Mary Stafford and Francis Bryan watched as Elizabeth danced with Prince Charles. Mary found it hard to believe that when they had first arrived Elizabeth and Charles were at each other's throats. Now they were laughing together and enjoying each other's company. Sir Francis viewed the scene in concern, "The Princess should be careful."
"They are young it's alright for them to enjoy themselves." Mary observed the scene happy that her niece was enjoying herself. Though Elizabeth still missed her father she had managed to find her place in the French court.
"She's going to be of age soon." Sir Francis reminded his cousin. "It's only a matter of time before the French or the Pope will use her against England and having her marry a Prince of France would be the right way to go about it."
Deep down Mary knew her cousin was right but she also knew her niece. Elizabeth thoughts on religion hadn't changed; she still believed her father did the right thing by breaking with Rome but the Pope didn't need to know that. Elizabeth hid her allegiances very well but her biggest test had yet to come. Mary noticed another man watching the scene intently, "Francis who is that man over there?"
Sir Francis looked toward the man she had been referring to and froze in shock. "What is he doing here?" He growled in anger.
"You know him?" Mary Stafford was worried that the man could be one of Rome's spies but as it turned out it was someone far worse.
"The Queen of Englands' brother, Thomas Seymour." Sir Francis glared daggers at Thomas. Thomas Seymour still looked like the same arrogant fool Francis had left in England. Sir Francis could only wonder what King Henry could have possibly been thinking sending such a man here.
"Do you think he wishes to harm Elizabeth?" Mary asked worried about her cousins' behaviour. It was very rare for Mary to see him so rattled.
"Whether he intends to or not he could still cause a lot of damage to Elizabeths' future." Francis Bryan then turned to his cousin to offer his reassurance. "Don't worry, I'll find out what he's up to and stop him by any means necessary."
"I know I can count on you." Mary meant every word. Normally Mary wouldn't condone harming a rival in such a way but with her familys' safety at stake she was willing to allow Sir Francis to do what he needed to do by any means necessary.
Mary Tudor lit some candles in the chapel and prayed for her little sisters' health. Today Elizabeth would be of age to marry and have children. Mary thoughts shifted to her own situation. The news of her barren status was quite a blow to Mary. Ever since Mary first held her baby sister in her arms she wondered what it would be like to have a child of own. Now that Mary knew it would never come to pass she'd now cherished those memories with her sister as it was the closest thing to having a child of her own. "Happy birthday sweet sister."
Juana observed her niece as Mary prayed for Elizabeth. "She'll be of age now and the wolves will be seeking her out to take England for themselves."
Mary nodded in agreement, "I hope she'll be a lot wiser than I once was. I've should have known something was wrong when my betrothed became ill."
"You loved him." Juana observed in sympathy.
"I did even though it went against everything I once believed in." Mary hadn't thought of Phillip of Bavaria in years. "He was of the Protestant faith and yet he loved me just the same. He even invited my friend the Spanish ambassador Eustace Chapuys and other catholic friends to stay so I wouldn't feel so alone in a strange country. I was so stupid," Mary berated herself, "not long after they had arrived my beloved became ill. Of course his relatives suspected poison but I childishly believed that my friends loved me and only wanted to see me happy. Now that I know the truth, they killed Phillip because he wasn't catholic like them."
"They weren't true Christians in any sense of the word my dear." Juana comforted her crying niece. "The lord doesn't condone murder and they are fools to think otherwise."
"The Pope condoned Anne Boleyns' murder does that make him a fool?" Mary knew that what she was asking could be considered heresy but she was so lost.
"It doesn't matter what I believe." Juana said with conviction. "You must follow your own conscience and what you believe to be right."
"But what if I don't know what that is?" Mary didn't know what to believe in anymore. Everything she ever believed in was taken from her.
"Well you have nothing but time to discover the answers for yourself." Juana encouraged her niece. "Stop thinking about what Catalina believed in. Stop thinking about what Henry believes in. Even stop thinking about what the Pope believes in and start to look deep inside yourself. Form your own opinion and beliefs. It will make you a stronger person for it."
"Thank you Aunt Juana. I shall think on it." Mary knew her Aunt was right most her opinions weren't her own but other peoples. Mary had to reflect on her life and form her own her thoughts. It was the only way for her to find true peace within herself.
A few years ago if anyone asked King Henry would he give full support to the Protestant League he would have declared them insane but since Rome had conspired to kill his wife he took a different view. The charitable projects that Anne Boleyn envisioned were a success and England was more prosperous for it. Other Protestant states followed his example and a treaty was made to unite against Catholic oppression. One of the first states to join were Cleves and Bavaria who had an intense dislike for the Emperor which seemed strange to Henry as the late Duke of Bavaria intended to marry the Emperors' cousin.
The ambassador for the Emperor approached King Henry about a secret treaty to invade France and rescue his daughter Elizabeth. This news didn't surprise Henry as the Pope declared his daughter Mary a bastard and Elizabeth a true princess. As far as Henry was concerned it was too little too late. Though Henry was tempted to have Elizabeth back in England he was unsure whether he could trust the Emperor who had stolen Mary from him.
This was why he wished to consult with the representative from Cleves. Anne of Cleves had visited with her relatives when the treaty was made with the Protestant states and instantly had taken a liking to the country. Although her brother didn't like to leave her in England he saw the advantages in her befriending King Henry and Henry saw the advantage in befriending Anne. Unlike her relatives she wouldn't lie to him as she was grateful to have her independence from her family. Lady Cleves curtsied, "Your majesty."
"A pleasure as always my lady." Henry kissed Lady Anne's hand with a smile. Henry had decided to speak to Lady Cleves in German because he didn't want anyone listening to his conversation. He recently picked up the language when he made the treaty not wanting to rely on interpreters who may lie to him. "I invited you here to discuss an important matter with you that must be kept strictly between the two of us."
