This chapter might seem shorter than usual, but it is important as it puts things into play. In the next chapter, things will pick up, as there will be a time jump to the birth of Elizabeth's next child. What do you think it will be? Eleanor, don't give it away, please, for I know that you already know. I also wish to thank people for pointing out my mistake in the last chapter. I have been back and corrected it.

7th March 1551: Whitehall Palace, England

Princess Bessie held out her arms for her father to lift her into his arms. He smiled, as she giggled happily and he lifted her onto his lap. Princess Bessie's ladies-in-waiting watched the King fuss over his little daughter. Ever since her birth, she and the King had spent a lot of time together. "The King truly adores the Princess, doesn't he?" Lady Mary Fitzroy, nee Howard, Dowager Duchess of Richmond and Somerset, and the half sister-in-law of the Queen, asked. Lady Dorothy Stafford nodded in agreement "Indeed, he does." They watched the King play with the Princess for a few moments before Lady Douglas Sheffield, nee Howard, Baroness Sheffield approached and spoke "I think that spending time with his daughter prevents him from taking a mistress, as he is always focused on his her,"

"That is good," Mary agreed "Because Mistress MackWilliam and her family wish for her to become the King's mistress, so that her family can rise higher. The King, however, is not falling for her, despite all of her attempts." Mary glanced around for a moment before moving forward slightly, so that she was speaking, quietly, to the other two ladies "There is also the fact that Lady Katherine Ashley noticed Mistress MackWilliam's attempts to seduce the King, and told the Queen of them. The Queen was furious and the King was only able to calm her down by telling her that he had no affection for Mistress MackWilliam,"

"I assume that neither she, nor her family were happy about this?"

Mary laughed for a moment "Of course they weren't happy. Did you think that they would be?" she trailed off as Mary MackWilliam walked past.

8th March 1551: Whitehall Palace, England

Queen Elizabeth stood by the window of her large bedchamber, staring into space as her ladies bustled around her, dressing her in a sombre dark grey gown. As her former governess, Mistress Katherine Ashley, placed a matching hood encrusted with black pearls on Elizabeth's coppery head, there was a knock on the door and her husband, Robert Dudley, King Consort of England, Ireland and France, came in, dismissing her ladies with a wave of his hand.

"Are you all right, Bess?" Elizabeth didn't turn around, though she sensed Robert come up behind her to stand at her shoulder. When she finally spoke, her voice was flat and expressionless "Yes."

"No, Bess. You're not." Robert's voice was gentle, for he knew, no matter how much he might want to spin Elizabeth around and kiss the smile back on to her rosy lips, it was impossible. It wasn't what she needed. She needed time; time and understanding to come to terms with what had happened. For her part, Elizabeth merely shook her head slightly, still dazed by the events of recent months. "I am. I ought to be. I need to be. The Protestants will expect it of me. They're not going to grieve for Mary. It's just – whatever happened between us; between her and Edward during his reign, Mary was my sister. She was practically a second mother to me at one point. I'll miss her."

"Of course you will. It's only natural." Robert reassured her, his hand on her shoulder. Elizabeth leaned back at his touch, resting her head against his chest. Robert revelled in their intimacy before breaking the spell with a quiet whisper. Robert gently led Elizabeth to the funeral pyre. She had broken all tradition by attending a funeral, but, she didn't care.

Once they had got into place, the priest began to speak "Dust to Dust, ashes to ashes... Merciful Lord God, we comment our beloved sister, the Princess Mary Tudor, into Thy tender care and we pray for the sanctity for her soul. May she rest in peace, now and forever." His low voice rang out over the hushed crowds as they gathered around the grave, huddled with grief and cold. Elizabeth stood with her husband Robert. The Emperor, Charles V, Mary's bereaved cousin, meanwhile, stood opposite them with the chief mourner, Mary's Spanish Cousin, Joan of Spain. Joan was gowned in dove grey velvet trimmed with yellow and purple – the colours of the Spanish royal mourning. Next to Joan of Spain, was John of Austria, the illegitimate half-brother of Prince Philip of Spain. He too, like Joan was wearing a dove grey velvet doublet which was trimmed with yellow and purple. His face looked sombre and tears glistened under his eyelashes. Joan placed a hand on his shoulder.

The sky overhead was grey and threatening and, as the priest pronounced the final blessing and the mourners murmured a fervent "Amen"; filling forward to lay the posies of flowers they were carrying on the upturned earth beside the freshly dug grave and also on the casket itself before they left, drops of rain began to fall. It was, as someone remarked later, well out of the Queen's hearing, as though England itself was weeping for the woman who, in her life, had once been its precious Princess.

9th March 1551: Whitehall Palace, England

"Your Majesty?" Robert looked up, from his desk. His brother John Dudley, was stood in the doorway. Robert smiled "John," he began "How can I help you?"

