Chapter 17
Here's another chapter! Now, I'm going to continue, but there are some things I want to address. As we all saw, Katherine of Aragon died and her death is suspected poison, due to the foul condition of her heart. In reality, Katherine of Aragon died in January 1536, from cancer of the heart, which is very rare and only one other person had died from it, since her death. That is her cause of death in my story, but the poison suspicion is because in that time, poison was suspected. The late Lady Delgado has nothing to do with Katherine's death, though it sounded good for awhile lol. Now, enjoy Chapter 17 and please Read and Review!
November 8, 1550
Hundson House
Princess Christina, Duchess of Sicily's Bedchamber
Christina was dressed completely in black and was silent. Ever since Katherine's death, she had been in seclusion and not speaking or appearing to her household, unless to attend Mass. She was utterly devastated. Katherine of Aragon had been more than just her brother's wife. She was the mother that Christina never got to have, since her own mother died shortly after her very birth.
There was a knock and Lorenzo walked in. Now nearing fifty years old, his age was starting to show. His hair was still dark in color, but had lost its shine. He also had put in a small amount of weight due to his middle age.
He kissed his wife on her cheek.
"Are you doing better, sweetheart?" he asked.
Christina sighed.
"The only mother I ever knew is gone now. I don't know how to feel. Is there any news from Court?" she asked.
Lorenzo cleared his throat.
"The King has relocated to Hampton Court for the time being. He also sent the Royal children, except for Princess Matilda, have all been sent to Hatfield and Prince William is back in Wales." he said.
Christina nodded.
"My poor nephew. He just lost his mother and in a few months, he must watch his oldest daughter be married off to that Swedish boy. I hear they are not even Catholic." she said.
Lorenzo cleared his throat.
"There are just rumors. Are you still bitter with the fact that Princess Matilda will not be marrying our Peter?" he asked.
Christina shook her head.
"No. Peter is sixteen and is heir to your dukedom. He will find a wife in any Court." she said.
Lorenzo nodded.
"Your niece, Princess Isabella, will be leaving for Spain once the weather is clear. She seems happy." he said.
Christina smiled.
"That's what Kathrine would have wanted. All of her children secure. Now, I know she died content." she said
Alcazar of Seville
Infanta Elizabeth of Spain, Princess of Asturias's Bedchamber
Elizabeth was now seven month pregnant and had just retired her mourning clothes. She still was grieving her mother's death, but she knew she had to return to her duties as Princess of Asturias. Her stomach had grown rounder and she knew that her child was still healthy. She was grateful that everyone was very sensitive to her pain.
There was a knock at her door and Luis walked in.
He walked up and kissed Elizabeth on her cheek.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
Elizabeth sighed.
"Like a barrel. Although that is the worst of it. Pregnancy doesn't seem to bad just yet." she said.
Luis smiled.
"Well, I'm just coming to tell you that the Queen wants us to move to the Alcazar of Segovia. She thinks it will suit you better, since it is more secure. I think she is correct." he said.
Elizabeth sighed.
"She is the Queen and I will obey, but I really don't want to travel this late in my pregnancy." she said.
Luis smiled.
"I know and I don't like it either, but she is the Queen and we mustn't question her." she said.
Elizabeth nodded.
"I just hope everything goes alright. I just want our child to be healthy." she said
Luis sighed.
"How are you truly doing? I know it's been a few months since your mother died and you haven't mentioned her at all." he said.
Elizabeth shook her head.
"Honestly, no I'm not doing fine. However, I know where she is and I'm getting through it. I knew that my mother had been ill for sometime and that death was inevitable. I knew that I would never see her ever again. I'll always miss her, but she is with the Lord and is healed from her illness." she said.
Luis kissed her.
"I admire your strength, MI Amor. Even if the world came toppling down around you, there would be no panic." he said.
Elizabeth smiled.
"That's because God is on our side. No matter what trouble comes our way, as long as we let the people of Spain know that we will never give up or forsake them, we will never have to tremble in fear to a problem." she said.
Luis smiled, knowing that his wife was an English Princess, but a Spanish Queen in the making.
