"Power is a curious thing, who lives who dies? Power resides where men believe it resides. It is a trick, a shadow on the wall"
Varys. Game of Thrones, S.2
Chapter 53: Family Reunion
"His Lordship, Lord Hertford, Lord Protector of England and Her Ladyship, the Lady Marques of Pembroke and Lady Governor of England, Eustace Chapuys and Elizabeth Chapuys and the Lady Roxanna Chapuys"
The Herald announced. Elizabeth and Eustace stepped in. George and Mary greeted them. Mary kissed her mother in law's cheeks and turned to her father in law. They bowed before Their Majesties.
"None of that My Lord, you are most welcome into our realm" The First Duke, though Eustace suspected it would not be for long before he was elevated, told him and gave him a powerful hug. It was short-lived as there were courtiers and Ambassadors all around them.
George has grown up. Eustace observed.
"I am most grateful to Your Grace and Her Majesty, My Lady" He bowed his head to Mary.
Mary nodded and turned to her Lords "England shall always be our ally, let it be known throughout my Kingdom. There will be no longer any animosity between us."
The Lords inclined their heads and raised their cup at their Queen's proclamation.
And for her sister in law, she added –"We welcome you dear sister, you've blossomed like a true flower of spring."
Eustace was startled by her proclamation.
Roxana curtsied to Her Majesty "Thank you Your Majesty it is my pleasure to be here" She said respectfully.
Eustace was aided on their way up the dais where the Royal table lay. He turned to his older son, Anthony who replaced the former English Ambassador. "What was that all about?"
"Oh, you did not know about the brawl?" Eustace's expression said it all. Anthony poured wine to his father's cup and proceeded to tell about the whole ordeal "The Queen had a minor disagreement with Ridolfi her Italian banker, some petty argument I guess but she was very sour about it afterward. You had her screaming at her other Italian, Rizzio, and then George 'What am I to do with these meddlers?' It was chaos."
Eustace tasted the wine. It was too strong for his taste. He put the silver chalice down. "Have you found what the argument was about?"
Anthony shrugged. "Not a soul is willing to talk but the Queen locked herself for days and Georgie boy refused to talk to anyone about it, even the Princes."
"Sounds like your brother, he was always very secretive in that." Anthony nodded. They looked over their left to George and Mary and their plethora of Princes and Princesses. Bess sat right at the middle enjoying listening to their wild tales.
Eustace sent her a warmth smile for luck. She was a natural at it. The children warmed instantly at her. Her namesake asked her all kinds of questions, namely about her own mother, Anne Boleyn and if it was true she had a sixth finger. They were all well intentioned and Bess had no trouble answering them.
"My mother" She showed them her long-puffed sleeves, "wore sleeves the size of bells, this big" she parted her hands to show them how big "and right around here" she indicated next to her thumb "she had her sixth finger."
The children opened their mouths and gawked right at her. They looked to Roxana for confirmation. Her mother nodded to her and Roxy told them it was true "But," she added "she had been trained in the courts of the famous Archduchess and she possessed the good tastes of fashion of a French courtier."
"Did no one ever notice it or shun her for it?" Young Bess asked. Her eyes focused on her young Aunt.
Roxana shook her head and Young Bess moved her seat closer to her. They were wearing matching gown, black and blue but Roxy's had silver designs of rose petals while Young Bess' since she was a Princess had gold designs of roses and vines.
If Young Bess' was not Mary Stuart's child, she would be undistinguishable from Roxanna who was a carbon copy of Older Bess for her strong spirit.
"They did like anyone afraid of change, at first. But then, when they realized what an intelligent and accomplished lady she was they began accepting her and she soon made friends with Queen Claude and most prominent scholars who aided her when Henry sought to divorce himself from his Spanish Queen."
"And he did" Her mother chimed in to the exciting faces of her grandchildren. "He got the Bishop of Rome to agree to a divorce. It was a scandal but guess what? Your great grandmother was so loved by her subjects and the people loyal to her as to their Pope, could not turn against the rightful Queen and so they stuck with her till the end."
Petri and little George gave a round of applause. None of the children asked about her beheading for which she was grateful. Though they did ask why she refused to acknowledge the Bishop of Rome as Pope.
"Same reason as James here told me before. Because I consider everyone should be free to practice whatever faith they want. Do you think that is wrong?"
The children, mainly the crown Prince, James, shook their heads.
She squeezed her daughter's hand and brought it to her lips. She was so proud of what her daughter had become. In short years she had become a true lady and stole everyone's attention at court.
"But then …" Petra said breaking the silence "it was true. She did have a sixth finger and I wonder, a spot on her neck?" Petra said.
"Yes it was but that did not make her any less great." Roxana said followed by a nod of her mother.
"Was she really a witch lady grandmother? "
"Yes, was she?" George, the youngest of the boys asked. "I would be scared to be married to a witch. I hear they cast black magic and curse you even in your sleeps."
"She couldn't be "Bess said in her calm voice, so much like old Bess. "If she had you and would the King of England not know if he married a witch?"
