Elizabeth Tudor was a smart child and no one had to tell her something was wrong between her parents before she could figure it out herself. 'Papa is angry' was what she told her governess that morning, but the old woman only insisted that her father was stressed.
"Is mama stressed too?" She asked "Because Mama is sad" The old woman had no reply for the little girl. she led her to her parents chambers for breakfast (Katherine's) and Lily was happy to see both her parents sitting there waiting for her, but she noticed it again. Something was off.
"Good morning papa, Good morning mama" She greeted her parents. James opened his arms for her to hug him and she did. He kissed her softly on the head and looked at her
"Did you sleep well?" He asked
"Very well" She said. She sat in her seat across from her mother who smiled at her and she smiled back. It was awkwardly quiet, she noticed and her papa was not holding her mothers hand like he always did. Mary was brought in and the toddler brought some light into the room with her baby talk. Her parents smiled warmly at her and mama took Mary into her arms. Papa said grace and they began eating.
"May I attend the Kings banquet tonight, Papa?" Lily asked and James shook his head.
"You are still young Elizabeth; I've told you, you may when you turn ten" He said
"Papa, what is wrong?" Lily stared at him with questioning eyes and James was taken back by how sad her little voice was
"How do you mean?" He asked dropping his spoon. Katherine looked at Lily with concern on her face while Mary just sucked on an orange wedge.
"Have I done something wrong?" Lily asked and for the first time that day James looked at Katherine and she shrugged telling him she didn't know what was wrong.
"Why would you think that Lilyflower?" Katherine asked and Lily looked down at her plate
"You never call me Elizabeth, unless I've upset you" James clenched his jaw. He didn't mean anything by it,yes he was in a foul mood, but he never took it out on his children.
"You have not wronged me, Sweetheart. I guess I called you that because I see you are growing up" He said with a small smile on his face, but Lily wasn't fooled
"I might not have wronged you, but something is wrong" Lily went back to her breakfast and Katherine and James looked at one another once more.
The York family ate in silence until the doors opened and the King walked in dressed and ready for his hunting trip
"Brother of mine, it is time we get moving. We want to be back before nightfall and we do not want to come back empty handed" He said.
"Your Majesty" James said getting up. Katherine and Lily greeted him too.
"Sit Katherine" Henry said " My dear niece, how fare you this morning"
"Well Uncle" Lily said
"Papa ook" Mary piped up trying to get her father's attention, she was pointing at Henry
"I see him, Marybell" James said
Mary laughed at his nickname for her and went back to sucking on her orange. Oh! to be a small innocent child.
"Katherine I trust you slept well" Henry asked and Katherine nodded
"I did"
Henry looked at his brother
"You weren't too lonely in the west wing I hope" Henry asked him and he frowned at him because Lily was in the room.
"Shall we, Henry" James said through gritted teeth
"Of course" He turned to Katherine and smiled "I shall see you tonight Katherine. Do come in your dancing shoes, I plan on dancing the night away" James frowned and his face turned a bit red. Katherine noticed and she figured out what Henry was trying to do. She nodded and with that the two men left the room.
"Why would you be dancing with the king and not papa?" Lily asked her mother with a small frown.
"As the highest lady in court, The king expects me to open the dance floor with him as he has not a queen" Katherine explained.
Lily looked thoughtful
"Is the king to marry again?" She knew her uncle had been married once to her mother, then he married her cousin, Elizabeth's mother and then he married Queen Jane, Edwards mother.
"He might" Katherine said as she fave Mary another fruit to eat.
"Would he marry you again?" Lily asked and Katherine looked at her sharply
"I am married to your father, Lily" She said. Lily had tears in her eyes now
"But before you became my mama, you were the queen, Papa said so. You are very pretty and the king might take you away" Katherine handed Mary off to the nearest lady and she got up and went to sit by her older daughter. Taking Lily's face in her hand and smiled weakly at the crying girl.
"No man can take me away from you, your sister and your father." She told Lily "I love you my Lilyflower" Katherine said pulling her into a close hug. Lily held onto her mother and hopped she was right.
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"You refuse to speak with me" Henry said as he rode up to James's side. He had sent the others the opposite way,so that he and James could speak privately.
"I kissed her, you know" Henry said " I came to my senses the other day, Realized how much of a jewel she was and I knew I ruined everything. I missed my chance and now she is your wife." James still ignored him, but Henry kept talking.
"I guess I wanted closure" Henry said.
"Did you get it" James said sounding spiteful.
"I did. I apologize James" Henry said coming to a stop. James stopped too and turned to face him.
"That is twice I have apologized to you" Henry said
"Don't let it become a habit, Henry" James said
"Don't destroy what you have" Henry said " You love her,she loves you. Go to her bed and make your second child" Henry laughed and James frowned at him.
"Katherine probably never loved me for me, she probably thought of you this whole time" James said. Henry's eyebrows creased.
"I thought you were the smart one?" He asked and James was about to opened his mouth, but Henry beat him to it "Don't answer that." He continued "Did you ever think how hard it must have been for her, to open her heart to a man that looked so much like the one that broke her heart?" James said nothing "How can you see all she has done, all she has gone through with you and say she does not love you" Henry looked at his brother and sighed
"The reason she has probably been putting up with me is perhaps because of you" Henry said
"Think about it" He rode ahead and James followed reluctantly. perhaps he overreacted.
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I know it is short, but I've been so busy with school and I wanted to update.