Chapter 49:
"Henry, what do you think the new Queen is like?"
"I thought you already met her Edward."
"I did, but what do you think she is like?" Richmond looked to his young brother and smiled.
"I do not know. Mary seems to know her, you should ask her." Edward shock his head and then nodded. "What is it Edward?"
"Does Mary like me?" Fitzroy screwed his face in confusion.
"Why would you ask that Edward? Mary is your sister, she loves you, we all do."
"It is just I never see any of you, and Mary least of all." Henry sigh and moved so he could be closer to his brother.
"I know Edward, and I am sorry. It will be different now I promise."
"How?"
"I think the King will let you come to court a little more often and the is less to occupy us now." A small smile crossed the child's face. Moments later Elizabeth and Mary were announced in the Duke's chamber.
"What are you doing the King and Queen are expecting us?" Richmond looked to his brother and then to Mary.
"Edward was just wondering what the Queen was like. I told him I do not know." Then the Prince spoke.
"Henry told me that I should ask you dear Mary." His sister sat beside him, smiled and stroked his hair.
"She is very nice Edward. She is a good woman." The boy smiled and Elizabeth interrupted.
"Can we go now before the King is angry with us?" Richmond and Mary laughed and stood. "Are not Jane and George coming with us?"
"No, they are sleeping." Fitzroy picked up his brother and made his way to the door.
"The past few days have worn them out." With that said Mary encouraged her sister to the door. The walk to the King's privet chambers was short and joyful. The siblings chatted amongst themselves and they occasionally nodded their heads to a bowing courtier. As they arrived at the doors in the greeting chamber the usher stood in front of them rushed in side and as quickly as that returned to say the King was ready to receive them. Fitzroy put down Edward and quickly adjusted his fine clothing. The Prince was the first to entre and seemed excited for some unknown reason. As the room came into full view a pair of unexpected guests were sat at the King's table. All four of the siblings bowed and Edward then ran towards his father at the head of the table and took a free seat next to him. Elizabeth took the other free seat next to the King. The guests were sat in the middle the table on both sides. Next to them the only remaining free seats and then the Queen.
"Mary, Henry please sit done." The King gestured to the free chairs. The man stood and pulled out the empty chair next to him.
"Please allow me Lady Mary." Mary stepped forward and sat on the chair next to him.
"Thank you Lord Hartford." The King then looked back to his son and gestured again. Fitzroy walked around to his seat and smiled.
"Good evening your Majesty, Lady Hartford."
"Good evening your Grace." Anne Seymour's eyes were fixed upon Richmond.
"Good evening your Grace, your children will not be joining us?" Henry turned his head to look at the Queen.
"I am afraid not your Majesty, they are very tired." Fitzroy smiled and the Queen responded.
"What a shame, I was so looking forward to get to know them. They seem to be so sweet." Unexpectedly Lady Seymour was the one to answer the Queen.
"That is very true your Majesty. The entire court are always enchanted when the Lord Carlisle and Lady Chester are in public which is so far and few between." Lady Hartford then turned to face the King. "Your Majesty is truly blessed with such precious children and grandchildren." The King grinned and proclaimed.
"I thank you Lady Hartford. I thank the Lord our God to have such happiness and thank him more for the grace has shown me in delivering my beloved wife to me." Edward Seymour was then the one to respond.
"The Lord is ever bountiful but I cannot think of any Prince more deserving of his Grace your Majesty."
"I thank you Edward and I can only hope that I remain so deserving." Then an array of dishes were presented to the group. "Now lets eat." The group broke off into smaller conversation but to Fitzroy's horror the Queen and Mary became engrossed in talk and the King, Prince, Elizabeth and Seymour were speaking amongst themselves. That only left him with Lady Anne.
"So your Grace, you have become quite a family man or so I am told... over and over again."
"I have always been a family man my Lady. Funny I have always seen it in your husband also. Such a family man." They looked to the Earl. "Too bad that he is not with his own children. How many do you have now four or five?" Anne's face turned to hide her emotion.
"Five ... but our oldest died when he was two. Edward ... he became even colder after that." The Duke felt an over whelming feeling of guilt. "He has two other sons from his first marriage but he refuses to recognise them." In a soft tone Richmond replied.
"That would be his first marriage to Miss Catherine Fillol."
"Yes."
"Why you telling me this?" Anne did not answer the question. The King had had enough and wished to retire to a more comfortable chair. Henry had interacted with everyone but when they were distracted he pulled away Anne to continue their conversation. "Are you going to tell me what you want or not?"
"I want my children to be safe and I want to be safe."
"Rather difficult with a husband like yours my Lady."
"Yes, but a friend like you could make it happen."
"Let me tell you something my Lady. My Lord Seymour will be a growing force within our realm for a number of years to come. Helping you will not happen tomorrow my Lady and never happen at all, but do not think that the possibility of such a momentous favour does not come with a price." The woman looked at the Duke before and smiled. She looked to the room that they were hidden from to check that no one could see them. She rose herself onto her toes and kissed him for the second. As their lips parted Lady Anne smiled and whispered in his ear.
"What fun we could have." With that Fitzroy wished to throw caution to the wind and pushed her to wall. They began to kiss furiously and only stopped when a noise startled them. However, they were luckily and were able to return to the party undiscovered.
