Chapter 23

Another Chapter is now up! The next few chapters will be truly amazing, in my opinion. In the last chapter, Prince Edward showed his disapproval on his engagement to Lady Jane Grey and he prayed for a way out of this marriage, which a dark and sinister plot will be revealed. I am still thinking on doing a small time jump in the next few chapters to get the story moving along more. If any of you have ideas, please do not hesitate to say anything. Also, there will be sexual scenes as the story goes along. Please Read and Review!

May 2, 1552

Stockholm Palace

Princess Matilda's Bedchambers

Matilda was being examined by her midwife. She had finally missed her bleeding and was certain that she was finally with child. After being married nearly a year, everyone was concerned that she had not conceived. Matilda herself was even getting worried and prayed constantly to conceive and bear heirs for her husband.

Finally, the midwife finished her exam and smiled at Matilda.

"Congratulations, Your Highness. You are indeed with child." she said.

Matilda smiled and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Lord. Please tell me when am I due to be brought to childbed." she said.

The midwife smiled.

"You are about two moths gone, so you will be due in December." she said.

Matilda smiled even more. She was going to be able hold her new child before the New Year.

"That is wonderful. Please tell the King and my husband the news." she said.

The midwife nodded and left Matilda alone in the room. Matilda exhaled and placed her hand on her stomach.

After a few minutes passed by, Eric came in wearing a huge smile on his face. He knelt down and hugged and kissed her.

"You have no idea how happy I am. This is the best news we have received. I cannot wait to hold our son." he said.

Matilda took his hand in hers.

"I can't either." she said.

Eric cupped her face in his hands and planted a long passionate kiss on her lips.


May 7, 1552

Richmond Palace

Katherine, Duchess of Richmond's Bedchamber

Edward was looking at Kitty, with concern. He had been home for the past week and he had never seen Kitty like this with her prior pregnancies. Her ankles were swollen and sometimes she seemed to not be aware of her surroundings. She was now in her confinement period and was waiting to give birth to their child. She had already had two false alarms.

Kitty smiled at her husband.

"I can't wait unto this little one arrives." she said.

Edward smiled at his wide of thirteen years. However, he still couldn't help noticing how tired she was and recently had started to complain about headaches.

Suddenly, Kitty shot up and began to breath heavily.

She looked at her husband.

"I believe our child is on the way. I need my midwife." she said.

Edward kissed her and ran out of the room.


May 8, 1552

Edward was pacing back and forth, as he listened to Kitty scream. She had been in labor for a shocking twenty-five hours and it was difficult. Edward now knew that he never wanted to put Kitty through this hell again.

Suddenly, Edward felt a hand touch his arm. He turned and was face to face with his eldest daughter.

Edward sighed.

"Bessie, you should be in bed. What are you doing awake?" he asked.

The thirteen year old looked at her mother's bedroom door, as Kitty let out another ear piercing scream. Edward hugged his daughter.

"You don't need to be here for this, darling. Please go to your room." he said.

Before she could say anything, an infant's loud cry was heard.

The midwife walked out, smiling.

"You can come in now, Your Grace. It's a girl." she said.

Edward smiled. Another beautiful daughter. He couldn't wait to see what she looked like.

Young Elizabeth Fitzroy looked at her father.

"Papa, may I see my new sister?" she asked.

Edward nodded and they both walked in the room.

Kitty was sitting up in bed and was looking at her new daughter in her arms, with a smile. The new baby had her reddish-brown hair and her blur eyes. She finally had a child who looked like her.

Edward and Bessie walked up to Kitty.

Edward kissed his exhausted wife.

"She's beautiful, sweetheart. I am so proud of you." he said.

Kitty smiled.

"You don't mind that she's a girl?" she asked.

Edward shook his head.

"Our daughters are beautiful and I love them as much as I love Edmund." he said.

Kitty looked at her eldest daughter.

"What do you think of your little sister, Bessie?" she asked.

Bessie smiled.

"She looks like you, Mother. She's beautiful." she said.

Kitty kisser her infant daughter and handed her to her maid.

"We can name her in the morning. I have a slight headache and would really love to sleep." she said.

Edward nodded.

"Of course you do, you've earned it." he said, as he kissed her lips.

As Edward and Bessie walked out, Kitty sat up.

"Edward?" she said.

Edward turned around.

"Yes?" he said.

Kitty smiled.

"I love you." she said.

Edward smiled again.

"I love you too. " he said, as he closed her door.


Several hours later...

Edward was asleep in his private bedchambers, when suddenly he heard a loud banging on his door. He had just managed to fall asleep.

He sat up, feeling very frustrated.

"What?! " he screamed.

A woman's voice was heard from the other side of the door.

"Your Grace, come quickly! The Duchess is seriously ill!" she screamed.

Edward shot up and got out of bed. He grabbed his robe and ran to his wife's Bedchamber, where he could already hear her agonizing screams.


Kitty was lying in her bed, screaming clutching her head. She had a terrible headache and was in horrific pain. Her ladies-in-waiting were doing their best to soothe their suffering, but to no avail.

Kitty started to hit her head, in pain.

"MY HEAD, MY HEAD, MY HEAD! " she kept screaming.

Finally, Edward made it to his wife's bedside and was shocked by her state. He took a wet cloth to her forehead and tried to hold her.

"Darling, I'm here calm down. You're going to be fine. The physician is on his way." he said.

Suddenly, Kitty's body stiffened up and she began to shake uncontrollably and was making a terrible gurgling sound.

