August 14th, 1563

Bungay Castle

Ruth had returned to her family home to await the birth of her fourth child and she had seen it prudent to bring Lady Agnes back with her to Norfolk. Isabella had applauded the decision as a chance for Ruth and Agnes to build a relationship, not that Ruth necessarily wanted one. Looking at Agnes was still too painful for her and when the girl visited her chambers to deliver a new garment for the future child, which Agnes had deemed a boy, leaving Ruth to mend the mediocre stitching. It annoyed her to no end, giving her extra work to do and Ruth also had the gut feeling that she carried another girl in her womb, making the repair of boy's clothes useless to her. However, when Agnes didn't visit, Ruth found it very peculiar and decided to search the halls of her home to find the small seven year old. Oddly, she found the girl fervently praying in the chapel.

I can always admire a child of God, I suppose.

Ruth knelt down beside the girl and began a pray of her own for the health of her unborn child. She overheard Agnes praying for her child and for her mother's soul, but Agnes did not mean Catherine de Meleun.

"I pray for the deliverance of my dear step mother, Lady Norfolk. She has been a kind and gracious woman to take me despite being a stain on her marriage. "

Ruth was so taken aback that she stopped praying to watch Agnes, who did not seem to notice her presence. The girl had her hair covered, wearing a black dress that made a stark contrast to her unnaturally pale skin. She looked puritanical, something that also surprised Ruth. When the girl rose, she appeared startled by Ruth's appearance in the chapel.

She dropped into a curtsy. "Lady mother, I apologize. I only wanted to pray for you and the child, like your servants told me to."

Ruth nodded. "I appreciate piety, Agnes. I also thank you for your kind words to Our Lord and Savior on my behalf. "

She turned to leave, feeling an odd sense of kinship with the girl, despite her being Thomas's bastard. Ruth knew what it felt like to be a bastard child and fr it to be believed that one would not amount to much. Ruth's unknown father had forced himself on her mother and her mother died in childbirth, leaving her at the mercy of Duchess Sophia and later, Lady Anne. She was constantly reminded that she wasn't as good as her "sisters" and was counted as a servant most of her life. Ruth sighed and looked back at Agnes who was watching her in awe, it wasn't her fault that she was a bastard. She could not have chosen her parents, Agnes could have just as easily been her daughter.

"Agnes, come with me to my rooms." She smiled as she heard footsteps behind her.

Agnes seemed a bit apprehensive as they entered Ruth's chambers, she had never been allowed in before and Ruth felt a twinge of regret.

She turned to her servant. "Margaret, go fetch the child a sweet."

Ruth sat in a chair and motioned for Agnes to join and picked up her old stitching plate. "When I was your age, this was my stitching plate."

Agnes's eyes widened. Ruth's sewing was extremely neat and tight, as she had been raised to be a servant, never to make a good match, especially not to become a duchess.

"I could never be that good," Agnes sighed. "Jane says so herself, she is the best of us all. Her grandmother was good at embroidery, I saw it myself."

Ruth shook her head. "Nonsense. While the late Queen Jane may have been quite gifted, all it takes is a bit of practice and a good teacher and you can be just as skilled. Perhaps even better."

Agnes observed her with clear blue orbs. "Will you teach me?"

Ruth smiled gently. "Of course, I will."

January 25th, 1564

Richmond Palace

"Isabella, you truly are the mother of England."

Edward couldn't help but lavish praise on the woman who had just successfully given him twin sons not even a year after delivering Edmund, the Duke of Richmond. She was still the youthful and beautiful bride she was nearly ten years ago, but the warmth towards him had vanished.

Her eyes were cold. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

He managed to catch a glimpse of her now rare smile as she looked down at the sleeping infants in her arms. Lady Norfolk and Lady Exeter were seated on either side of her as if they expected him to harm their sister.

"I think to name the elder boy William, after my father and your ancestor William the Conqueror. The younger shall be Edward after yourself, if that so pleases you, Your Majesty." She inquired in a sardonic tone.

He nodded. "It does, Madam. I suppose it would be best if I take my leave of you."

"Why did you not tell me?" she inquired.

Edward turned back to her, taking note of the tears that glistened in her grey-blue eyes. "Tell you what?"

"That Marie was with child, that she birthed you a bastard daughter two weeks ago. You said you were done with her, and that things would be different between us!" She snapped.

He took a deep breath. "It was before I came to you, I am done with her."

"That is a lie! The child was a month premature and unlikely to live so you sent your best physician to keep her alive. Temperance, I believe her name is. Ironic because her parents show so little of it!"

Edward turned to continue walking towards the door. "I will have this conversation with you when you are less hysterical. You have just given birth, you do not need this stress at this moment."

He exited the room, passing Lady Westmorland and Lady Northampton as he headed back to his own privy chamber. Richard bowed to him as he pushed open the oak doors that seemed to be so heavy now. He had dismissed Mary FitzAlan, who was now married to Pembroke's heir and was intending to dismiss Marie for the love of his wife, but he had to bed her once more as a departure and from that, Lady Temperance FitzRoy had been conceived. He wasn't going to allow his daughter to die when he could save her, even if she was base born and had no place in the succession, he had intended to tell Isabella after she recovered from the birth, though some lowly courtier had seen it fit to inform her before he did. He immediately suspected Lady Norfolk, it seemed that the candid Duchess would have no problem telling her sister that he had fathered yet another child with Marie after promising himself to her and forsaking both of his mistresses.

He banged his fists on the table. "God forsake that wench!"

