February 22nd, 1564
Richmond Palace
Isabella was standing at the window, observing the yard servants digging a rather large hole in the courtyard, a small, unadorned coffin in the middle of the yard. She knew they were burying Marie, what she didn't understand was why Edward hadn't given his mistress a larger burial.
"Are you pleased now, wife?"
Isabella turned to see Edward standing at her door. He still wore black, signifying that he was in mourning, his facial expression remaining passive.
"Why did you not give her a grand funeral?" Isabella murmured as she turned back to the window.
She heard him sigh. "If I were to give her a state funeral, the commons would expect me to look into her death. I do not wish to be forced to imprison my wife again."
"You did not hesitate before." She replied simply.
Edward continued as if she hadn't spoken. "My servants went through her things last night, we discovered this."
Isabella heard the sound of papers and turned to see several letters, some with the seal of Cleves.
"That is my father's seal, I do not understand."
She grabbed the letter and opened it, looking for the signature. "She was in correspondence with Maria?"
"Treasonous correspondence." Edward corrected. "I have sent the worst of them to your father."
"So, your whore was a traitor." She set the letters down and returned to the window.
"You refuse to look at me?" Edward inquired.
Isabella observed as the coffin was lowered into the ground. "What is there between us but hatred and mistrust. I think it best that we remain as we are."
"What might that be?" He murmured.
"That we remain husband and wife only in name."
He joined her by the window and lifted her chin so that she would look at him. "I refuse to give up the love that was once between us."
Isabella moved his hand. "Once between us. There is nothing now, but nine beautiful children. There is no need to pretend."
She moved away from the window towards her bed. "You may take your leave now, Your Majesty."
Edward nodded. "Very well, I will leave. However, I still love you just as I did on our wedding day."
He exited the room and Ruth entered. "How was it?"
"You let him in after I asked that he stay away from my chambers until I was churched. If we are not making more heirs to the throne, there is no need for us to be together." Isabella then turned her attention to a portrait that Edward had commissioned after they wed.
Ruth groaned. "So he lied? He told me he had urgent matters to discuss with you."
"I suppose he did, he found that Marie was in correspondence with Maria."
"Maria? Your father's wife Maria?" Ruth inquired.
Isabella nodded absently, still staring at the portrait.
Ruth was on the other side of the room fuming. "So that harlot had help, did she? We should have had her beheaded and her head on a pike. She plotted against a queen and gave secrets to a foreign court."
Isabella frowned. "I hate this portrait."
Ruth looked at her, puzzled. "The wedding portrait?"
She nodded. "It has no place here anymore."
Ruth frowned. "What happened? What has he said to to you?"
"He said nothing. I asked that we be husband and wife only in name, he wanted to fix our marriage." Isabella murmured.
Ruth snorted. "Oh so now he wants to fix the marriage? You have given him chance upon chance to change his ways. Do you still love him?"
"Of course I still love him." Isabella replied, the tears beginning to form in her eyes. "I just cannot allow him to hurt me again."
Ruth embraced her. "He will never hurt you again, not if you do not allow him to."
June 19th, 1564
Ludlow Castle, Wales
"Anne!" Arthur called, knocking at her door urgently.
A girl that he knew as Lady Mary Dudley answered the door. "Your Highness."
She gave the customary curtsy. "Her Highness has just finished being dressed-"
Anne tapped Lady Mary and nodded to dismiss her. "Yes Arthur?"
Arthur frowned. "You were supposed to be up an hour ago, our tutor decided to put all of the policy making on me in your absence."
Anne laughed. ""Ah, I see. You need me to answer for you again."
Anne was three years older than Arthur and he usually entrusted many of the decisions to her. It was all for show in any case, their tutors often gave scenarios in which they gave their opinions and ideas for policy, either foreign or domestic. Arthur knew Anne always had the right answers and his mother couldn't have chosen a better successor than Anne of Pomerania.
"I hope you do not mean to mock me." Arthur reproached.
She pushed a few stray tresses of red hair behind her ear. "What is the scenario today, my lord?"
"The French are invading from Dover and the Scots are also planning to invade. Where will the Scots most likely enter England and where do we send to troops to head off the French?" He looked at her helplessly.
"It is simple geography, Arthur." She sighed. "If the French invade from Dover they think to march on London. Send ships from Portsmouth to Dover so that we can intercept any ships that may be reinforcements and send men from London so that they meet before the French reach the city. The Scots would invade through Northumberland so we would ask both the Earl and the Duke to send their men to hold them off until we can send reinforcements from York, led by your brother the Duke and then we push them out of England."
Arthur nodded slowly. "The Scots are north and the French are attacking from the south."
"Precisely," Anne nodded.
