Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors.
Chapter One: Papal Planning.
20th March 1530 - Rome, Italy
"Have we come to a solution on how to handle the English problem?" Pope Clement asked turning to look at his advisors, he had tried to hold off on deciding for as long as possible. He had hoped that if he stalled long enough that perhaps King Henry would grow bored of his whore and decide to remain with good Queen Katherine; however, that had yet to happen and with each day that passed things grew more worrisome. The King that had once been dubbed Defender of the Faith grew more unpredictable and those who surrounded him continued to whisper the words of heresy in his ears.
"Not yet, Your Holiness," one of his advisors said with a shake of his head, he looked to the other men knowing that King Henry would not accept no for an answer. They could not dissolve the marriage between the King and Queen, not without angering Emperor Charles; they had only just dealt with the Sack on Rome where Clement had been taken hostage. The last thing that they wanted was another war on their doorstep after only a few years, they were certain that the answer that they wished for would come soon enough.
"Perhaps if there was someone to draw his attention," Clement mused staring out of the window and down into the gardens, the weather was beautiful for the time of year and he was thankful to be away from the stuffy place that had been his prison. There had been a time that he had feared that he might not see the city again, it had crossed his mind that he would not survive his imprisonment and he was thankful that the Lord had granted him more time.
"Someone that we had no doubts on their loyalty to Rome," Clement continued, he did not look back at his advisors as he spoke; his eyes caught on something and an idea formed in his mind. The men looked at one another, none of them speaking as they tried to work out just where the Pope was going with this; where would they possibly find someone like that, it was hard enough finding loyal men these days. Anyone could be swayed especially when they were so far away, how would the find someone that would not betray them once they were in England and away from watchful eyes.
"Perhaps all this situation needs is a woman's touch? We have tried to be patient to make him see the error of his ways, we have demand that he return to his wife," Clement stated looking back at the men that remained seated. Nothing that they had done before had made any difference to what was happening in England, King Henry still wanted his divorce and was still living with Anne Boleyn as if she was his wife. No calls to return to Queen Katherine seemed to make the situation any better; he wanted the decision on his marriage to be made in England something that they couldn't allow to happen.
"Do you recall my late uncle Giuliano's daughter? I took her in after the unfortunate death of her mother?" Clement asked turning back to the other men, he knew that she would not let him down after everything that he had done for her. Clarice de' Medici had been left orphaned when her mother had died six year earlier, it had come as a great shock especially when her father had passed on a few years before that. Knowing that there would be many who would wish to take advantage of Giuliano's only legitimate child; Clement had stepped in to ensure that she was well cared for until she married.
There had been many suitors for the young Clarice de' Medici but Clement had held out wanting to find just the right match for her; she deserved no less since her father had been Duke of Nemours before his death. The title had since passed to Clarice since both her parents had now passed on, her illegitimate half-brother was no threat to that since he had recently become a cardinal.
"She is well breed. Cousin to the King of France. Cousin to Your Holiness. A Duchess in her own right," one of his advisors mused, he remembered Clarice de' Medici well and she would certainly catch the eye of any man and a King would be no different. Clarice was the granddaughter of Philip II, Duke of Savoy and Lorenzo de' Medici, both men had left legacies that could not be ignored especially by the noble houses of Europe.
Clement nodded in agreement, she was the obvious choose and would be a fine match; she was well educated and he had no doubts that she would settle well in English court. Having spent some years at the French court, Clarice had flourished there and Clement knew that she had been rather disappointed when he had summoned her back to Rome. The last thing that he had wanted was for her to get caught in the war between Emperor Charles and King Francis; she would have become a pawn in their games.
"She'd be a fine match for any man," another said not sure if they should waste such a potential alliance on bringing the King of England back to the fold. It would be such a waste and there would be no dismissing the stain against her name if she did succeed; she would be tainted by this and no man would want her afterwards. "Summon Cardinal Ippolito de' Medici, I wish to hear his thoughts on the matter," Clement said waving his hand, he was certain that Ippolito would have some thoughts on what he wanted to ask the man's older half-sister.
