Chapter 1
July 14, 1665
King Edward and Queen Angela were preparing for the birth of their first child, like his father, he would be in the room when his child came into this world and drew its first breath.
That evening at diner the whole court was present and Angela began having pains, after about half hour she grabbed Edward's hand turning it white.
"Come on sweetheart let get you to the birthing chambers, come on." Edward said standing and then addressed the crowd. "Ladies and Gentlemen, my Queen is tired and I'm going to take her to bed I'll see you tomorrow."
He led a panting Angela out of the room through a back door, her ladies ran ahead to get the midwives and the doctor ready. As soon as he got her into the room, the ladies took her into the bedroom to change her clothes.
"You may come in your Majesty." One of her ladies called
"How are you doing sweetheart?" When he got to her side.
"It hurts I feel like I'm going to explode."
After another hour or so the midwife said it was time to push.
"Come on sweetheart, push come on, you're doing so great." Wiping her brow with a cool cloth. She cried out.
A small wail came from the end of the bed.
"It's a beautiful baby girl." The midwife handed her to him as soon as she wrapped her in a blacket.
"She's beautiful." He told Angela but she wasn't looking at the baby her eye were closed. "Angela? Sweetheart?"
"Your Majesty needs to step out there is still a child in her we need to get it out now go." Edward left the room holding his daughter who looked so much like her mother that it hurt now.
"Edward what is it?" his mother asked gently
"It's a girl, but Mom, Angela didn't make it." There were few gasps a cry from somewhere.
"I am so sorry this has happened to you, we will help you in any way possible. Have you thought about a name yet?" His father asked
"I'll call her Christina Esme Cullen, Princess of England." Just then the doctor stepped out.
"I'm sorry, Your Grace, your wife and son are in God's hands now."
"I was to get a two for one a girl and a boy, but now Angela is dead as is our son. But I thank God he didn't take my little angel too." Edward said to no one specific. "Thank you, Lord for giving me this little one; I swear I will protect her." He said in a solemn prayer.
The next few weeks were busy ones burying a Queen and a Prince all at once was better than doing it twice.
August 4, 1665
He, Emmet and Jasper were on the floor that had a huge pillow he had created just for his baby so she wouldn't hurt herself, he had decided she would stay at Court with a household fitting a Princess of Wales.
"The Dukes of Norfolk and Wiltshire. The Duchesses of Norfolk and Wiltshire. And the Ladies Rosalie Hale and Isabella and Mary Alice Swan." The herald cried. Edward quickly pulled Christina in front of him as he stood Jasper quickly moved the cushion and took his chair.
As the group approached the bowed and curtsied at once.
"This is the Prince Emmet, Duke of York. And this is the Duke of Exeter Jasper Whitlock and this is Christina the Princess of Wales." The King introduced everyone. "Hello my Lord Charles and you my Lord Richard."
"It's good to see you again Majesty and you as well, your Grace's." Duke Wiltshire bowed." We have come for your help in finding some prospects for marriages as high nobles you decide who marries whom."Duke Wiltshire said. Edward saw his baby giggling so he followed her line of sight and saw one of the new ladies that were to come to court, Isabella?
"Jasper, will you fetch the King and Queen?" King Edward asked
"Yes of course your Majesty." He left quickly and he saw the sparkle in the other Swan girl's eye. "You may hold her?"
"Isabella, though you'll find most signal me as Bella." She answered as she took Christina holding her, she started crying. "Do you have a wet nurse or a bottle?" looking at the King.
"I can call a wet nurse. Jane?" he looked toward a side door as a lady stepped out and gentle took his daughter and left the room. "I have a few others ladies that tended to her, though they will never replace her mother."
"I don't think anyone could replace a mother, but if you find a nice woman that might fill the place in her heart, until she meets her again." Bella said
"And if you wish it she could have another, one who would love her as her own, a lot sooner." Carlisle said as he walked into the room with his wife on his arm. Everyone bowed or curtsied to them.
"Father I will not discuss this now, my wife's body is barely cold in the ground." Edward snapped at him. "Now mother these three Ladies would like to be ladies in waiting and since my sisters are gone and my wife is dead there is only two households left, yours or Christina's."
"I'll take them, worry not about marry again it will come of its own accord." The Queen said. Laying a comforting hand on his shoulder and squeezing it.
They spoke of housing arrangements.
"If I may, Majesty, my oldest son Jeremiah just had a little girl about a month past, and My Lord Richard's oldest daughter is due in a few months if you desire play mates for the princess, when they are a bit older." Charles said. The wet nurse brought the baby back in and handed the pretty baby back to her dad.
"Would you like to hold her Lady Isabella?" The King asked
"Yes, Your Grace." She took the child into her arms and began walking with her.
"I think I should like for her to have playmates though I'm not sure when she will leave and be brought up at Ludlow Castle, it will be a while I want her by my side she is my last line to my wife and son," The King said. Bella decided to break the awkward silence.
"She is gorgeous my lord, I bet she would make a great Queen of England just like Elizabeth." Bella said as Christina sucked on her finger.
"Are saying my lady that I will have no son?"
"No my lord, I meant that after what you said a few minutes ago, that you may never marry again and a child born on the wrong side of the sheet will get you nothing in this world." Bella told him.
"Very true, when I have finished my morning I will begin looking for a new bride, I'm just not ready yet."
"I understand my lord, and I apologize for speaking out of turn."
"Don't apologize for a misunderstanding." The King told her.
Over the next few months everyone got settled into their work and play, Bella was one of the only people the King had allowed take the baby from the nursery.
Prince Emmett began courting Lady Rosalie, as well as Lord Jasper courting Lady Alice as she like her sister said she was signaled by.
Bella's Dad and Uncle wanted to put her in the kings bed and soon. The king came down the corridor toward his mother's chambers to summon Lady Isabella on a walk, he was hope to begin courting her properly, she had brought he great peace the pass months just walking with him, or talking if he needed it, and love his daughter just because she did not because she was a princess, or because she wanted to get favors from him, it was just to be a friend, and since she was a great Lady it required the Kings permission for her to marry.
"I will not be a chest piece in your game you're already Duke, and besides a child born out of wedlock will do you nothing. I enjoy my friendship with the King, if it becomes something more then it will but I will not destroy it over your ambition. Is that understood?" He heard her yell.
"How dare you defy me child." The Duke of Norfolk Bellowed, and threw her through the door depositing her right at the Kings feet, "You will do as you are told."
"Guards seize him." He pointed at Richard the Duke of Norfolk. "Isabella can you hear me?" when no response came. "Fetch a doctor now." He ordered moving her carefully. "Stay with me, come on Christina needs you I need you." Her eye's flickered and then closed.