Mary listened as the physician spoke of her fathers' condition. The outcome didn't look favourable no matter how much she prayed otherwise. Mary knew it would fall to her to act as regent on her brothers' behalf though she wasn't certain she could pull it off. Not only was she a woman but she had been declared a bastard in both the Protestant and Catholic faith which would make it difficult for her to hold her position as regent. Against her better judgement she made an alliance with Edward Seymour and with their combined efforts they would try to keep the Howards at bay but she wondered if that would be enough. Maybe with Elizabehs' help they could bring Henry Brandon into the fold though Elizabeth assured Mary that he was loyal to the Tudor family and would support Marys' regency.
Jane Seymour on the other hand was a wild card. It was clear to everyone that she wanted to undo Henry VIII's work and bring England back to Rome. However she was also very naïve when it came to the political arena and could be easily manipulated. This worried Mary because it was Marys' own naivety that had made her an unwilling pawn in the Emperors' schemes. If the physicians hadn't discovered that Mary was barren who knows what may have happened. Mary couldn't tell whether it was a blessing or a curse. Whilst a part of her would always want children of her own she didn't want the Spanish to succeed in imposing their will on England. Mary had no choice but to consider it as an unfortunate sacrifice to secure Englands' future though it brought Mary little comfort.
After the physician finished his report Mary turned to Edward Seymour. "Lord Hertford bring my brother to court."
Queen Jane however foolishly protested, "You can't expect my son to come here when his father is so ill. We can't risk him catching this illness."
The physician tried to sooth the Queen. "I can assure you my lady that the Kings' illness is not contagious."
"Even so the journey alone could be dangerous." Jane argued, "I will simply not allow my sons' health to be put at risk."
"Jane…" Edward tried to warn his sister of her folly but Jane didn't seem to notice.
Jane continued not aware that her step-daughter was losing her patience with the woman. "There is still a chance that his majesty could recover from this illness and we would be risking my sons' health for nothing."
"May I remind you your majesty that Prince Edward is not just your son but a Prince of England." Mary glared angrily at the woman, "He has a responsibility to his people and I will not have you interfere with his highness duties."
"How dare you!" Jane snapped at her step-daughter, "I am the Queen! I don't have to take orders from a bastard like you!"
The council room gasped in horror at the Queens' words. Everyone turned to Mary to see what she would do. Mary would have loved nothing more than to rage at the woman but it would have solved nothing in the current situation instead Mary gave Jane a cold look. "I may be a bastard as you put it madam but royal blood runs through my veins and my father has named me as regent to act on the behalf of my brother till he comes of age. You have no authority here madam. You will go to your chambers. When my brother arrives you will not have any contact with him as my father ordered. Disobey my fathers' orders and I will have no choice but to send you to the More to live out the rest of your days in exile." Everyone in the council room was shocked. Marys' own mother was sent to the More, never allowed to see here child and now here was Mary threatening the current Queen with the same fate.
Edward Seymour offered to escort his sister to her chambers. Edward never spoke a word to his sister as they made their way to the Queens' rooms. Edward was about to leave when he heard his sister ask, "Mary really wouldn't send me to that place would she?"
Normally Edward wouldn't have said anything as nowadays he tried to distance himself from the now unpopular Queen but there was still a part of him that cared enough to protect her. "I wouldn't test that theory sister nor would I try to push Mary further. Remember what happened to Thomas."
How could Jane forget their brother who was executed in France for attempted murder? She tried to get the King to intercede on her brothers' behalf but that had yet been another mistake. Thomas had tried to harm Elizabeth through her aunt and Henry would never forgive him for that. He even told Jane that Thomas was fortunate that Francis did away with him because if Henry had gotten his hands on the man he would suffer far worse. Not only did Jane fail in saving her brother but her protests against his execution made the people of England suspicious of her.
There were even rumours spread around court that Jane had poisoned Katherine of Aragon to frame Anne Boleyn for her murder. The rumours were false of coarse but it was also rumours that led Anne Boleyn to her death. Jane tried to assure herself that she would be fine; she gave the English people a son. No one would dare execute the mother of the future King of England but Edward was still a child and the Princess Elizabeth was grown.
Elizabeth attended court and charmed all those who came to greet her and it wasn't just the nobles who were charmed by her. She had won the hearts of the commoners with her charitable donations. She would walk out amongst the people and speak to them. Edward had never been allowed to do such things for fear he would catch an illness. On the rare occasions he did make a public appearance he didn't have the same aura or charisma Elizabeth had which caused Jane to worry.
