Chapter 37 – In which George, the King and I received unbelievable news
The incident at the country house put an end to my time in Italy. Of course, the whole matter was downplayed. Duke Ercole seemed especially eager to make sure the "sad affair" of his "aged aunt dying in her sleep" didn't cause public acknowledgment. But the entire night had ruined the mood for me, for George, and for everyone, it seemed. Instead of staying until my birthday, I hastily packed my things and told my hosts that, while I was forever grateful for their hospitality, I would now have to return home.
So on my 23rd birthday, I found myself sitting on a vessel somewhere near the French coast. It was damp and wavering and lonely, and I didn't like one second of my journey. Well, except the moment when I opened the parcel Duchess Renee had given me as a gift.
"Open it on your birthday," she had asked of me, and I would do her the favour.
As I unwrapped the folds of cloth, a shining red ruby brooch emerged, accompanied by a letter. It read:
"Dear Princess Mary,
It is with great sadness that my husband and I are watching you leave, for we have considered it an honour beyond words to house you within our home. To welcome you again one day, under more preferable circumstances, would be my greatest joy. In the meantime, I wish you all the happiness for your birthday, and hope that you shall find whatever it is that you wish for. Please accept this little token as a sign of our friendship, for I hope I shall be able to call you a friend just as I once did your stepmother.
This brooch used to belong to my dear mother-in-law, and it is highly unusual for my husband to let go off it, since everything of her is so important to his heart. But once I had told him that you, unlike so many others, were able to see the qualities of Madonna Lucrezia, and that you admired her strength and grace, Ercole changed his mind. He wishes for you to have this, as he believes his mother, too, would have given it to you freely. May you wear it with the same pride as she once did.
With my best wishes,
Renee, Duchess of Ferrara"
Smiling as fondly as I had not in a very long time, I put away the letter and looked at the brooch again. It was simple, yet elegant, and if you didn't know its story, you would have never taken it for something special. But for me, it was. It belonged to a woman whose name went down in history, and I was trying to achieve just that.
As I watched the flickering light of my candle bring the gem to glowing life, I promised myself just that. And as it would turn out, eventually, I would wear the brooch on every major state occasion from now on. Some resourceful historian in the distant future would notice it in pictures, and research its history, and write a lengthy paper about the connections between Mary Tudor and Lucrezia Borgia, I was sure of it. The idea made me smile.
I was here to change the future, and I had strayed from that path for too long now.
I picked myself up, put on the brooch, and went to knock on the door of the little chamber George had received on this ship. He didn't seem particularly happy to see me, but perhaps, it was only the motion of the sea.
"There is something we should speak about… must speak about before we reach the English shores," I began.
He frowned. "I was under the impression that you couldn't tell me what exactly happened that night. Were those not your words?"
"I said I WOULDN'T tell you. There's a difference. I made a promise, and it is better for you anyway," I corrected him. "But this isn't what we need to speak about. We… we need to end this, this, whatever it is that we have. We both know it's…"
Unlawful? Immoral? Going to anger my father?
"Impossible," George concluded on his own. He sighed and drew closer to me. "I do know that, but tell me, Princess… why do you always come to me then? Why must you torment me?"
I withdrew. "I shouldn't have. I know. I knew it wasn't going to end well, yet still…"
"Oh, yes, of course. Another of your mysterious visions," he interrupted me in a very sarcastic voice.
"No, this is nothing to do with… my visions!"
"Oh, but I thought everything did? Need I remind you that YOU came to ME, back then, to tell me what would happen if I didn't help you fake my sister's death? That you drove me away to the continent, ultimately making me a bloody war hero? And now you're telling me that this, this affair between us, was not part of your plan? Why, what is this…"
"Please stop," I begged. "This was foolish, I know, but I'm not perfect."
Angrily, he slammed his fist against the ship walls. "Then tell me what you've seen! Tell me what happens if we continue this."
"I couldn't."
