Chapter 35
A/N I hope you all like the last chapter, despite on how short it was. This chapter will be a little longer, so please bear with me. I know that many people are confused, because there are several people who appear in the story that some of you may not understand of why they are in it or may not know who they are. If you need help, Please inbox me and I will give you the link to the family tree that is up for my stories. Please Read and Review and enjoy Chapter 35!
January 22, 1554
La Mota Palace, Valladolid, Castile, Spain
Princess Isabella, Dowager Marquesa de Moya's Bedchamber
Isabella was laying in her bed, motionless. She had stayed to herself, ever since her husband's death. She was still dressed in all black and she Continued to weep at night, but she managed to compose herself in public. She didn't want to lose custody of her children ad she knew that just one outburst would cost her the only reasons she had to wake up every morning.
Suddenly, there was a knock at her door.
Isabella looked up.
"Enter." she said
One of her maids walked in.
"Senora, I am sorry to disturb you, but there is a messenger here from Portugal. He says it is urgent." she said.
Isabella sighed. She rose from her bed and proceeded to walk down the stairs, until she came to the sitting room of her late husband's estate, which now belonged to her nine year old son, Fernando.
She finally came face to face with her former brother-in-law, Lord Jorge de Lencastre, the Duke of Coimbra and the husband of Infanta Isabel of Portugal, the youngest full blodded sister of two of Isabella's late husbands.
He bowed to her.
"My Lady." he said.
Isabella ignored his kind gesture.
"How may I help, Lord Lencastre?" she said.
Jorge cleared his throat.
"First, your sister, The Queen of Portugal, sends her condolences at the death of your husband." he said.
Isabella nodded her head.
"Yes, even though my husband died four months ago.' she said, under her breath.
Jorge ignored her.
"Also, your daughter, Lady Maria, is nearly fourteen years old. King Carlos believes that she should reside with his two younger daughters and be under the care of the Queen, until she reaches the agreed age in which she will marry infant Duarte." he said.
Isabella had a horrified look on her face.
"After all that I have endured, your King now wants to take my child from me? I will not allow it." she said.
Jorge cleared his throat.
"My lady, there was an agreement..."
Isabella turned, in anger.
"EXACTLY! THE AGREEMENT WAS THAT MY DAUHGTER WILL MARRY THE INFANTE IN TWO YEARS TIME! SHE IS ONLY FOURTEEN, NOT SIXTEEN! I HAVE JUST LOST MY FOURTH HUSBAND, DO YOU THINK I AM GOING TO HAND OVER MY ELDEST DAUGHTER TO A KING AND QUEEN, WHO DIDN'T HAVE THE DECENCY TO VISIST ME, AFTER MY LOSS?!" she screamed at him.
Jorge sighed.
"My Lady, you have to calm down..."
Isabella picked up a dish and threw it against the wall and screamed.
"MARIA IS STAYING WITH ME! YOU CAN LEAVE!" she said.
Jorge glared at her.
"If you do not consent, I will be forced to go to Princess Elizabeth, the Regent of Spain and tell her of your behavior and make you give Lady Maria to me." he said.
Isabella walked up to him and glared.
"Your threats do not scare, Duke. Leave my home." she said, as she turned and walked back upstairs.
Jorge glared at her. Because Isabella was a Dowager Queen of his homeland, decorum demanded that he show her the upmost respect. However, he still thought that she was a madwoman.
January 23, 1554
Schwanenburg Castle
Cleves, Nort Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Duchess Christina of Cleve's Bedchamber
Christina was sitting in one of her favorite chairs, reading a letter from her sister, Dorothea, Queen Consort of Poland. Christina felt really bad for her older sister. Dorothea had married to the Polish King, Sigismund for fourteen years and she had given him seven children, but six of them were girls and the only son she managed to have was stillborn. Christina was now the mother of two sons and was due to give birth to her fifth child any day now.
Suddenly, her husband, Duke William walked in and smiled at his pregnant wife.
"Sweetheart, are you feeling content?" he asked.
Christina sighed.
"I feel large. I can't wait to give birth." she said.
William looked at her letter.
"What's that?" he asked.
Christina sat the letter down.