Elizabeth was the daughter of the woman Jane replaced. If the people were to decide that Elizabeth would make a better ruler than her son Edward the Princess Elizabeth could very well decide to take revenge for her mother by having Jane executed. Jane had to find a way to stop that from happening but she needed to find allies and fast.
Elizabeth sat by her fathers' bedside as he slept. She thought about all the time they had lost due to her fathers' foolish pride, his failure to see his daughters' worth. Mary was already proving to be a wonderful regent and quite possibly a wonderful queen if given the chance. Unfortunately now she was considered as a bastard and would never inherit the throne of England. Father had offered to legitimise Mary as her parents' marriage was made in good faith but surprisingly Mary refused. Mary knew if she was made legitimate her cousin would use their blood connection to take England for himself and Mary would not allow that. Instead her father chose to honour her by making her the Duchess of Richmond a title once held by his grandmother Margaret Beaufort a formidable woman in her own right.
King Henrys' new found respect for women brought him closer to his daughters than he had ever been before. All the Tudor children were close to one another and spent a lot of time with their father in turn. Henry wanted them to be united against Englands' enemies when God had finally called him away to the eternal sleep and that day was soon approaching.
Henry woke up and saw his youngest daughter sitting by his bed. She was truly a wonder with her wit and intelligence. If only he had seen it before when Anne was alive, if only he could thank her for giving him this wonderful gift but she was not. She died at his hand and nothing he could say or do would change that.
Elizabeth noticed that her father was watching her with tears in his eyes. "Papa?" She was worried for him as it was unusual for a King to show his tears. She had almost seen King Francis cry once when he was told that her Aunt Mary and George Stafford were captured but Margaret of Navarre cleared the room.
"You remind of her. Your mother." Henry tried to hold back the tears but he couldn't help it. The time with his precious jewel was coming to an end.
Elizabeth couldn't help but be reminded of another deathbed. The dying Charles Brandon, who had confessed his sins to Elizabeth before he died. He had spent years of his life creating charity projects in Anne Boleyns' name to ease his guilt but it wasn't enough. Elizabeth could see now that Charles Brandon wanted her forgiveness but she couldn't give it as she was still too angry. Now that Elizabeth was sitting at her fathers' deathbed she wanted to give her father something she couldn't give to Charles Brandon a way to ease his pain. "It's fine Papa. I forgive you for everything."
Henry smiled at his daughter in disbelief. "You don't need to lie to me Elizabeth. I've spent the majority of my life around liars and sycophants telling me what they wanted me to hear. It was lies that led to your mothers' death, not just the rumours that were told about her but the lies we told each other. Your mother and I once promised to be truthful to each other which was how we wanted our love to be." Henry looked away in sadness thinking about his promise. "I didn't keep my promise and she didn't either. She was so frightened for her future by the end of our marriage but she would never have told me and at the time I don't think I would have listened to her concerns." Henry then reached for his daughters' hand and offered some words of wisdom. "If by some chance that you manage to find the love of your life…" Elizabeth wanted to point out that such a chance would be impossible for a Princess but Henry waved it away and continued, "I know it seems impossible but humour me. If you do find love be honest with that person. Share your doubts and fears and never child take that love for granted."
"I promise Papa." Elizabeth said solemnly kissing her fathers' hand.
"Bless you my jewel." Henry kissed his daughters' own hand and smiled. "I have a gift for you."
"A gift?" Elizabeth was surprised as she wasn't expecting anything from him.
"Well almost." Henry explained, "Remember when we had decide to include your mothers' letters in that book you gave to me." Henry reached for the book by his bed giving it to Elizabeth. "Well here is the finished product."
Elizabeth looked inside and on the first page there was a miniature portrait of both Anne and Henry along with Elizabeth in the middle. Elizabeth looked at her father with tears in her eyes and leaned over to hug him. "My Papa."
Henry weakly wrapped his arms around his daughter holding her close to him and kissed the top of her Tudor red hair. "My Elizabeth."
Mary Stafford never wanted to set foot on English soil again after her sisters' death but after the death of King Henry VIII she decided to visit for Elizabeths' sake. Mary wasn't sure how Elizabeth would cope with her fathers' death as she always tried to keep her emotions in check. However despite what Henry had done to Elizabeths' mother she had still longed to see him. Mary Stafford understood what it was to have a father who hurt her in the worse possible way and longed for the days where titles did not matter. Marys' father was dead and gone so they had lost their chance to reconcile. Mary had hoped it would be different, if Elizabeth was unable to make peace with her father then hopefully she could make peace with herself.
Before Mary Stafford left for France she saw how the Lady Mary Tudors' unfinished business with her father took its' toll on her and Mary Stafford didn't want that for her niece. Mary Stafford tried to swallow her hatred for her brother in-law and tried to not present King Henry VIII in a bad light though at times it was tempting.