Edward held her down.

"SHE'S CONVULSING! WHERE THE HELL IS THE PHYSICIAN!" he screamed to the maids, as he held his seizing wife.

Kitty convulsion become more serious, as she continued to shake. One of her hands managed to grab hold of Edward's robe.

Finally , the physician made it to the room.

"What is it, Your Grace?" he asked.

Edward looked up from Kitty.

"HELP HER! SHE CAN'T BREATH!" he cried.

The physician looked at the convulsing Duchess and stood still. He knew what she was suffering from and closed his eyes as he knew what was to come.

Finally, Kitty went limp and just laid in Edward's arms. Edward began to cry and tried to wake her.

"No, love. Wake up. I need you to wake up. Stay with me. Please don't leave me. Please don't leave me, love." he said, as he began to cry.

The physician walked up to the bed and put two fingers on Kitty's neck. After a few seconds, he removed them. With all eyes on him, he made the sign of the Cross.

Edward cried out and began to cry, while holding his dead wife. He couldn't believe he lost her so young at only thirty-two years old. He couldn't imagine life without her. How could she die like this?

The maids silently sobbed over the loss of their beloved mistress. However, a certain young woman was crying loud. It was Bessie Fitzroy. No one knew that the thirteen year old had just witnessed her beloved mother's sudden death.


May 13, 1552

Palace of Lisbon

Lisbon, Portugal

Queen Maria of Portugal's Bedchamber

Mary was dressed in black and was praying. She still hadn't dealt with the stillbirth of her daughter. Physically, she had recovered. The physician stated that it was a miracle that she hadn't died or been rendered infertile. Mary prayed constantly for her daughter. She would pray for hours on end.

Unbeknownst to her, Carlos walked in. He looked at his grieving wife. This was their second stillbirth in seven years. He knew that it hurt, but he also didn't want Mary to die from melancholy. He decided it was time to give his wife of seventeen years tough love.

He walked up to her and made her stand to her feet.

Mary looked up at him.

"What are you doing?" she asked confused.

Carlos folded his arms.

"I refuse to let you continue on like this. You will die in the state you are in. I forbid it. We mourned our daughter. Now we must continue on with life and thank God for the blessings we do have." he said.

Mary began to cry.

"She is the second child we have lost. Why is God punishing us like this? What have we done?" she asked.

Carlos grabbed her.

"We did nothing wrong. Unfortunately, children are not protected from the cloak of Death. You also could have died. Have you thanked for your very survival?" he asked.

Mary shook her head.

"No. I pray for our daughter and her immortal soul, which I pray is at peace with the Lord." she said.

Carlos nodded.

"She is at peace. Now we must go on with our remaining children and be grateful for them." he said.

Mary looked at her husband. Even though he was now forty years old, he still was handsome and very gentle. Mary knew he was right. She couldn't stay like this forever. It wouldn't bring their daughter back.

Mary nodded.

"I'll rejoin the Court tomorrow morning." she said.

Carlos nodded and kissed Mary. They both knew that the healing had finally begun.


May 16, 1552

Palace of Segovia

Segovia, Castile, Spain

Queen Juana's Bedchamber

Queen Juana had just gotten some terrible news. France wanted to go to war with Spain. Juana was frustrated. She was almost seventy-three years old and was now about to prepare for another war. She wished that those damn Frenchmen would learn their lesson.

Suddenly, Emperor Charles walked in on his walking stick and sat down in front of his mother.

"Mother, you really need to rest. We're going on campaign soon and we will need all of our strength." he said.

Juana nodded.

"I know. I hope Juan and Luis are ready for battle. We have taught them everything we knew. Now it is time for them to show action." she said.

Charles sighed. Juan was his only surviving son and he didnt want anything to happen to him. Luis was the heir to the Throne and only had an infant daughter as his child. If anything happened to either of these two young men, it would be disastrous.

"I just hate they have to go into battle. I don't want them to be targets." he said.

Juana nodded.

"I know. However, God is on our side. I hate going to war with another Christian Country, however they are not going to keep going after our lands in Aragon. Thankfully, our relationship with the Pope is strong." she said.

Charles nodded. He was concerned that the Pope would want to betroth one of his bastard sons to Lilliana, but he wouldn't voice that to his mother.

Juana sighed.

"We need a Regent here in our place while we are gone. France is brutal when it comes to battle. We may be gone for months." she said.

Charles thought hard, before a great idea occurred to him.

"What about Elizabeth? She's the Princess of Asturias and the mother of a current heiress to the Throne after Luis. Plus, the people already adore her. To top it off, she's the youngest surviving grandchild of your parents, the Catholic Monarchs." he said.

Juana smiled at the thought.

"That just may be a wonderful idea. I'll talk to her myself." she said.

A/N I am so sorry this chapter is long overdue! It's been crazy chaotic in my personal life (good crazy lol). I apologize if it is kind of short but I really wanted to get this chapter up as soon as possible. So, in this chapter, Princess Matilda discovered she is pregnant with the future heir of Sweden. Should she have a son, daughter, stillbirth or miscarriage? I'll take suggestions on that. Also, we saw the sudden death of Katherine Howard, Duchess of Richmond. Who thinks they know what she died of? If anyone thinks they know, leave it in a review and I'll give you a personal shout out in the next Chapter! What should her and Edward's new daughter be called? I'll take name suggestions for her as well. Please Read and Review and the more I get, the faster Chapter 24 gets put up :)