Chapter VIII

January, 1552

George sat in front of the crackling fire, troubled and deep in thought. He had avoided the Duchess of Bavaria for a year thanks to the Elector's decision to remarry and beget heirs.

For almost the entire year, Philip and Jane have lived in Bavaria in heated discussions of the Elector's choice of bride. Before she left, Jane had warned him again. "You do not resume your duties as Mary's husband and a courtier, Mary will know the truth," she had told him with a warning glare. "Believe me, I will know if you lie."

He thanked his lucky stars that Jane did not blackmail him any further.

Positively, he and Mary talked during their suppers like they did once before and Mary even made an effort to spend time with him. George was confident their relationship would be perfect again once Arthur turned eighteen in August, terminating the regency.

"You are awfully quiet," said Mary, sitting on the seat beside him. There were shadows under her eyes again – another late night of paperwork.

"Oh, it's nothing," said George, smiling at her. "I was thinking of how often Philip and Jane spent time in Bavaria lately. They are truly taking their places as the Duke and Duchess of Bavaria rather than our friends and royal guests in England."

"Yes. The Elector Palatine is quite eager to marry."

"Will Philip agree to it? Without a son, Philip is the Elector's heir presumptive."

"Philip is more concerned with Bavaria than his own position. I heard the Elector is ill and still desires to remarry and have heirs. I suppose he is searching for a young royal bride from fertile stock to fill in the royal Bavarian nursery."

"Hmm. I received a proposal today from Henry FitzAlan, 19th Earl of Arundel. He offers his younger daughter Mary as a bride for one of our sons. She is twelve and received an excellent education. I know she isn't a royal princess, but the FitzAlans can trace their ancestry back to the Norman kings and are distantly related to prominent noble families such as the Percys, Herberts, Greys and Nevilles. Lady Mary FitzAlan has a brother – Henry FitzAlan, Lord Maltravers – and an elder sister – Lady Jane – who married Sir John Lumley, 1st Baron Lumley, but Lord Arundel says he is prepared to provide a generous dowry (more ample than Lady Lumley's) including Clun and Blancminster Castles in Shropshire."

"What?! Clun and Blancminster Castles have been in FitzAlan possession for centuries!"

"Indeed. He is quite keen on allying his family with us. I will be horrified if he offers Arundel Castle as part of Lady Mary's dowry. Oh, did I mention that the FitzAlans are staunch Catholics?"

"We are trying to install religious tolerance," Mary reminded him, secretly pleased at the prospect of a Catholic daughter-in-law.

"Yes, but do you consent in having a FitzAlan girl in our family?"

"Why not? Who have you selected to be her husband?"

"Well, as our Hal is betrothed to Princess Eleanor and Lord Arundel willing to give such a large dowry, I suppose…our Georgie? They are the same age and can finish their education together. Perhaps we can even have Lady Mary as our ward before her marriage. I am perfectly willing to negotiate a monetary sum with Lord Arundel and use money from my own inheritance from my father."

"I will be glad to accept Lady Mary as my ward, and I can provide-"

"No. This is what aristocratic fathers do for their sons and daughters. I will pay for Lady Mary's wardship and negotiate with Lord Arundel. Besides, you look exhausted. You must rest. When was the last time you had a peaceful sleep?"

"I don't know. A few days ago? Our alliances with France and Scotland are well, Margaret, Annie and Bess have settled in France and befriended the Dauphin and his siblings, the Duke of Suffolk is keeping us informed in Scotland about the Scottish Queen's health and Scottish agendas – political and religious – and Arthur will rule in a matter of time. I guess I am worried about Katherine. She will be here in England with her husband and a couple of his siblings in a few days, and I don't know what can possibly happen. Arthur fancied her before the injury, and what happens if he sees her? He is the perfect king right now, but what if he remembers his infatuation with Katherine?"