As Mary entered court all eyes were on her and her family. "Why are they staring at us Mama?" Annie voiced her confusion, "I thought Aunt Anne's name was cleared and we were welcome."
"Having our aunts' name cleared is not the reason we're welcome Annie." George reminded Mary of how Elizabeth spoke as if he was wise beyond his years. "The English King gave us dual citizenship that means we're both French and English subjects. It also means we have to answer to two Kings instead of one."
"What an intelligent young man you are your grace." Mary Tudor appeared out of nowhere to greet them. "Allow me to introduce you to the new King." Lady Richmond turned to present the visitors to the new King. "Your majesty this is Lady Mary Stafford the Countess of Boulogne and her daughter Anne Stafford. And this bright young man here is George Stafford the Duke of Calais."
The Stafford family paid their respect to the young King Edward. Mary Stafford observed the young King in particular. She usually prided herself in not showing bias but she could not help but see nothing of King Henry in Edward. All Mary could see in Edward was the pale face of the woman her sister was beheaded for but she had no ill will for King Edward as it wasn't his responsibility to pay for his parents crimes. Instead Mary Stafford gave King Edward a kind smile, "My niece the Princess Elizabeth has nothing but high praise for your majesty. It was for her I came to offer my condolences and to you as well. There would be no other man or King like your father your majesty."
Mary Tudor couldn't help but smile at Lady Staffords' comment. It could be taken either way as a complement or an insult to King Henry. She often heard how Mary Boleyn had been the least intelligent out of the Boleyn children but the Duchess of Richmond could clearly see that Lady Stafford knew the court game very well she just chose not to take part in it and it was this choice that could have possibly saved her life.
King Edward wasn't sure how he would be received by his sister Elizabeths' family given their mothers' shared history but they all seemed nice enough. Anne Stafford was very pretty in Edwards' mind and he couldn't help but blush when she smiled at him. George Stafford on the other hand Edward found intimidating and he couldn't understand why. George was a bastard and younger than Edward but he carried himself with the grace and dignity of a Prince. Maybe it was George's royal father the late King Francis that gave George these traits. Edwards' elder sister Mary had royal blood on bother her father and mothers' side which showed the reason why she was made regent to act on his behalf until he was old enough to be ready to take on the responsibility of being King.
Edward wondered if he would ever be ready for such a responsibility but he would try his best to learn all he can when the time comes. "Thank you for your kind words Lady Stafford. They mean a lot to me and to my family. I know my sister the Princess Elizabeth would be glad to see you. My uncle Lord Hertford shall show you the way to the Princess rooms."
Mary Stafford would rather have anyone else other than that vile man to escort her anywhere remembering her previous encounter with Thomas Seymour. Not only did Thomas attempt to kill her but for a moment it looked as though he was going to attempt to violate her as well. Elizabeth assured Mary that Edward Seymour was nothing like his brother. Although Elizabeth didn't trust Lord Herford she knew he was cunning and shrewd. In Elizabeths' letters to her aunt she wrote how she came to the decision that it was smarter to have him as an ally rather than an enemy. Elizabeth believed him to be the one that coached his sister into gaining the Kings' favour as it wasn't until the siblings' estrangement that Queen Jane had made very foolish and rash mistakes.
Mary Stafford was surprised that Elizabeth would make such an alliance. Mary knew her sister Anne would not be able to set her pride aside to make friends with an enemy but that had been one of Anne's many mistakes she made in court. She did not hide who she liked and disliked which made her a lot of enemies. Elizabeth seemed to have learned lessons from her mothers' mistakes and used them to secure her own position in court. Everywhere she went people spoke highly of their Princess and Mary could not be any more proud.
Elizabeth was surprised that Henry Brandon had returned to court so soon after his own fathers' death but she was grateful for his support. Her sister Mary was busy making preparations for her brothers' coronation and Edward was practicing for the event. Edward usually couldn't concentrate for very long during his lessons before he wanted to go outside and play sports but now he seem focused in not shaming his family. Elizabeth was proud of her brothers' dedication and hoped it continued in his reign but for the moment she seemed lost in her own grief.
Henry reached over and squeezed Elizabeths' hand, "Are you sure you're well?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you the same thing?" Elizabeth smiled weakly at Hal. "It wasn't that long ago I saw your father on his deathbed."
"Elizabeth." Hal turned away from her then. He had hoped they had put that event behind them.
"Please believe me Hal I did not bring this up to be cruel." Elizabeth pleaded and looked down at her hands clutching her dress in nervousness. "I now believe that your father wanted my forgiveness for what he had done and in my rage I couldn't give it to him."
