Sam had done well in supplying both Elizabeth and Henry supplies for their journey. He had even provided them with fresh horses much to Henrys' disappointment. "I was just beginning to enjoy sharing a horse with you."
"You were in pain most of the time." Elizabeth remembered how frightened she was that he was going to leave her alone in the wilderness with Spaniards chasing after her.
Hal instead chose not to remember his injury instead he focused on what it was like to hold Elizabeth close to him as they rode through the forest. "Those groans weren't in pain my lady."
"Your grace." Elizabeth pretended to be scandalised, "Remember you are speaking to a Princess."
"Your highness must forgive me." Hal bowed to her with a smile glad to see she was smiling again. Neither he nor Elizabeth had much to smile about since the ambush.
"I may grow tired of forgiving you your grace." Elizabeth smiled flirtatiously placing her hands on his shoulders.
"Impossible your highness." Henry was going to kiss her but then he pulled away when Sam approached with more supplies.
"I hope that is enough food for the journey." Sam handed Henry a saddle bag filled with food. "Are you sure you don't want an escort. Those roads are kind of dangerous you know."
"You've done so much for us already Sam." Elizabeth kindly reassured, "However there is one thing you could do for me. After we have left I want you to deliver this note to Arch Bishop Cranmer. I believe he is also a patron to your school."
"Do you also wish to donate to our school my lady?" Sam guessed.
"I would really like to offer a reward for the kindness your school has shown me and my friend." That wasn't a lie. As soon as Elizabeth reached safety she would reward this school handsomely.
"There is really no need my lady as we offer our services to anyone who is in need of medical care." Sam spoke modestly.
"And I would like to see that this fine work is continued." Elizabeth spoke with a warmth that could melt any mans' heart. However that was what mad Elizabeth so popular with people. She knew how to speak to people whether they be rich or poor. Henry could hardly hide his admiration when they rode away from the school. Elizabeth noticed Hal staring at her, "What is it?"
"I'm just admiring the way you had charmed our friend back there." Hal did little to hide how impressed he was which caused Elizabeth to blush.
"I merely wanted to send a note to the Arch Bishop informing him that we're safe." Elizabeth knew if she spoke kindly to Sam he would not betray them to the Spaniards. It may have seemed cold hearted but if Sam kept his word and delivered her message she would keep her promise. Somehow Elizabeth believed that Sam would keep his word as Elizabeth could tell just by looking at him that there wasn't a deceitful bone in his body. Elizabeth was unused to seeing such honesty at court. In actual fact there was only one man who was completely honest with her and he was riding a horse beside her.
Jane woke up to a banging noise as English guards burst into the estate. She barely had the chance to put on some decent clothing before Mary Tudor strolled in like she owned the place. Men were searching through her belongings. Jane was infuriated, "You dare treat the mother of the King in this way! Rest assured when my son hears of this…"
"How will you ever tell him?" Mary asked innocently. "I should think it would be rather difficult since the Spaniards have killed your messenger."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Jane denied instantly. No one was supposed to know of the ambush on Princess Elizabeths' carriage.
"Don't bother lying to me madam!" Mary raged angrily at the vindictive woman. "My guards have captured your fellow conspirators trying to flee the estate. They will tell me one way or the other. I will spare you the agony of the dull axe if you would just tell me. Where is my sister?"
"My son would never harm me." Jane spoke confidently. "Your regency is coming to an end your grace. My son will rule England and he would never sign his mothers' death warrant."
In that moment Mary had finally lost her temper and struck Jane Seymour to the ground. It wasn't just on Elizabeths' behalf she was angry for but for her brother Edward as well. This vile woman before her was putting her son in this horrible position. Mary knew that England would demand justice for their Princess and despite providing England with a long awaited heir Jane Seymours' popularity had dwindled away to nothing. England would not balk at the idea of another Royal mother being executed because they had seen it done before. Jane did not understand that Anne Boleyns' death had set a precedent. Edward could do little to protect his mother. Whether the young King liked or not he will sign his mothers' death warrant and it would destroy him.
