher he rose the more corrupt he became. Thomas Boleyn had become a complete stranger to Mary by the end.
"Very true madam." Mary Tudor agreed, "As I said before the Duke of Norfolk has many allies within the Catholic faction and I fear he intends to take my place in acting as regent."
"How does he propose to do that?" As far Mary Stafford could tell Lady Mary Tudor was popular with both commoners and locals. Mary Stafford couldn't see how he would gain enough support to overthrow the Duchess of Richmond.
"By gaining Catholic allies." Mary Tudor revealed, "Mary of Guise has been mentioned and I believe she has been in talks with King Henry of France about having her daughter the Scots Queen fostered in France."
"I won't deny your grace that the King has been in talks with the Dowager Queen but he hasn't decided yet." Mary Stafford was fully aware as Catherine Medici had written to her about it. Catherine wanted to know what Englands' reaction would be should they accept such an offer. "He didn't want the alliance with England to be undermined."
The Duchess of Richmond seemed pleased with Mary Staffords' answer. "I'm glad to hear that which is why I would like his majesty King Henry to accept Mary of Guise's offer."
"Your grace I fear I don't understand." Mary of Guise was making secret deals behind Englands' back and the Lady Mary Tudor seemed to be letting her do it.
"I would much rather have the Scots Queen be raised by someone England can trust." Lady Mary Tudor explained, "Also in a show of good faith I'll consider a match between my sister and the Duke of Olean. However I'll only consider the match after the Scots Queen has married my brother not before. Do you believe his majesty the King of France will find this offer acceptable?"
"More than acceptable your grace." However Mary Stafford wasn't sure if she found the match acceptable for her niece. It was well known that Charles Valois had many mistresses. Mary wasn't certain that her niece had the temperament to deal with that as her mother certainly did not. However Mary Tudor only stated that she would only consider the match, she never fully agreed to it and that was if she intended to agree at all. Hopefully King Henry of France would not pick up on that technicality.
Anne Stafford who had just returned from her walk had heard what her mother and the Duchess were discussing. Annie knew Elizabeth had no wish to marry the Duke of Olean. Annie was surprised her mother would make such an arrangement without Elizabeths' knowledge. If anyone deserved to know it was Elizabeth and with this in mind Annie went to inform her cousin of what had transpired.
When Elizabeth heard of the arrangement she was beyond furious. If anyone knew what it was like to be used as a political tool it was her sister and yet she had arranged for Elizabeth to married off. Elizabeth wondered if she may have done something to anger her sister in someway but she couldn't think of anything. The only way for Elizabeth to find out what she was thinking was by talking to Mary herself.
Mary had just finished making the final arrangements when her sister had barged in the room with a look of fury on her face. "How could you?"
Mary was confused by Elizabeths' behaviour. "I don't understand what you're referring to sister."
"The betrothal to Charles Valois." Elizabeth snapped, "How could you agree to this without consulting me."
"Where did you hear this?" As far as Mary knew she had only discussed this with Mary Stafford just before Elizabeth had barged her way in. There was no way the Countess could have informed Elizabeth so quickly. Someone had to have been listening in on her conversation.
"Do you deny it?" Elizabeth wanted to believe that Annie was mistaken as her cousin had no reason to lie to her.
"I don't deny I discussed the possibility of a betrothal but I didn't officially agree to it." Mary explained to her sister, "I wanted ensure France's loyalty and offering a betrothal seemed the best way to go about it. I told your Aunt that I'll only consider the match until after our brother had married the Scots Queen."
Elizabeth was almost relieved that her sister hadn't fully agreed to it but something still bothered her, "What happens when our brother marries her and France expects you to deliver? What then? They would expect you to keep your word."
"If Mary of Guise has her way I highly doubt the marriage would come to pass." Mary of Guise already put the betrothal in jeopardy when she asked the King of France to take her daughter into their care. "The Scots Queen has Tudor blood running through her veins and is being raised as a Catholic there is no way the Pope would want her to be married off to a Protestant King when she could claim the throne in her own right."
"You would trust the French to not aid the Pope in his quest to have her conquer England for the Catholic Church?" Although Elizabeth had many friends in France both Catholic and Protestant both had tried to influence her into joining their side. Elizabeth wasn't sure if Mary of Scots was mentally equipped to deal with such intrigues.
"I trust them more than I trust my cousin the Emperor and we both know if France refuses she could easily be sent to Spain." Mary seriously didn't want that to happen. While France wanted to make allies Spain wanted to conquer and the Emperor had England in his sights. "The arrangement is only to allow us to build our strength until Edward reaches his maturity to take on the responsibility himself. Hopefully by then we'll be able to thwart any plan the Pope may have involving Mary of Scots but that won't happen if we're at odds with one another."