"What is it do you wish to discuss?" Anne asked curiously. She knew it must be important for him to be speaking in her native language.
"The Emperor has offered me an alliance in which he would help bring Elizabeth back to me." Henry knew his Elizabeth was coming of age and there was a good chance that if he didn't act quickly he would never see her again. "However I do not wish to break my promise to your family and to our cause."
"You do not have to worry your majesty." Anne reassured, "You have given much to us already. However I would advise to take caution your majesty as the Emperor is not a man to be trusted."
Henry was surprised by the way Anne of Cleves voiced her concerned. She was normally a happy and gentile soul but the way she spoke about the Emperor dripped with venom. "Are you speaking from personal experience my lady?"
"As you know my cousin Philip of Bavaria was intended to marry your daughter the Lady Mary and despite their differences in religion they seemed to be very happy together." Anne explained sadly, "However that leech Eustace Chapuys whispered poisonous words against my cousin to try and turn Mary against him. He kept on mentioning the ladys' mother to make her feel guilty."
Henry heard similar reports from Lady Bryan and he didn't like it one bit. "Did he manage to turn my daughter against the Duke?"
"Oddly enough no." Lady Anne answered honestly, "She appeared to be genuinely in love with my cousin that's why it was such a huge blow to her when he died. However Chapuys didn't waste any time in getting the Lady Mary to leave which made my brother suspicious."
"What did he find?" Henry was genuinely worried now. It seemed as though Chapuys had led his daughter astray and he wondered what else this man had done without his daughters' knowledge.
"My cousin was poisoned with herbs only found in Spain." Anne informed, "Once we found out what the Emperor and the Pope intended we instantly offered to align ourselves with you your majesty. That's why I'm deeply concerned about what the Emperor will do if he gets his hands on Elizabeth first."
"You can rest assured he will not." Henry said with conviction. The Spanish went to a lot of trouble to steal the Lady Mary from him and now they wished to steal Elizabeth from him as well. Henry will take the Emperors' army but he will proceed with caution. Now he knew what the Emperor was capable of Henry would now try to find ways to outwit the Emperor and save his daughters.
Diane smiled at the man sitting before her. It was well known to her that the Seymours' and the Boleyns' were rivals. Diane had her own problems with that family; the brat Elizabeth befriending the Dauphine, Mary Stafford giving the Dauphine tips on how to seduce Prince Henry away and that wretch Sir Francis Bryan twisting Diane's words against Henry. Since the birth of his son Henry worshiped the ground Catherine walked on and it wasn't long until she had another child by him, a daughter named after that rotten little girl who started it all.
Diane wanted to be rid of them and making an alliance with Thomas Seymour was the best way to go about it. Thomas was a fool who was easily led. Thomas honestly thought he was sent to France because King Henry thought he would be useful here but Diane knew better. The King of England obviously sent him here to keep him out of the way. Everyone in court knew that Francis Bryan handled the relations between France and England. However Diane allowed Thomas Seymour to think he was important and then she would use him to be rid of English Princess once and for all.
Diane's maid Madeline paid close attention to what was happening. Sir Francis Bryan had paid her handsomely to spy on the Prince's mistress not that she needed the money. The truth was Madeline had been a former student in one of Countess Boulogne's charity projects. It was because of Mary Staffords' efforts that Madeline acquired a job in the palace based on her intelligence. Madeline was more than happy to be of service to her benefactor.
As she listened it became clear that Diane was trying to gain Thomas Seymours' trust and it was only a matter of time before they made their move against the Princess Elizabeth. As soon as Madeline found out what they were planning she would inform Sir Francis Bryan as soon as possible but she had to be careful. She couldn't allow Diane to know her true allegiance to the Princess.
King Henry summoned the Spanish Ambassador Eustace Chapuys to him. A part of Henry wanted to strike the man down for what he did to his family but as he watched the man hobble along on his gout infested legs King Henry realised that God was punishing Eustace already for his deeds. "Your Excellency, I've summoned you here to today to discuss the terms of this treaty."
The ambassador gritted his teeth in pain but preceded with the discussion, "My master is most eager for you to be reunited with your daughter the Princess Elizabeth."
Henry smiled as the ambassador mentioned his daughters' name. Henry had read the documentation of Chapuys referring to his youngest daughter as the 'little bastard'. It must have been galling to accept that the Pope now saw Elizabeth as a legitimate Princess. "Yes your Excellency I would like to be reunited with my daughters very much."
"Your majesty?" Eustace Chapuys shifted nervously as the King referred to his 'daughters'.
"I think it would be a good way for the Emperor to prove his sincerity by returning my daughter the Lady Mary to me." Henry knew that the Pope had a nasty habit of changing his mind and after hearing from Anne of Cleves about the Emperors' ruthlessness Henry couldn't be certain if his daughter Mary was treated fairly.
"What will happen to the lady once she has been returned?" Chapuys thought about the things that could happen once Mary was returned to England. One thing that could happen is that the the lady could be executed as a traitor which Chapuys didn't like as he was fond of the Lady Mary. Another thing that could happen is that King Henry could welcome his daughter with open arms and Lady Mary could tell the King of her treatment in Spain. Neither outcome would be good for Chapuys master the Emperor.
"Why should it concern you?" Henry glared at the ambassador noticing his hesitation. "The Pope declared her a bastard with no legal right to the throne. She is worth nothing to your master now." Henry knew he had won. The Emperor would have no choice but to return the Lady Mary to her father. All that remained was getting Elizabeth back which would be more difficult but would be easier with the Emperors' army.