"My sister. However, there has been something else on my mind lately." she said.
William sat down next to her.
"Talk to me, darling." he said.
Christina sighed.
"It's my father. He is aging and I haven't seen him since I departed from Spain to marry you. I have only had a few letters from him. Sometimes I feel like he doesn't love me." she said, with tears in her eyes.
William held her hand. When Christina's father, King Christian of Denmark, was overthrown, his wife, Queen Isabella , convinced him to travel to Castile under the protection of her mother, Queen Juana. After her death, King Christian retired to a monastery in Madrid and his three children were put under the custody of their maternal aunt, Mary of Hapbsburg, Dowager Queen Of Hungary and Bohemia, after her return to Spain.
William smiled at his wife.
"Maybe you can travel to Spain to visit him soon, after our baby is born." he said.
Christina shook her head.
"No. Because Spain is at war with France over Navarre, Grandmother Juana has told me to stay in Germany and my father is to old to travel this far." she said.
Before she could say another word, she felt a sharp pain rip through her abdomen and she fell to her knees out of her chair, screaming in pain.
William grabbed his wife and looked toward the door.
"SOMEONE GET THE PHYSICIAN! IMMEDIATELY!" he screamed.
Seven hours later...
Christina sat propped up in her bed, holding her newborn son. She was caressing his little face, as he cooed and slept soundly in her arms. Her labor was difficult, but short. Her new son, who was named Heinrich by his father, was a healthy boy and had a film of light brown hair.
William walked in and smiled at his wife and new son. Although it was an arranged marriage, he deeply loved Christina and the fact that she also managed to give him three healthy sons made it even more easy to love her.
He walked up to her and kissed her forehead.
"I love you, sweetheart. Please give little Heinrich to his governess and get some rest." he said, gently.
Christina handed her newborn son to his new governess and settled into a deep and comfortable sleep.
January 28, 1554
Palacio Belmonte, Lisbon, Portugal
Queen Maria of Portugal's Bedchamber
Mary was reading, while having a few tears fall down her face. She greatly missed her daughter, who had just gotten married. Due to her age, she was sure she would never have anymore children and she was watching her children be married off now.
Suddenly, there was knock at her door.
Mary looked up.
"Come in." she said.
The door opened and Infante Duarte and his two younger sisters walked in.
Mary smiled at her remaining children. Little Infanta Cristina was holding a bouquet of flowers for her mother.
Mary stood up and walked over to her children.
"What is all this?" she asked.
Duarte smiled at his mother.
"Mamae, you have been sad as of late, ever since Catarina left and my sisters and I thought that you needed a bit of happiness in your day." he said.
Little Cristina handed the flowers to her mother.
Mary smiled and kissed her youngest child.
"Thank you so much, my beautiful angels. It is true that your sisters departure has hurt me, but I promise that my happiness is returning again." she said, as she smelled her flowers.
Suddenly, King Carlos stepped in the room, with his own bouquet of flowers.
He smiled.
"I see that our children have beat me to make you happy." he said.
Infanta Cristina hugged her father around his waist.
"Papa!" the little four year old said.
Carlos picked his youngest daughter up and kissed her cheek.
"My precious girl." he said.
Infanta Juana walked up to her father. Now at eleven years old, she was behaving more like a Princess and would not rush into her father's arms, like her younger sister.
"My Lord." she said, as she bowed deeply to her father.
Mary smiled.
"Juana, he is your father behind closed doors." she said, as she put her arm on her middle child's shoulder.
Duarte put his arm on his younger sister's shoulder as well.
"Juana, you don't need to fear our father. He loves us." he said.
The timid adolescent girl blushed a deep red.
"Forgive me." she said.
Carlos smiled.
"My dear girl, you don't have to be sorry. I know in your lessons you are taught to respect the King, but I want you to also know that I am your Father and I love you very dearly." he said.
Juana smiled and hugged her father.
"I promise I will...Father." she said.
Mary smiled at her family. Although Catarina as away in Spain, Mary was proud of the family that God had blessed her with, even if it never grew again.
