November 30th, 1555
Hampton Court Palace
Lady Anne had decided to stay with Isabella for a while due to the young queen's pregnancy, and Isabella was grateful for her company since Ethel was too busy following Ruth around to pay her any attention. Lady Norfolk was also with child, not that it would stop her from getting into petty arguments with the de Meleun sisters. Ruth would not relent in her fierce hatred of the two French women. Isabella sat in her night shift discussing her dear sister's issue with her aunt.
"Ruth will not be satisfied until she miscarries, Lord forbid," Lady Anne sighed.
Isabella snorted before she took a sip of her wine. "She swears that Catherine and Marie are troublesome, but they have been as obedient as the rest of the lot."
Her aunt chuckled, glanced over her shoulder, and her voice dropped to a whisper. "Perhaps your dear sister is jealous."
Isabella rose an eyebrow. "Not Ruth!"
"It is only a thought." The older woman took a sip of her wine and leaned back in the chair.
Approaching footsteps stopped Isabella mid sentence and she turned to see Ruth with letters in her hand.
"Correspondence, My Lady." Ruth made a slight gesture and handed Isabella all but one letter.
Isabella took the letters from Lady Norfolk and eyed the last letter.
"Ruth, for whom is that letter?" She inquired.
Ruth shook her head. "I am quite sure you do not wish to read this letter. It would only worry you and that is what the babe you carry does not need."
"Ruth," Isabella held out her hand. "give me the letter."
With a sigh, Ruth relented. "It is from the Duchess of Cleves."
Lady Norfolk had a look of distaste as she mentioned the duchess. Her emerald orbs watched Isabella curiously, expecting her to burn the letter, and she titled her head side ways as the young queen broke the wax seal to open the letter. Lady Anne appeared to share Ruth's misgivings about the letter.
"I feel the malice in that letter from where I sit. I believe Ruth to be correct about that letter."
Isabella giggled. "What is the worst that she can write to me? I am aware of her vendetta against me for being of another woman, what is the worst that reading correspondence can do?"
Lady Anne and Ruth watched in silence as Isabella opened the letter which read:
Dear Queen of England,
News hath reached me that you are with child. If I could write to you on happier terms I would not, for you have ruined my sister's future. You have made it impossible that my dear sister, Barbara, marry the English king. She now must marry into the lowly nobility of Ferrara. You are lowly of birth, being the bastard daughter that you are. How you manage to lay with the King of England and deceive him as you have is true witchcraft and sorcery if I hath seen it. Your mother, the false duchess, would be quite proud of your ability to lie and seduce. Your father is blinded by the great fortune that has befallen him with your rise in England. I am aware of the pretense you must have given poor King Edward to be rewarded with such a position. Your marriage is the result of the devil in politics. The babe that grows inside of you shall die before it is born, for that child is born of sin. The devil is within you, evil wench and any children of your union with the king shall be cursed with wens and deformities unimaginable. You will be plagued with illness and stillborn children, for the Lord will forsake you. I do not find it odd that your mother named you so closely to Jezabel. I will not pray for you, for they would be wasted on the product of the devil himself.
Maria, Duchess of Cleves
"Just as I suspected a letter of hatred. She sends them quite often. This one was filled with more bile and envy than before, nevertheless the hatred remains. She fears me now that I am the Queen of England," Isabella chuckled lightly and Ruth plucked the letter from her hands.
She and Lady Anne glanced over the words, their eyes widening with astonishment.
Lady Anne spoke first. "This letter curses you, Isabella. She has forsaken you and your babes."
"Isabella you are taking this letter quite lightly. She has threatened the very safety of England with this curse. I would not be surprised if she has employed a witch to ensure that you are childless, that woman is not above foul practice." Ruth added, her voice quiet.
Isabella picked up the letter and placed it in her box. "If I have two stillborn children or one that is deformed I shall show this letter to Edward and we shall handle it when that day comes. Until then I take it in jest."
Ruth stared at the queen uncertainly before rising. "I must go see to the other ladies. They become distracted as easily as young children,"
"As do you." Lady Anne chuckled, causing Ruth to blush.
Ruth disappeared down a corridor, leaving Isabella alone with her aunt once more. Despite her calm exterior, Isabella was quaking on the inside while her stomach churned violently. The words from the Duchess of Cleves rung in her head, making her deaf to the world around her. Ever since her marriage she had feared that she would not be able to bear children to secure the succession, the babe that was growing in her belly had not calmed her fears. Ruth was correct about Maria; she would resort to witchcraft if it would cause Isabella to fail in her most important duty. Robbing her of joy was Maria's goal, that was plain to see. She would not be satisfied until Isabella was in a convent or married to a poor farmer, it was the exact reason she had pleaded with her husband to send Isabella away to England. Her father had written to her frequently and warned her to never sail home. Her mother had been defaced and completely erased from existence. Maria took pride in referring to her as the 'false duchess' and had convinced herself that Isabella was illegitimate. Lady Anne held disdain for her brother's wife and maintained that the duchess was mad.
