Mary Tudor held her sister close as Elizabeth cried for her beloved cousin. Normally Elizabeth was good at controlling her emotions but the pregnancy was taking its toll. When Elizabeth had first come to Mary informing her Annie's plight Elizabeth had raged in such a violent way that Mary feared for the health of her niece or nephew. When the physician arrived to bring news of Annie's condition Mary had asked the physician to give something to Elizabeth to sooth her tempers. The concoction seemed to have the desired effect until he reported the extent of Annie's injuries. Elizabeth had been in tears ever since. Mary had sent for the King and she prayed that the Duke of Orleans was not with him for if he was Mary would make sure that what happened to Spanish that had dared to try abduct Elizabeth would pale in comparison to what Mary had planned for the Duke who had dared caused her sister such pain.
Fortunately Henry Brandon arrived and Elizabeth rushed into his arms. "Hal!" Elizabeth continued to sob into her husbands' arms.
"What in God's name happened?" Henry looked at his wife in concern.
Seeing that her sister was unable to speak at the moment Mary reported the physician's findings. "The Duchess of Orleans suffered some serious injuries. The cuts and bruises on her back indicated that she been whipped and what's worse he…"
"He forced himself on her." Elizabeth cried tightening her grip on Henry. "Charles wanted to punish me for choosing you by hurting her."
"You don't know that your majesty." Lady Essex, who happened to be having a meeting with Mary when Elizabeth rushed into the room to inform Mary of the Duchess of Orleans' condition. "It's an unfortunate thing that some women in our station endure. My brother had many different excuses to harm me and my sister. If it hadn't been for your father I would still be enduring them today."
"Lady Anne is right Elizabeth." Mary gently reminded her sister. "Father wrote to the Duke of Cleves naming the Lady Anne as the King's sister and informed him that she was needed England."
"Annie is already a duel citizen of both England and France." Henry reasoned. "France can't force her to leave England."
"It still may be difficult Henry." Elizabeth spoke quietly. "Annie is with child."
"All the more reason she should stay." Mary countered, "The Duke of Orleans' actions put his child in danger. We would be doing France a favour by protecting Annie and her child."
"Not to mention the fact he had already embarrassed France with his behaviour last night." Lady Essex reasoned, "I doubt the King of France would defend him for his actions."
"There you see my love?" Henry spoke soothingly, "You cousin shall be protected." Henry then kissed his wife on the forehead.
Elizabeth calmed down and took a deep breath. "I don't want him here. He has to leave."
"All the arrangements shall be arranged your majesty." Mary agreed with her sister. Having the Duke here was causing a great distress to Elizabeth and her child. The sooner he was gone the better.
Unaware of the events in England George had just returned from hunting with his nephew Prince Francis. Francis and his new wife Mary had being staying in Calais and whilst George enjoyed his nephew's company George's own wife Katherine did not enjoy Mary's. The Scots Queen kept on making ridicules demands of her hosts, more pacifically Katherine. George knew Katherine was no fool and would soon suspect why Mary was acting this way towards her. Francis however remained oblivious to Mary's behaviour which George was grateful as he didn't want to lose Francis friendship.
George was at a complete loss on what he was going to do about Mary. He had made it clear to the Scots Queen that he didn't care for her in that way. He even had been openly hostile to her on more than one occasion but for some reason Mary didn't care. She was so used to being the centre of attention and getting her own way that the idea that someone like George showing no interest in her intrigued her. George couldn't help but wonder if this was how his late aunt had felt when she had been pursued by the English King who like his Scottish kin did not seem to take no for an answer.
George's thoughts were interrupted when his wife Katherine entered the room, "Thank God you're home my love." Katherine greeted him with a kiss, "Any longer and I would have committed regicide."
"You shouldn't concerning yourself with our guest." George placed his wife in his lap and rubbing her pregnant belly. "You should be resting."
"Try telling that to the Scots Queen." Katherine huffed, "Five times she asked for the flowers to be changed in her rooms and she had sent her food sent back. Anyone would think she was the one with child."
"Perhaps she is." George certainly hoped so. Maybe a child would bring Mary and Francis closer together.
"Not likely." Katherine countered, "They haven't shared a bed since they arrived."
"What?" George was now shocked at this, "Francis never mentioned such a thing to me." Francis may have been his nephew but they acted like brothers, which was hardly surprising given they were the same age.
"Why would he?" Katherine thought it obvious why Francis hadn't shared this information with his uncle. "What man let alone a French prince would admit to having a wife unwilling to share his bed. It must be dreadfully embarrassing for him."