February 5, 1554
Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland
The Royal Council Room
Prince Arthur, Duke of Albany opened the door to the council chambers with a solemn expression on his face. He stepped inside and waited patiently for his mother, Dowager Queen Margaret, to address him. He glanced around the room at the familiar faces of his brothers, cousins, and a few of the church clergy. He loved his homeland for many reasons, but one stood out right now; the fact that the Queen's council was made up of mostly family and members of the church who could be trusted. His eyes reached the other end of the table across from his mother and he smiled slightly at the eleven-year-old girl sitting in the highbacked chair; his niece, Mary, who was also his Queen. Mary who was looking around the room as well, saw him and smiled.
"Prince Arthur has come to council," Mary said, addressing the meeting. She was so young, but Margaret insisted that she attend these meetings now as Queen, though her voice made little difference. She was too young to rule on her own, and Margaret had been appointed Regent for Mary after her father had died when she was just an infant. Every head in the room turned towards him. He looked at his mother, waiting for the reprimand that was coming.
"Your Majesty," Prince Arthur bowed to his niece, and again to his mother.
"Arthur," Margaret began, "you are late."
"Yes, your Majesty. I had an important matter to attend to, as will come to light when I read the letter I hold in my hand," Prince Arthur replied.
Margaret looked at the paper her son held, and she knew it could only be unwelcome news; the worst, more than likely. "Who is it?"
Instead of taking his seat at the table, Arthur went and stood by his mother. Margaret knew that meant it was one of her family members abroad, but what she couldn't guess was who. Her brother Edmund was likely, as they were the only two of their siblings that remained alive.
"With your Majesty's permission?" Arthur asked, looking at his niece. Though she was eleven, Margaret insisted that little matters of state be granted to her as Queen, usually things that made no difference in the day-to-day running of Scotland's business. Margaret firmly believed that things like this would prepare her for speaking in a room of men much older than she was, and it would help her gain the confidence to rule both Scotland and England at such time that she no longer needed a regent.
"Of course, your Grace," Mary replied and straightened herself in her chair to listen to what he read.
"To her honorable Majesty, Queen Mary of Scotland, Madam, I send you greetings from Saxony and hope this letter finds you in the best of health. It is with great sadness that I must write and inform you, and your court, that our beloved Lord has called your Aunt, my wife, Princess Elisabeth, Electress of Saxony to his side, when he spared her the agony of suffering long through the influenza epidemic now sweeping through the countryside. The event occurred on the second of February in the year of our Lord 1554. Her Grace is to be granted burial in the chapel here, and will be attended with the proper burial arrangements of Saxon tradition on the sixteenth day of this month. Should you, or your representative wish to attend, arrangements will be made for your entourage via a return letter. Our messenger has orders to wait such a letter from your Majesty or your council. Our children send you much love and assure you all that they are well, though heartbroken at the loss of their mother. With all Respect and Love, Your Uncle, Johann Frederick I, Elector of Saxony."
When Arthur had finished reading the letter, there was not a dry eye in the council room, despite the fact that there were only two women present. Princess Elisabeth was loved by many before her marriage and her brothers had all doted on her and the late Princess Christianna and Princess Sophie, now the Duchess of Guise. Arthur looked from Mary to his mother, who was clutching his hand tightly, as though she might faint if he were to let go. He couldn't blame her. She had lost Christianna in childbirth many years ago, after her marriage to the Swedish King, Gustav. Their son, Margaret's grandson, had been stillborn and there were many complications that had arisen. Margaret lost Prince James the following year, at the age of thirteen, and his father, King James V, was devastated. The boy's mother had died five years previously, and Prince James was their only surviving child. James had not thought to remarry because he had his heir in little Jamie, but Jamie's passing changed that. Margaret lost King James, her eldest son, only four years later, after his marriage to Marie de Guise and just days after the birth of the current Queen Mary. Now her eldest daughter was gone as well.
Margaret's three remaining sons, Prince Arthur, Duke of Albany; Prince Joseph, Duke of Ross; and Prince Victor, Duke of Montrose, looked at each other solemnly, as if silently trying to ask each other the question of which of them should attend their sister's funeral as the family representative. It was an unspoken fact that Margaret's chief chaplain would attend, as well as two other members of the church who were closest to the crown. There was no doubt about that. But which of the Princes would be going remained to be seen. It was their eleven-year-old Queen who spoke first, before the question could be asked.