Despite the fact that the two siblings had different mothers, they were considerable close especially after the deaths of their parents; they only had each other now and they wrote to each other constantly. If Clement was to ask Clarice to do this then he would need Ippolito's support, he had no doubts that the other man would cause him no amount of trouble if he did not consult him. Clement didn't have to wait long before Ippolito arrived, he hurried inside looking rather confused about why he had been summoned while he had been managing his accounts; he had a lot on his plate now that he was receiving an annual papal income.
"Your Holiness," Ippolito greeted, he bowed his head out of respect while he eyed the other men that were seated around the table; he was even more confused when he saw them. Clement signalled for Ippolito to approach and take a seat as he too joined the table; there was much for them to discuss and there was no time to waste.
"Your Eminence. I wished to discuss a matter with you of great importance, it concerns your sister," Clement stated, he stared at the younger man who looked a lot like Giuliano and he knew that there was no denying that he was a Medici. Ippolito might have been a bastard but he was family and Clement was pleased to see that the man continued to remain loyal despite the mess that had been made when they had lost Florence.
"Clarice? Is everything alright?" Ippolito asked, he was sure that if Clement wished to discuss his sister with him that it must be important; he wondered briefly if the Pope had found a man worthy of her. It was no secret that he planned to marry their cousin, Catherine de' Medici into the French royal family; he wondered just what sort of match Clarice would make. Clement leant forward as he started to explain what he wanted, if he was to make this work then he needed to convince Ippolito that this would be in Clarice's best interest.
Walking around the gardens, Clarice was relieved to be back in Rome after her travels and she was hopeful that she got to spend more time here; she was surprised with how little damage had been done to her home. A couple of her ladies followed behind her, she was never alone and Clarice knew that most of them were relieved to be back in Italy; it was home even if France had been a nice change.
"There you are sister," Ippolito greeted smiling softly as he approached her, his mind still reeling on what he had been sent to discuss with her; he wasn't sure how she would take the news. He kissed her cheek and glanced at her ladies, it would be better if they spoke alone without ears that could repeat why he had been sent to talk with her; the less people that knew the better. Clarice dismissed her ladies, she was with her brother and she doubted that she would have much need for them; she could see that he wished to speak to her privately by the way he glanced at them.
"Ippolito. Is everything well?" Clarice asked, she linked his arm as they walked in the opposite direction of her ladies; she glanced back making sure that they were truly alone. The siblings walked in silence for a little while before Ippolito was certain that they were truly alone and that they weren't being followed by any spies that might have been placed in her ladies.
"His Holiness has need for you," Ippolito said speaking lowly so that his words would not be overheard by anyone but her, what he had been sent to discuss was a private matter and one that required a sensitive approach. He had no idea just how Clarice would react to what he had to say, his eyes focused on the fountain that lay ahead of them; he doubted their father would have been pleased with what was being asked of her.
"Need for me?" Clarice asked peering up at him, her stomach twisting at his words and she wasn't sure what she was about to be asked to do. Ippolito paused for a moment, he turned to Clarice and pulled her to a stop and took her hands; his brown eyes searched hers as he tried to find the right words to tell her what Clement wanted her to do.
"You are to go to London as an ambassador for His Holiness," Ippolito stated, that was how it was officially going to be worded to get Clarice invited to court in England. They did not want the King to realise just why Clarice was being sent, he was known for his womanising ways and having Clarice at court should be in different than any other.
"Surely there are greater minds than mine," Clarice asked, she had heard of the Great Matter in England while she had been visiting her cousin the King of France. She wasn't entirely sure what Clement expected her to do to make the King remain with his wife; from what she had heard he was most determined to do away with her and marry a younger woman.
"This trip requires a woman's touch," Ippolito stated bluntly, he did not like this idea especially as it was his sister that he was being asked to send to England especially since she was going to seduce a King. He didn't see how this could end well, nor was this the fate that he had pictured for her; he had expected her to marry some lord or maybe even a King. Clarice was silent, she searched her brother's face as her mind raced with the idea of what she was being asked to do; she could see how much her brother disagreed with this.
"Is that an order?" Clarice asked doubting that Ippolito had been sent to ask her opinion on this, she knew that if Clement had sent her brother to her then a decision had been made. Clarice was going to England and she could only imagine what would be waiting for her there.
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