Arthur offered Anne his arm, which she took and they walked in silence to the room where they had their lessons. Their tutor seemed put out by her late arrival, while Alexander, the Duke of York grinned at her widely.
"Annie, you're awake." He said with a smile.
"Well, now that the Princess of Wales has decided to join us perhaps our future king can give me an answer." Their tutor narrowed his eyes at her before turning back to Arthur expectantly.
Arthur nodded. "Yes sir, if the French are invading from Dover then we must send troops from London to head them off and ships from Portsmouth to block any additional French ships and the Scots would be coming from Northumberland so we would enlist the Earl and the Duke of Northumberland and send Alexander north with more troops."
Their tutor nodded and turned to Anne. "Princess Anne, we thank you."
"I answered!" Arthur protested.
The tutor nodded. "Naturally, but I know that the Princess thought of it. As for Anne, you acted accordingly by advising your husband but remaining silent when he made his order for the council."
Anne nodded. "Thank you, sir."
Arthur glared at her before whispering something to Alexander. Anne looked away, feeling shunned once more.
August 21st, 1564
Hampton Court Palace
Edward was surprised to see his wife in his presence chamber, considering that she was already with child. What surprised him even more was that she was crying.
"Edward, I have received word from Ludlow." she exclaimed.
"What is it?" He inquired, trying to calm her. "What has happened?"
"Arthur is ill, they say he is likely to die!" she nearly collapsed but he pulled her into his arms.
"Do not worry, I will send my best physicians to Ludlow immediately and he will be taken care off. He will not die." Edward promised, stroking her hair to reassure her.
Isabella pushed him away. "It is consumption, it will only prolong his suffering. Oh, my boy, my sweet boy."
She began to pace the floor and made Edward fear for the child she held in her belly. "Isabella, the child."
"To hell with the child!" She snapped. "Arthur is dying and I am not with him. I want to see my son!"
Edward sighed. "Richard, get Lady Norfolk."
Richard bowed. "Majesty."
"You think to dismiss me? Our son is dying! Do you not care for him, for any of our children?" She was becoming hysterical.
He was unsure of how to handle her. "You are not thinking clearly, Isabella you are five months gone with child, you cannot possibly travel to Wales in your condition. I will send a physician. That is all that can be done."
She glared at him, but she sat in the chair with a huff. "Very well, Your Majesty. Since, you care not for the health of our first born son, your heir."
Edward heard footsteps. "Your ladies are here to escort you back to your rooms so that you may rest more."
Lady Norfolk did a slight curtsy. "Your Majesty. Isabella, come back to bed. Sancha and Mariana will take you back to your rooms and I will speak with the king."
Lady Northampton and Lady Westmorland both gave a quick curtsy before leading the queen back to her rooms.
"Lady Norfolk," Edward nodded for her to speak.
Ruth sighed. "I am worried, Your Majesty."
Edward nodded. "I am worried for Arthur as well. I will ensure that he is cared for."
"I am aware of this, he is your son. I worry for your wife, this pregnancy has been more difficult than the other ones and with Arthur's illness I do not think the child has a good chance of survival." She shook her head.
Edward was enraged. "Why did you not tell me she was ill?"
"You are her husband only in name, remember?" Ruth pointed out.
Edward glowered. "Then why tell me at all?"
Ruth shrugged. "I do not know why I told you. I suppose that you should be prepared."
"Prepared?" He echoed.
She nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty."
She gave another curtsy before turning to leave.
"I did not dismiss you." Edward retorted.
Ruth glanced over her shoulder. "As if you ever did."
September 4th, 1564
Hampton Court Palace
The guard gave Ruth Isabella's correspondence for the day, a letter from Ludlow on the top of the pile. It was the dreaded letter the queen's household had been waiting for, especially Isabella. The queen was sewing with Mariana and Madeleine at her sides when Ruth entered the room, though she looked up expectantly when she saw Ruth.
"Isabella, your letters have arrived."
Isabella raised her hand to dismiss her other ladies and nodded to Ruth. "What news?"
Ruth sighed. "You have a letter from Ludlow."
She held out her hand and Ruth forced herself to give Isabella the letter. She watched as Isabella's eyes darted across the parchment, her face twisting deeper into grief with each word before throwing the letter and letting out an ear piercing scream.
"My boy, my boy is dead! He would have been a golden king, Ruth! What will become of England now?"
She began to sob bitterly and Ruth hugged her sister. "You have Alexander, Edmund, William, and Edward, sister. Four healthy sons to succeed the throne, and you are still young and able to bear children."
Isabella put a hand over stomach and cried. "Ruth, get the midwife."
Ruth nodded before running into the corridor where the queen's ladies were waiting. "Madeleine, Charlotte get the midwife!"