November 12, 1550
Lisbon Palace, Lisbon, Portugal
The Royal Nursery
Mary was still dressed in black, watching her youngest daughter sleep. Little Cristina's health seemed to be very stable now, which was a relief to her parents and the entire Court. Mary missed her family, but she knew her duties as a Queen and she knew that she had to worry about her own children now.
Suddenly, Mary's eleven year old son, Duarte entered. He was a handsome young man. His auburn hair was beginning to darken, as he grew older.
Mary smiled and hugged him.
"My precious boy." she said.
Duarte smiled at his mother.
"Mamãe, I wanted to check on my sister. Is she still well?" he asked.
Mary nodded her head. Everyone in the Royal Family knew that little Cristina's health was delicate and all seemed to swarm around the youngest member of the Aviz family.
"She's doing much better." she said.
Duarte also had a sad look on his face.
Mary walked up to him.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Duarte sighed.
"I've heard that I am to be married to my cousin to Doña Maria, your sister's eldest daughter." he said.
Mary closed her eyes.
"Yes. Your father feels that if you marry her, then chance of rebellion will go down. She will still be Queen and her children will still inherit the Throne someday, but you will be the sovereign and she will be the Consort." she said.
Duarte nodded his head. Even at the age of just eleven, he knew the importance of his station. He was his parents only son and the future King of Portugal. He knew his three sisters would eventually have to find husbands in foreign Courts and he would stay here and sire as many legitimate heirs as he could with whoever his Queen would be. He had no harsh feelings toward his illegitimate cousin, but he could also remember when she was heiress to the Throne and when his parents were going through tough times at Beja Palace.
Duarte took in a deep breath.
"When do I have to marry her?" he asked.
Mary put her hand on his shoulder.
"Not until you are sixteen. You'll be mature enough to have children by then." she said.
Duarte nodded.
"Very well. I am you and father's obedient son. I will do what is best for Portugal and its people." he said.
Mary smiled and gave her son a kiss on his forehead and hugged him.
November 26, 1550
Edinburgh Palace
Dowager Queen Margaret's Bedchamber
Margaret was dressed in a beautiful dark lavender gown. She was done mourning her late brother's widow now. She was sitting by her fire, watching her granddaughter, who was now almost eight years old. Little Queen Mary of Scotland was growing into a beautiful young girl. She was tall for her age, had a fair complexion and had light auburn hair. What was even more settling for Margaret was that Mary was completely healthy. This was her sole hope to unite England and Scotland together forever. Once Mary was sixteen, she would marry Prince William of England and become the future Queen consort of England.
Mary looked up from her sewing.
"Grandmother, may I go riding with my mother? Being stuck inside is boring." she said.
Margaret shook her head.
"No you may not. It's is beginning to get cold out and you mustn't catch cold." she said firmly.
Mary frowned.
"If I'm Queen, why do you get to tell me what to do? You should do as I say." the upset eight year old said.
Margaret stood to her feet.
"How dare you defy my authority. You will go to your bedchamber immediately. I will hear no more about it." she said.
Mary rose from her seat and walked out, trying to hide her tears. Ever since she was five years old, she had barely seen her mother and was constantly watched by her grandmother.
She took one final look at her grandmother's closed bedroom door.
"As God is my witness, you will not get away with this." she said, as tears fell from her eyes.
December 2, 1550
Ludlow Castle, Welsh Marches, Wales
Prince William of Wales' Bedchamber
William sat at his desk, reading over matters of his principality. The people all loved him. He was showing himself to be a virtuous young man. He kept a small Court at Ludlow, mainly of his childhood friends and some cousins.
One of his cousins, Mark Tudor of Somerset, son of Edmund and the late Anne Boleyn, walked and sat next to his cousin.
"I see you are taking this Prince of Wales duty very seriously. Why don't we play tennis?" he asked.
William shook his head.
"Not now Mark. I have to finish what I'm doing. Also, shouldn't you be spending time with your son?" he asked.
Mark smiled. He was gone of his little family, but he also loved to have fun. He was only twenty three years old and loved to have fun. He didn't understand why William, at age eighteen, was so serious.
