November 10th,1555
Greenwich Palace
Isabella didn't think that she'd ever get used to the high ceilings and elaborate tapestries in her chamber. It was made for a queen which she was not, not yet. The large family portrait with Henry VIII, Jane Seymour, Lady Elizabeth, the then Lady Mary, and Edward VI. It looked out of place to not include Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, the other two mothers of his children. Isabella knew today would be the day when she would be presented with women to add to her court. She would have preferred to just have Ruth and Ethel but as she watched Ethel amble around the room she knew her mother's wet nurse would not be with her much longer. She glanced at her other servant helping Ethel along. Ruth seemed to settle into her life at court, catching the eyes of many a courtier with her charming smile and humble personality. Isabella also noted her curly brown hair and bright green eyes for Ruth was a pretty young girl of sixteen. She would be married soon, maybe to a count or baron and Isabella was happy for her.
"Ruth are you finished admiring your reflection?" Isabella chuckled.
Ruth flushed red . "I am sorry Isabella. I have your dress ready if you wish to dress now."
Isabella shook her head. "I have time afore the banquet starts. Northumberland is to come when I should dress."
Isabella was comfortable in the pale yellow dress Lady Anne had stitched for her. It was not fancy in the slightest but it was still well done
Ruth wrinkled her nose. "Northumberland is quite sinister. I would not trust him to look after a cod."
"He knows better than to disobey the king. Ruth please watch your words when speaking of powerful men." Ethel interjected.
Ruth bowed her head. "Yes grandmother."
"Ethel has Ruth been approached by a suitor? I must approve of him." Isabella took her chance to change the subject.
Ethel chuckled. "The Earl of Pembroke's son Henry has asked for her hand. Henry Hastings also seems to have an eye for my dear Ruth, although I'm quite sure he is married to little Katherine Dudley. There was another man, ah, it was that Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Howard."
Ruth jumped to her feet. "The Duke of Norfolk?"
"I think you should take his hand. Little Ruth, a duchess. Think how proud Lady Anne and your mother would be." Isabella smiled.
Ruth curtsied before her face twisted itself into a sly expression. "Speaking of suitors, Isabella how was your night in King Edward's chamber?"
"Chaste," Isabella broke into a fit of laughter.
"Does thee enjoy his company?" Ethel rasped and sat down beside Ruth.
"Aye, and he doth enjoy mine as well. He revealed many things to me. Policy, the matter of his sisters, and his feeling about our marriage."
Ethel nodded. "Ah, that is wonderful my dear. Duchess Sophia would be quite proud of her little Isabella,"
A large knocking on the door startled them all and Ruth hurried to the door. It was Edward and he appeared quite distressed. He was not the bright and happy man he normally was.
"Why have you not dressed?" He demanded.
Isabella jumped to her feet. "Northumberland did not come to me. I was unaware that the banquet was so close to starting."
Isabella signaled Ruth to prepare her dress.
Edward rubbed his temples in frustration. "You do not have time. Guests have arrived and you are the hostess."
"I cannot wear this common dress." Isabella protested.
Edward grabbed Isabella's hand and began pulling her towards the door. "I will punish Northumberland but you must come welcome the guests then you may return to your apartments and change."
Isabella picked up the skirts on her little yellow dress and hurried after Edward. As she entered the grand ballroom she was distracted by the beauty. Elaborate tapestries, high ceilings, gold and silver cloths, the Tudor coat of arm dominated every wall. Servants hurried with food back and forth. She was even more aware of her disheveled appearance.
"Presenting the Spanish monarchs! King Phillip II and Queen Mary of Spain!"
She stood beside Edward and watch closely.
"We welcome you to England. I pray God has given you a safe travel," Edward bowed and Isabella instinctively curtsied, first to Phillip and then to Mary.
"Aye, our lord hath provided a rather easy journey from the Continent," Phillip II bowed and Mary curtsied as well to Edward.
Mary smiled. "May I present the king-"
"Ye did not acknowledge my betrothed." Edward interrupted his sister and nodded to Isabella.
Mary looked around quite confused.
"I see a pretty servant girl," Mary nodded to Isabella. "not a German princess. "
"I am Isabella of Cleves," Isabella heard her voice and cursed herself for sounding so timid.
Mary's eyes widened and her jaw dropped slightly as if she could not believe that Isabella could have been of royal blood. Phillip smirked at Edward before bowing to her. Mary, dumbfounded, curtsied without taking her gaze off of Isabella.
"You appear so plain," Mary clucked her tongue.
Isabella's cheeks flushed red. "It is a sitting dress for when I rest in my apartments. This is not the dress intended for the night feast."