"I understand." He patted her hand gently. "Do not concern yourself, dear wife. It is not favourable to

completely remove Guillame de Luil from the King's household, but I had already arranged for him to be a servant in Lord Berkshire's household."

Mary smiled gratefully at him. "Excellent choice," she commented. "Lord Berkshire is noble and loyal to us. He has royal blood, yet is politically too weak to be persuaded to depose the King. Besides, he has no ambition or interest other than a comfortable life."

"Everything will be perfect for the imperial visit. I can promise you that."

"Thank you."

Silence entered the room as Mary looked away, the sound of the crackling fire more dominant than before. George fidgeted with a quill uncomfortably before saying, "What about a visit to Navarre after Arthur's regency is dissolved?"

"What?" asked Mary, surprised. "A trip to Navarre?"

"Indeed! Now that the duchy of Brittany has merged with France, it won't be long before France covets for a unification with Navarre. An alliance with Navarre will benefit us quite well."

Mary nodded thoughtfully. "Yes. It can warn Spain too. We have been befriending France's allies, but we have forgotten about Spain."

"Spain will not sit by and do nothing."

"What can we do? We don't have that many daughters or nieces to sacrifice for alliances. Our Anglo-Austrian alliance should be enough."

"I suppose you are right about Navarre. I do need a rest, and it will be a good idea to go abroad. Do you think Arthur will remember Guillame?"

George sighed. "You must forget about him."

"We already avoided telling Arthur who Guillame is once, but can we avoid doing so again? He will eventually find out. It also seems we have not found Arthur's assassin either."

"You are doing your best. No one expects you to do everything. I have interviewed servants and courtiers and kept the notes if you wish to read it. However, as your husband, I must insist you do not look into it until after our trip to Navarre."

"I wish Guillame de Luil would just go away..." Before she could finish the sentence, she found herself nodding off from pure exhaustion.

Guillame seethed with rage silently as he poured the ale for Berkshire. He had the honour of being the King's servant, only to be dismissed – by the meddlesome Duke of Richmond – and sent to the household of the hopeless-minded Earl of Berkshire.

To make matters worse, he was well aware that the Lady Protector suspected him to be the King's failed assassin. She never liked – or respected – him and her words carried quite some weight in Court. He hated her and more than anything, hated the Queen Mother (or Queen Dowager as many courtiers preferred to call her) and treasonously wished her dead.

"You there! Can you inform Lord Berkshire that the King wishes to see him?"

Guillame stared at the King's new manservant (and his replacement) – Master Thomas Roper – looked at him expectedly.

A surge of anger rose in Guillame as he saw Master Roper's relatively smug face. As the ward of Sir William Roper and his wife Margaret (née More), he had been raised alongside the Roper children, which included Thomas Roper. He had been often compared against Thomas Roper in their educational years and was more than delighted when he – instead of Thomas Roper – was chosen to be the King's servant. Now, it was Thomas Roper in the King's shadow instead of him.

"Oh, it's you," said Master Roper, recognising Guillame. "I didn't realise you are now serving the Earl of Berkshire. Tell him the King is here to see him."

"Master Roper," muttered Guillame, forcing himself to nod as court etiquette dictates. "I will fetch my Lord Berkshire at once. May I enquire the nature of His Majesty's visit?"

"You may ask, Master de Luil, but I must tell you that I cannot disclose any information of the King's visit with Lord Berkshire to a man...of your station." He looked disdainfully at Guillame. "The King cannot be kept waiting, Master de Luil. Shall I inform His Majesty of your incompetence to your master and his royal cousin, or will you be a good dog and fetch Lord Berkshire?" He smirked as he saw Guillame's expression of open discomfort. His smile broadened as Guillame disappeared into another room before returning a few minutes later with Lord Berkshire.

The King entered the room and smiled at his cousin.

"Your Majesty," said Berkshire, bowing deeply. "It is an honour for you to pay me a visit. What do you wish me to do, sire?"