"You couldn't or you wouldn't," he insinuated. "Whatever secret and mysterious connection it is that you have with the heavens, do you not think it is high time you gave me a little more than just glimpses? All this talk of the dark days to come…"
I, too, was feeling somewhat angry now. "It was all true!"
"Then why won't you tell me what you know?" George almost yelled.
"Because you wouldn't understand! You can't understand! It's impossible!"
He came closer in an instant, wrapping one arm around me, his eyes searching mine in the desperate hope for answers.
"Why not? Tell me, Mary, why not?"
"Nobody could understand this," I whispered.
He seemed truly distraught by now. His voice was nothing more than a whisper as well. "Try me."
I breathed in. I breathed out. I pushed away all other thoughts. Then I began.
"I made a pact. With… God, I assume, or maybe… an angel, or maybe the devil himself, I don't know. Actually… actually I have never bothered to ask. I was so sure I could do better, if only I was given a chance. You see, I promised to change the future of England, of Tudor England, for the better! I was certain that with a mind like mine, with my knowledge, I could change things! And I did, I mean I… you… we…"
George remained remarkably calm, but raised an eyebrow. "A mind like yours?"
"A modern mind," I gasped in defeat, and when I noticed the confusion in his eyes, I added: "I was born in 1986."
A moment of silence followed.
"Nineteen…?"
"Nineteen-eighty-six," I repeated nodding. "More than four hundred years from now. I took what I knew and was sent here. See, it is impossible to understand! Nobody would believe me, but I knew it all, not from some dark visions, but from history books! So many sorrows, woes and deaths, and I tried hard to avoid them but now…"
His eyes stared at me like dark hollows. "Four hundred…"
"You wanted to hear the truth, and I warned you, yet you…"
"No, you're right," he interrupted me and let go off me as if he had burned his hand. "I wanted to hear the truth and you gave it to me. You want to end this between us, and I will be gone. Good night, Your Highness."
With these words, he left me abruptly, not even listening to my protest that this was actually HIS cabin that we had been standing in.
I didn't hear another private word from him again during our journey, and would not hear one for many months.
When we arrived back at court, I tried very hard to appear regal and happy and to mask the thoughts in my head, which could easily be summed up in one word: CRAP. But it didn't take me long to work up a convincing pretence, and when I finally saw my father and the Queen again, I didn't have to pretend any longer.
"Mary, my pearl," Henry said jovially and embraced me.
"Your Majesties, I am so happy to be back."
"And we are happy to have you," the Queen returned as I embraced her. "Especially now."
I frowned, not understanding what she meant, but then I noticed the kind of dress she wore, and the way she was holding herself. An involuntary smile forced itself upon my lips.
"You're with child," I exclaimed. "My God, this is wonderful news!"
"It is, isn't it, my love," my father agreed, taking his wife's hand into his. "And you, Mary, must now stay at court to assist and support your stepmother. Just as you did before."
"Of course, Your Majesty, nothing would please me more!"
"Good," he said and kissed my forehead. "Come to me later, so we may speak."
I did just that, not even taking much time to resettle into my own apartments. Whatever he wanted to talk about was certainly more important – and more interesting – than my sulking thoughts about the disastrous end of my relationship with George. Anything but that!
"Ah, Mary," my father said gleefully, turning away from the fireplace he had been staring in. "It is so good to have you back early. Though I was surprised to hear about it. Was anything amiss in Italy?"
"No, no, Father, you needn't worry," I assured him. "Duke Ercole and Duchess Renee were wonderful hosts. You should like to meet them and their children. And the Duchess has spoken with such kindness of the Queen, whom it appears she knows from their shared time at the French court. We are all invited to Ferrara to come and see the wonders of Italy."
Henry smiled. "Good. I would not have been pleased to hear that my daughter has been treated unkindly."
"Not at all. In fact, I'd like to think I have found a friend in the Duchess. And I have also met a man, Father…"
"A man," he interrupted me quizzically. "What man?"
"Not that kind of man, papa," I reprimanded him, shortly forgetting that it was the King I was speaking to. "He's married already. But he is a man of many talents, and well-connected. I was wondering if we might invite an Italian ambassador to court. It might do us well to have a member of the Gonzaga family with us."
