The Tuesday morning, after Charles made a mad dash home, saw he and his wife alone in the study. He's heard a few older, wiser individuals say "In times of difficulty, joy is the elixir of life." This he knows must be true because it's how he feels at this very moment. The time they entered the study, and he sat in his stately chair situated behind the desk, an exceedingly pleasant measure of joy was found.
Mainly due to the love of his life, who sat herself in his lap as she is known to do. Her presence alone has already helped to burn out the pain of worry in his heart and mind. But it was her words that gave his heart wings and the courage needed to speak of hard things, difficult things. It's like a balm to his soul.
It started when he asked her a simple question. "Did you go to see Doctor Pearce? Are you alright?"
Throwing her slender arms about his neck, she placed a kiss on the corner of his mouth, before a peck was given to his lips. "I did go. Dot went with me. As for being alright, he says I will be fine in nine months." She waited for her words to take root and grow.
Her words did not settle as she had hoped. Feeling alarmed at that statement, he declared with broad emotion "Nine months! You won't be well for nine months? What kind of sickness do you have? You aren't going to die are you?" His hands held her a little tighter.
In the midst of his worry, she laughed. When she saw his annoyance she tried to calm down, but it's hard to calm down when there's so much happiness in her spirit. "Oh, Charles! I do love you. I have the type of sickness that comes in the mornings and leaves by the afternoon. It's called the mother's sickness and you can only get rid of it when the baby is born. There's no dying today, but there are risks in childbirth." She waited again for his reaction.
His heart skipped a beat and all of sudden he became compelled to nuzzle her neck with his nose. "A baby" was all he said. It was the way he said those two words that left his wife incandescent. He spoke with so much love that it was blinding and beautiful.
As he nuzzled her neck, he stated his long-spoken desire again. "I hope it's a girl. I want something soft and sweet and stubborn, like her Mama." Just as Mary went to protest, he cut her off with a kiss. But his kiss was different somehow. It was like the kiss of a troubled person who is besieged by something fierce.
Breaking their kiss, she put her hand on the side of his face and caressed his jaw and cheek. "Something is bothering you. I can tell. Are you worried about the baby and me? We're fine. Doctor Pearce gave me a tincture of herbal medicine that has helped with the morning sickness."
In return, he caressed her other hand. He loves holding it and playing with her fingers. Her hand fits perfectly in his own as if it were made to be there. He has long thought that too, the first time they held hands at Westhrope Hall. "No. I'm not so much concerned about the pregnancy. I say that knowing I most likely will be as time draws nearer for the birth. It's something else altogether different. I have some things to discuss with you. Important things."
Knowing that he's just come from the palace with her father, this cannot be good news. Letting out her breath slowly, she tried to reassure him by saying "Whatever it is we'll get through it together." They can tackle any problem as long as they are unified, together.
Upon kissing her forehead, he stood up with her holding onto him. He walked over to the couch and arranged them into a comfortable position. Then he settled down to tell her about all of the events taking place. "When I dined with your father I learned of some shocking news. No, that's not quite right. Some completely astounding news. First of all, he has written a law declaring you to be back in the line of succession, along with any heirs we may have. You and I already knew this, so it's not anything new. But he was announcing it to the court after I left. How do you feel about that?"
The first time she heard the account, about being reestablished in the line of succession, she huffed and the same thing happened now. "It irritates me. I could care less about that bloody throne. I have all I need. Since he's so inclined to give it back to me then fine. I'll deal with it but know this. Being in line for the throne of England changes nothing. I'm still me. You're still you. And together we're still the rulers of Wales and Suffolk. Titles may change, but our hearts do not."
He wants to believe those words. In fact, he loves how purely she sees things, with unadulterated, wholesome eyes and a loving heart. However, he knows what a crown can do to people. It changes and alters them somehow, into a warped version of themselves. It may not change her desires or his own, but it still changes the business of things. With his wife in line to be Queen, "Everything changes Darling."
She whispered, "It doesn't change us." In her mind the line of succession doesn't change who they are, it only changes the point of view outside the window looking in. Still, her father is determined to have a male heir. She also believes he'll do anything to make that happen. Her chances of being the actual Queen are ever so small.
