Chapter 51:
"Are you well your Grace? You do not seem yourself..." Lady Anne's worry was oddly comforting.
"I am very well my Lady thank you... So when do you meet the Queen?" Richmond was quick to try and hide this anguished thoughts from the visiting Lady whom he had asked for breakfast.
"I am to have lunch with their Majesties today. I am very excited to meet her."
"As excited as last time? ... Forgive me my Lady, I should not say such things." Lady Cleves bowed her head and Fitzroy turned to look out the window.
"I wish you would tell me what is wrong Henry." Richmond shock his head lightly.
"I am fine my Lady... a little restless is all. Things has been so slow lately." Anne nodded and smiled.
"I believe there is someone at court that may please you." Henry looked to her and furrowed his brow.
"Who?" Anne smiled wildly, stood and pulled the Duke from his chair. She took him to apart of Hampton Court that he very rarely visited. It was apart of court clerks and low ranking officers worked. "My Lady, why are you bringing me here?"
"I recognised him from when I was here as Queen. He lives close to Hever as a Kings official of the parish and has done well and I knew I could trust him. He came to me a few weeks ago to tell me that he had been noticed and called to court." Richmond was smirking as he was completely confused.
"Who?" Anne knocked at the door. The oak door swung open and a familiar face stood beyond.
"Thomas?" Fitzroy stepped forward to take a better look and it was. "Thomas!" It was his former man servant Thomas Greene. The Duke strongly patted his friend on the back and was smiling strongly.
"What are you doing here? Why have you not told me?" The men were now vigorously shaking hands.
"I was made Minister for Industry and I did not want to bother you your Grace."
"Industry..." Fitzroy of course knew how important the office was becoming. Taxes from industries were becoming a major part of the crowns income. "Well done Thomas, you deserve it, although I have not been able to find a descant servant since you left." The group chuckled amongst themselves.
"Please forgive me my Lady, your Grace, please come in."
"Forgive me Mr Greene I am soon expected by their Majesties and must get ready so if you will excuse me." Anne finely curtsied and walked away from them.
"So my friend how did you swindle that one." The pair chuckled once again and Fitzroy place his hand on Thomas' shoulder as they walked into his office.
"I suspect that it had more to do with you than me your Grace, not that I am complaining about it." Once again a jovial chuckle And they sat in front of the unlight fire.
"What was that lovely little wife of yours called again?" The Duke grinned.
"You know her name is Eleanor your Grace." Thomas jokingly squinted his eyes.
"Ah ... lovely Eleanor, how I have missed Eleanor." With this Richmond could barely stop laughing. "Are you staying at court?" Still smiling.
"Yes your Grace. We have been given a very nice chamber, Eleanor is very pleased with it."
"I do not understand why you did not tell me you were here."
"I did not want to take advantage of you your Grace, you have always done too much for me." Henry smiled and replied to his friend.
"Do you not understand Thomas? ... That is how court works." The pair laughed again and the Duke stood. "Come Thomas I want to see that lovely wife of yours." The pair walked a short time to Greene's private chamber.
"Eleanor!... Eleanor!" As Thomas shouted for his wife Richmond noted on the greeting chamber. It was rather small he though, with only the room for a small table with four plain chairs and a small bench in front of the fire. It did not take long for a short, thin woman with brown hair and a fine gown to walk from the other room.
"What are you shouting fo...r, Your Grace." She curtsied very low and the two men chuckled.
"Please my Lady, I just found out you were at court and wished to say hello." The women rose but still remained nervous.
"Would you take some wine your Grace?" The beautiful woman gestured to cups and a jug placed on the small table.
"I would my Lady Eleanor, thank you." She shock as she passed him his cup, then her husband an then finally pored one for herself. As he sipped he notice that even though it was not the vintage he preferred it was still a fine wine.
"Would you sit your Grace?" Thomas pulled out a chair and of course Richmond took it.
"Thomas, my Lady please join me." They both sat either side of him. "Do you like it here my Lady?"
"I love it here your Grace, his Majesty is most generous chambers." Fitzroy of course knew she was lying but almost anyone would kill for such an opportunity as fortunes could made and failed but the King's grace or lack their of.
"I hope I shall see you both at the feast tonight but I should let Thomas return to his work." Henry stood and bowed his head. "My Lady until tonight." The couple stood and bowed to their visitor.
"Thank you your Grace, I hope to see you also." Richmond knew Eleanor's response was genuine and was happy to have them at court. Henry made his way to Mary's chamber. However, he was shocked to see what he found there. Mary was accompanied by Chapuys and Charles Brandon. Richmond had not spoken to Suffolk since their falling out a few weeks earlier. They all stood when he had entered the room.
"Your Grace... How pleasant it is to see you." Henry knew that Eleanor's response was genuine and was pleased to have them at court. He then made his way to his sister Mary's chambers. However, he was shocked as to what he found there. Mary was accompanied by Chapuys and Charles Brandon. Richmond had not seen Suffolk since they had fallen out a few weeks earlier.
"Your Grace, how pleasant it is to see you." Brandon had said this while standing up to greet him. Eustace and Mary had followed Brandon's lead and stood.
"My Lord Suffolk, ... I am pleased to see you also, it has been too long." Fitzroy felt highly uncomfortable while saying this. "What may I ask brings you to my sisters door?"
"There have rumors at court brother, and I asked his Grace and his Eminence to come and explain how true they are." Richmond looked to the two men and continued to walk forward.
"What rumour's?" Brandon was the one to respond in the hope that Fitzroy had forgiven him.
"That the Emperor wants a new alliance to attack France together." Henry then turned to Eustace.
"Does the Emperor want this?"
"They both do and the King has already made terms. The Emperor cannot abide Francis' alliance with the Ottomans and the King has agreed to bring the fowl King of France to heel. The Emperor will attack from his German states." Brandon then interrupted.
"And we well attack Boulogne."
