February 28th, 1559
Hampton Court Palace
"So you have not the faintest suspicion that one of your ladies in waiting is plotting against you?" Ruth snapped, Isabella could honestly be oblivious to everything around her.
Isabella shook her head innocently. "Why would Marie plot against me? I have done her no ills, I am trying to marry her off, but not a single nobleman wants to marry her. I cannot fathom why, she is beautiful."
"Well, no self respecting nobleman wants to marry a whore." Ruth shrugged.
"Marie is no whore, Ruth. She is very nice once you get to know her." Isabella chided.
Ruth laughed. "I guess I shall never know. What I do know is that she, like her sister, is a whore."
Isabella frowned at Ruth, but Ruth paid her no mind. She knew Isabella was blinded by her need to see the good in all, and Ruth simply steered her away from the cliffs she accidentally sent herself to by being clueless. Ruth struggled her feet, her belly too large, and she waddled towards the door, but Isabella called after her.
"Ruth?" Her voice was soft,
Ruth turned her head back. "Yes, Izzy?"
"How is your husband's illegitimate daughter?" Isabella inquired.
Ruth's eyes narrowed instantly. "Was that a slight?"
Isabella immediately taken aback. "A slight? I was genuinely asking about the child."
Ruth snorted. "Then why do you ask me and not Lady Northampton? You know the child is nowhere near Bungay Castle. I have never even set eyes on the little bastard girl. You have not asked about my daughter for months!"
Isabella brushed a red strand of hair behind her ear. "I apologize for offending you, Ruth. You know I would never belittle you."
Ruth took a deep sigh. "I am going to check on the other ladies and see if they have finished packing my things."
Ruth was almost happy to return home from court, she missed her daughter Elizabeth and was just as desperate to get away from Isabella. Being with the queen almost constantly was stifling, and she actually enjoyed being around her own maid servants. She loved Isabella like a sister and perhaps that was why she was equally annoyed with her, like a sister. As she entered the outer chamber, she saw the ladies finishing with the last of the packing while Mariana supervised. Sancha seemed distracted and Ruth smirked.
"Lady Sancha, I saw you with the heir to the Earl of Westmorland. Charles, I believe is his name." Ruth began.
Sancha's eyes widened. "I cannot speak of it. I did something so horrid last night."
Anne Langley snorted. "Did you smile at a man?"
"Or was it that you danced?" Charlotte inquired.
"Sancha, you must learn to live." Clara de Salas added.
Sancha sighed. "You all are my friends, so I must confess. I, I had intercourse with Charles Neville last night."
Silence instantly took over the room. Ruth, for once in her life, was speechless. Lady Jane Grey broke the silence.
"Sancha? The resident nun of us? Surely you must jest." Edward's cousin shook her head in confusion.
Sancha wiped a tear from her eyes. "It is absolutely no jest. I had felt no feeling like that before, the devil appeared in my ear and led me to do ungodly things. A Jezabel."
Ruth put her hand on Sancha's shoulder. "You are a good woman, you are no whore. You fell weak for only a moment."
Sancha snatched away from her violently. "What about when this spreads through court? I will be as unmarriageable as Marie!"
"I do not think any woman can be as bad off as Marie." Ruth wiped the tears from Sancha's face, completely aware of Marie's presence in the room.
"Unmarriageable in your eyes, but I know men enjoy women with experience much more than you prudes." Marie snapped.
Ruth laughed loudly. "They may enjoy you for a night, but I will assure you that you mean nothing to them."
Marie's chest heaved for a bit, but her eyes suddenly lit up as if she had remembered something. She pulled out a piece of paper and sat in her corner, writing what Ruth guessed was a letter. Who the letter was actually for was the question. Ruth twirled her necklace in her hand, and she turned to a whimpering Sancha, a pregnant Mariana, and an extremely calm Madeleine. Never had she trusted Madeleine with such an important matter, but neither of her close confidants were in any shape to do her bidding while she was away. Besides, Madeleine had proven herself to be a worthy companion, and this would be the perfect opportunity to see just how useful she was.
"Madeleine, come with me." Ruth jerked her head towards the door before exiting the chamber.
Madeleine seemed a bit confused as she followed Ruth down the corridor. Ruth knew that Madeleine probably had not a clue of all the assignments she gave to Sancha when she was away.
"Madeleine, as you can probably assume I need you to take over my duties until I return." Ruth waited for a shriek or some indication of excitement, but the girl only nodded sweetly.
"Thank you for selecting me for this important role, Lady Norfolk. I know Sancha and Mariana will not be in a position to keep Marie in line, but I shall do so." Madeleine was waiting for Ruth's approval.
Ruth had nothing negative to say about anything, so she continued. "I am glad you mention Marie, because she has not written a single letter since she has been at court and suddenly she is writing as if she is penning a novel. I want you to find out who she is writing to and most importantly, why."