Mary would have loved nothing more than to strike the woman again but she was interrupted by Sir Thomas Culpepper, "You grace we've found one of your sisters' ladies in the cellar."
"Show me." Mary knew if one of Elizabeths' ladies were here then she was closer to finding Elizabeth.
However Sir Thomas blocked her path. "Your grace you don't want to see this."
Mary was in no mood for games and growled, "Show me." Thomas reluctantly allowed her to pass. They had left Jane with some guards and made their way to the cellar. Mary gasped at the horrible sight of Brigitte Roussellot strapped to a table with various wounds across her body. Mary knew from her time in Spain who was responsible for this. "The inquisition."
"I'm afraid so your grace." Sir Thomas himself had heard the stories but he never thought he would see such a sight. "From what I can gather from the servants is that Elizabeth had somehow escaped with Henry Brandon. The inquisition tried to get the information out of Lady Brigitte but she refused. One of the servants took pity on the poor woman and fed her poison to ease her suffering."
"Poison was certainly more kinder than going through another day of this." Mary cried remembering the woman who loved Elizabeth so much she was willing to go through such pain to protect her. "Brigitte was a true hero and England will not forget her sacrifice. Did you find the inquisitors Sir Thomas?"
"All of them have been apprehended your grace." Sir Thomas confirmed.
"Have them sent to the Tower and have our best man work on them." Mary hissed with fire and vengeance in her eyes. "I want them to suffer as Brigitte suffered. I want to show my dear cousin what I think of him and his precious inquisitors."
"It shall be done your grace." Any other time Sir Thomas would have been afraid of the Duchess of Richmond but he was feeling just as angry over what happened to Brigitte as Mary was. Though he did not know Brigitte personally he knew that she was an honoured guest of England and a citizen of France. The Spaniards had not only come to England uninvited but tortured this poor woman just because Mary refused to consider a match between the Princess Elizabeth of England and Prince Philip of Spain. Spain had started something they could not finish and it would be finished if Mary Tudor had anything to say about it.
It was the first time King Edward had handled court affairs without his sister at his side. Though he still had his Uncle Edward watching over him King Edward was still pleased to be finally taking the responsibility of the role. However he was pleased until he received a report from Lord Cecil regarding Elizabeths' disappearance. There were countless of letters between Lady Frances Grey and his mother about the plot to abduct his sister the Princess Elizabeth. Edward at first wanted to dismiss these letters as fakes but he saw for himself that these letters had been actually written in his mothers' hand.
Unfortunately there was worse to come as Cecil continued his report, "Lady Richmond herself went to visit the Dowager Queen to see if she could uncover the truth of this matter and what she had found was rather disturbing."
Seeing that his nephew was unable to speak Lord Hertford asked, "What did she find?" Edward Seymour had always known his sister was foolish but he would never have thought that Jane would be this reckless. This was the sort plot his brother Thomas would be involved in not Jane.
However sadly Lord Hertford was mistaken as Lord Cecil continued, "One of Princess Elizabeths' ladies, Brigitte Rousellot I believe her name was had been found dead at the scene, tortured at the hands of the Spanish Inquisition."
"My sister allowed this?" Edward Seymour was horrified at his sisters' actions. Jane had always been the sweet and innocent one of their family. Now she was allowing women to be tortured in her own home.
"From what I understand from Sir Thomas Culpeppers' report is that the Princess Elizabeth had escaped with the Duke of Suffolk and the inquisitors were trying to extract information from the Princess' lady in waiting." Lord Cecil concluded.
"So it seems that Lady Jane Grey had gotten off lightly." King Edward muttered sadly. As terrible as Jane Greys' death had been King Edward tried to imagine Jane Grey in Brigitte Rousellots' place and the thought made him feel ill.
"I'm sorry to report this, your majesty." Lord Cecily spoke hesitantly. "Sir Thomas Culpeppers' report also stated that your mother the Dowager Queen had made a request to the Spanish to have Lady Jane Grey killed."
