Please don't kill me. I am sorry! I really did not want to write what I have written, but the story dictates that I do so. Again, I am sorry. Please, I am begging you. Don't kill me!! I have had this planned for months, ever since the wedding. I am so sorry, to anyone who likes Laetitia, and I expect that this is most people... however, things are not over yet... not by a long shot...

December 1555

Mary Knollys let out a strangled cry as she read the letter. The letter was a long one, but only one sentence stuck out.

Your Sister, Laetitia, my wife, The Queen Consort of England, Ireland and France drowned, trying to escape an assasination attempt and--

The rest of the letter didn't seem important. Mary threw the letter aside and got to her feet, tears running freely down her cheeks.

"Mary?" The voice of her brother, Henry Knollys, her eldest brother, born in 1542, the year after her, came from the door

Mary did not initially respond. Why should she? None of her siblings got on as well with Laetitia as she did, she was the only one who was allowed to call her sister by her childhood name of "Lettice". The King was the only other person to have that permission, well, other than the Princess Jane.

"Mary?" Her brother called again

She grudgingly got to her feet and opened the door, revealing her brother, Henry Knollys, still dressed in his hunting gear. Henry, despite being a year younger than Mary was almost the same height as Mary, however, he unlike Mary, was more rotund than the rest of their siblings.

"Mary? Are you alright?" Henry asked, embracing his sister

"I-I should be fine," she assured him, smiling "How is the King?"

"Distraught," Henry replied, shaking his head "He was devastated at her death"

Mary nodded, it was good to see that the king still cared for Laetitia after their brief marriage.

"Will you leave court?" Henry asked

"I do not know," She replied truthfully "I might leave, but only for mourning. Once I am done mourning then I will return. The Princess Jane will require someone to look after her"

"She has other ladies," Henry informed her

"Yes," Mary replied "But The Princess, like her father and mother, is a stubborn girl. A stubborn girl, that only likes people that her father trust, and since I am her care-giver. The King tells me who I am not allowed to be near the Princess. Ever since Sir Thomas kidnapped the Princess in March"

Henry blushed "I do not know what I would do if the Princess was kidnapped. I think I'd panic too much," he admitted, his round face going a bright red

"You think I did not panic? I-" Mary asked, however, whatever she was going to say next was cut off, as she curtseyed "Your Majesty"

"Mary," Edward greeted, lifting Mary from the curtsey "There is no need for that. You have just lost a sister," Edward gave a small smile "I am giving you permission to leave court, until you are done mourning. Then you are welcome back. Whether is is before the new year, or not, does not matter to me"

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Mary murmured, looking quickly up, as to avoid the King's gaze

"Henry," Edward turned to Henry Knollys, who bowed "Help your sister pack. I'm giving her permission to leave court," Edward informed him

"But what about Jane?" Mary asked

"Burst into floods of tears when I told her what happened to..." Edward's voice quivered slightly "...Laetitia," He placed a hand on Mary's shoulder "I'll never forget her, no matter what happens, I promise you, Mary. I will never forget Laetitia"

Mary nodded "You were talking about Jane," she prompted

Edward nodded "Ah, yes," he began "When I told her what had happened to Laetitia, and that I was allowing you to leave court, she burst into floods of tears and went, crying, into Elizabeth's arms.

"I'm so sorry," Mary replied

Edward shook his head "She's a young girl, she doesn't know any better"

Mary chuckled, nodding in agreement "Jane is someone you should be proud of," she informed Edward

"I am proud of Jane. She's the perfect young girl, and I couldn't ask for a better heir" Edward replied, smiling thinly "Her mother would be so proud"

Mary gasped quietly, Edward hardly spoke of Jane, his first wife, and the mother of his daughter, not because he didn't love her, but because it was a subject that was a difficult subject for Edward to discuss.

Edward got to his feet "I'd best be off, Mary. My uncle Edward has not got any idea how to rule a coutry despite being the sister of a Queen and uncle of a King," Edward placed his hand onto Mary's shoulder "I will see you in the new year"

Edward did not wait for a reply before he strode past Mary and reached the door. He stopped there, turning to Mary "I almost forgot. Laetitia wanted you to have this. She was going to give it to you as a new years gift" Edward held out a small box, laced with red ribbon. Mary took it and carefully opened it. She pulled out a small necklace, it was something that she recognised. It was - used to be- Laetitia's. She smiled, hooking it around her neck, feeling the small L and M thump against her neck. Mary remembered Laetitia telling her that it had cost a lot to have made. She held it in her hand and squeezed. No matter what happened, she would avenge Laetitia. No matter what happened, and no-one, especially not her "aunt" Anne Stafford, was going to stop her.

[To Be Continued]