Queen Mary was in her study trying to find some way to stop the impending war that was about to break out. As she was reading, she was interrupted as Elizabeth burst in," Lady Elizabeth can you please come back later?"
"No, I cannot," she said and smile a bit," And I am no longer Lady Elizabeth, I am Queen of Spain now!"
"Oh yes I forgot, congratulations on your marriage," Mary said and eyed Elizabeth down, she wouldn't be intimidate anymore.
"What how did you know?!" Elizabeth yelled in anger," It was Lady Mary wasn't it? Foolish girl, she was just doing what she thought was right."
"Mary is not responsible for this, I found out by other means," Mary said and stood to meet Elizabeth eye to eye," You really think I didn't have you spied on?"
"Well either way, I am the Queen of Spain and the rightful Queen of England, face it, you lost," Elizabeth said and smile evilly.
"I wouldn't say I lost, the crown still sits on my head!" Mary said to Elizabeth with a stern tone," But I congratulate you on your marriage. I'm sure your sister loves the fact you married her unfaithful husband, and I know your mother does. What better match for a king than Henry VIII's bastard child with the whore Anne Boleyn!" Mary said sarcastically.
Elizabeth balled he fists in pure anger. Elizabeth rose her hand and slapped Mary in the face," Rot in hell!" She said then stormed out.
Mary placed her hand on her cheek where Elizabeth had struck her. It stung a little but not at much as the guilt Mary felt for speaking that way to her cousin. She sent a summoning for Francis, Lady Mary, Lady Catherine, and Marie de Guise to meet her in her study." You are the only people I can truly trust," She told them.
"Court is buzzing with rumors of Elizabeth's marriage to king Philip," Marie de Guise said and shot an angry glance at Lady Mary.
"I am aware," Queen Mary said," Which means I need to find marriages for my successors." She looked at the grey sisters," I do not wish to force marriages but I need some allies."
"Edward Seymour has asked for my hand in marriage," Catherine said," With your permission I wish to accept. He is a powerful and influential nobleman, he would be a great addition to our side."
"That sounds like a good arrangement," Queen Mary said," Now Lady Mary, I know you're only thirteen but we need a marriage suggestion for you as well, I've written Catherine De Medici, I'm hoping to arrange something with Prince Charles."
Lady Mary blushed as her hand went to the bracelet he made her," That sounds lovely, Charles is a very sweet boy."
Queen Mary smiled, she knew very well of the flirtation between Mary Grey and Prince Charles,"Charles is already fourteen, so once you are fourteen, you two will be married, if Queen Catherine will agree."
"We can arrange marriages until final judgement day, but nothing will be more helpful than an heir!" Marie de Guise said to her daughter.
"Yes I know, but it does take nine months mother," Queen Mary replied," Im already three months along."
"Don't you think I know that? I am merely saying all his stress is futile, it's also bad for the baby," Marie said," We need your son born healthy."
Mary frowned a bit and she put her hand gently on her stomach. The pressure to have a son was even more unbearable now. A son could inherit the French, English, and Scottish thrones with not problem. However, by law a daughter could not inherit the French throne, meaning a daughter could only be Queen of England and Scotland, leaving France without an heir.
Elizabeth had arranged a meeting with Robert Dudley. She knew she couldn't be with him, but she needed his support for the overthrow of Mary." Robert, I'm glad you came!"
"Of course," he said sadly. He knew now, they could never be together," I know what you're going to ask, and if course I'll help you."
"Good," Elizabeth said and smiled," Rumors are, Mary is with child, we need her off the throne before she gives birth."
"Of course," he said and paused," Just I wish to have one more kiss, to remember you, my love."
"I am married to a king, I will not risk execution to kiss you," She replied as she kept walking.
He quickly took her hand," Did you ever love me?"
She turned to him trying to hide her emotions," Of course I did! But I love England more." She pulled her hand from his," Now gain support for the coup." She ordered and turned around to walk away.
That night queen Mary stood on her balcony and enjoyed the outdoors. Soon Francis came up behind he and wrapped his arms around her," My love are you alright?"
She nodded," Yes, I'm just thinking." She replied and leaned back to enjoy his closeness.
"Thinking about what?" He asked her and kissed her neck softly.
"How much happier we'd be if I were just a girl, and you just a boy. We wouldn't have to worry about lines of succession or the gender of our child," She replied speaking softly.
He smiled and turned to look her in the eye," My love, I know it's hard, but you're not alone. You have me, you have your cousins. God has chosen you to be Queen."
She smiled at him," Thank you my love." She said and kissed him deeply.
Meanwhile at King Philip's camp Elizabeth went to her shared tent with her husband," I have a few noblemen ready to help us."
"Good," Philip said," I am sending an armada here to land some troops, also I'm sending troops to attack France!"
"What about Scotland?" Elizabeth asked confused.
"I have no use for Scotland. Why would I attack it?" He asked her.
"You will burn that whole rotten country to the ground, so you can destroy any hope for Mary's rescue," Elizabeth said. She wanted Mary to suffer, without Scotland Mary would loose hope.
"This is political for me," Philip replied to Elizabeth," Scotland gives me no advantage, you need to stop thinking like a jealous girl, and think like a queen. That also means ending things with Robert Dudley"