"No that is not possible." King Edward shook his head in denial. He had shared with his mother by letter the feelings he had for Jane Grey. Jane Grey had personally smuggled letters to his mother insuring that Edward kept in contact with his mother at a great risk to herself. Edward didn't want to believe that his mother had broken his trust in such a horrible way.
"I've not had the chance to look at the evidence myself." Lord Cecil spoke honestly. "It will take some time for me to go through all the documents found at your mothers' estate but judging by what I have seen so far the Dowager Queen wanted you to marry a Catholic bride."
"But his majesty is already betrothed to the Scots Queen." Edward Seymour knew like most of England that Mary Queen of Scots was raised as a Catholic. Normally Lord Hertford would have balked at the idea of his nephew being married to a Catholic noble but unfortunately Protestant Princesses were few and far between plus Marys' kingdom was bordered right next to England so it was in the best interest of everyone that an alliance was made between the two countries.
"Lady Jane Grey was a Protestant." Lord Cecil stated bluntly. "The Dowager Queen wanted to restore the Catholic faith to England and saw Jane Grey as a potential threat."
"So like my father I lose the love of my life all for the Catholic Church." King Edward seethed in anger. Although it hurt Edward to know that his father never loved his mother in the same way he loved Anne Boleyn Edward now understood how King Henry VIII had felt when he discovered that those close to him had plotted and succeeded in killing his true love.
"Your majesty?" Edward Seymour was worried. He had never seen his nephew act this way. Growing up King Edwards' look always favoured his mother but right now in his rage he was every inch his fathers' son.
"Leave me." King Edward growled. After the men scurried away leaving the King alone. Edward flipped the table in anger throwing every object he could lay his hands on. Then his eyes landed on a portrait he had commissioned of his mother. Although Mary had banished his mother to the More she didn't begrudge Edward to keep a portrait of her hanging on his wall. When Marys' regency was over Edward had planned to invite his mother back to court but now that dream was dead. Edward took his dagger and began to stab violently into the portrait tearing it shreds. Exhausted Edward collapsed into a heap on the floor but then he noticed his face staring back at him in a mirror. He was disgusted at his image; unlike Elizabeth who was every inch a Tudor Edward saw only the face of his mother. Disgusted by his appearance Edward smashed the mirror into pieces just as his mother had smashed his heart.
Anne of Cleves had been given an estate not too far out of London by the late King Henry VIII. In his will King Henry declared her his great friend and sister. When her brother had heard this he assumed that she had been the Kings' mistress and demanded that she returned home but the Duke of Suffolk Henry Brandon soon put a stop to it by informing the Duchess of Richmond of the situation.
Mary Tudor wrote to Anne's brother informing him that Anne was still playing a vital role in the Protestant Alliance and in recognition of her work Anne of Cleves would be now known as the Countess of Essex. There were some at court that balked at the idea of another woman in power but Mary was playing a game of politics. Mary knew that the Duke of Norfolk had some powerful friends amongst the old families like the Percy family in Northumberland who had wanted the old religion to be restored. In order to stop that Mary had to make new powerful friends who were loyal to her and her family's cause.
Anne of Cleves was the perfect candidate and acted as an ambassador to the German states. She was very good at trade negotiations and always had Englands' best interests at heart something that the late King Henry had strived for in his reign. Mary Tudor had trusted Lady Anne so much that when Elizabeths' safety was at risk Anne's estate had been selected as a potential shelter for the Princess. Anne did not know if the Princess would arrive at her estate but Anne had informed her servants to be prepared and to inform her should the Princess arrive. Anne may have not been able to help her cousin Philip Duke of Bavaria but Anne would not fail in this task.
Unfortunately Anne didn't have to do anything for things to go completely wrong. Anne of Cleves should not have been surprised that the Spanish would be so bold. They had murdered her cousin after all. It was obvious to Anne that the Spanish were going to leave Juana as the scapegoat in this plot to abduct Elizabeth. The entire plot to abduct Elizabeth seemed mad so who better to blame for the incident than the mad Queen. Also Mary was close with her aunt which would hurt the Duchess of Richmond politically if Juana had been convicted.
