AUTHORS' NOTE: I shouldn't have to be saying this so late in the story but apparently some of my readers are struggling to understand that I'm writing fiction. I know Henry Carey isn't Francis son, I don't believe the actual Charles of Orleans was a bad person nor do I believe that Philip of Spain or Emperor Charles were evil bastards. Please don't insult my intelligence by correcting historical inaccuracies when you're reading a work where Elizabeth actually does get married and has children. Please just enjoy it for the piece of fiction that it is.
I'm struggling really hard to finish this story and these comments don't help. If anything the comments are putting me off from continuing this story all together and I don't want to leave this unfinished. If you are unhappy with my story read something else or write your own. That is why I started writing in the first place because there were some stories I felt could have went into a different direction. I know that most people have been very supportive and are very happy with the way this story is progressing. It is for them that I'll try and finish it.
Henry Brandon barely recognised himself when he looked in the mirror. He and his wife were dressed in gold finery. Henry had never worn such clothing, it had only served to remind him that this was actually happening that he was going to be King. The thought made him completely nervous.
Elizabeth saw her husband's distress. She knew he was struggling to come to terms with this and wished she could give him more time. However the coronation had already been pushed back thanks to the disaster that was the Duke of Orleans visit. Elizabeth wanted to be sure that Anne was well enough to attend the coronation. Most of the lords grumbled at this but both her sister and her husband supported her in her decision.
Now it was Elizabeth's turn to support her husband. She quietly dismissed the servants so she could talk to her husband in private. "You know it's not fair husband for you to look so hansom whilst I am the size of a house." Elizabeth jested to put her husband at ease.
Henry looked up at her and smiled, "You look beautiful." He kissed her and placed his hand on her belly. "I just hope I don't embarrass you out there."
"You'll be fine my love." Elizabeth reassured him with a kiss of her own. "I'll be right beside you. I'm sure our grandfather felt just out of place at these things as you do now."
"He had his own Elizabeth to guide him." Henry remembered correctly.
"To a certain extent but we are not them." Elizabeth reasoned, "We have to forge our own path like father did and like him we will make mistakes but also like him we shall create something that is everlasting." Though Elizabeth may never forgive her father for what he did to her mother though she couldn't help but admire his achievements. England had prospered under his leadership and Elizabeth only hoped she could achieve just as much in her reign.
"You really believe that?" Henry was still uncertain. His father had prepared him to become Duke of Suffolk. Henry however never anticipated that he would be named King of England.
"I have faith in us Henry provided that you keep your promise to me that you made all those years ago." Elizabeth squeezed his hand in reassurance. "That we shall always remain honest with each other. Out there you may be King but in private you shall always be Hal to me."
"You shall never have to hide who you are with me." Henry kissed his wife one more time before a servant announced that they were ready for them. This was it; they were finally going to be crowned King and Queen of England.
Mary had already made her decision before she had received the note from the King of France informing her that the Duke of Orleans had been banished from court. Mary had no need to interfere as the King of France was taking the Duke Orleans crimes seriously. Sadly Mary knew it was no crime for husband to harm his wife but to know that the King was disgusted with his brother's behaviour was enough.
However Mary had every intention on meeting this woman who was willing to poison the Duke Orleans. Not that Mary wished for this crazy plot to continue but the thought of the man who had been sentenced to be boiled in oil as her father's ghost mentioned stayed with her. The man had been so desperate to insure his family's future that he was willing to go through extreme pain. Mary had to know if the woman she intended to hire was just as desperate enough to do this horrible act.
As it turns out this woman was very desperate indeed. As Mary looked around the woman's home she couldn't help but reminded of how it had been for her before Francis had taken her in. The woman Joan had flaming red hair and her young son didn't look that much different from how George had been at that age. "Do you have no family to support you and your child?" Mary asked kindly.
"My parents are deeply religious my lady." Joan explained, "They say I behaved wantonly and that my child is a product of sin but I didn't do anything wrong my lady I swear! His grace threatened to take away my job if I didn't do what he wanted. He won't even acknowledge his child my lady!"
Mary watched as the poor woman cried. It had all become clear now why this woman was willing to kill the Duke of Orleans. Mary had known that after Elizabeth had left France Charles had taken women to his bed that had shared certain characteristics as the English Princess but meeting one of these women was something else entirely. Mary had to wonder how many other children Charles had sired but Mary could not think of that right now. "Do not worry madam. My son George was also born out of wedlock and I would never judge you harshly for having this little one."
The young woman smiled in relief, "The man Sir Francis he said you would help me look after my boy Louis."
"I will very much like to help you Mistress Joan." Mary smiled knowing she had made the right decision. "It just so happens I'm in need of a new maid and you don't have to worry about your son. In Boulogne there countless of shelters that will help look after you and this little one. When he is old enough there are schools he can attend where he can learn a trade."
"I've heard of these places my lady but I never had enough money to travel there." Joan explained quietly.
"Then allow me to offer you transport then." Mary wonder how many other desperate people in France wished to travel to Boulogne or Calais in the hopes of finding a better life but were unable to for fear they would not have enough to make the trip. "I will be waiting outside whilst you pack your things."
