Hello how are you! How was your New Year, mine was great. I just know the Anne lovers will love this chapter lol.
ANONYMOUS AND REGISTERED REVIEWS ARE REQUIRED!
Characters & Tittles & Descriptions: Hair, Skin, Eyes, Build
Henry Tudor-King Of England_Dark Brown/Auburn, Tan Pale, Dark Hazel, Light/Med Build
Jane Seymour-Queen Of England_Blonde, Pale, Blue, Slim
Edward Tudor-Prince Of Wales_Blonde, Tan Pale, Light Hazel, Infant
Catalina Of Aragon-Queen Of Spain and Holy Roman Empress_Black, Pale, Pale Blue, Slim-Curvy
Maria Trastamara Barquette of Aragon-Grand Duchess, Her Divine Grace & Heiress Of Brookfield_Brown, Pale, Hazel, Slim
Clarence Barquette Jr.-Grand Duke, His Divine Grace & Heir Of Brookfield_Blonde, Tan Pale, Cash Gray, Light-Med Build
Clarence Marion Barquette-Grand Duke, His Divine Grace Of Brookfield_Brown, Tan Pale, Hazel, Small
Lady Elizabeth Tudor-Brookfield Resident_Red, Pale, Brown, Small
Thomas Cromwell-Lord Secretary and Earl Of Essex_Black, Tan Pale, Dark, Light Build
Thomas More-Lord Chancellor_Dark Brown, Tan Pale, Dark, Light/Med Build
Isabella (Tudor) Trastamara Of Aragon-Princess Of Spain & Holy Roman Princess_Auburn, Olive, Blue, Small
Nicolàs (Tudor) Trastamara Of Aragon-Prince Of Spain & Holy Roman Prince_Black, Tan Pale, Blue, Small
Alejandro Trastamara Of Aragon-Prince Of Austria & Holy Roman Prince_Black, Olive, Hazel/Honey, Infant
Alejandro Of Aragon-Prince Consort Of Spain & Holy Roman Emperor Consort_Black, Olive, Hazel/Honey, Med-Large Build
Angelina Trastamara Of Aragon-Princess Of Spain & Holy Roman Princess_Black, Olive, Honey, Infant
Persèus Troy-Princess Of Monaco_Black, Olive, Green, Slim-Curvy
Thomas Wosley-Cardinal_Black(Graying), Tan Pale, Blue, Light Build
Charles Brandon-Duke Of Suffolk_Dark Brown, Tan Pale, Dark Brown, Med Build
John Seymour- _Brown/Graying, Pale, Dark Brown, Husky
Edward Seymour-Earl of Hertford, Viscount Beauchamp of Hache_Brown, Pale, Brown, Light Build
Thomas Seymour-Lord High Admiral_Black, Tan, Blue, Light Build
Clarence Barquette Sr.-Dux Divine (Latin: Divine Ruler) Of Brookfield, Divine Duke, His Diviness, Protector Of The Land_Brown, Tan Pale, Light Gray, Large Build
Richard Barquette (Second Son Of the Dux Divine)- Grand Duke, His Divine Grace_Blonde, Tan Pale, Light Gray, Small
Christendom Palace
October 20, 1538
HDG Maria Barquette
My son's hazel orbs peered into mine as he suckled my breast.
"He has your eyes." Clarence said as he watched us.
"Yes he does, he has your tanned skin, your wonderfully made chin and his eyes may turn from hazel to light gray, like yours my love." I said as I kiss Cans.
"We are parents now, everything shall change for the both of us." he said as he caressed Cans' head.
"I Know, Mamie will have her hands full with both Bess and Cans." Bess usually gets the most of Mamie's attention, now she has to share with Cans. Cans stopped his suckle as if he felt I was thinking of him. He then yawned and I close my chemise. I place baby Clarence on my shoulder and gently pat his back.
"Clarence, I need you to be in his life. Not just visiting him from time to time. I need you to teach him how to be a man. Do not be like my father and only come sometimes." I said sincerely. In truth, the last thing I need is an absent father for my children. Clarence knelt down in front me.