Edward turned on his heel and began pacing the floor. It was unlikely that Isabella would trust him now, not after she had so freely offered him the chance to reconcile if he only set Marie aside, Mary FitzAlan had not even been a concern to her. He had planned it all, Marie was to be set up in Somerset House or Kimbolton Castle, whichever suited her fancy, given 2,000 thousand pounds a year, household staff, and tutors for her daughters when they were old enough to be educated. He had only wanted one more night with her before parting, but her belly had quickened with a child and now Isabella had proof that he had lied to her, well he hadn't actually lied to her, he had every intention of ridding himself of Marie, but it was never that simple.

"Richard!"

The page boy quickly appeared before him and bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Send me Wiltshire and Northumberland, immediately."

"Of course, Your Majesty."

He began pacing again. How would he regain the love of his wife, the one who had secured England's future with five healthy sons and had loved him so purely before Marie had seduced him into her bed. He had discovered that she had been a mistress of the French king and several French courtiers, before coming to England. Now the harlot claimed that she was in love with him and that she would never desert her position as his principle mistress, no matter what the queen demanded. She pointed out that Isabella had to give him his conjugal rights whether she wanted to or not, so her hatred of Marie was no reason to dismiss the mistress. She refused to leave court and within a few months was proudly circling her hands around a swollen belly. She had also been sure that this fifth child would be the son that made her worthy of being a queen. Something had led her to believe that giving Edward a son would make him divorce his wife and make their four daughters legitimate. Instead, she had given him a fifth daughter nearly a month premature and weak. After sending his own personal physician, it was clear that the child would live, but her existence had cost him his marriage.

January 27th, 1563

Richmond Palace

Anne was still with her sister two days after the birth of her twin nephews. It was clear that Isabella was still hurt by Edward's betrayal and she had felt humiliated and foolish when Lady Wiltshire had reported that Marie had delivered of a daughter to the King and that he had even sent his personal physician to tend to the sickly child. Ruth had cynically replied to the news that Edward was incapable of pleasing anyone other than himself and believed that his status as a king entitled him to do so and that she hoped he proudly rotted in Hell just as he flaunted his mistress. Anne felt that Ruth was being a bit harsh, although she too disapproved of Edward's behavior with the concubine.

"Izzy, are you alright?"

Her sister had been silent since Edward left her rooms two days ago. Ruth had been criticizing Edward and Marie, but Isabella had not joined, only staring out of the window.

"What is it about her? What can she do for him that I cannot? She has given him no sons, she has no royal blood, and their connection is only their lust. I must rid of her." Isabella mumbled under her breath.

"Rid of her how?" Anne inquired.

Isabella's eyes lit up. "Poison!"

Ruth took interest in this.

"No!" Anne shook her head. "Isabella, you must bear it. God has a plan for us all and He will deal with them accordingly."

Isabella glared. "Anne, you must stop living this fantasy and see what reality is. She has mobilized her own faction against us, if we allow her to live, we will be the cause of our own deaths."

Ruth nodded. "I will send for the alchemist and I have a plan for how we can get the poison to her before Edward beds her again."

"Will you two thin rationally for a moment? Please." Anne countered.

Ruth snorted, "If survival is not rational to you then perhaps you truly are mad, Nan."

"Fine, very well. When you are tried for this I will take no part in it." Anne stormed away from the plots of her elder sisters.

February 16th, 1564

Richmond Palace

Isabella had finally had enough. Five years and five illegitimate children, for a mistress who did not know her place as such. Ruth had smuggled in the poison and the wine. Ruth had decided to be subtle with the deed.

"Think of it as a death present, wine imported from Gascony is expensive." Ruth giggled as she pulled the cork and poured the liquid into the dark colored wine.

"Mariana, please fetch Lady Elizabeth Howard." Isabella ordered.

Mariana nodded and hurried away.

"Ruth, are you sure that you want Elizabeth involved with this?"

Ruth nodded. "She is the only child that I would trust with the task. Besides, who is more loyal to me than the child from my own womb?"

Isabella nodded. "Very well. I suppose no one is more loyal than a child you bore from your womb."

Ruth stirred the wine concoction slowly before replacing the cork in the wine flask. "The poison works slowly. Any servant that taste tests will show no signs until tomorrow and by then it shall be too late."

Isabella nodded. "When did you become so knowledgeable in these matters?"

Ruth grinned. "You did not think I spent my days in Bungay Castle sewing did you? Once the children were off to bed, I spent time in the study. Thomas has many books on various subjects and I stumbled upon a book of poisons."

Isabella laughed. "Remind me to never leave my drinks around you ever again."

"The Lady Elizabeth, Your Majesty."

Ruth's eldest daughter gave a graceful curtsy. "Your Majesty, Lady Mother."

Ruth rolled her eyes. "Mama and aunt would do just as well, Beth."

"It is fine, Elizabeth. However, your mother and I are entrusting you with a special task." Isabella knelt down to be eye level with the girl.

"I am able to be of service, what is the task?" Elizabeth replied evenly.

She watched Isabella with a calm regard as though she already knew what was going to happen.

Ruth approached, carrying the flask. "We need for you to deliver this to His Majesty's whore."

Elizabeth eyed the flask. "There is poison, is there not?"

"Smart girl," Ruth nodded. "Now will you deliver it?"

Elizabeth nodded. "For a price, I shall."

Isabella nodded. "How does a sixpence sound?"

Elizabeth seemed to consider this for a moment. "A new dress and a pound."

"A new dress and a twelve pence?" Isabella offered.

Elizabeth shook her head. "Two new dresses and a sixpence."

"Very well, Beth. You will have two new dresses and sixpence after you deliver the wine to the whore." Isabella chuckled.

Elizabeth took the flask. "As you wish, Your Majesty."

She dipped into a curtsy and floated out of the room.