However it seemed as if the Spanish plans were unravelling after Katherine Grey had stepped forward as a witness. Frances Greys' involvement was a complete shock to Lady Anne as she was so sure that Frances herself was of the Protestant faith. Anne suddenly thought of the former Earl of Essex Thomas Cromwell. He had brought down Anne Boleyn who had been of the Protestant faith and replaced her with a Catholic Queen. He had betrayed his own faith for ambition just as Lady Frances had done. The new Lady Essex had to be careful she did not allow her good fortune to sway her from her conscience.
Anne had almost settled into bed when there had been a knock at her door. One of her servants informed her that the Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Suffolk had arrived. Lady Essex quickly got dressed and went to greet them. Elizabeth had a complete look of relief on her face when the Countess had greeted her and poor Henry Brandon looked completely exhausted. Anne wasted no time in offering them her hospitality, "Some rooms have already been prepared for you and your sister will be informed of you arrival."
"Mary must be so worried by now." Elizabeth was grateful to be having some real food and a more comfortable bed to sleep in.
"We should probably inform her of the ambush so we can arrange a proper burial for my niece." Obviously the Duke of Suffolk wasn't aware that Mary had already been informed of the ambush.
"I'm afraid your grace that Lady Richmond is already aware of the ambush." Lady Essex informed Henry. "Your other niece Katherine Grey came forward as a witness. I'm afraid I know very little of what happened. However I'm sorry to say your grace that your sister Frances has been arrested for treason and conspiracy to murder."
"I assume it was Lord Suffolk she wanted to murder." Elizabeth spoke carefully not wanting Lady Anne to know the depth of her feelings for Henry Brandon. Elizabeth watched Henry as he stared into the fire. She knew that Henry had suspected that Frances was involved but hearing it was another matter.
"You're correct your highness." Lady Anne confirmed. "However that was not all. There is rumour at court that the Dowager Queen was also involved and your sister Lady Richmond has left court to investigate this matter further."
"Oh God." At that moment Elizabeth had the wind completely knocked out of her. Elizabeth knew that Jane Seymour did not care for Elizabeth even as a child but to go this far. Elizabeth knew there would be no way out for Jane if the rumour was true and what had made it worse was that it would be Edward who will have to sign his own mothers' death warrant. Suddenly Elizabeth felt very sick and rushed out of the room.
After Elizabeth managed to compose herself she noticed Henry Brandon standing in her doorway. "I'm sorry Hal you should not me see like this." She must have looked awful she thought, sitting on the floor with her hair in mess and tears streaked down her face.
"Hey." Hal slowly approached kneeling at her side on the floor wiping the tears off her cheeks. "You said you wanted honesty between us. I'm here for you Elizabeth."
At Henrys' words Elizabeth threw her arms around Henry and cried. Henry stroked her Tudor red hair and kissed her head trying to sooth her. Elizabeth continued to cry, "I didn't want her to die. Not like this."
Henry knew that Elizabeth was thinking about her mother Anne Boleyn. Henry wanted to cry himself as he knew that soon his niece Katherine Grey would suffer that same pain. He didn't want his sister to die. Sadly Frances did not share Henrys' reservations on having a sibling killed and that had hurt Henry far more than the injury he had suffered during the ambush. The only thing that could sooth his pain was Elizabeth who was also suffering.
They held each other close until Elizabeth fell asleep in Henrys' arms. Henry carried Elizabeth and placed her on the bed. He would have loved nothing more than to stay by her side during the night but he couldn't risk ruining Elizabeths' reputation. Henry wondered if there could ever be a time when they could love each other out in the open. Henry leaned over Elizabeth and kissed her forehead. That night Henry Brandon prayed for something so impossible. Henry prayed that one day Elizabeth would be his wife and mother to his children. It did not matter to Henry whether Elizabeth would give him a boy or a girl just as long as they could be together out in the open.