"Will, I know you have duties, but even your grandfather made time for fun." he said.
William sighed.
"He also was selfish, sired children out of wedlock, and was not a good father to my father and my aunts. Besides, he's long dead now. When I'm King, he will not be an example to follow. Now tell me, dear cousin, how do you make time for all these fun things, when you have a wife and son in the country manor your father gave you upon your wedding?" he asked.
Mark shrugged.
"I just do. Don't get me wrong, I love Alice and our son. I can't wait to see them at Christmas. However, I also need time for myself." he said.
William nodded.
"You're lucky. Your wife is not a Queen. When I'm married, I'll need to be apart from my wife for at least six months every year. I don't even want to think of how our children will cope. But I shouldn't worry about any of that now. My wedding is still eight years away. Do you enjoy...all the aspects of your marriage?" he asked Mark.
Mark looked at his cousin, in confusion.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
William began to turn red.
"The personal side of your marriage. Your time in the bedchamber." he said.
Mark began to laugh.
"Alice may be a demure and quiet lady, but we enjoy going to bed. I miss those nights. Just seeing her beautiful, naked form before me, she is a true Aphrodite. Even giving birth to our son didn't change that. She aims to please me in ways. That's why I have no need for a mistress." he said.
William sighed.
"I envy you. I want to be married. My sister and brother will both be married before I will. I have to wait for a little girl to become a woman before I marry her. But my life is also going past too." he said.
Mark nodded.
"The day will come sooner than you think. Now I'll let you finish your work, but you owe me a game of tennis." he said.
William laughed and nodded.
"Alright, now be gone." he said playfully.
December 8, 1550
Stockholm Palace, Stockholm, Sweden
Prince Eric of Sweden's Bedchamber
Prince Eric of Sweden was reading his Bible. At seventeen years old, he was a handsome young man. He was of medium height, was fair in complexion and had reddish-blond hair. His life was not ideal for a prince. His mother died when he was just two years old and his father remarried not long after. Eric loved his stepmother and his many half-siblings. The one thing that was bothering him, was his upcoming marriage to Princess Matilda of England. Sweden was a Lutheran Country and England was still officially Catholic, which means Eric was marrying a Catholic.
Suddenly, Eric's father, King Gustav I of Sweden walked in. He was a man in his duties and was known to be kind. He was also successful in securing his succession since he had managed to produce nine surviving children between two wives. His wife, Queen Margaret, had recently given birth to another son named Prince Charles and more children could still come, since the Swedish Queen was still in her thirties.
Eric stood to his feet and bowed before his father.
"Father, it is an honor to see you. What is the cause?" he asked.
King Gustav smiled.
"My son, I am excited because you are soon to be married and will produce heirs of your own." he said.
Eric looked away.
"I wished I shared your joy of this upcoming union. I do not wish to marry a woman who is devoted to the Bishop of Rome or committed to that Faith. She will never accept our Faith. What if she tries to convert our children?" he asked.
Gustav put his hands to his head.
"You worry too much, my son. Having a Catholic Princess in this Family will be an advantage of ours. The people who are still under the Old Faith in our realm will look to her for help. Let her donate to the convents and the few churches. However, your children we be baptized under our Faith. Trust me, everything will be just fine." he said.
Eric nodded his head.
"I'll trust you, Father. Let's just hope she's good-looking enough." he said.
A/N Here's another chapter for you guys! Sorry it took so long. In this chapter, I decided to introduce the Swedish Royal Family, which is the family Princess Matilda will be marrying into in the next few chapters. Also, Elizabeth's child's name and gender poll is still up, so please drop those suggestions down in the reviews and how should Eric and Matilda's marriage be? I also decided that Infante Duarte will marry Isabella's daughter, Maria. We also saw little Mary, Queen of Scots in this chapter and she's getting older and is getting feisty with her grandmother. What should be the outcome of that, when Mary reaches maturity? Leave all your suggestions in reviews. Merry Christmas to you all and Happy New Year! I will try my best to have another chapter up before 2017 hits us. Please Read and Review! Chapter 18 coming soon.