"Cousin," said the King warmly. "You have been quiet lately and I am concerned for you. I heard you have refused to accompany me in the hunt again."

"I hope you can forgive me, Your Majesty. My wife is not well, and it seems my in-laws are causing trouble for us. Especially old Norfolk's son, the Earl of Surrey. His father may be hiding away from Court, but he does not plan to retreat from Court anytime soon."

"Are these Howards dangerous to us?"

"Perhaps. I cannot answer that, Your Majesty."

"Hmm. Will you at least consider attending tonight's feast? It is in honour of the Anglo-imperial alliance and has been splendidly arranged, so my mother told me. You are my cousin and the feast is – in a way – a family event." He smiled. "Think about it, won't you?"

He turned and frowned as he saw Guillame. "Have we met?"

"That is Guillame de Luil, Your Majesty," explained Berkshire. "His sister is the Princess Elizabeth's maid, Isabelle de Luil."

Guillame bowed, noting that Berkshire did not mention him as half-brother to the King.

"Guillame de Luil..." mused the King thoughtfully. "Did you insult the Queen Mother or Lady Protector, by any chance? Your name and face seem familiar to me. Berkshire, do I know this man before I lost my memories?" He looked at the uncomfortable Berkshire expectedly.

"I cannot say, Your Majesty," said Berkshire stiffly. "I'm sorry."

"Oh? Very well then. I still expect you at tonight's feast. Lady Berkshire is more than welcome to attend the feast if she is well. Master de Luil, come with me. Lord Berkshire, I hope matters between yourself and your in-laws will be sorted quickly and smoothly."

"Indeed. Thank you, Your Majesty."

He bowed again and watched Guillame leave with the King.

"I am here to discuss your sister, de Luil," spoke the King, strolling leisurely down a corridor with Guillame, to the surprise of many passing courtiers. "Elizabeth mentioned her a couple of times as she is interested in the welfare of her ladies and maids. She told me that your mother had died a traitor and made no mention of your father. If that is the case, you are head of your family, are you not, de Luil? Your sister is still unmarried. Perhaps you should find her a husband."

"I plan to, Your Majesty," said Guillame, slightly confused. "However, not many people will want to be connected to my family."

"Oh? You are a servant for my cousin as is Isabelle for my sister."

"Your Majesty...do you honestly not remember me?"

"Why?" The King looked at him curiously. "Is there something I must be told?"

Katherine's heart throbbed with nervousness as she was escorted to her new chambers. When she was just a princess of Lancaster, she shared rather plain rooms with her royal cousins and sisters, but as she was now an Archduchess of Austria and the wife of the heir to the Holy Roman Empire, she had new, more grander chambers for her stay in England.

"You're worried," commented Maximilian. "What is it? You should be happy here."

"I no longer feel like I am an English princess," murmured Katherine, glancing around suspiciously. "I am mother of your heirs and I find the Austrian Court more my home than here. I cannot explain any further, but I feel something...different about this place."

"You are over thinking again, my dear. Perhaps that is because you are with child again. I cannot wait to be entertained here. I heard the English are keen on celebrations. They certainly did not spare any expenses on our chambers!" He nodded with approval as he glanced at his rooms for a second before saying, "I hope my sisters will behave themselves here in England. It is not often they travel to countries like France and England without a good reason."

"If that is the case, then why are they here in England?"

"Thank you," Maximilian addressed the guards in clear English. "I wish to be alone with my wife. Do I have your word to guard my sisters' rooms?"

"You have our word, Your Imperial Highness," replied one of the three calmly. They bowed and shifted in front of the doors of the other Archduchesses' apartments.

"This is no ordinary visit," Maximilian murmured to Katherine, closing the door behind him. "My father has sent me here to reinforce Austria's ties with England. Our marriage has shown Charles V that Austria will not always be...subordinate and submissive to his plans. Another Anglo-Imperial match will hopefully terrify and warn him that he is no longer as powerful as he was a decade ago. The King of England is still unmarried and in a few months, his regency will be over and the Lady Protector will no longer hold the power. I admit, she is an admirable woman who has often impressed me, but for Austria's own good, she must retire from the political stage. What do you think? You know the King better than I. Are any of my sisters a woman of his taste?"

