AN: Edward Brandon/Princess Katherine Tudor-Brandon father/daughter. Takes place in 1563 with flashbacks to earlier. Set to Primadonna by Marina and the Diamonds.
"Katherine!" Edward Brandon. Great Lord of England and Wales, exclaimed, shaking his head at his eldest daughter, "What on Earth do you think you're wearing?"
"Mama's dark green velvet," Katherine replied, tossing her dark hair back carelessly.
"Yes, I can see that. Have you asked her whether you can wear it?"
Without a word, Katherine slid her eyes away from her father. Edward sighed. "You haven't, have you?"
"Well…not exactly. But she never wears it!"
"That's not the point! You've had this made over without her permission! For Goodness sake, Katherine. You're fifteen years old. You're old enough to know better."
"But, Papa, I have to make a good impression on the Spanish Ambassadors and green always suits me. Don't you want me to look beautiful for them? Don't you want me to be dressed as befits your Reina?"
Despite himself, Edward laughed, "You'll never change, will you?"
Katherine wound her arms around his neck, "You're not going to tell Mama, are you, Papa?"
"She'll find out," Edward warned.
"Yes, but you're not going to tell her, are you?"
"Get along with you!" Edward pushed Katherine off him and watched her go, laughing indulgently. He could never help indulging her. Never.
Primadonna girl, yeah
All I ever wanted was the world
I can't help that I need it all
The primadonna life, the rise and fall
You say that I'm kinda difficult
But it's always someone else's fault
Got you wrapped around my finger, babe
You can count on me to misbehave
Primadonna girl
A week or two later, Edward sat on the dais, watching his eldest daughter – his Reina – marry the Prince of Asturias by proxy. As the Spanish Ambassador led her off away from the dais, having sealed the union with a kiss, his wife, Elizabeth, leaned over to him.
"I hope we haven't made a mistake marrying Katherine to Don Carlos. She's so headstrong; the Spanish Court will hardly like that."
"She's spirited, not headstrong. And anyway, the Spanish Court needs a few more girls like Reina to liven things up," Edward retorted. Elizabeth hid a sigh behind a taut smile.
"You would say that. Katherine's always been your favourite."
"And your least favourite," Edward thought, but rather than say it out loud, he let his memories of Reina as a child take over.
Would you do anything for me?
Buy a big diamond ring for me?
Would you get down on your knees for me?
Pop the pretty question right now baby
"Papa! Papa!" Katherine, confident that Edward would grant her his attention; that she was free from the constraints of protocol because they were in the nursery and not in public was tugging impatiently on his sleeve. Edward knelt down and scooped her into his arms.
"Yes, Reina?"
"Can I have a household of my own? Please?"
"Now why would you want that, hmm?" he laughed, chucking her under the chin, "Don't you like sharing with Maddie?"
"No. Maddie's too young little to be any fun. I want companions of my own age. I want a household of my own."
Katherine's voice was whiny, pettish, with a determined edge to it. Edward tensed, fearing a major tantrum was ahead.
"Mama doesn't want you to have one, Reina. You know that," he tried, "And Mama's Queen. We all have to do what Mama says. Even you."
"But it's not fair! Alexander's got one! He's at Woodstock! And he's just a baby! I'm almost six! I'm the Lady Princess! I should have one! I should! It's not fair! I should! It's not fair! It's not fair!"
Katherine was starting to work herself into temper. Any moment now, she'd be flailing in his arms.
He shouldn't give in to her. He shouldn't give her hope; not when he knew what Elizabeth's answer would be. She'd say it was too expensive for Katherine to have her own household; that the Privy Council would never allow it; that she herself had shared apartments with her sister, the Lady Blanche right up until her marriage to him and that Katherine and Madeline should do the same. Edward knew all that.
Nevertheless, when he looked down into Katherine's damp dark eyes, he couldn't resist her. He just wanted to see her smile again.
"All right, Reina. All right. Hush now. I'll ask Mama, but hush now. Hush."
Beauty queen of the silver screen
Living life like I'm in a dream
I know I've got a big ego
I really don't know why it's such a big deal, though
I'm sad to the core, core, core
Everything is a chore, chore, chore
When you give I want more, more, more
I wanna be adored
"Katherine Tudor-Brandon! You know full well that isn't how you speak to your governess! Apologise to Lady Latimer! Now."
Edward hesitated in the corridor outside his childrens' rooms. His wife's voice was high and hard. Always a danger sign.
"I'm a Princess! She's just a Lady! And a Dowager Lady at that! She has to show me respect, not the other way around!" Katherine screamed. He could picture her, stamping her foot and flushing with anger as her mother scolded her.
"That doesn't mean she has to serve you on bended knee, especially not if it's painful for her. You're eleven years old. I expect you to know better. Apologise to Lady Latimer."
There was a moment's silence and then Katherine muttered sulkily. Elizabeth harrumphed, "It'll do, I suppose."
She banged out of the nursery suite, their youngest daughter, Blanche-Elizabeth, on her hip. Seeing Edward there, she glowered at him.
"This is your fault. You've overindulged that girl. Now go in there and talk some sense into her."
