Chapter 24
I'm back guys! Well, as promised before, I would love to give a shout out to one of my OG readers from my very first story and that reader is: AUTUMNROSE2010! They were the first reader to guess the cause of death of Katherine Howard, Duchess of Richmond. Her cause of death was Eclampsia, which is the onset of seizures due to high blood pressure in pregnant women. The only cure is to deliver the baby, which in this time period would be fatal anyway. So that's what killed Kitty and we will see the aftermath of her death in this chapter as well. As the story goes on, we will be seeing characters that may not be remembered from my former story. If you have any questions about a character, feel free to ask and I'll PM you information. Don't forget to Read and Review and congratulations again to autumnrose2010!
June 12, 1552
Westhorpe Hall
Suffolk, England
A handsome man with dark chocolate brown hair and blue eyes was sitting in his parlor, drinking wine. He was Charles Brandon, the second Duke of Suffolk. He was the eldest son and heir of the late Charles Brandon and the late Princess Elizabeth, Dowager Queen of France. Despite the fact that he was named for his notorious womanizer father, this Charles Brandon was a gentle man. He loved art. The one thing that he had inherited from his father was his good looks. Women at court wanted him, just as much as women wanted his father thirty years prior. He was one of England's most eligible bachelors. The fact that he was unmarried, didn't have children and was nearly as wealthy as the King made women want him even more.
Suddenly, Catherine Grey, Charles' elder sister walked in, wearing a smile.
"Dear brother, thank you for waiting on me. How are you?" she asked.
Charles smiled.
"Cat, know you sent me a letter, saying you want to speak to us. Now what is it?" he asked.
Catherine held her hand up.
"Wait until the others get here." she said sternly.
Suddenly, a young woman with dark auburn hair and Hazel eyes walked into the room and smiled at Charles and Catherine. She was Lady Margaret Brandon, their younger sister. At twenty-four years old, she was the youngest child of Charles and Elizabeth. Out of their five children together, she was said to be the only one to resemble her late mother.
Margaret walked up and hugged her older sister.
"Cat! It's wonderful to see you. If I had known you were here, I would have come downstairs sooner." she said.
Catherine smiled.
"It's no problem, my dear Maggie. Have a seat." she said.
Margaret sat in a nearby chair.
Charles gestured toward the wine on his table.
"Would you care for a glass of wine, sweet sister?" he asked.
Margaret nodded her head.
"Yes please, but not much. It does give me a headache." she said.
Charles poured her a glass and handed it to her.
Finally a man with light brown hair and blue eyes walked in. He too was extremely handsome, but seemed much younger than his actual age of thirty-four.
He kissed both of his sisters, to which Catherine laughed.
"Edmund...late as usual. Have a seat, please." she said.
Edmund pouted.
"I'm sorry, dear sister, but someone as to let the women of the village that they are wanted in more ways than one." he said with a wink.
Margaret rolled her eyes and sipped her wine.
Charles looked at Catherine.
"Well, we are all here. What is this about?" he asked again.
Catherine sighed.
"I'm just going to let it all out. My husband is plotting something against the King. I do not know what it is, but it involves my Jane." she said.
Her three siblings looked at her, in shock.
Edmund shook his head.
"You can't be serious. Jane is only fifteen years old!" he said.
Catherine nodded.
"I know." she said sadly.
Charles stoop up, in anger.
"I will never understand why Father married you to that fucking boar! I could tell he was nothing but trouble since the day he married into our family." he said, loudly.
Margaret nodded.
"I've never liked him, even when I was a child. He always reminded me of a runaway horse. Why would he want to do something with Jane, when he knows treason is the quickest way to lose your head?" she asked, angrily.
Catherine nodded.
"I'm worried for her. Henry's actions are are going to do nothing, but out him and our daughter on the scaffold quicker. I don't want my daughter killed." she said.
Charles shook his head.
"We won't let that happen. Your daughters are our parents' only grandchildren. We all know how much you love your daughters. We can't let anything happen to them. Don't worry, Cat. Whatever Henry is plotting, he will be the only one paying for the crime." he said.
Catherine smiled.
"Thank you, brother. Now another matter we must discuss is your marriages. Charles, your are a Duke. You must get married and have heirs. You're already thirty-five years old. Don't you have your eyes on anyone?" she asked.