Joan couldn't believe her luck, "Oh bless you my lady." As Joan rushed off to pack Mary couldn't help but be pleased that she made the right decision. Had Mary chosen to go down a darker path she knew it would not be just herself she would condemn but Joan and her little one as well. Joan had already been taken advantage of and Mary refused to hurt the poor woman further by forcing her to take part in this foolish plot.
Annie watched as the newly crowned royals enjoyed the feast. She watched as the King placed his hand on his Queen's belly with devotion in his eyes. Anne envied her cousin for having a husband that loved her so much. Anne would never have that. Anne wasn't even sure she could love the child growing in her own belly in the same way Elizabeth and Henry loved theirs which made her sad.
Mary Tudor noticed Lady Anne's distress. She knew how much Annie had meant to Elizabeth so Mary had felt it was her duty to look after the woman whilst her sister was preoccupied. "Are you well my lady?"
"Elizabeth's child hasn't been born yet and she already loves it." Annie observed the royal couple.
"Yes I believe she does." Mary agreed observing her sister fondly. She then took Annie's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "I'm sure you shall love your child just as fiercely."
"But how your grace?" Annie cried quietly, "How could I look upon the child and not be reminded of the pain their father put me through?"
"I once asked myself something similar when I was sent to work as my sister's maid." The Duchess of Richmond confided, "I won't lie I hated Anne Boleyn at the time and blamed her for the destruction of my parent's marriage. I was so certain that I wouldn't be able to look at Elizabeth without being reminded of her mother." Mary was ashamed of how naïve she was back then. Anne Boleyn may have played a part in her mother's downfall but in the end it was Mary's father the King who had the final say. If King Henry VIII really loved Katherine of Aragon he would have never discarded her.
Annie observed the Duchess of Richmond thoughtfully, "What changed your mind?"
"I think it was first time I held Elizabeth in my arms." Mary recalled, "I wasn't really allowed to be alone with the Princess and I certainly wasn't allowed to hold her. Whilst I was saying my prayers I heard Elizabeth crying in the next room. The maids for some reason had left her alone so I decided to comfort her by singing a lullaby my mother used to sing to me. I didn't really expect it to work but Elizabeth stopped crying and she smiled at me. It was then I knew that I didn't care who her mother was. I loved her and would do anything to protect her. I wasn't always successful but look how happy she is."
"Yes." Annie agreed with a smile as she saw her cousin laugh with the new King. "The most happy."
On the ride back to Boulogne Francis Bryan sat quietly observing his cousin. When Mary had asked Francis to do this terrible thing he worried for her sanity. There was a time when he was younger he would not have hesitated to help Mary as he had done many terrible things in his King's name, things that he could never speak of. However as he grew older he became more aware of his own mortality. Francis was no longer that man which was why he had delayed in finding the appropriate person to kill Charles. It was his hope that given time Mary would eventually come to her senses.
Almost as if Mary was reading his thoughts she spoke, "I suppose I should be thanking you."
"I don't know what you mean cousin." Francis replied innocently.
"So I'm to assume that the selection of Joan was pure coincidence." Mary knew it wasn't. Joan had been selected for a reason. Like Mary the woman had been exiled from her family and forced to live in shame. Francis had to have known that Mary would see something of herself in Joan and wouldn't go through with it.
"Mary I've known you for a long time." Francis replied, "You're not ruthless enough to do something like this."
"I suppose you're right in that." Mary agreed looking outside the carriage, "Many believed Anne was ruthless enough. They were all quick to assume that Anne would poison her rival Katherine but I knew better. She could talk easily about such things but when it came to carrying out certain deeds her heart wasn't in it. I guess I'm the same in that regard. It was so easy to speak of all the horrible thing I wished to do to Charles but when it came to the actual act itself I just could not."
"No one can blame you for being angry." Francis reasoned, "Had it been my daughter I would have taken a knife to his throat myself but I was never a good person. It had always amazed me that despite all the hardships you had endured you still managed to be a good soul. I never once believed you would carry out this insane plot."
"I won't lie, I came close." Mary spoke honestly, "When word reached me of Annie I felt like I had failed her."
"There was nothing you could have done to prevent this match." Francis tried to reassure his cousin, "Both you and George tried to prevent this match from happening."
"And yet why do I feel it was never enough." Mary cried.
Francis put his arm around his cousin in comfort, "I'm sure there have been many times when my mother thought the same."
Mary couldn't help but giggle at her cousin's comment, "Yes I'm sure you caused Aunt Margaret to gain many grey hairs."
"No doubt I did." Sir Francis smiled, "She had always wanted me to settle down and live a quiet life."
"Could you?" Mary asked.
Francis shook his head, "Not back then. I craved adventure too much. I think the only time she approved of a mission was when the King had asked me to guard Princess Elizabeth."
"That King is gone now and Elizabeth is in England." Mary reasoned, "So why are you here instead of England?"
Sir Francis replied, "Before the Princess had left for England she asked something of me." Mary looked at her cousin curiously so Francis continued, "She requested that her family over here would be protected. Now I haven't always been successful…"
"Don't say that." Mary didn't want her cousin to feel like he had failed, "You have always done right by us and I won't hear otherwise."
"As you wish my lady." Sir Francis smirked.