"I understand sister." There was some logic to what Mary was saying but she was still bothered by not being informed of her sisters' motives. "I just wish you would have told me. I'm not a child anymore and I wish to help my brother in any way I can."
"I suppose you're right." Mary agreed sadly, "Though it is hard for me considering it was me who took care of you all those years ago when you were so small."
"I wasn't sure you liked to remember those times." At the time most considered it an injustice for a Princess to look after a Kings' bastard like a simple maid but Mary seemed to care for Elizabeth all the same.
"Though I wasn't fond of the circumstances," Mary admitted freely, "you were the one bit of joy I had during those trying times. I would never see harm come to you then and I definitely won't let that happen now."
"I'm sorry for doubting you Mary." Elizabeth approached her sister holding her hands in hers. "I'm just so used to looking over my shoulder that it is hard for me to trust even those that are close to me."
"I know and understand what that is like sweet sister which is why we must band to together now more than ever." Mary spoke seriously, "There are those out there who would try to divide us but we cannot let that happen for our brothers' sake and for England."
Elizabeth nodded her head in agreement. Maybe it was foolish to over react like she had done. She should have known that her sister Mary wouldn't betray her like that but she had let the fear of being forced to marry someone cloud her judgment. There was still the possibility that she would never marry Henry Brandon like she wanted. Elizabeth had already told Annie that there was a possibility of marrying for duty rather than love but like her sister Mary had already informed her saying you will and actually doing are completely different.
Mary Stafford was no fool. When Lady Richmond came to inform her that someone had heard their conversation it wasn't hard to figure out who that person was. Annie had been acting strangely ever since her walk with Elizabeth so it was no surprise to Mary that Annie had heard everything and told her cousin. Mary didn't know whether to be proud of Annie's loyalty to her cousin or annoyed that she didn't have enough sense. "Annie I could understand you were trying to be loyal to your cousin but if you had just come to me I could have explained to you the full situation. In politics not everything that is said should be taken at face value."
"Well I'm sorry Mama I was not born a daughter of a King, then maybe then I would understand it." Annie muttered sarcastically getting really tired of her mothers' lectures. She tried to listen to her mothers' lessons but she hadn't grasped them as quickly as Elizabeth and George had.
"I will not hear you insult your fathers' memory like that." Marys' love for Will Stafford may not have been as intense as her love for Francis but he had given Mary the confidence to stand up for herself. "Your father may have been a common soldier but he understood human nature very well. He understood my fathers' true motives and tried to save me from it."
"And yet you're still with us Lady Stafford." The Dowager Queen Jane walked in with a woman who glared angrily at Mary.
Anne was going to ask who this woman was but Mary had recognised her instantly. "Cathy?" Katherine Carey had only been a little girl when the Careys' had taken her and Henry from Mary claiming that she had been an unfit mother.
It was clear from the look on Katherine's face that what the Careys' had told her of her mothers' past hadn't been good. "Hello Mother." Katherine greeted coldly.
"I thought it was only right I brought mother and daughter together." Jane said smugly to Mary. "I had hoped to bring Henry Carey to meet you but he wanted nothing to do with you."
If Jane's intention was to hurt Mary then she succeeded. Annie tried to squeeze her mothers' hand to offer comfort but Katherine had no comfort to give. "So this is my half sister set to inherit Boulogne but I don't see my bastard brother the Duke of Calais anywhere. It amazes me Mother how kind the late King was to other people's bastards but not his own. Where's my brother Henrys' title Mother?"
Mary Stafford clenched her hand into fists in anger at Katherine's accusations. She was about to comment but Lady Richmond had arrived and she was not happy. "That is where you're wrong Lady Carey. My father was happy to give me a title as a reward for my loyalty. Henry Carey despite your family's claims is not my fathers' child and I'm surprised that the Dowager Queen would support you in this folly." Mary Tudor gave Jane a cold look of her own.
"That was only at Anne Boleyn's request." Katherine defended. "She didn't want anything getting in the way of her marriage to the King."
"You're wrong." Mary Stafford growled. She didn't know what lies the Careys' had told her daughter but it had to end now. "I asked Anne to speak on my behalf. I told your father at the time that the child I was carrying wasn't King Henrys' but your father did nothing to stop my father and uncle from trying pass off my boy as the Kings' son. I didn't even want to name him Henry but my father insisted that it would be easier to convince the King that he was his. Anne was the only one willing to stand up for me and she took the blame when the King refused to acknowledge him."