Bess chuckled and pinched young Bess' cheeks. She was a smart one.
"She was no witch." Bess told them. "But, she did have enemies in high placed and they were evil men out to destroy the true Queen of England, your great grandmother. Your great grandfather was very ill advised by these men. He loved his wife and daughter very much but they poisoned his mind against her, he wanted to save her but it was too late when he found out their deceit. May he rest in peace." Bess declared adding an "Amen" to her statement.
"Amen" The Royal children responded raising her hands to their foreheads, crossing themselves.
Anthony reported about the Royal children raised in both faiths, but they did not know to what extent.
Now that she did, she had to ask: "Can you say your prayers in English as well as in Latin?"
Mary Stuart pretended not to hear and returned her attention to her conversation with George and his father and brother.
The Royal Children nodded eager to please. They recited 'Our Holy Mother' without problem. Bess asked for another demonstration -they recited almost every prayer and Psalm she knew from the Book of Common Prayer her brother had issued and her grandnephew, his son, William, had reissued last year.
"His Grace, His Excellency, Anthony Chapuys lend us a copy and we have practiced since then last month." James explained.
"Do you have a copy lady grandmother?" Petri asked.
"I do and it is a new one your cousin will issue next year praise be to God."
Bess who loved discussing about theological aspects, face lit up and asked:
"Can we borrow yours lady grandmother? We promise we will return it to you, soon as we are done."
Older Bess nodded to the younger Bess and snapped her fingers. At once Kat Ashley came with a copy. She handed it to her namesake.
Bess squealed in delight. Her mother looked over to the copy with revulsion but said nothing on the matter and chose instead to say to her youngest daughter –"What do we say Bess?"
"Thank you My Lady grandmother, I shall return it to you first thing tomorrow evening. Will My Lady grandmother and My Lord grandfather and My Lady Aunt dine with us Your Majesty?" Formal in public, Bess chose to address her mother so and asked her; her eyes looking hopefully at hers.
Roxanna looked with appraisal at her mother squeezing her hand tighter.
"If the Lady Elizabeth and our Lord Earl are not inconvenienced then I have no reason to see why there should be any impediment." Mary answered her daughter shrewdly. Young Bess' face lit up. She only waited for her namesake to say 'yes'.
Eustace watched their conversation with interest. He had chosen to sit far from his wife so she could enjoy the company of the children. Nothing had changed between her and their daughter in law but they were willing to put up with each other for appearances and the children's sake.
Young Bess broadened her smile showing her impatience through her constant tapping from her silver shoes on the stone floor.
Eustace who never locked some was starting to lose patience.
Finally, George broke the ice.
"It would be an honor mother if you were to join us" and then he moved his gaze towards his father whom he previously conversed about his wife's brawling –about which he said nothing, for it was not his father's business, "And you would too father. As Lord Protector Her Majesty and I are sure you bring a lot of interesting news from our English brother, His Majesty, William III."
Eustace felt delight surge through his veins to his heart when he heard George speak. He turned to Bess hoping she felt the same joy. It calmed her rancor at Mary's shrewdness but did little to alleviate the insult she felt for it. Nonetheless, she said to her –"We shall gladly accept that offer" and moved her eyes to a more pleasant sight.
"I will be looking forward to attending Your Highness," She told young Bess whom she poked her nose. Young Bess giggled. "You will recite me one more prayer from this book I hope?"
"We will all shall." Bess said alternating glances between all her siblings. The demand in her eyes made them submit, even James –who was the last one to.
He was proud of how much George had accomplished. George turned a better father, leader, husband, and ruler than he ever expected too. It made him question his decision over bestowing favors to Anthony and the dukedom.
"So will you tell me what the brawl was about?" Eustace asked his son over dinner. Bess was distracted over the musical performance of her namesake and her sister Petra. Mary and Roxanna were engaged in deep conversation, of what they would never know, but occasionally Mary alternated glances between everyone that Eustace was not sure whom she truly focused on.
George shrugged. "Anthony did not want to tell you?" He instantly regretted saying it.
"Son, I am serious. If your brother did not tell me then you must then."
George sighed and cast wayward glances at his wife. By the looks of it there seemed to be an understanding between them. George's dark eyes darkened even more and locked gazes with his father's blue eyes.
"I guess I should tell you before the storm hits England and my nephew." He said taking a large gulp of wine to grant him valor. He wiped the drops of wine from his chin with his sleeve. "Ridolfi came to my wife last month with a proposal from one of Philip's former secretaries … Perez I think his name was. He said he had something important for Mary's eyes only. It did not take me long to suspect what it was after I caught a glimpse of a royal zeal on the documents before Mary dismissed me. Ten minutes later and after a heated discussion she tells me why she banished him." George paused.
"George, you can tell me …" Eustace started in his usual tone but his son diverted his attention to the laughter of his children.
He looked from his wife and the happy scene they were creating with their children and then returned to his father.
"Ridolfi proposed Mary with an alliance with England … the true King of England, Albert Tudor-Wittelsbach."