"Maria my love, I would never become anything like your father. I will be in our son's life, in every child you give me. Even our daughters, I shall be so happy when we have lovely daughters who looks just like their mother. I would love to teach my girls who to do things, as much as I teach our sons. I refuse to be a 'sometimes' father, I shall be there for all of you everyday of my life." he said proudly. I had tears in my eyes. Clarence has been acting more proud than usual. Being a father makes him see life very different.
"Promise." I whispered to him as he moved close and kissed me. I had my heart shattered by a man I trusted with my whole heart before, I could not go through something so horrible again.
"Promise." he said as he kiss Cans on the top of his head.
"I love you so much Clarence." I said to him as I peered in his eyes. He caressed my cheek.
"I love you more than you shall ever know." he whispered as Cans burped. I handed him to his father. He gurgled lightly as he changed hands.
"He is so very beautiful, Maria." Clarence said kissing Cans head.
"If God pleases, he shall be followed by more beautiful children." his eyes lit up when I said that. Cans is but four days old. My physician and Dr. Carlos said I will be churched in a two days and fully recovered by November 30th. Clarence and I shall be patient until then. I gently rocked him in my arms as Mamie, Bess and Richie enters our bed chambers.
October 22, 1538
St. Edwards Cathedral
Lady Suffolk
St. Edward's cathedral is filled with nobles on each sides of the wall. The cathedral is one of the largest cathedral in England as of yet. I was told the seating held exactly 2,000 people. Nearly 1,200 of those guests are Brookfielders. His Diviness granted Clarence and Maria's request to allow the christening to take place outside of Brookfield. Although baby Clarence is in line for the throne of Brookfield, Maria has many close friends and supporters outside of the wall. It would be a great risk to allow all of the outsiders in Brookfield, it was very wise for them to christen baby Cans in a place were both side are comfortable being. His Majesty was kind enough to allow the christening to take place on the English side of the wall. Charles told me in confidence that the royal council urged His Majesty to allow the Brookfielders to christen their heir in St. Edward's Cathedral. He also says that the King fears the child Maria has given Clarence and fears that there shall be soon an uprising. I assured Charles that Mary would do no such thing. He told the King that I was to be the child's Godmother. Her Majesty was delighted and His Majesty invited Charles to a long meeting with his council. They were speaking about me and my personal relationship with Maria no doubt. I paid no mind to His Majesty, when he is fearful he can be unpredictable.
The cathedral is an hours ride east of London. The structure was built from gray stones that were carved from a Scottish quarry from what I hear. Early this morning when I enter, I was taking back by the decor of the church. The high windows brought the spears of beautiful sunlight in the church. The people in charge of decorating the church has done a good job. Flags of Clarence and Maria's family hung low from the ceilings. The walls are beige and the divine and imperial coat of arms were placed on the walls. The hard wood floors are polished like mirrors.
Thankfully the ceremony finally took place and it is my turn to walk down the aisle. As I look around, I see the proud faces of the Dux Divine and Grand Duke of Brookfield. The Divine Duke looked on as I held baby Clarence. His hazel eyes peeked through his tiny eye lids. The guests looked on as I neared the bishop. Thomas was asked to be Clarence Godfather four days ago. He gladly accepted and now joins me in our ceremonial walk to the divine bishop. Everyone gazed upon us, especially the King and Queen. After a few words from Sir Thomas More about showing her father kindness Maria eventually allowed them to attend. She knew her father's fear of her revenge, even though she is well within her right to march on London she said she would not and it would weigh heavily on her conscious. Though her father does not know that.
His Majesty looked on in awe as I carried the grandson he most likely will never meet. His Diviness gave me a reassuring nod as we finally made it to the alter. The ceremony began. The bishop nodded as I held Cans over the alter as he spoke.
"Who her brings this here unto God?" the bishop asked.
"We do." Thomas and I said in unison. Cans gurgled as I held him. He wore a christening gown Clarence and his brother wore on their christenings.
"Will you in good faith raise this child as a good Christian?" the bishop ask kindly to His Divine Grace.