Katherine blushed a little. "I...I do not know the King's preference in women."

"Hmm. In any case, three of my sisters – Catharina, Eleanora and Margaret – are here and we have three chances of having one of them as Queen of England. I am aware that the King is a man of honour and is engaged to the Queen of Scots, but we can approach-"

"No. If the Scots discover your plan, there will be political turmoil! The Scots are too weak to fight us on their own, but-"

"You are afraid they will have more powerful allies?"

"Yes."

"Do not fear, dear wife. My father and I have already sorted that out." Maximilian smiled broadly. "All you have to do is play your part and praise my sisters. I trust that would not be hard, will it? It will not hurt if you sing their praises in front of the Lady Protector."

"Do not forget that the Lady Protector is my mother."

"Indeed, but to me – and my father – the Lady Protector is the King's regent. I will respect and accept her as my mother-in-law once she is the Duchess of Lancaster and her power as regent gone. I'm sorry, Katherine, but I have to obey my father's orders. Even though I am his heir, he has other sons and can easily disinherit me."

"You will ruin England's alliance with Scotland for your own safety as heir?!"

Maximilian glanced around before whispering, "You are now an Archduchess of Austria and the future Queen of the Romans. You even admitted yourself that you no longer feel like an English princess. I will see one of my sisters as Queen of England one way or another and with or without your help. I have already allowed you to have a say in the decisions regarding our children in Austria, but when it comes to marriages, I advise you to either aid me or do nothing."

Katherine nodded obediently, irritated at her husband.

It was true that their marriage was a love match and the Austrians love her, but Katherine faced one dilemma; she found it impossible to have pro-Austrian thoughts. She wondered if her late mother-in-law (Princess Anna of Bohemia and Hungary) harboured pro-Hungarian and Bohemian thoughts during her marriage or immediately agreed with her husband in every decision.

"Would you not want one of our future daughters the Queen of England instead?" Katherine suggested helpfully. "There's no doubt we'll have many children and by the time the King has a son by the young Queen of Scots, we'll have at least a daughter his age. Would it not be better if one of our future daughters marry the King's future heir? She will be the Queen Consort of England and Scotland."

"That is already part of the larger plan," said Maximilian crisply.

"What?"

"If the King married Eleanora (for example) out of love, she will have influence over him. Once she gives birth to his son, she will convince the King to betroth their son to one of our daughters. Is that not a perfect plan, Katherine?" He smiled coyly. "Even when Eleanora – or any of my sisters – marries the King of England, she will always be an Austrian Archduchess at heart. She will know where her loyalties lie. It is said that the King favours the old knighthood of chivalry. Only fools still believe in the code of chivalry and it will only make it easier for Eleanora to control him. I have always looked to you as a good wife, a loyal wife, but now I am not sure." He looked closely at her. "Tell me Katherine, will you help me in our plans or should I send you back to Austria in disgrace?"

"All I do is sing your sisters' praises?"

"Exactly."

Katherine sighed and silently said a quick prayer. "No," she muttered. "I will not help you or the King of England. I will watch your game from the sidelines."

Maximilian raised his eyebrows inquiringly. "Odd decision," he remarked. "However, as you promised you will not aid the King, I will accept your choice. For now." He kissed her on the forehead. "Be a dear and dress like the jewel you are. We are guests here and we must dress the part. We are part of the imperial family and we must show the English Court our status, wealth and power."

"Very well, lord husband."

"What is the matter? You do not seem pleased."

"I do not want to be dressed in splendour more than my mother."