"How could she do this to him?" George silently fumed at Mary's behaviour. Francis was a good man and George believed his nephew would make a good king one day but to have the Scots Queen treat Francis this way made George's blood boil.
Sensing her husband's distress Katherine kissed her husband on the forehead, "You won't find me so unwilling my love." Katherine then kissed his lips seductively, "In fact you my wonderful husband will find me loving and kind."
"You really have missed me haven't you wife." George continued to kiss his wife laying her on the bed. Whatever thoughts about his nephew and the Scots Queen had completely faded from George's mind. Once again George couldn't believe his good fortune in find such a wife. Ned Seymour was clearly a fool to allow this woman to slip through his fingers.
It had been decided that Charles Valois would leave England. Henry had wanted Charles to leave the moment he arrived in England. Now instead of the relief he thought he would feel when he would finally tell Charles that he was no longer welcome in England Henry Brandon had felt only anger and disgust at his rival. However Henry the ability to hold his anger in check unlike his dear wife who was ready to tear the Duke of Orleans limb from limb. However Mary had convinced Elizabeth to rest for the sake of the child she was carrying.
It was thinking of his own child that had made Henry even more furious. Charles Valois had beaten Annie who was now carrying the heir to Orleans. It was unknown if the child would make it but the physicians had informed Henry that they would do everything in their power to help Annie and her child. Henry had also promised to himself that he would do the same by sending the Duke of Orleans away.
Charles Valois was heavily guarded and naturally angry at his treatment. "You dare treat a Prince of France this way!" He raged, "I demand to speak to the Queen!"
"She doesn't want to speak to you, your grace." Henry spoke through gritted teeth, trying to keep his anger under control.
"You may think you have won her now, your grace but I've known her since we're children." Charles spoke rudely ignoring the fact that Henry was now in fact a King. "She will come crawling back to me."
"Then you clearly do not know Elizabeth that well." Henry growled, "Elizabeth loves Annie like a sister and your treatment of her…"
"Anne is my wife not yours!" Charles shouted. "I can treat her how I wish."
"And Elizabeth is mine." Henry spoke coldly to the Duke, "However you have no need to fear for Elizabeth. Unlike you I don't beat women, especially who are with child."
Charles' eyes widened in shock as he clearly didn't know of Annie's condition, "Annie is…"
"Is pregnant with your child." Henry interrupted not caring if Charles did not know as in Henry's mind the Duke of Orleans should not have hurt Annie in the first place. "You will leave as soon as the tide allows. Lady Anne shall remain here under the Queen's protection."
"You shall not take my child from me!" Charles rose in anger. "My brother the King of France will not stand for this."
"The King of France will be unable to anything just like my father in-law was unable to do anything when your father stole his daughter from him." Henry reasoned calmly, "However I am not so cruel as to prevent the child from returning to their family. The child shall leave when the Duchess of Orleans wishes it and not before." Henry hadn't even bothered to inform Charles that he had already sent messengers to both the King and George informing them of the events which led to Charles being forced out of England. George not only needed to be informed of his sister's health but he had to prepare for the possibility of going to war with his brothers. Henry Brandon promised that George would have England's support should the worst should happen however it was still uncertain whether the French King would support the Duke of Orleans given the circumstances.
Elizabeth entered her cousin Annie's rooms. Annie was resting on her side to avoid pressure on her wounds. Elizabeth lay next to her to offer her cousin comfort. Annie spoke quietly, "Is he gone?"
Elizabeth remembered seeing Charles leave from her window. "Yes though he wasn't happy."
"I suppose not." Annie should have been glad her husband was gone but she couldn't help but worry. "You know there'll be a war."
"You don't know that." Elizabeth knew Charles would have been considered an embarrassment to the French court and was confident that no one would help him.
"The Pope gave us a special dispensation to marry." Annie informed Elizabeth, "He said that my marriage to Charles wouldn't be considered incestuous because George is bastard. The Pope agreed to the match because he fears our family. He wanted me to marry into a Catholic family to control me."
"The Bishop of Rome is just a man." Elizabeth spoke with conviction, "My father did not fear him and nor shall I." Annie began to protest but Elizabeth stopped her. "My father had built alliances, wealth and navies to ensure England's protection against the Papacy. My sister helped to build a sophisticated network of spies to smoke out Jesuits like William Brereton. I will use every resource I have to keep you and George safe."
"Even at the cost of England?" Annie didn't want Elizabeth to lose everything because of her.
"You knew me when I had nothing." Elizabeth reassured, "You know that I never fail at anything I set my mind to. Trust me Annie I will not fail you." Elizabeth pulled her cousin close. For the first time since arriving to England Annie had finally felt safe enough to sleep as she knew Elizabeth would keep her word.