"Yes." Clarence answered as he stood up. The bishop then made the sign of the cross on Can's forehead. Then it was my turn to made the sign of the cross on his forehead, his Godfather followed. The bishop then prayed for the child's soul, his parents and Godparents. It is now time for the Grand Duke to join us in front of the bishop.
"Do you renounce Satan and his dark practices?" the bishop asks.
"I do." we all said.
"Do you believe in God and place all your trust in him.?" his voice asked again.
"I do." we say again. He asked other question about the child's faith. We answered accordingly. Soon the bishop was handed the holy chrism oil. He poured the chrism oil over Clarence's forehead. Clarence's wails was loud and rang all throughout the cathedral.
"I baptize you, Clarence Marion Barquette in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit." the bishop said proudly. Everyone clapped. After a few minutes the bishop raised his hands and all is quiet again.
"Good Christian people, it is now time for the second anointing." The bishop said and I again stepped forward. This time His Diviness and His Divine Grace stepped forward. Clarence gently took Cans from my arms and I kissed his small pink head before to took my seat with my husband. Charles smiled and took my hand. We looked on as the second anointing took place.
"Today we have witnessed the christening of His Divine Grace Clarence Marion Barquette, and now we shall witness the anointing of a child of the Divine Bloodline and of the Barquette dynasty." the bishop said as a priest handed him chrism oil. He held it up as he spoke.
"With this oil, I anoint you, Clarence Marion Barquette Grand Duke of Brookfield, second heir in line for the throne of Brookfield." he said as he poured the chrism oil over my God sons soft brown hair. This caused Cans to squirm in his fathers arms. He let out gurgles and small cries. Soon the bishop began his final speech.
"This child we hold today is a child of the divine bloodline. He is a descendant of the royal houses of Barquette, Trastamara, Plantagenet and Tudor." he said. I looked over at King Henry and Her Majesty placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. The bishop then continued.
"He is the great-grandson of Isabella of Castile, Ferdinand II of Aragon. King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth of England, all now passed. His Grandmothers are the Holy Roman Empress Catalina I of Spain and the Holy Roman Empire and Her Diviness Graceland Barquette of Brookfield, now passed. His grandfathers are the Holy Roman Emperor Alejandro of Spain, His Diviness Clarence Barquette Sr, Divine Duke of Brookfield and King Henry VIII of England. Clarence Marion Barquette he younger shall one day be the most powerful man in Europe, if not he world. Let us bow our heads in prayer." he finished. We prayed and t was the conclusion of the ceremony. His Diviness prepared a onderful ball in celebration of his first born grandson. His Majesty left soon after the ceremony and my husband quickly followed.
Before the ball, Sir Thomas More, priests, bishops, the Imperial ambassador, nobles of the Brookfield court, Clarence, his father, my mother and myself traveled to Christendom Palace, and to their Divine Graces bedchamber. Maria was sitting up in bed. She adorned a silk red robe with soft black embroidery. I held baby Cans safely and securely
in my arms. Richard and Elizabeth stood quietly with their governesses. As Godmother, it was my duty to safely hand over Cans to his mothers' awaiting arms.
"My son." Maria whispered as I hand him to her. It was ten in the morning and the priests and bishops began to pray as mother accepted child. After Maria was churched, everyone left except Thomas More, Clarence, his father and myself. The Divine Duke sat on the side of Maria's bed and gently kissed his grandsons head.
"Well done Maria, you have made me so proud of you." he said softly to her. She looked to him and smiled.
"Thank you father." she said in return.
"I must go now and attend the ball in honor of a male heir to my throne." he boasted softly getting up from the bed.
"I wish I could attend also but alas, I am still quite sore." Maria said His Diviness softly petted Cans head and kissed Maria on her head.
"All is well Maria, soon you shall be recovered." he said affectionately. After a few minutes of conversing, His Diviness left to attend the awaiting guests. I, feeling like an intruder quietly left leaving little Cans to his parents.