Charles sat down.
"Cat, I do want to get married. I would love to have a wonderful, beautiful wife and hear the little pitter patter of our children. However, Father never arranged my marriage and now that I have a choice, I do not want to choose the wrong wife." he said.
Cat rolled her eyes.
"That's romantic, however you need an heir. Do you really think Edmund wants to be the Next Duke of Suffolk?" she asked.
Edmund turned towards his brother.
"No offense brother, but I don't want to be. I just want to enjoy our wealth, find a nice beautiful wife and have a family. Until then, I want to enjoy the company of whatever mistress I choose to have." he said, with a laugh.
Margaret rolled her eyes.
"Edmund, you are a damn fool." she said.
Before he could retort, Catherine held up her hand.
"Please stop. Charles, what about Lady Mary Tudor of Somerset? She's nineteen years old, beautiful and very smart. Plus would come with a good dowry." she said.
Charles nodded.
"That would be fine, however you're forgetting one thing. She is our cousin. We would need a dispensation from the Pope." he said.
Catherine smiled.
"I've already talked to Uncle Edmund. The dispensation should arrive any day now from Rome." she said.
Charles rolled his eyes.
"Fine. We shall ride to Somerset soon, so I can meet my new bride." he said.
Catherine nodded.
"Excellent. After you are married, we will focus on Edmund and Margaret." she said.
With that, the four Brandon siblings clinked their wine glasses and each took a sip.
June 15, 1552
La Mota Palace
Medina Del Camp, Valladolid, Spain
Isabella was walking in the gardens with her two youngest children, Fernando and Catalina. Despite being seven months pregnant, she felt very well and was enjoying the nice warm air. With Fernando being seven years old and Catalina being five, they were very active. Now that Isabella was in her forties and was pregnant, she found herself becoming more tired very easily.
Suddenly, Catalina cried out:
"Papa!"
She took off running behind her mother. Isabella turned around and was nearly face to face with her husband.
Andres kissed his pregnant wife.
"Hello, darling." he said.
Isabella smiled.
"Hello, my love." she said.
Andres told the maids following Isabella to take the children inside.
Isabella looked at him.
"What is it?" She asked.
Andres sighed.
"We are at war with France. Your sister is going to be the Regent of Spain." he said.
Isabella looked at her husband, in shock.
"Regent? She's not even nineteen years old! How can she rule all of Spain?" she asked.
Andres shrugged his shoulders.
"The people love her. They aren't objecting to it at all." he said.
Isabella caressed her large stomach.
"Well, I hope I can see her. I haven't seen my sister in thirteen years. She's a woman and a mother now." she said, sadly.
Andres smiled.
"I'm sure you will see her again. I've heard that she is very kind. Maybe she'll have you welcomed at Court." he said.
Isabella smiled.
"Oh, I would love that." she said, as she rubbed her large stomach.
Andres extended his arm.
"In the meantime, let us return to the Palace. It looks like a storm is coming." he said.
Isabella grabbed him and they both walked back to the Palace.
June 20, 1552
Richmond Palace
Duke Edward of Richmond's Bedchamber
Edward was sitting at his desk, drinking heavily. He was dressed in complete black and had done nothing, but drink the weeks following his beloved wife's death. He was not dealing with Kitty's death well at all. He hadn't been to Court since before her death and he refused to look at his newborn daughter, who still had not been named.
Suddenly, there was a loud knock at his door. Edward looked up.
"Come in." he slurred.
The door opened and Edmund Tudor, Duke of Somerset, walked in. He looked at his nephew and shook his head. He was sad for see him like this.
Edward slowly stood up.
"Uncle, what brings you to Richmond? We are in mourning." he said.
Edmund nodded.
"I know that. Everyone feels your pain. Katherine was a remarkable woman and will be missed, but we all must go on. Your children need you, Edward. I came here because I knew I would find you in a similar state that I was in after my first wife Anne died." he said.
Edward sighed.
"You don't understand, Uncle. I killed my wife." he said.
Edmund raised his eyebrow at his drunk nephew.
"What are you talking about? She died in childbirth, like many women before her, including my mother." he said.
Edward nodded his head.