Madeleine nodded dutifully. "Yes Lady Norfolk, I will not disappoint you."
"I hope not." Ruth nodded and led Madeleine into the royal nursery. "You must also promise me to not allow her to influence the Princess Royal."
"The Princess Royal is fond of Lady Marie. I cannot upset the child." Madeleine murmured hesitantly.
Ruth turned her head sharply. "The Princess does not yet understand the proper court etiquette. I refuse to have improper ladies around the princesses and to protect the virtues of them, we must prevent Marie's influence."
Madeleine nodded again. "Yes, Lady Norfolk."
Ruth looked down upon the Princess Royal. Her hair was a pale blonde and had already grown past her chin, the girl was sleeping, so her pale blue eyes were not staring at Ruth curiously as usual. Adjacent to Jane Margaret was the Prince of Wales, Arthur's nose often twitched as he slept and he looked so much like his father. The Duke of York was also sleeping peacefully, a male version of Isabella. Ruth touched each of their cheeks and smiled. She had grown to love the children as if they were her own. Her own daughter, Elizabeth hadn't seen her in three years, and Ruth missed her sorely; but the thought of her often brought her to thoughts of Angelique Howard, the bastard. She wondered if the girl was as beautiful as she knew her Elizabeth was, or was she as smart or charming as Elizabeth's wet nurse told her Elizabeth was. She had made her decision, she would receive the bastard at Bungay after her child was born, only to settle her own thoughts.
February 28th, 1559
Hampton Court Palace
Isabella had pulled herself into a sitting position. The new lady-in-waiting from Portugal had been sent to her by Catherine of Austria and was called Catalina. Marie and Madeleine led the girl in, both of them bowing to her, a formality. The girl was short, with sandy brown hair and green eyes.
"I am Catalina Perez, Your Majesty." Her Portuguese accent was heavy as she curtsied.
Isabella smiled warmly at the girl. "Welcome to court, Catalina."
When the girl rose from her curtsy, Isabella noticed a rosary around her neck. "You are Catholic?"
Catalina seemed confused. "Of course I am Catholic. It is the one true faith."
Isabella frowned. "I want you to be under tutelage from Lady Jane Dudley. You must learn that the Bishop of Rome is a liar, he is the Antichrist."
"The Pope speaks the words of God." Catalina murmured quietly.
Isabella shook her head. "He wants you to think this. We will have Biblical discussion tonight and we will show you what the true faith is."
Madeleine ushered Catalina away, leaving Marie standing before her. Isabella sighed, she knew court would be boring without Ruth around. She missed Edward, who had left for France the night before. She couldn't go riding because she was seven months pregnant, and Marie was her only consolation.
"Marie, how has the search for a husband been going?" Isabella knew Marie had no suitors, but she asked anyway.
Marie shook her head. "I have not a single suitor. However, I do bring gossip."
"Gossip?" Isabella arched her eyebrow.
"Lady Sancha admitted to having intercourse with Charles Neville." Marie laughed.
Isabella shook head. "I cannot believe it. He had just come to me asking for her hand this morning."
"I heard her say it. She's a sobbing mess, that is why Lady Norfolk left Madeleine in charge." Marie was adamant.
Isabella paused. "Madeleine?"
Marie nodded vigorously. "Sancha is too busy praying and Mariana is soon to leave court, so Madeleine has been put in charge."
Isabella shook her head. "Then why would Charles come calling if Sancha did such a thing?"
"If she begets an heir, the child would be legitimate." Marie was thinking rationally.
Isabella felt the child kicking. She knew Edward wanted another daughter, but she hoped for another son. Arthur and Alexander were both young and one bad illness could take either of them away in an instant. Her concern for Jane Margaret, as Edward had her baptized, was not nearly as high. She loved her little daughter, but an heir would keep Edward's affections on her, not a daughter.
"Men have bastards often. Your sister is a good example." Isabella reminded her gently.
Marie snorted. "If Thomas had met Catherine and Ruth at the same time then-"
"He would have still chosen Lady Norfolk." Isabella cut her off firmly.
"Lady Norfolk is belligerent, callous-"
"Yet, she is more loyal than anyone I have ever met. She may be blunt, but she is pure of heart. Something I deeply appreciate from her." Isabella glared at Marie.
"She is loyal to those she likes. People such as myself receive nothing but dirty looks and ridicule." She sniffled.
Isabella frowned. "I would only hope to mend relations between the two of you."
Her blonde haired lady glared. "I would never want to be friends with the woman that single handedly killed my sister and has made every single day in Englad as horrid as-"
"Marie! Enough of this." She snapped.
The French woman seemed to know that she could not continue the conversation of Ruth's faults. Isabella raised a hand to dismiss her. As Marie bowed to her and retreated, Isabella wondered why she and Ruth hated each other as fiercely as they did. They were nearly the same person to Isabella, Ruth simply being more bold. Isabella smirked, when Ruth returned she would ensure that the two became friends.