October 23, 1538
Roxburghe Scotland
Lady Roxburghe
The gardens this time of year are absolutely beautiful. Johnny sat in my lap playing with a toy lion carved from hard clay. I kissed his head as his imagination captures him. We sat in the garden near the water fountain. John is with his advisers this morning. He allowed his mother to visit her grandson. They were not on good terms, his uncle asked him to allow his mother to see her grandson and for his uncles sake he allowed.
"Lady Roxburghe." my mother in law said as my son gurgled.
"Madame." I said as I turned Johnny to face her. A look of awe came over her face.
"He is so beautiful and handsome." she remarked not taking her eyes off of him.
"Thank you Madame, do you wish to hold him?" I asked and her eyes widened.
"Yes." she breathed. Gently I handed him to her. She gasped as she held him. Though Johnny squirmed and fussed a little but quieted down when she bounced him gently.
"He likes that." I said caressing his cheek.
"How old is he?" she asks caressing his rosy cheeks.
"He has made nine months on the eighteenth. Has John not told you?" I asked confused.
"No...as you probably have noticed, my son does not talk to me regularly." she is correct. During my and John's marriage, he rarely spoke of his mother.
"Well I am sorry to hear that, may I ask why?" I was very curious as to why.
"I wish I could tell you but I do not want to spoil this happy moment with my grandson." she said kissing him.
"I hear that your daughter is a member of the divine family in Brookfield." she inquired. I smiled, My little girl cross my mind everyday.
"Yes, she shall be a very intelligent and good woman." I said borderline boasting it.
"Ah yes, young lady Elizabeth. Shall she visit you or will you be going to her?" my mother in law asked. My smile turned into a straight line. All of Scotland knows that the former Queen of England now lives in their realm, but only a handful of people have knowledge of the circumstances I am to abide by.
"I was ordered by His Majesty of England to never set foot in England again. Never to see my daughter again and to never have contact with her again." I said sadly.
"Oh my Lady, I...meant no harm. I had no idea." she said truly sad at my situation.
"I know, it hurt very much. Though I know one day she shall know that I am here." I said to her. She nodded and came sat down next to me. We talked all afternoon, and had lunch outside. At six her carriage came, she picked Johnny up and hugged and kissed him. She kindly thanked me for the visit and she departed.
At seven John came from his office and smiled as I breastfed our son in our bedchambers.
"How is he?" John asked as he kissed me and gently ruffled Johnny's hair.
"He is fine and behaved well for his grandmother." I said as John's face went unemotional for a second then he smiled.
"He's a good boy." he said smiling.
"John?" I asked wondering if I should bring this up.
"Yes sweetheart." he said as he sat the foot of the bed.
"Why do you not speak about your mother?" he stilled as I mentioned his mother.
"Anne, you may ask me anything...but that." he said in a low voice.
"John. I only want to help." I said softly.
"Did my mother asked you to.." I cut him off quickly as he shot up from the bed.
"No! She did not." I said a little louder than I should have. He sat back down on the bed and put his hands on his head.
"When I was 14, my father died. I was devastated. As his heir I was supposed to become the fourth duke of Roxburghe. My mother had a lover my father never knew about. When he died, she argued that she should remain Duchess of Roxburghe and her lover, the duke. Once they married of course." I gasped at hearing this. "Before my father was in the
ground, my mother petitioned King James to allow her lover to be the next duke of my fathers dukedom. His response was that the dukedom is rightfully mine and that if I signed it over to my mother only then shall she have it. When I heard of this I marched to her chambers and found her with her lover. They were...kissing. Of course they immediately stopped and stood at my presence. I wore my armored breast plate and a sword at my hip. I ordered her to tell me why she has betrayed me. She said that she did not betray me and thought I was too young to rule a dukedom. I told her that 'it was no longer her business to make those kind of decisions.' I yelled at her for it. Her lover raised up and slapped me for speaking out of line to her and raising my voice. I hit him back and we fought. Mother did nothing but scream at us to stop. When the guards came to break us up I was badly
beaten, but my mother went to his side instead of mine.
