Chapter 7
Ah, my first chapter for 2016. Now, the last chapter saw some good things. I'm so glad that the story is well liked so far. I hope everyone had a safe and fulfilling New Years. I'm going to try get through this chapter as soon as I can, since my daughter and I have birthdays this month. Now, how does everyone feel about Isabella and Andres being married? He will be her last husband and she will not be bearing anymore children. In this chapter, a shadow from her past will present itself to her. Also, when this story is finished, I shall be working on a Katherine/Arthur story, in which Arthur lives from his illness in 1502. Anyway, please Enjoy Chapter 7 and please Read and Review!
October 24, 1548
Hampton Court
King Henry's Bedchambers
Harry was lying in his bed, deep in a troubling thought. He had a serious offer on his mind. The French Ambassador had came to Court with a marriage proposal. The French King wanted his eldest son to marry Harry's younger daughter, Princess Eleanor, when she turned sixteen years old. He was torn about what he would do.
A loud bang came from his door.
Harry sat up.
"Come in." he said.
The door opened and Queen Anne walked in, wearing her robe. She sat next to Harry.
"What's wrong, darling? You look upset." she said.
Harry took her hand in his and took a deep sigh.
"My Council wants me to make a French Alliance, by betrothing Eleanor to the Dauphin. They want her to be the next Queen of France." he said.
Anne caressed his face and smiled.
"Don't you think it's a good idea? Our daughter, the Queen of France. Plus maybe we could visit her in the future. It's bad enough that Matilda will be leaving for Sweden in three year's time. Both our daughters will be Queens. It's what they are being prepared for." she said.
Harry nodded.
"I know, but it just seems so wrong. It's like sending her into a lion's den. I know they will crush her spirit." he said, with a glare in his eyes.
Anne giggled.
"How do you know that, sweetheart? Did the Lord give you the gift of seeing things that are to come to past? she asked.
Harry looked at his wife, in shock.
"Are you saying that you want me to send her away?" he asked.
Anne shook her head.
"No. Our children leaving us is the worst pain I will ever have to endure, but as the Queen, I know that it is inevitable. When we were just the Prince and Princess of Wales, we had to prepare ourselves to know that any daughters we have will not remain with us forever. I remember the pain in my mother's eyes when I left Cleves. She wouldn't stop crying. She was happy that I was going to marry you and that I would one day become Queen of England. But, we both knew that we would never see each other again. That's why it is important to dwell on the happy memories that we have with our children. When times are unhappy, we will still have a reason to smile." she said.
Harry smiled and kissed her.
"How is it, after seventeen years, you still know what to say to comfort me?" he asked.
Anne caressed his face.
"I guess that is just a gift that the Lord gave me." she said.
Harry nodded.
"Do you think I should let Eleanor become the Queen of France?" he asked.
Anne took a deep breath.
"I cannot answer that. However, I know that whatever you decide, it will be in our daughter's best interest." she said.
Harry looked away from her.
"I really hope so." he said.
October 29, 1548
La Mota Palace
Medina del Campo, Valladolid, Castile, Spain
Isabella walked outside, with little Catalina in her arms, enjoying the autumn warmth. She was really happy with her life in Spain. The past five years had been wonderful for her. She had three beautiful children, a loving husband, and she was finally rid of her tyrannical father.
Suddenly, one of her maids walked up to Isabella.
"Senora, it is time for the child to take her nap." she said, gently.
Isabella nodded and handed Catalina away.
"I understand. Make sure that she is well covered and the window is closed. I don't want her catching a cold." she said.
The maid curtsied and then departed.
Isabella smiled and continued her walk. She enjoyed the air around her. She wished that she wasn't a prisoner, but it couldn't be helped. Queen Juana was adamant about her permanent confinement to La Mota.
Suddenly, Isabella felt a cold air brush against her. She turned around, in surprise.
"Is somebody there? Hello?" she asked.
No one answered her. Isabella still felt a chilling presence around her. She was starting to get scared.
Suddenly, a chilling voice said to her:
"Well, if it isn't my beloved wife." it said menacingly.
Isabella slowly turned and was shocked by the speaker.
It was her first husband, the late King Manuel of Portugal.
Isabella began to back away.
"No. This cannot be. You're dead. It's been fifteen years." she said in s shaking voice.
Manuel's ghost stepped forward, never taking his eyes off her.
