"Your Grace. Doctor Valtore."

The doctor bowed. "Your Graces."

"Jane's legs are bruised," Anne said.

He checked her pulse, felt her head, and examined her legs. He pulled a container filled with a mystery substance.

"What is that?" Bessie asked.

"A salve for her legs." He rubbed the salve on Jane's legs but she gave no indication as to whether she felt anything. Afterwards he bandaged her wounds.

"She should be fine for now. I'll send a tonic to you in a few minutes."

"Thank you, doctor," Anne replied.

He bowed again before leaving. On the way out he ran into Doctor Samuel. Valtore and Samuel didn't get along all that well. Samuel tended to the Dowager almost exclusively.

" I've already tended to Her Grace, the Lady Jane," Valtore said.

Samuel shook his head. "I've come for a different matter entirely."

Valtore felt his heart beat speed up and he nearly blushed. He cleared his throat before speaking. "And what would that be?"

Samuel grinned. "I can't say." He walked inside the room.

Valtore let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Samuel still had that effect on him and he really couldn't say why.

XXXXXXX

Samuel smiled at him. "You are indeed pregnant, Your Grace. The child is strong and you are perfectly healthy."

"Good."

Samuel nodded. "I will report this to the Dowager.

"The Dowager?" they asked at the same time.

He nodded again before leaving.

"Why would he report it to the Dowager, Anne?"

"I don't know." But I'll definitely find out, she thought to herself.

XXXXXXXXX

"She is healthy?" The Dowager asked.

"Yes. And the child is strong."

"Good. I will tell Henry tomorrow when Prince Charles comes."

"In his presence?"

She smiled. "Yes. One cannot keep secrets from the Emperor."

XXXXXXX

Katherine looked around the room to make sure that everything was perfect for her nephew's arrival. She hadn't seen him since he was a young boy. She smiled to herself. Now he was a young man of fifteen. And soon to be married to her own daughter.

She grew happy at the thought if her daughter having both England and Spain. She frowned as the thought that Bessie might be pregnant. It could really hurt Mary's chance of being the Crown Princess.

"Her Imperial Highness, Princess Mary."

Katherine turned and smiled when her daughter curtsied. "My most beloved," she said as she held her arms out. Mary ran to her and Katherine hugged her tightly to her.

"Are you excited to meet your bethrothed?"

"Yes. Will he like me?"

"He will love you," Katheirne replied.

XXXXXXXXXX

Charles V studied the palace. It was a fine structure he decided. He moved to go inside but he saw something that caught his eye. Five beautiful women were walking to another entrance towards the palace. "Who are they?" he asked one of his companions.

"Concubines, I believe."

"Hmm. Hermosa mujer," he murmured.

Henry, Katherine, and the Dowager were all seated on their thrones. The concubine sat among everyone else. Katherine wished that they weren't there at all. She wouldn't want her nephew to get any ideas. She'd hate to have Mary go through that. She glanced at her daughter to detect any nervousness in her but she saw none and that made her proud.

"His Highness, the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V."

Everyone bowed and curtsied.

"Your Highness, I am pleased to meet you," Henry said.

"Likewise, Your Majesty." His eyes moved towards the women he saw before.

Henry noticed. "My newest consorts."

"I see."

"My dearest Charles," Katherine called. The less attention he paid towards the consorts the better.

"Lady Aunt," he bowed. "I ask for you blessing as a nephew to an aunt.

She smiled. "I give you my blessing freely, mi querido sobrino." She motioned Mary forward. "Your Highness, may I introduce your betrothed, the Princess Mary of England."

Mary curtsied with all the grace and dignity she could muster. Charles wasn't a bad looking young man. He was quite tall for a young man of fifteen, Mary decided.

Charles nearly wanted to sigh out loud. He was eleven years older than her and by the time she reached childbearing age he would near thirty. He knelt to her level and bowed his head. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness."

"I have a gift for you," she said.

"Oh?"

She pointed towards the window. He smiled when he saw two beautiful chestnut horses. "Do you like them?" she asked.

"I love them. Thank you. Might I give Your Highness a gift, too?"

Her eyes widen but she nodded. He chuckled and motioned a manservant forward. The man opened a box and inside was a necklace with a cross engraved with pearls. Charles took it and fastened it to her.

"What do you think?"

"It's beautiful. Thank you."

He smiled. "Hopefully it will remind you of me."

Katherine smiled. Now she was one step closer to her dream.