"Izzy?" Her aunt's voice roused her from her thoughts.
Isabella choked back a sob. "What shall become of me if I cannot bear the king a suitable heir?"
"Why do you not listen to Ruth dear child? She knows what is proper for you," Her aunt stiffly rose from her chair and put her arms around her. "Do not fret, you will deliver many healthy babes. Edward is infatuated with you my girl,"
"Infatuated," Isabella pulled away. "Does he love me aunt? Does he love me as a true husband the way he claimed he did when I lay with him on our wedding night? How might a marriage between man and woman stand if not for love? He married me because of what he felt at that moment, who is to say he does not change his heart? Will another girl, perhaps one of my own ladies, come and eclipse me like so many queens before me? I cannot bear to witness it. I will flee court if he ever lays with another and this I do promise before God himself." The young queen burst into a sob and her aunt pulled her back into her arms.
"Peace, Isabella. You will not be discarded, your marriage is based on more than what Edward sees. He knows you to be a kind and loving woman. He finds comfort in your time together, and you know this to be true my dear. " Isabella quieted herself at this and wiped her eyes of the tears that had stained her face.
She swallowed hard, the lump in her throat seemed to choke the life out of her and as she stared her aunt in the eyes the burden of being a queen seemed to weigh more heavily on her shoulders. The slight tapping on the chamber door caused both women to turn their heads wildly. Lady Anne rose to open it and Ruth lightly stepped into the room, with Edward close behind.
Edward approached her rather awkwardly in comparison to the usual confidence her displayed. "Dear wife I would prefer that we spent time alone while Parliament is closed for the night. I would like to speak with you."
Isabella nodded to Lady Anne and Ruth, dismissing them. She watched them go, Ruth locking the latch behind them before turning to her husband.
"Have I caused you any displeasure, Your Majesty?" Her tone was light, although she still felt that Edward would discard her if the babe she carried did not please him.
Edward raised an eyebrow before sitting in the chair across from Isabella that had been occupied by Lady Anne only moments before. "Displeasure? There is nothing that you could do to displease me Isabella. What ails you my love? You seem to be troubled. Your eyes are quite reddened."
"I am a bit distressed, but it is nothing that concerns you." Isabella decided to test how much the king 'loved' her.
Edward appeared to be stung by her harsh words. "Anything that distresses you concerns me. Now tell me what troubles you."
She was taken aback by his response, and she simply handed him the letter from her father's wife. She watched her husband's face flush red with anger as he took in the words. He got up and embraced her. "I do not care what she has to say. Your father confirmed your legitimacy, not that it would matter to me in any case. You and I were married before God and only God may determine the fates of our children."
She rested her head on his chest, listening to his heart beating rapidly in his chest. "Edward I must apologize for denying myself your love. You frighten me, although we are husband and wife we shall never be the common couple that live in the village. "
He did not speak but only kissed her upon her forehead. She rose to her feet, heading towards her bed. Edward followed close behind and climbed in to the bed with her.
"Edward I am with child-"
He frowned. "I cannot just lay her beside you and watch you as you drift off to sleep? Why can I not enjoy your company? I did not come here to lay with you in that manner."
She glanced over at him peculiarly and turned so that she was facing him. "I was unaware that men did such things."
"Men do not. Edward VI does. Why is it that I feel you do not want me here with you?" Isabella could hear hurt in his voice, but she couldn't stop the hurtful words from pouring out of her mouth.
"I do want you here Edward. It is just very stressful with child and being a queen. I feel as if every soul in England is watching me, either hoping that I succeed or fail in bearing an heir. I feel as though I have many enemies." Her voice was shaking and Edward pulled her into his arms.
She was thankful for his comfort and the protection radiated from his strong arms that encircled her.
He lifted her chin and looked her deep into the eyes. "It does not matter to me whether or not you give me an heir. I do not care if you give me no children at all. All I ask of you is that you be my true wife, and I need you to trust that I shall protect you through all adversities that may ever befall you, God forbid. I will try with all of my power to ensure that your life is one of ease and joy. I promise you this Isabella, you must trust me."
She simply kissed his cheek softly. "Edward, I will trust you."