She continued down the corridor.
"Lady Norfolk, where are you heading?" Sancha inquired.
"I am going to speak with the king, I will return shortly"
Richard opened the door once he saw Ruth approaching, knowing it best to comply with what she wanted. Ruth gave the boy a nod as she passed and walked into Edward's private study where he was meeting with Northumberland and Wiltshire.
"Your Majesty, Northumberland, Wiltshire," she said with a curtsy before turning to Edward. "The queen has gone into labor."
Edward stood quickly. "It is much too early, what has happened? Was she poisoned?"
Ruth shook her head. "News came from Ludlow this morning."
"What news of the Prince of Wales?" Edward inquired.
Ruth sighed. "He passed away on the 31st of August. I am sorry, Your Majesty"
Edward nodded. "Thank you, Lady Norfolk."
Ruth gave a curtsy and hurried back to the queen's chambers. The ladies were in a frenzy as they carried basins of water, fresh cloths, and linens in and out of the room. Sancha and the midwife were at Isabella's side as she was pushing the child out. A child that everyone knew would not live.
Nearly an hour later, Isabella was holding her dead child, a blonde haired girl not even larger than the palm of her hand.
"I wish for her to be buried in a grave marked 'Mary' if it so pleases the king." Isabella murmured absently.
Ruth was shocked. "You wish to name the child?"
Her shock was more so for the name choice, but in Isabella's emotional state Ruth didn't want to challenge her to harshly.
Isabella nodded. "The child's name is Mary."
Ruth nodded. "Shall I fetch the king?"
Isabella shook her head. "I wish to sleep, bury the child but do not allow the king into my apartments unless it is truly urgent."
Ruth nodded as she took the baby from the queen and exited the room. Naturally, Edward was waiting outside of Isabella's apartments.
"So she lost the babe?"
Ruth looked at Edward as if he were an idiot. "Yes, a girl that she requested be named Mary."
Edward nodded. "I assume she asked that I do not enter?"
Ruth smiled. "Ah. I see you have learned."
With that quip, she headed down the corridor.
September 14th, 1564
Bletchingly Palace
"Anne, you have a letter from court!" George called as he entered her chambers.
The Duchess of Exeter was heavily pregnant and struggled to sit up. "What is it, my love?"
George opened the letter and knitted his brow together with a deep frown.
Anne became concerned. "What has happened? Is everything alright George?"
George sighed. "Your nephew, the Prince of Wales, has died."
"Died? When? How did this happen?" She began to get out of her bed but George shook his head.
"Anne, stay in bed. He contracted consumption and died on the 31st of August."
Anne took a deep breath. "How is my sister?"
George bit his lip before replying. "The queen miscarried of a daughter on the 4th of September."
Anne's eyes widened. "I need to go back to court."
"You cannot go back to court, you are due any day now Anne. You need to stay here." George's voice left no room for argument and Anne laid back on her pillows.
"Very well, George. As soon as I can, we are back at court so that I may be with my sister." She waved a hand to dismiss her husband and picked up a book.
September 24th, 1564
Hatfield House
Jane couldn't believe what she had just heard. Her governess was reading a letter that said her twin brother, her favorite sibling Arthur had died.
"Surely, that is not true."
The older woman nodded. "I am afraid it is true, Your Highness."
Jane choked back a sob. "You may leave me now, Lady Cromwell."
Lady Cromwell gave her a sympathetic look. "Your Highness-"
Jane pushed her away. "I said leave!"
Lady Cromwell gave a curtsy. "Very well, Your Highness."
Jane sunk to the floor and began to sob. She couldn't have felt more alone than in that moment.
October 1st, 1564
Kalmar Castle, Sweden
"Alright Cecilia, let me see your translations." Elizabeth said gently.
Her six year old daughter gave her a toothy smile. "Yes, mama."
Elizabeth was looking over the Swedish to English translation when Kat Ashley appeared at her door.
"Your Majesty, the ambassador would like to speak with you."
Elizabeth nodded. "Very well, send him. Cecilia, I will come have dinner with you then put you to bed, yes?"
Cecilia seemed disappointed to have their quality time cut short. "Yes mama."
"Good girl," Elizabeth patted her head and Kat Ashley led her daughter from the room. Sir Thomas Williams entered the room and bowed to her.
"Your Majesty."
Elizabeth stood and nodded to the man. "Excellency. What news from England?"
"Firstly, the king sends his warmest regards for his favorite sister. Secondly, I regret to inform you that your nephew the Prince of Wales has died and the queen also miscarried of daughter shortly afterwards."
Elizabeth nodded slowly. "Tell the king and the queen I send my affections and my condolences for their loss."
"Very well, Madam."