-FLASHBACK- (John Kerr POV)
"Mother!" I yelled as the guards helped me up.
"You little shit! How dare you touch me! I am the Duke of Roxburghe." my mothers lover Thomas Colt sneered.
"How dare you usurp me, your Lord." I shot back.
"John please, you are too young to rule Roxburghe." mother said holding Thomas back.
"You are supposed to be my MOTHER and you betray me. You betray my father for years and now you wish to betray me!" I screamed as tears ran down my face. The love I had for her turned to rage and hate. In an instant I cared nothing more for her.
"Please my son, Thomas shall rule in good and kind, you shall learn from him." she tried to reason with me but I will have none of it.
"Yes so when you give him a son he shall slit my throat in the night. Yes, you would like that wouldn't you!" I sneered.
"That is not true and you know it." she cried.
"My father trusted you with everything and you repay him by spiting on him during your marriage. You are nothing but a WHORE!" I yelled to the top of my lungs.
"Boy! Watch your words or I shall cut out your tongue!" Thomas seethed as he took a step further. I unsheathed my sword and pointed it at both of them. He had not worn his sword today and my mother gasped.
"You are nothing but a lowly whore, and you Mister Colt shall be punished immediately. Guards!" I yelled for them. Ten guards filed in and bowed to me.
"Yes My Lord." the head guard said to me.
"Lady Alice Kerr is no longer allowed on the grounds. Mister Colts shall be brought to the king on suspicion of murdering the late Duke of Roxburghe." I said in a deathly calm voice.
"No! You can not, please." my mother screamed as the guards dragged her out. Thomas Colts struggled all the way out. I was seen by the doctor and suffered a broken nose. After I was treated I had the maids move my things in my fathers rooms. I have had my mothers things burned and sent the ashes to her. Two days later my father's funeral took place. I was told that my mother screamed and cried at not being allowed to come. My mother's brother became my regent. I am very fond of him he taught me where my father left off in how to rule a successful dukedom. He passed every decision by me and had me in council meetings after my father died.
-ENDFLASH BACK-
"Over the years, my mother would send letters and gifts to me. She and Thomas Colt continued to be lovers when he was released from jail and went to Ireland. He was imprisoned for a few days until the royal council found no proof of my accusation. My mother bore him a daughter, then a son. A few years later he kept my half brother in Ireland and did ended their relationship. They never married. When I found out he took my brother away, I sent soldiers to Ireland to search for my brother. Two months later he was found and brought to
me. Mother begged to see him but I said no. Then to father punish her, I took my sister from her also. She sent me a lot of letters though I did not respond to them. My uncle sat me down and asked that I at least allow her visitation with them. I eventually agreed, though I made sure not to be present during her monthly visits. She visited monthly until they were of age. Thomas is 19 and Adrianne is 22. They leave and visit her at her home now. Today was the first day in a year she has visited." John finished his lengthy story of how he began to hate his mother.
"When was the last time you saw her?" I asked and he pinched his nose.
"Fifteen years." he said I opened my mouth to speak but he cut me off. "And I would like to keep it like that." he said as he leaned in and kissed me. Johnny squirmed as he was pressed between us. We laughed and put him to bed. John kissed me and he and I began to make love.
I enjoyed writing about Cans' christening and second anointing. Maria knows that her father fears her, though she has already decided that attacking him will weigh heavily on her conscious. Her mother would probably disapprove, and the Pope would be disappointed in her. Maria does not want to hurt her people more than her father already has. She is content with her life and wishes not to stain it.
Some of you has been asking about Anne Boleyn. I decided to write her in this chapter. Even though she is a wealthy Scottish duchess even she has family problems. Her husband is based on a real person though I borrowed him from history. Anne's husband has severe mother issues. His mother tried to usurp him when his father died. Poor boy. He has overcame and now has a family of his own. His maternal uncle speaks to John about his mother and John has recently as today allowed his mother to see her grandson, though John makes sure that he is nowhere to be seen when she comes.
I hope you all enjoy chapter 45. Please read and review, I would like to know your opinions. Happy Holidays.