Henry turned to Elizabeth and placed his hand under her chin to have her look at him. "It's completely fine for you to not forgive him Elizabeth. They are plenty of people who wouldn't forgive my father in your position."
"Like Frances." Elizabeth remembered the bitter woman who blamed her step-mother for her mothers' murder even though it was highly unlikely to be true. "I don't want to be like her Hal."
"You're not I can assure you." Henry held her hands in his and kissed them. "You're nothing like her."
"I like to think so." Elizabeth smiled enjoying Henrys' comforting touch on her hands. "That's why I told my father I forgave him. I wanted him to have peace but he didn't believe me." Elizabeth turned away from Henry and looked out of the window. "Everyone believed they could manipulate my father, the Boleyns, the Howards, and the Seymours. Even your own father thought he could manipulate my father into thinking that the rumours about my mother were true. He tried before and do you know what happened to him?"
Elizabeth turned to look at Henry for his answer. Henry didn't know the answer as his father never mentioned it to him. Elizabeth could tell by the look on his face that he didn't know and turned away back to the window. "He was banished Hal. My father knew those accusations were false just as I'm sure he knew the second time your father brought these accusations before him."
Henry Brandon was confused on where Elizabeth was going with this. "Elizabeth, why would your father humiliate himself in the eyes of Europe by declaring your mother an adulteress?"
"I don't think that was how my father wanted to be free of my mother but he did want to be free of her at that time and he wasn't the only one who wanted that." Elizabeth explained sadly, "Most of the English court hated her and she made far too many enemies. It wasn't enough for the court to see my mother set aside like Katherine. They wanted her dead and a King must serve his people even if it hurts him to do so."
"You really believe your father didn't want to hurt your mother?" Henry had trouble grasping this as everyone knew King Henry VIII had a short temper.
"My father used an executioner from Calais who was proficient in beheading people with a sword." Elizabeth stated plainly, "My father could have chosen to have her butchered like Lady Salisbury or to have a drunken executioner like he did with Cromwell but instead he sends for a French executioner who is skilled at ending someone's life with the most minimal pain. My father didn't hate mother, he still loved her even then."
"Then why couldn't he have stopped it?" Henry asked clearly not understanding Elizabeths' logic.
"People wanted her dead!" Elizabeth cried showing her fury and her frustration at the situation. "The Pope had sent men to kill her; fathers' were throwing their daughters at my father to replace her. It wouldn't surprise me if people were poisoning her to ensure that she didn't bare my father a future King of England. The whole world was against them Hal. They tried to fight it throughout their relationship and they lost." Elizabeth took a deep breath to try and calm herself but she was failing. "I have to win these people's favour. I have to play the perfect Princess and not give them reason to hate me like they hated my mother."
"Elizabeth." Henry pulled her into his arms trying to sooth her. "You don't have play the perfect Princess with me. You can be honest with me."
Elizabeth looked up into Henrys' eyes remembering her fathers' final words to her about honesty and love. "Do you really mean that?"
Henry stroked Elizabeths' cheek gently and spoke quietly with conviction. "I do." Neither Henry nor Elizabeth knew who made the first move but before they knew it they shared a kiss. Both knew it was reckless and improper but in that moment they didn't care. However before it could escalate any further they heard someone approaching and quickly pulled away from one another.
If Jane Grey knew what had transpired between her uncle and the Princess she didn't show it. Elizabeth was certain that Jane didn't know anything as she seemed too shy or timid to deceive anyone. It was one of the things that Elizabeth liked about her. "What is it Jane?"
"Your Aunt the Lady Stafford and her children have arrived you highness." Jane stated quietly. "They are waiting for you outside. Do you wish me to invite them in?"
"Aunt Mary?" Elizabeth was stunned. As far as she knew her aunt had no wish to return to England and now she was here.
Henry Brandon took this opportunity to regain his composure. "I should probably be going. Your aunt came all this way to see you and I would be in the way."
"That's not true." Especially now after that kiss they shared. Elizabeth never felt like this with anyone before and she hoped Henry felt the same but now he was leaving her before they could discuss these feelings.
"Elizabeth." Henry tried to give Elizabeth an encouraging smile. "Play the role of the perfect Princess for now and then later we shall speak honestly." Henry then stepped away and bowed. "Your highness."
Before Henry could walk away Elizabeth called out to him. "I'll hold you to that, your grace." Elizabeth smiled at the hansom Duke and wished to say more but with Jane Grey present it was impossible. She knew she shouldn't be entertaining these feelings but her fathers' final words to her would not leave her. She wanted a person she could be completely honest with and Henry Brandon seemed to be exact person she was looking for.