The King frowned. "Gonzaga? Not d'Este?"
"Their cousin. His mother was Duke Ercole's aunt. She… she passed away a few weeks ago, and I feel so sad about it, Father. I wish we could do something to help Signor Ferrante. He needs a new perspective."
"And you see him in England? At my court?" My father sounded suspicious, but a second later, he smiled. "Well, if he was able to convince you, perhaps I should have the man investigated. England could do well with some continental friends, after all, you're right. Well done, my pearl. But now…" He opened his arms and smiled even more broadly. "I need your counsel."
"My counsel?" Unfortunately, I wasn't able to hide the surprise in my voice.
"Yes of course, daughter. You have proven yourself to be most able in many regards, and in this especially, I will need your feminine view. It concerns your siblings."
I took the seat he was pointing to, simply saying: "Oh."
Henry, too, sat down and began. "As you are now aware, there will be a new addition to the royal cradle before summer is out. I'm afraid one more will be one too much for Lady Bryan."
"Poor old lady, her two current wards are already a handful," I agreed grinning.
"Yes, they are, aren't they," my father returned, beaming more proudly than ever. "And since Hatfield might be somewhat crowded then, I was wondering who to appoint new governess to your sister. Elizabeth will turn six this year, and she is growing up so fast. Soon, she will need more than a nursemaid, but a woman, a true governess, to teach her how to be a genuine princess – like you."
I blushed, even though I didn't want it. "And Your Majesty has already come up with possible candidates?"
He nodded. "I would have you investigate my list, and tell me what you think. I have not yet spoken to the Queen, for I would not upset her, so if you find any unsettling suggestion…"
"I'll cross it out," I finished his sentence for him.
Henry smiled happily and passed me a piece of parchment to study. I only briefly glanced at it, and seeing the name Champernowne on it, I knew which way history would be going. Should be going. But wasn't I here to find a better way? Sure, Kat Ashley had been good for the historical Elizabeth, but then Elizabeth's true childhood had not been particularly happy, had it? Perhaps I could do better?
"Has Your Majesty considered asking the Marquess of Kensington?"
"What, Catherine?" His features froze.
"Yes. She is known to be very kind with children, and no one knows a princess's education better than her," I tried to convince him.
"No," he adamantly refused. "No, Mary, you can't think that. Catherine would never agree."
"Have you asked her?" I returned. "You have seen her at Christmas, and you have made your peace with her. Is it so hard to believe that she might say yes?"
"Your mother is a proud woman, Mary, and fiercely stubborn. She would never… she wouldn't…"
"What? Raise the daughter of her rival?" I rose from my chair. "While I fully understand Your Majesty's reservation, I think the idea is worth a try. You have not seen what I have seen, how naturally and happily my mother has played with Princess Elizabeth. And Elizabeth, she… she considers Catherine her aunt, and my mother did not object! Why not ask her? If… I just think that maybe, this is what needs to be done for us to truly be a family at last. For my mother to make her peace with Anne's children, and for the Queen to make peace with her predecessor. Please."
I dropped to my knees before the King and took his hand into mine.
"Please, Father, say that you will give it a try."
Henry looked at me in a renunciatory way, then happily, then sadly.
"I don't see how she would agree," he then said in a low voice.
"But you can try, papa. Give her a chance to surprise you."
He seemed to ponder the matter long, and in the meantime offered me to rise again. Then he sighed.
"I only want what is best for Elizabeth."
"And this could be good," I assured him. "My mother's influence helped shape me, and you have no cause to be disappointed in my upbringing, have you?"
"No," he agreed smiling. "You are my pearl, a true precious gem in my crown. I would want no less for Elizabeth."
I nodded. "Then promise me you'll ask her."
Henry rose from his chair and took my hand. "I will, though I shall expect nothing."
"No more did I ask."
"It is a promise, then." The King nodded. "Now, daughter, what say you – what should we name your little brother or sister?"