"Do you think that just because you want to forget me, that you actually can? We were married for seven years and had children, though they didn't survive. I was willing to give you more chances. Now you have three children and they could have been ours. You think you deserve to be happy, after what you did to me? It's because of you, that none of our childrenhad a chance on the Throne. You were young. We would have had more." he said, bitterly.
Isabella shook her head.
"No, Manuel. It wasn't meant to happen. Fade away. I have a good life now. Don't take that away from me." she said.
Manuel gave her an evil smirk.
"That wouldn't be any fun, would it? How is it fair that you killed me and went on to marry three more men, including my brother? You're nothing, but a whore." he said angrily.
Isabella frowned.
"I am no whore." I never was. I admit that I have sinned, but being a whore was not one of them." she said.
Manuel frowned.
"I'll make sure that you never have peace, until you admit to the world what you did to me." he said.
Isabella shook her head.
"Never. I shamed my family enough." she said.
Manuel smiled.
"Very well." he said.
Suddenly, a circle of fire appeared around Isabella. She could feel the flames teasing her flesh.
She began to panic and scream.
"NO! SOMEONE HELP ME!" she screamed, hysterically.
Manuel cackled.
"No one will help you. You will burn, like the she-devil that you are." he said.
Isabella felt to the ground and screamed and cried, in agony. She hsd given up on hope. She felt that she deserved to die.
Suddenly, a pair of strong arms grabbed her.
She began to scream louder.
"LET ME GO!" she yelled.
Suddenly, a familiar voice said:
"Sweetheart, open your eyes!" he said, gently, but with a firm voice.
Isabella opened her eyes and came face-to-face with her husband, Andres. She smiled and held him tighter and cried.
"Oh, thank you for putting out that terrible fire." she said.
Andres looked at his wife, in confusion.
"What fire?" he asked.
Isabella looked at him, with tears coming down her face.
"The circle of fire that surrounded me, when you found me." she said.
Andres gave her a look of concern.
"There was no fire at all. I just arrived from Court and heard screaming. Then I saw you were rolling in the dirt, crying. I thought you had hurt yourself." he said.
Isabella looked at her husband, in shock.
"But, I thought there was a fire." she said in a low voice.
Andres kissed her cheek.
"Come. Let's get you out of this dirty dress." he said, as he helped her to her feet.
Isabella nodded and let her husband less her back to the Palace, but she looked utterly confused.
November 7, 1548
Sintra Palace, Sintra, Portugal
Queen Maria of Portugal's Bedchambers
Mary was reading a letter from her mother. She was reassured that her mother was doing well, ever since her father's death, a year and a half earlier. She was so deep into her letter that she did not notice her sister-in-law, Infanta Beatriz , walk in behind her. The forty-five year old woman cleared her throat.
Mary turned her head and smiled.
"Oh, Beatriz. I didn't hear you come in. Is there anything that I can do for you?"
She nodded.
"I just wanted to finalize the arrangements about the children when you and Carlos depart for Africa." she said.
Mary nodded.
"Yes. We both decided that leaving them with you and your husband is better. You are the eldest surviving child and one of the view people that Carlos and I trust to watch our children, especially Duarte. His well-being is most vital. He's our only son." she said, as she placed a hand on her stomach.
Beatriz looked at her, with sadness.
"You still have yet to conceive?" she asked gently.
Mary shook her head.
"No and now I'm becoming worried that my womb is barren as the desert. I don't understand. I have done everything that has been suggested to me. It's been three years since my last pregnancy ended. I feel like a failure to my husband now." she said.
Beatriz gripped her hand.
"Do not thin that just because you cannot get pregnant like my sister, Isabel, that means you have failed Carlos. He has been on many journeys in these five years of being King. Maybe this voyage to Africa will change things. You may come back to Portugal with a second son slumbering in your womb." she said.
Mary smiled greatly.
"Beatriz, you may give a hard expression to the Court, but you have been nothing but a good friend and sister to me. I need it. I may never see either of my sisters again in this lifetime. There are times I miss them greatly. Elizabeth was only a child when I left and Isabella is basically a prisoner in the Kingdom of my aunt, The Queen of Spain. I agree that what she did was wrong, but to be confined to one Palace for the rest of her life." she said.
Beatriz rolled her eyes.