They sat snuggled together in each other's embrace. He could stay like this forever, well almost forever. At least until his legs grow numb. Kissing her cheek, he fixed his mind on telling her about the other important news. "There's more information you need to hear. Your father has decreed another document and had it signed into effect, the same as the one about you and our children. This one declares his marriage to The Whore null and void."
An audible inhalation of breath could be heard. "Wait. What?! You're joking." The Duchess cannot fathom this. She saw her husband's face is unmovable. His expression is determined. "So it's true then. On what grounds?"
With an irksome voice, Charles told her "Treason, the conspiracy of murder, adultery, sorcery, and incest."
Still feeling this inconceivable, Mary shook her head. "Incest? So George Boleyn was arrested too I assume?" He responded with a yes. "But surely there was no incest. They are brother and sister, some siblings are as close as best friends. My father really means to punish her, and her family, then. Which they should be for the first two charges alone, but sorcery and incest. Wow! There's no escaping her fate. Her family is ruined too."
He sat there thinking that. Maybe the wretched woman will understand the damage she did to the kingdom and not to mention his own family. Maybe because now the same thing is being done to her and her own family. The ruin she sought to do others is coming back to her own head. He can breathe easier knowing he didn't seek his personal revenge. Revenge came all on its own regardless.
But the real question neither of them dared to utter is left hanging in the air. It was until Mary voiced it. "What happens to my baby sister? What will become of her?"
Truly he has "No idea. I suppose she'll become a ward to the Howards. She'll definitely be declared illegitimate, most likely already has been." He has not let go of her hand yet, realizing she needs his support. Even now her hands shake a little.
Well, now she's just upset! A flood of aggravation washed over her and caused her body to tense."No! That cannot happen. She's just a little girl. Practically no older than our boys. She is innocent in this matter. I don't want her to become embittered or worse, depressed like I was." Her grip tightened on his hand unknowingly.
His head snapped to hers. Surely she's not "Thinking of bringing your sister into our house? Why that would be—"
She interrupted him by saying "The best place for her. She'll grow up with a loving family. Two adults who love her and are stable. A family who won't teach her how to hate or how to be conniving. A family who can defend her and not allow her to be shamed for the sins of her mother. Elizabeth could be our ward."
He sees the merits of her thoughts. Peace begins at home. It begins with family and teaching their children love, kindness, and integrity. The child's father was uninterested in her life from the day she entered the world. For all the Evil Queen's faults, and there are many, she does seem to love her daughter. Now that daughter will lose her mother and if she's given to the wolves, then all hope will be lost for her to live a good life.
Which much trepidation, Charles proclaimed "Alright. Elizabeth can be our ward, a true member of our family. Hopefully, with us, she'll know love and have some happiness. We'll treat her no different than our own kids. And when the time comes, at much older age, we'll tell her the truth too."
Mary pressed her head to his neck. A few tears leaked out of her eyes. "Thank you," she said with a soft tone of voice.
She shouldn't thank him because if it were left up to him the child would not be coming into their home. No matter if his wife is her sister or not, and he's technically her brother. It's all because of Mary's love for her sibling, for those less fortunate. In Elizabeth, she sees an unfortunate girl who will be treated the way she was— Ludlowed. Except for the child, there would be no way out of it unlike herself.
His wife has a beautiful soul. Always forgiving, kind, compassionate, and tries to see the best in people, or situations even when there is none. Those are just some of the many reasons "I love you." After that he had her tell him all that's gone on at home while he was away.
It was then she launched into a tale about how William, sweet William, has been biting his brother. A few baby teeth have come in long before his father left for court. Charles couldn't help it he laughed. So Owen pees in people's faces and William bites. What uncouth boys they're raising. She also told him they are talking now. "They say Mama, Dada, Du- for Duke, no, yes, and eyes. They also have their own little language developing between the two of them- twin language. But the best thing is..."
Her words trailed off. She saw his face look disappointed at them saying Dada when he wasn't around to hear it. They've not said that before. If she told him they started walking too, then that would be truly heartbreaking. He can find it out himself. So instead she changed course and said "The best thing is now you're here to witness it."
He placed a kiss on her temple. "True. But I'm not here for long. Only til the start of next week. I have to return to London for the trial. In the meantime, I'm going to love on my family and write your father a letter about our well-being and that of Elizabeth."