Maximilian narrowed his eyes. "Your mother is the Duchess of Lancaster. You are an Archduchess Consort and you technically have precedence over her. As your husband, I want you to be dressed in your finest attire. I will see you in an hour."

He nodded at her and went into his sisters' chambers.

"Is this part of the English culture?" inquired Catharina, glancing around distastefully. "Why must we share apartments? In Austria, we each have our own rooms!"

"Perhaps this is a method of saving money," suggested Maximilian. "I heard the Queen Mother and the Lady Protector are foxes when it comes to building up the royal treasury."

"Hmmph."

"In any case, we must be grateful to our royal English hosts."

"Why are we here? Our lord father never specified."

"Indeed, not to you ladies, but he told me all." Maximilian could not resist a grin. "Your task here is to enchant the King of England. Catharina, you are beautiful and of a rather enticing nature. I remember when we were young, our cousin Felipe of Spain, Prince of Asturias, was infatuated with you and begged to be allowed to marry you. Well! What an argument between our father and our uncle! Do not complain about English hospitality and say nothing but praise. Eleanora, you are intelligent and I want you to charm the King with your wit. Whatever you do, stay away from the Queen Mother. She can recognise a clever lady in mere seconds. Margaret, I know you wish to be a nun, but I want you to try and impress the King like your sisters. You are the sweetest soul I ever met, and the King may be tempted by your sweetness and innocence, even though you are a lady of sixteen and not a child."

"Is that why we are here?" said Archduchess Margaret, horrified.

"You are indeed innocent," agreed Catharina, her eyes sparkling with intrigue. "I suppose it would be a good idea to send you to a convent when we return to Austria! No one will marry you and no one will want an unmarried Archduchess at Court!"

"Now, now," chided Maximilian. "Father's orders are for all three of you to charm the King of England into matrimony. If one of you do succeed, we will all be in father's good books and hopefully rewarded. If not...I rather not think about it."

"How can I avoid the Queen Mother?" wondered Eleanora. "I heard she is quite clever."

"I can occupy her," offered Margaret.

"How?" said her sisters in unison.

The young Archduchess's eyes twinkled. "I am not that hopeless you know. Trust me, I know ladies like the Queen Mother. All they need is some time away from deception and trouble, and what better way than to talk to me? Brother, you yourself admitted that I am the sweetest soul you ever met. While I speak to the Queen Mother, Catharina and Eleanora, you must follow our lord father's orders. It will be a shame if Catharina is banished to a convent. I cannot imagine her living the life of a nun."

As she hoped, Catharina's eyes sparkled with rage at the prospect of entering a convent. "I will marry and be queen," she declared. "If not of England, then of a different kingdom! Our sisters Anna and Maria have married and became duchesses, but I will marry a king and bear kings and queen consorts! I will not be a countess consort, duchess consort or a nun! I will be a queen!"

Maximilian applauded quietly.

"Ambitious words," he commented. "If I gamble in this game, I will place a wager on you. You have always twisted men around your little finger, and I'm certain you will do so to the King. However, I will be interested in your actions, Eleanora. Yours too, Margaret. It seems our stay here will be far more fascinating than I first expected!"

"Are you certain that is our father's plans?" said Eleanora uncomfortably. "It seems cruel for one of us to ruin the Anglo-Scottish alliance."

"We are doing the best for Austria," Maximilian reminded her. "We are Austrians, not Englishmen. You sound like Katherine. I want you to follow Catharina's lead and enchant the King. If my wife tries to convince you not to, ignore her. Are we all clear?"

I'm sorry for the wait! Basically I procrastinated, got writer's block, became sick, procrastinated again and finally finished the chapter! Thank you Vivian Darkbloom for pointing out the mistakes I made in the last chapter and I hope there will be less mistakes in the future. From now on, Anne will be called and addressed as the Queen Mother (her rightful title - I honestly have no idea why I wrote her as Queen Dowager for the last seven chapters in this fanfiction...) and Robert Dudley will be given more titles in the future :)