So it's the start of season 3 and we're going to be moving through the wives a bit faster now (much like in the show) I decided to remove Lady Missledon as she was only created for the show anyway but either way, hope you all enjoy!
The day of Henry and Jane's wedding was a day of great celebration throughout the Kingdom. Everyone favoured the Lady Jane over the previous Queen and it was clear she was going to well-loved by all. Lord Suffolk remarked to Isabella and his wife that he thought Jane would make them all very happy. Isabella was glad that Henry had chosen Jane as his wife; she was pure and good natured (unlike the last Queen) and she would treat people fairly and justly. Jane would make a fine Queen of England – like Catherine before her – and she would make the King very happy.
Even the foreign dignities were in favour of the King's marriage to Jane. Ambassador Chapouis, during an audience with Her Majesty, told her that the King of Spain was looking forward to having an English alliance once again. He stated that like the motto of her predecessor she would make the King and the country 'the most happy'.
Isabella was asked by both the King and the new Queen to be a ladies maid to Her Majesty, a task that Isabella greatly accepted. She loved the new Queen as much as she had loved Queen Catherine and she was happy to be in her services. Jane's kindness also stretched to accept the late George Boleyn's wife Lady Rochford as one of her ladies maids. Lady Rochford was very happy to accept Jane's kind offer as she had been made an outcast since her husband's death. It was almost as if she had been tarnished with the same brush as her late husband and his deceitful family. Jane told Lady Rochford that all was forgiven; that they were starting a new beginning and in that beginning the Lady would be granted a new and fresh start.
Isabella also knew that the new Queen was a supporter of her beloved ward the Lady Mary and even gave her unwanted jewellery to buy clothes for the Lady Elizabeth when the King refused to send her money for them. Jane was anxious to reinstate the Lady Mary back to court and wanted her to be reconciled with her father. It gave her great pleasure when Mary was welcomed back into His Majesty's good graces and it was a wonderful day for Mary as well. After being separated from her father for so long (and to also be separated from her mother) it was nice for her to be back with her family once again.
After a few weeks of marriage Henry and Jane were sharing their evening meal she asked him why he would not speak to her as he had been silent throughout the entire meal and she had been doing most of the talking. Henry stated that he was disappointed that she was not yet with child. This was a shocking blow to Her Majesty as it was not for lack of trying that she had not yet been able to conceive.
As His Majesty the King was happy in his marriage to the Lady Jane the rest of his political life was falling to pieces (and it is a truth universally known that when one area of your life falls into place the other falls spectacularly to piece). In the North of England a rebellion was forming against the reformation and against the Secretary Cromwell. Armies of men all over Northern England were rising up and taking back their Abbeys, which had been destroyed at Cromwell's order. They were angry that their faith was under attack and they wanted the reformation to come to an end.
Henry was furious with both Cromwell and the rebels and he intended to punish whichever one of them was unfortunate enough to cross him first. He was furious with Cromwell because he had told the King that the situation in the North had been taken care of when it clearly hadn't been. Henry sent Charles Brandon with his own army up to Lincoln (the first city the rebels overtook) to act against them. He ordered that if the rebels didn't bring Lord Suffolk their ringleaders in chains then he had the permission to burn their cities and houses to the ground until they submitted to his will.
The Duke of Suffolk was happy to comply with the King's wishes (he had and always been Henry's ever loving servant and wished only to please him). He also secretly hopped that if he couldn't bring the King the rebel's heads for his pleasure then he could at least deliver the rebels the head of Mr Cromwell – a thought which pleased His Grace greatly. Isabella had learnt long ago not to get involved with Henry's political life (as those who did often found themselves a head shorter once they disagreed with or displeased the King) and she sincerely hoped that Jane would do the same. It would be worse for her is she did not.
Henry was receiving word every day that the situation in the North was getting worse but he was having his own problems. An old wound that he had received as a young man had reopened and was causing him great pain and distress. The reopening of this wound worried both the King and Jane – if the wound became infected there was a chance that His Majesty could become seriously ill and he still had no male heir to speak of.
"What if the wound becomes infected and His Majesty were to become very ill?" Jane asked Isabella one afternoon after hearing news of the King's condition.
"There is a possibility that it may happen but I would not worry yourself, Your Majesty. The King is still young and strong, he is not as young as he used to be but neither is he old." she told the Queen.
"I still worry about him." Jane murmured. Isabella placed her arm around the Queen's shoulders.
"Of course you do." she replied. "It is in the nature of a wife to worry about her husband, especially when he is as headstrong and unwilling to admit his vulnerability as His Majesty is." Jane looked at her and smiled.
"You know so much about His Majesty don't you Lady Lockhart." she said. Isabella laughed softly.
"Well I have known him all my life." she replied. "After knowing someone for that long you begin to learn how their mind's work." Jane opened her mouth to reply but a shout from the adjoining chamber made both of the women look around.
"I'll teach these bastard rebels a fearful bloody lesson in slaughter!" Henry's voice shouted. Isabella chuckled.
"I believe His Majesty if up." she stated and seeing her laugh Jane also allowed herself to smile slightly. A few moments later a new member of Henry's court, Sir Frances Bryant, entered the room.
"Your Majesty." he said bowing slightly to Jane.
"Sir Frances." she curtseyed and Isabella curtseyed with her. Sir Frances then turned to Isabella.
"Lady Lockhart, His Majesty wishes to see you." he stated. Isabella looked to Jane who bowed her head slightly and smiled.
"Majesty." Isabella stated and left Her Majesty with Sir Frances. She found the King in his bed chamber lying on his bed, a bandage over the wound.
"Lady Lockhart." he said smiling at her. She smiled back, went over to him and sat on the bed by his leg without jolting it.
"Majesty." she replied. "How are you feeling?" she asked him. Henry shifted slightly, trying to sit up in bed.
"Still in pain but better than I was previously." he told her.
"Is there anything I can do for Your Majesty." she asked.
"Yes." he replied. "Can you pass me that ointment?" He signalled to a small bottle on the small table near his bedside. Isabella picked up the bottle, uncorked it and smelled the contents. She wrinkled her nose slightly.
"This smells vile." she stated. "What is it?"
"An ointment of my own remedy," he told her. "I do not trust my physician." Isabella removed the bandage around his leg and poured a little of the ointment over his wound. Henry winced slightly from the pain, not taking his eyes off Isabella who seemed to be unfazed by what she was doing.
"You're very brave Lady Lockhart." he told her. Isabella smiled.
"Just doing my duty You Majesty." she replied. Henry chuckled.
"If my men were as half as brave as you are then..." he began.
"Then you would have no need for me." she replied smiling slightly. He laughed, took hold of one of her hands and kissed it softy. "Would you like me to stay, Your Majesty?" she asked.
"Please." he replied, lying back down on the mattress.