It was mid-day, Wednesday, when a reply from the King was heard. A Royal Rider had been dispatched from London to hand-deliver the missive. Mary has grown to resent those riders. They get on her nerves and most usually ruin her day. After Charles took the note, the rider departed surrounded by a few of the King's guards.
The Duke stood reading the missive and ran a hand down his face when finished. "What's he say?" Mary asked.
Charles began walking upstairs in the direction of their bedroom. He waited until they were in the safety of their room to speak, as he began putting on a fresh tunic and doublet. "Long story short, he says we're welcome to have her as our ward. I'm going to fetch her from Hatfield now."
With eyes that grew as large as melons, Mary told him "I'm going with you." She started rustling around for proper shoes and a cloak, as it's cooler out. But her husband's hand stilled her.
"No. You are not. You are staying here, where you belong. I can't have myself worry over you while I'm worrying over the girl. You have more protection here. It's not safe," he explained.
However, his wife disagrees. "Where I belong is with you. I want to be there when you get her. She's just turned one not too long ago, she is so young that there will be no understanding of what's happening. You'll be taking her away from the governess who's watched over her since birth. I won't back down on this." Her posture says she won't either.
She may want to go, but she needs to stay here. So he's not backing down from his stance on this either. She'll just have to be mad. Having changed into his doublet and black leather boots, with his gold livery collar about his neck and shoulders, he looked her straight in the eyes. "I'm sorry but you're not. You're staying here with the boys, Lady Ashdown and Dot, and in the protection of William and Jeffery."
One of her hands is balled up at her side, and the other is pulling on the skirt of her dress. Her eyes are narrowed. In every relationship, there will be arguments and disputes, but at the end of the day love still remains. Which is why she tempered her words. "I am very displeased right now."
He wanted desperately to chuckle at her words. Had this been his first wife he could have expected a slap or an object thrown at his head. However, this is her, his Mary, his sweetheart, the love of his life. She is vastly different, not wanting to damage but get her point across. "My Darling I know you're upset, but it's for your own good. Besides once the pregnancy hormones calm down I'm sure you'll understand."
And that was it. Now he's really done it. He's put his foot in his mouth. "The pregnancy hormones? Oh!" She huffed and turned to exit the room altogether. Which she did and stomped all the way downstairs in a childish manner. Yes, she knows it's childish to stomp but she doesn't care about that right now.
Following her all the way, he smirked to himself. Her Tudor spirit is much tempered with her mother's sense of reason. Thank God. When they reached the bottom, he grabbed her hand and pulled her to him for a kiss. He felt her stiffen at first, but then she relaxed into it. When he pulled away he put a kiss on her forehead and hugged her.
"I'm still upset at you," she let him know. She told him this despite the fact her arms are around him, embracing him as well. "Just be gentle with her."
Then he chuckled. "I promise I will be just as gentle with her as I am with the boys." He let her go and called for Glen, whom he asked to ready the carriage. Then he wandered onto the very far side of the house, where Jeffery and the guard's quarters are. He told them of the trip he was taking and Jeffery readied the Duke's guards for him.
Once all of his own preparations were finished, he pocketed the letter from the King. After saying a brief goodbye to his wife and boys, Charles rode away to fetch his half-sister-in-law. Meanwhile, Mary gathered Ladies Enid, Agnes, and Dot. She told them about what is happening and how "Elizabeth will be coming to live with us as our ward. I need to fix the bedroom overlooking the back grounds for her. I think it will be a nice room for my sister. I also need to go into town for a few items."
As soon as the other carriage was readied, Mary and Dot departed for the town. The main stop was the crafts store, where they sell all manner of toys and trinkets. Upon entering all commotion stopped, for the Grand Duchess is there. The patrons in the shop bubbled and gushed over the two noble ladies. They were wished well and asked if they could be helped.
With her sweet voice, Mary told the store owners "I could not be more tended to than I am in your store. But I think I will peruse the sections myself to see what may strike my fancy." So she and Dot set off to do just that.
They wandered around the store picking up item after item for the twins until they came to a section of little girl things. The first thing Mary saw was a little lamb whose wool was as white as snow. Technically it was not wool but really fluffy, fuzzy, plush cotton or some other sort of material. Something inside her clenched. So she took it and decided to put it away for the new baby.