"Exactly. If she had never been pregnant, then she wouldn't have died the way she did. Its my fault." he said.
Edmund sighed and sat next to his nephew.
"You can't blame yourself for what happened to her. No one expected her to die the way she did. However, according to the Physician, she would have died anyway. You can't blame yourself and you can't blame that child. She is innocent. More importantly, Kitty would not have wanted you to not love that child, just because she's not here. Your children already lost their mother. Don't take their father away from them as well." he said.
Edward began to cry. He felt terrible about how he was acting and how ashamed Kitty would begin him, if she were alive. He knew he had to continue on without her somehow.
Edward stoop up and looked at his uncle.
"I'll visit the nursery tomorrow morning. I need to be alone. However, can you stop by the nursery and tell the Nurse that I have picked a name for my daughter." he said.
Edmund nodded.
"Of course. What is the name?" he asked.
Edward exhaled.
"Lady Katherine Fitzroy. " he said.
June 25, 1552
Palace of Segovia
Segovia, Spain
Princess Elizabeth of Spain's Bedchamber
Elizabeth was sitting on her bed, with tears in her eyes. She had just been informed from the English Ambassador that Kitty Howard had died in childbirth. Elizabeth had so much on her plate now. The safety of the entire Country would soon rest in her hands. She hoped the spirit of her sainted grandparents, the Catholic Monarchs, would guide her hand in the right direction.
Luis walked in and saw his wife. He could never get over how beautiful she was. However, he hated seeing her so sad.
He knelt down and kissed her.
"I'm so sorry about your friend, sweetheart. I know you cared deeply for her." he said.
Elizabeth nodded.
"I did. I'll never forget her. I'm also scared for you. I don't want you going to war. I don't know what I'll do if I lost you." she said.
Luis cupped her face in his hands.
"You won't lose me. With our numbers, those bastard will run away, like Isabel tries to run from her governess." he said, with a chuckle.
Elizabeth laughed hard.
Luis smiled.
"There's that laugh that I love so much. Don't you worry over me. I'll do my part on the battlefield and return to you." he said.
Elizabeth nodded and passionately kissed him. He responded enthusiastically.
They broke apart, gasping.
Elizabeth looked into his eyes.
"Do your part with me tonight." she said seductively.
Luis began kissing her passionately again, before lying her back on the bed and making love to her.
June 28, 1552
Ribeira Palace
Lisbon, Portugal
Infanta Catarina of Portugal's Bedchamber
Catarina had just said her nightly prayers. She loved being in this Palace. It was her favorite residence. Now fifteen years old, Catarina had blossomed into a very beautiful young woman. She was tall, curvy, busty, had a beautiful peaches and cream complexion, like her mother and aunts, had beautiful blue eyes, but her greatest beauty was her long, wavy black hair.
Suddenly, her mother walked I'm her room. Mary had finally let herself finally start to heal from her second stillbirth and was back to wearing her beautiful dresses.
Catarina smiled.
"Mamãe, I didn't know you were still awake." she said.
Mary smiled.
"I will be. I just wanted to check on you, since you just found out your future husband will be going to war." she said.
Catarina sighed.
"It's sad, but he's not my husband yet. Only God knows the outcome of this War and hopefully when it's over, I'll be his wife." she said.
Mary smiled at her daughter's maturity. She could hardly believe her daughter was nearly a woman. It was hard for her to understand.
Mary hugged her daughter.
"I'm sure you have nothing to fear. I hear Juan is strong and is a good fighter in his own way. I'm sure you will have him very soon. Don't fret, my darling." she said.
Catarina smiled.
"Thank you, Mamãe." she said.
Deep down in her soul, Catarina was praying that her mother was correct.
A/N Here's another Chapter for you guys! I can't believe I wrote this in one day lol. So, not much happened in this chapter. The Brandon siblings were introduced, because they will play key roles later on. If you have any questions, please let me know. We also see Edward dealing with his wife's death in his own way. I originally was going to have King Harry visit, but he has never lost his wife, so he wouldn't understand Edward's pain. In the next chapter, Isabella will give birth, so names and gender are welcome again. There will be a time jump happening very soon, so prepare yourselves. Any other ideas are welcome. Thank you all so much. Please Read and Review!