"His Grace, the Spanish Ambassador, Count De Feria, is here," John replied. Robert nodded, and John left to allow the Ambassador to enter. The Ambassador moved past John and reached the desk. John dropped a bow to his brother, received a smile from his brother, the King, and left. Robert moved his work aside for a moment and looked to the Spanish Ambassador. "Count De Feria, how can I help you?"

"You can help me, Your Majesty, by telling me who murdered my Master's cousin!" Count De Feria replied, to Robert's question. Robert sighed "If only we knew, Count De Feria. If only we knew. So far, we have no answer. But, be rest assured. When we find out who killed Princess Mary, you will be the first too know. As you have pointed out, your Master, King Charles V of Spain, is - was -Princess Mary's cousin." Robert corrected himself, momentarily, at the end of his sentence. Count De Feria nodded and moved to the door. He knocked it, twice, with his fist, and it swung open. Count De Feria left and Robert sighed, placing his head into his hands and running them down his face.

His life would be so much easier if he knew who was the person that poisoned Princess Mary. So far, there were no clues. No-one seemed to know who had poisoned the Princess Mary.

10th March 1551: Whitehall Palace, England

Jane Grey sighed as she sat at on the window seat. "Cousin?" Jane looked up, stood up, and immediately dropped a curtsey. Queen Elizabeth was stood in front of her "Is something wrong, Jane? You've been distracted for days," Elizabeth sat on the window seat as Jane began to speak "It's my marriage," she began "I am to be married to Guilford Dudley."

Elizabeth nodded "Yes. I know. Robert told me that his father and your mother were discussing it." she placed a hand onto Jane's shoulder "Don't you want to marry him, Jane? He is a rather attractive lad,"

"It is not the fact that he is attracitve - for I do not deny that." Jane replied "It is the fact that he is a pompous, arrogant, gluttonous, self absorbed prig, not to mention the fact that he smells, and he is a drunkard." Jane seemed to be working herself into a state of utter horror. Elizabeth gently squeezed Jane's shoulder "Men," she replied "Will do anything for a woman. He may take mistresses, but know this, Cousin Jane, he will have to return to you, eventually, as he will need heirs from you. That is when you can get a man to do what you want. When you are in bed with him, he is yours and you are his. Remember that. If you whisper sweet nothings into his ear, and compliment him, then he will fall for you and do whatever you ask."

Jane gave a small smile, but Elizabeth could see that something else was troubling Jane as well. "There's something else troubling you, Jane, isn't there?"

"It's the matter of consummating the marriage, Your Majesty." Jane admitted "I have heard, from friends of my mother, that it hurts," Elizabeth frowned for a moment "Your mother has friends?" she asked, and both she and Jane laughed. Elizabeth soon got back to answering Jane's question. "I will not lie to you, Cousin Jane. The first time that a man sleeps with you does hurt. But, once that is over, it should not hurt much, unless you sleep together when you are more than three months pregnant."

"Pregnant?" Jane looked horrified at the thought of having to give birth to a miniature version of her future husband. Elizabeth smiled "Being pregnant does not hurt, Cousin. Your husband, to make sure that you and the child are well, will be more faithful to you, and will change if you ask him too. It also means that your mother - who is a horrid woman - will not have any influence over you, for your husband will want you to carry the child to term, and will keep your mother away,"

"That is good," Jane admitted "For she does not realise that I have no amibition to take the throne. I just want to live a normal life,"

"Yes," Elizabeth agreed "Your mother, from what I can remember, has always been an ambitious woman. It is because she is the daughter of my aunt, Princess Mary Tudor, Dowager Queen of France and Duchess of Suffolk and she knows that, through her mother, she has a valid claim to the throne of England."

"Is that why you keep us at court?" Jane asked "To make sure that she doesn't try to take your throne?"

"No," Elizabeth replied "I keep you at court, as one of my ladies-in-waiting to keep you away from your abusive mother." Elizabeth smiled "As for marriage, Cousin Jane. You have nothing to worry about. Guilford Dudley is tthe brother of my husband. He knows that if he does anything to hurt you, then he is hurting a woman of royal blood, and could be executed, not to mention the fact that he is the brother-in-law, of the Queen of England."

"I also hear that you plan to make my future husband a Baron?" Jane asked. Elizabeth nodded "I have already made him an Baron." she informed Jane "He was ennobled at the end of last month, ready for your marriage in three days. He was ennobled as Baron Dudley."

"Then I will be a Baroness?" Jane asked, anxiously "My mother will not be pleased. She expected me to be a Duchess, or a Marquess,"

"Well," Elizabeth replied "Your mother is not Queen. I am. Your mother has no influence over me, Cousin Jane,"

To Be Continued