Then her eyes spied the cutest lilac-colored plush bunny. The thing that sets it apart is the floral fabric on the inside of its ears and also on the bottom of the feet. This is perfect! "I love this. I'm getting it for my sister," she whispered. Dot smiled at the suggestion.
She also told the store owners that she wanted the wooden rocking horse, rolling wooden elephants in two sets (for the boys and Elizabeth), sets of puppets and figurines, hobby horses, rolling hoops, intricate rattles (for the new baby), pinwheels and whirligigs, toy boats and knights, and bouncy balls of any kind, as well as new blocks. But then she saw it.
Over in the corner, standing tall on the floor is the most gorgeous carved dollhouse. There are actually two of them. One has been painted with regal colors and the other is painted to look like a normal house. Either way, they're both splendid. She's definitely buying them. One for Elizabeth and one for the new baby, just in case it's a girl. To the store owners, she stated "These. I want both of these. Can you have all of these things delivered to the manor this afternoon?"
The store owners, both a kind husband and wife, said they could and would be glad to do so. Once Mary and Dot left the crafts store, they headed to the tailor shop. It's there the Duchess ordered new doublets for Charles, new dresses for herself, new outfits for the twins, and she asked "Could you come to our house tomorrow? I need to have our new ward measured for clothing as well."
After the tailor appointments were made they headed back home. The minute the carriage stopped, both ladies departed it and went straight upstairs to see how the arrangements for Elizabeth are coming along. To their amazement, the sunny room was put together. Mary nodded her consent and thanked the footmen, maids, and Lady Enid personally.
When the toys and things from the craft shop arrived, she and Lady Enid directed the men hauling them as to where to put them. With everything situated in the boy's room, the new baby's room, and Elizabeth's room a sense of relief came over Her Ladyship. Taking a final look at her sister's chambers made her pregnancy hormones spring to life.
Tears rolled down her cheeks. She wishes there was a much different way to "meet" her little sister, but there isn't. Life rarely goes as planned. And that's OK. Sometimes the reroute is better than the original way. She'll just have to wait and see regarding this new unexpected development.
And she did wait. She waited all afternoon trying to amuse herself with the twins talking, by telling them more words to try. They told her "No Mama. No." It was when William went to bite his brother that Mary shook her finger at him and told him no instead. He did not like her "Mom face", the finger shaking, or the harsh voice. He voiced this displeasure by blowing a raspberry at her.
"Oh you naughty little boy," she told him. Before he could walk away, which wasn't far, she snatched him up into her arms. He also did not like that and began to cry. Owen, of course, had to be held too since William is. Now her arms are full of mischief. Having been focused on the twins, she had failed to hear the carriage pull up or the footmen clamber to it.
As she was walking around the room, bouncing the boys, Charles entered carrying Elizabeth. "We're here," he called out. Elizabeth shifted in his arms, moving her head to the singing and twin babble.
Mary turned to her husband and stood still with the twins. She stared at her sister, who also stared back at her. During this Owen began saying "Down. Down. Down Mama." She put him on the floor and strolled over to the new entrants. William, like his brother, asked to be put down. She obliged and continued to her husband and little sister.
It was when she was close enough that she greeted Charles with a kiss on the cheek. Looking at Elizabeth, makes her think she's looking at their father, almost. Both of them have red hair, pale complexion, and blue eyes. She's a pretty child. With a quiet, calm voice Mary greeted her too. "Hi, Elizabeth." Her hand ran over the little girl's back.
Then the Duchess thought of something. Moving to a side table, she picked an item up. In her hands is the cute lilac bunny. She offered it to her sister. "I got this for you. It's yours." Elizabeth eyed it with curiosity and held out her hands for it. She clutched it to her chest, but then she held her hands out again— asking to be held by her older sister, which Mary did.
Sister and sister held each other. As the child relaxed in her embrace, she eyed her husband. Charles nodded his head in approval and went to play with their boys. Mary kept holding Elizabeth, who did not want to be put down, as she is content.
Family takes care of family. They may have drastically different mothers, but the same Tudor blood flows through them. There's something sweet about being with her sister. Of all the gifts Mary has gotten from her father over the years, there are two great gifts that stand out the most. Her husband and her baby sister.