Edward didn't bother responding. It was usually best not to when Elizabeth was in this mood. Instead, he walked straight into the nursery suite.
Katherine, face tear-stained, looked up at him, then flung herself into his arms, "Papa!"
"Oh Reina, shh. Shh. It's not that bad."
"Mama doesn't love me anymore!"
"That's nonsense! Of course she does. She just wants to see you act more like a Princess, that's all."
"But I am a Princess!" Katherine pulled back in shock.
"I know, but sometimes, you're not very nice to those around you. Princesses are supposed to always be nice to those around them. Mama wants to see you do that."
"Maddie, Chris, Blanche and Eddie don't have to."
"Yes, they do. Besides, Blanche and Eddie are little more than babies. You're the eldest. We expect more of you."
"But Papa…"
"No buts. Do you think you can do that while you're here?"
"Can I do whatever I want with the household while we're at Ashridge?"
Katherine instantly pounced on the loophole he had given her. Edward chuckled.
"I don't see why not. You're nearly a woman, after all. Just make sure it doesn't get too out of hand. I can't be seen to undermine Mama. Understand?"
"Yes, Papa! Thank you!" Katherine jumped up at him again, burrowing into him as though she was still a little girl.
"You still love me, don't you Papa?" she murmured.
"Oh, Reina," he crooned, burying his hands in her hair, "Of course I do. Come on, we'll go down to the jewellers. You can choose something new to wear for the Spanish Ambassadors."
Her face lit up. She sprang to her feet and slipped her hand on to his sleeve. Edward sighed with relief. His Reina was happy again. All was right with the world again.
Cause I'm a primadonna girl, yeah
All I ever wanted was the world
I can't help that I need it all
The primadonna life, the rise and fall
You say that I'm kinda difficult
But it's always someone else's fault
Got you wrapped around my finger, babe
You can count on me to misbehave
Primadonna girl
Fill the void up with Celluloid
Take a picture, I'm with the boys
Get what I want cause I asked for it
Not because I'm really that deserving of it
I'm living life like I'm in a play
In the limelight I want to stay
I know I've got a big ego
I really don't know why it's such a big deal, though
"She's impossible, My Lord. One day she'll sit there for hours, but others she'll refuse to be laced into the dress, or else she'll fidget restlessly, demanding to be allowed to practice her dancing instead. Those are the days when she refuses to learn her Spanish. Yet there are also times when she'll refuse to hear a word of English. She's as capricious as a child half her age. It's impossible to run her household. Can't you take her in hand?"
"It wouldn't be fitting, Lady Latimer. Her Highness is a young woman of marriageable age and the unofficial Princess of Asturias besides. I can't interfere in her affairs anymore," Edward snapped, scrawling his signature across a pile of parchments as he spoke, "I've told you this before. You're her governess, it's down to you."
"But My Lord, we can't send the Spanish such a wilful girl. Nor can we fail to deliver the portrait on time."
"Surely Master Eworth has a miniature that will suffice. And as for Katherine's wilful streak, well, the Spaniards could do with being kept on their toes. Besides which, might I remind you that it's you and Lady Dudley who've had charge of her since her birth. Katherine's a perfect Princess in public. Who do you think the Spaniards will blame if she turns out to be wilful in private?"
In his heart of hearts, Edward knew he was being unfair. But he couldn't help himself. His precious Reina had just turned fourteen. In less than a twelvemonth, she'd be sailing for Cadiz. He couldn't bring himself to spoil her last year in England by reining her in.
"The Princess of Asturias has never yet failed to behave herself in public, Lady Latimer. She's conscious of her rank, you've said it often enough yourself. When she disgraces herself in public, you may rein her in, but until then, leave her alone. Don't spoil her last year here by being a dragoness."
"Your Highness…" Lady Latimer protested. Edward cut her off, rising to his feet.
"This discussion is over, Lady Latimer. Get back to your Mistress."
Going up, going down, down, down
Anything for the crown, crown, crown
With the lights dimming down, down, down
I spin around
Her Highness the Princess of Asturias!"
Edward was startled out of his reverie by Katherine's re-entry into the room. As was tradition, she had left the room on the arm of her 'husband' and come back in, now officially bearing the title "Princess of Asturias", though she'd been addressed by it and called by it by the members of her household for over a year, ever since her betrothal to the Spanish Prince Don Carlos had been finalised.
He pushed himself out of his gilded chair.
"At least one of us loves Reina for who she truly is."
Ignoring the hurt that sparked in Elizabeth's eyes at his words, he went across the room to claim his Reina for one last dance.
Cause I'm a primadonna girl, yeah
All I ever wanted was the world
I can't help that I need it all
The primadonna life, the rise and fall
You say that I'm kinda difficult
But it's always someone else's fault
Got you wrapped around my finger, babe
You can count on me to misbehave
Cause I'm a primadonna girl, yeah
All I ever wanted was the world
I can't help that I need it all
The primadonna life, the rise and fall
You say that I'm kinda difficult
But it's always someone else's fault
Got you wrapped around my finger, babe
You can count on me to misbehave
Primadonna girl