"You lie!" Katherine raged. "My family told me…"
"Your family are nothing more than greedy vultures." Mary Tudor snapped at the woman. "It is obvious to me they have raised you to be the same. Fortunately Henry Carey isn't that callous and warned me of your attempt to guilt your mother into disinheriting Anne in favour of you and so I have rewarded him by making him the Earl of Wiltshire. Mary Stafford is Thomas Boleyns' only living heir after all aside from Elizabeth of course but I sure she wouldn't mind. You won't mind Lady Boulogne if I offer your eldest son your father's title?"
"Not at all your Grace." Mary Stafford was stunned that her eldest son would try to intervene on her behalf.
"Of course Wiltshire wasn't the only Earldom that the late Thomas Boleyn had possessed before his death." Mary Tudor continued, "I believe he was also the Earl of Ormond if I'm not mistaken." Mary Tudor turned and smirked at Katherine Carey. "Best of luck in Ireland Lady Ormond." Mary Tudor knew most courtiers hated accepting titles in Ireland as the locals were unruly especially after the Reformation. Most of the monasteries were too poor to be corrupt and many still followed the Catholic faith. Mary knew Katherine would hate it there.
Mary Stafford obviously felt sorry for her eldest daughter but she knew if she offered Katherine any help she would only be pushed away so Mary remained silent. After Katherine had left the Dowager Queen tried to slink away but Mary Tudor wasn't going to allow that. "I told you Jane what would happen if you tried to cause problems for England."
"It wasn't my intention Lady Richmond to cause problems." Jane defended innocently. "I was merely trying to reunite Lady Boulogne with her family."
Mary Stafford didn't believe that and clearly Mary Tudor didn't believe it either. "Don't bother trying to lie my lady. It was important for my brother to forge a good alliance with the Staffords' as they are duel citizens of both France and England. You almost jeopardised that by bringing that woman here. For that reason I'm banishing you to the More so you won't cause further harm to my brothers' rule."
Mary Stafford was stunned that Mary Tudor would make such a decision. Annie Stafford didn't understand the significance but she could tell by the look on Jane's face that it can't have been good. Jane couldn't believe she had failed to put Mary Stafford in her place and not only that got herself banished. Her brother had warned her to not to push her luck and that is what she did. Now she was forced into exile away from her son to that terrible place where Queen Katherine of Aragon had met her end.
After the Dowager Queen and Annie had left. Mary Tudor couldn't help but turn to Mary Stafford. "Something bothers me about what you said to Lady Katherine."
"What is that your grace?" All Mary Stafford wanted to do was forget that horrid encounter but Lady Richmond couldn't be avoided.
"You were only my fathers' mistress very briefly and then you married Lord Carey shortly after." Mary reasoned trying to put the pieces together. "Lord Henry Carey was born fairly early that's why many assumed he was my fathers'. So if he was not my fathers' child and he is not Lord Careys' whose child was he?"
Mary Stafford didn't want to divulge that secret to anyone but it had been so long ago. "Your father was a petty man. After he had lost his wrestling match to Francis at the Field of the Cloth of Gold he thought he could take something that was precious to Francis."
"King Francis loved you even then?" Mary Tudor learned of how close Lady Boulogne had become to the King of France from Elizabeth but she didn't think it was going on as long as that.
"He tried to hide it with his distasteful comments about me but King Henry saw right through him." Looking back on it Mary Stafford couldn't decide if she was more mad at King Henry or herself for being manipulated so easily. "He took me to his bed then married me off to some minor Lord. My son Henry was born shortly after."
"He's King Francis son." It explained where her father got the idea to use George as a hostage to trade for Elizabeth.
"I thought I could shield my son from the shame of being a bastard by giving him my husbands' name but neither my family nor the Carey family were satisfied. They wanted the rewards." Mary Stafford explained, "I know it's unfair that George gets the titles and wealth of being an acknowledged bastard of the King but at the time there was nothing I could do. As soon as my husband died the Careys wasted no time in taking my children from me, including a child they could never be sure was their own blood."
At this moment Mary Tudor couldn't help but feel sympathy for the woman and Henry Carey as she knew what it was like to be separated from her mother. "Do you plan on telling him the truth?"
"What purpose would it serve?" Deep down Mary Stafford believed her son deserved to know the truth but at the same time she didn't want to hurt him anymore than she already had. "As long as he is safe and happy that is all a mother could ask for and I want that for Katherine too. She may hate me all she likes but I would never want to cause her pain."
As Mary Stafford left Mary Tudor couldn't help but think of what her own mother would have wanted for her daughter. Would she be disappointed that her daughter was no longer a princess or would she be like Mary Stafford pleased that her daughter was safe and happy.