Mary's critical eye rested on Isabella for a moment more before Phillip erupted in a hearty laugh.
"Ah, King Edward you must meet your nephew and heir," He lifted his small son and Edward took him from his arms.
Isabella wasn't startled by Phillip referring to his son as Edward's 'heir' as Mary had quite infamously refused to renounce her claim to the English throne. If Isabella and Edward died without issue then little Henry who sat in his uncle's arms would be King of Spain and England. Edward had told her how he felt about the prospect of Henry or Catherine ruling England and he had said he'd take Elizabeth's heirs before Mary's. Mary being a Catholic was a problem for Edward and Isabella knew it. She also knew that she could produce an heir. Her aunt Sybille had given birth to four sons and not one daughter. Isabella could repeat this successful pattern easily.
"Is he not just a delight?" Mary inquired haughtily.
"He is quite robust," Edward observed and gave the boy back to his mother.
Isabella observed Mary. She had the same red-gold hair that Edward had with soft blue eyes. Her face was set with wrinkles as if she had spent every day of her life in worry. Phillip proceeded to lead Mary and their son to the table.
"Presenting Mary of Guise and Mary, Queen of Scots!"
Isabella curtsied to Queen and Queen Dowager of Scotland as Edward bowed.
The older woman smirked at Isabella. "The Rough Wooing is of the past I see. Edward you have a lovely bride"
"I thank thee and pray that God provided a safe voyage," Edward's smile stretched from ear to ear.
Her daughter wrinkled her nose. "Pretty indeed but she has the appearance of a poor farm girl."
Isabella lowered her eyes. "I was planning to change, this is a sitting dress."
"I would hope so. Queen of England in title but not in appearance makes thee not a queen." The Queen of Scots rude comments were not unnoticed by her mother who gave her a glare.
Mary of Guise led her daughter away and sat across from the Spanish monarchs.
"I would much appreciate if the king would let me dress for I am mortified to appear as a simple farm girl." Isabella whispered to Edward.
Edward glared at her. "Lady Isabella, you must be here to receive the guests."
Isabella knew there was no use to argue with the king and stood next to him to receive the Continent's royal houses.
"Presenting King Henry II and Catherine de' Medici of France!"
The debonair French king stepped into the banquet followed by his wife and some of their children. Edward and Isabella bowed first to Henry, then to Catherine. Henry II returned the gesture and Catherine curtsied to Edward. Isabella stared at the French queen blankly.
Catherine scoffed. "I pray that the little Duchess does not expect me to curtsy for I will bow to no woman beneath my rank."
"She may be beneath you in rank presently but she surpasses you far in beauty and poise." Henry II jeered coldly.
Edward chuckled. "Aye, Henry I was quite assured that you would be bringing Queen Diane."
Catherine's face was one of humiliation and dejection. She and her children took their place at the table while Henry and Edward continued their jests at her expense. Isabella almost felt bad for the snooty French queen.
"Presenting the Lady Anne!"
Isabella was happy to see the familiar face of her aunt who gave her a peculiar look. She curtsied to Edward and Isabella who embraced her in a hug.
"Isabella I am aware that you enjoy the dress I crafted for you but I am afraid that this occasion does not fit your attire," Lady Anne's clucked her teeth.
Isabella giggled. "Aye, dear aunt I am to change."
Anne took a deep sigh of relief and turned to Edward. "Take care of my dear niece for she will give you twice of what you give unto her."
Anne curtsied a second time before taking her seat next to Isabella's.
"Presenting Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire!"
Edward and Isabella bowed.
"I pray that God blesses your union with many healthy children." The old emperor nodded to the young couple and sat beside his son Phillip.
"Presenting William and Maria of Cleves!"
Isabella watched her father walk into the room with his new wife, the Duchess.
"Ah, my dear Isabella. How you remind me of your dear mother."
Isabella curtsied to her father and his wife.
"Why thank you father."
Maria walked past Isabella without a word and William hurried after her.
"Presenting Henry of Portugal and Eric of Sweden!"
The young Swedish prince and the Portuguese king walked in side by side. Isabella and Edward went through their formalities with the last two foreign powers that would be attending the banquet. Isabella hurried back to her rooms in a frenzy. Ruth had dressed and plaited her hair while Ethel was waiting beside Isabella's dress.
"How did it go?" Ruth inquired as she hurried to her grandmother's side.
"Awful. I appeared as a farm girl and now I must redeem myself." Isabella scowled.
"Ah think nothing of it for you shall be a queen," Ethel chided.
I know Mary, Queen of Scots is supposed to be in France. I just needed some mother-daughter interaction.