"She is a troublemaker. The Spanish Queen is more generous than I would be. I would have confined her to a convent far from the Court or would have had her head." she said, in anger.
Mary looked around, in shock.
"Beatriz, despite your hate for the Dowager Queen, she is my sister. I forgave her and I will not judge her. I am not the Lord. That is His job." she said.
Beatriz nodded.
"I agree. As for the Infantes, do not worry. My husband and I will take very good care for them. I am worried about my sister traveling with you all. Isabel may be thirty-one, but she is my parents' youngest child. I swore to protect her. Now she's married with six children. I love the woman she has become." she said.
Mary put her hand on Beatriz's shoulder.
"I know. You must also look at your daughters. They are wonderful young women." she said.
Beatriz nodded.
"They are. I just hate that my daughter, Teresa, is living in the Spanish Court with her husband." she said.
Mary hugged her.
"You know us Royal Women have to sacrifice our daughters. It is not something we have control over. I have seen my beloved mother in nine years. I think of her a great deal. However, I am also a mother and I must enjoy the time I have left with my own daughters." she said, with a small smile.
Beatriz held her hand.
"That's a long time away. Do not let my pining for my eldest daughter submerge you in sadness." she said.
Mary shook her head.
"I won't. Just take care of my children. I beg you." she said.
Beatriz knelt to her knees.
"I swear I will with my life, if necessary. I swear it to God." she said.
November 21, 1548
Hampton Court
Princess Elizabeth's Bedchambers
Elizabeth sat near her window, watching the snow fall outside. She missed the care-free days that were now long gone. In her lap, was her beloved pet guinea pig. She decided that when she was in Spain, she would have more of these small rodents that really captured her heart.
Suddenly, Kitty Howard walked in. She had finally lost the small belly she had after giving birth to her son.
"Princess, I am surprised you aren't at the Feast. It is wonderful dancing. I had to stop, since I needed to be with little Edmund. I swear he grows by the day." she said.
Elizabeth smiled.
"Is being a mother that enjoyable for you?" she asked.
Kitty smiled.
"I love my life. Edward, Bessie, Maggie and Edmund are my entire world. I kneel before God and thank Him for them every day I awake." she said.
Elizabeth took in a deep breath.
"I wonder what will happen when I become a mother. " she said.
Kitty touched her hand.
"You will also be Queen." she said.
Elizabeth nodded.
"I know. Which means I will be expected to bear many children, particularly sons." she said, with a sad face.
Kitty sighed.
"Princess, you're only fifteen years old. You have years to bear many children. I just wish I could be by your side, as you mature.
Elizabeth smiled.
"I know you would love to come to Spain with me, but I will not tear you from your husband and your children. The Spanish Royal Family are family to me also, so I'm sure that they will be kind to me and love me like my family do here." she said.
Kitty nodded.
"Good. Now, since you missed the feast, there is someone that wants to see you." she said.
Elizabeth looked at her, in confusion.
"Who wants to see me? Is it my mother?" she asked.
Kitty shook her head.
"No. The Dowager Queen was unable to make the long journey here, but someone else did come and they are eager to see you." she said
Elizabeth nodded and stood up.
"Very well. Show them in." she said.
Kitty went to the door and walked back in holding the hand of a young girl, who was ten years old. The little girl was average height for her age. She had dark auburn hair that looked brown, a light olive complexion and very bright brown eyes.
Elizabeth had a large smile appear on her face.
"Rose? Is that you? " she asked.
The child was Lady Rose Fitzroy, the only illegitimate daughter of the late King Henry VIII.
"Yes, Your Highness." she said.
Elizabeth opened her arms.
"Come here, sister. Let me hug you. I haven't seen you in so long." she said.
Rose smiled as rushed into her older half sister's arms.
Kitty smiled.
"I'll just leave you two ladies alone. " she said, as she quietly stepped out of the chambers.
A/N Well another Chapter is done! I hope you all enjoyed this one, as well. Now, we also saw the return of another Royal Family member, despite her illegitimate birth. For those readers who didn't read "A Change For The Better ", Lady Rose Fitzroy is Henry VIII's bastard daughter, who was born on June 4, 1538. Her mother was one of Queen Katherine's Spanish maids, who was executed for Heresy and Treason. If anyone has any ideas on what should happen for Lady Rose in her life, feel free to drop suggestions. Also, the next chapter will be a time jump to late Spring 1549. Please Read and Review!