"Prince Arthur, you will attend the funeral of her Grace, Princess Elisabeth, Electress of Saxony. You will be accompanied by His Grace, Lord Duncan," Mary said, nodding toward her cousin, "and Prince Victor's son, Lord Collin. As the eldest surviving sibling of my father, the Late King James V, it is only proper that you attend as our representative, and you will relay a letter from myself and the Dowager Queen to Lord Wettin, my Uncle, in his bereavement, from the Crown and our family."
"With all due respect, Your Majesty, you are still in your minority and I don't think . . ." Prince Arthur began, bowing to his Queen.
"What you think," Dowager Queen Margaret said, after gathering her thoughts and composing herself, "does not matter in this situation, Arthur. Your Queen has spoken and given her reasoning, and regardless of the fact that I personally agree with her choices in this matter, this is not a matter of state as much as a matter of family. This decision won't affect Scotland's well-being as I know that you will do your duty to family, as a Prince of this realm, without question. With that being said, as regent, I support the Queen's decision and she WILL be obeyed in this matter. IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?" Margaret looked around the table, daring someone to speak against her, and young Mary followed suit, to which Margaret had to stifle a smile. She was proud of the courage her granddaughter showed and the fact that Mary was indeed learning to rule through examples like these.
"Yes, your Majesty," was heard from every member of the council, followed by their apologies to Queen Mary.
Margaret nodded to Mary, and although hesitant, Mary straightened herself once again and ordered, "Make the necessary arrangements, Prince Arthur. You and your party will leave at first light. Now, if you will excuse us, the Dowager Queen and I will take our leave of you to write the necessary letters to Lord Wettin and his children." Mary rose from her chair and went to take her grandmother's hand.
"This meeting is adjourned," the young Queen said, and with a nod from the Dowager Queen, the council of Scotland rose to its feet and bowed to the two ladies as they exited the room, hand in hand.
February 8, 1554
Sada Palace, Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain
Infante Juan, Duke of Franco's Bedchamber
Juan awaoke from a peaceful slumber and looked next to him to see the beautiful sleeping form of his wife. A few days after their wedding, Juan decided to move to his inherited Palace in Aragon, which was also the same palace where his great-grandfather, Ferdinand of Aragon, was born. He also loved the weather in Aragon better. Sada Palace was his home and he loved that Catarina had taken it upon herself to make it more homely for the both of them. He had to admit that she had perfect taste.
Suddenly, Catarina opened her beautiful blue eyes and blushed at the sight of her husband, who was still nude from their lovemaking from the night before.
Juan smiled at her.
"Good morning, sweetheart." he said.
Catarina smiled.
"Good morning. I think we should rise and get the day started. I have so much to do today." she said.
Juan laughed.
"What do you have to do today, besides make your husband smile at your radiant beauty?" he asked.
Catarina caressed his cheek.
"The tapestries I ordered have finally arrived. I have to instruct the servants on where to hang them and there are still rooms here that need tending to. Although, I cant deny I love the thought of laying here with you all day." she said
Juan pouted.
"Then do it. We have servants to tend to the household duties." he said.
Catarina kissed him.
"A good Duchess doesn't place herself above her servants. She walks beside them." she said.
Juan smiled. He had learned that Catarina was a very modest and humble young woman. While she did have a love of expensive thing, she also loved to gift their new servants with fine food and clothes that she no longer wore. Catarina was gaining a reputation as being a generous and kind woman, even though she was not yet seventeen years old.
Juan caressed his wife's loving face.
"I love what you have done here. You have made it a home. Hopefully soon we will have little ones causing mischief here." he said.
Catarina blushed.
"You do want children?" she asked.
Juan nodded his head.
"Of course. Do you not want wish to bear my children?" he asked.
Catarina nodded her head.
"I would love to. It is just...I have seen my mother suffer losses. It is a great fear within myself that I will have the same record as her or even worse." she said.
Juan took her hand in his.
'Beloved Catarina, I know that your mother has lost children. We will welcome whatever God will give us. I am not like most men, sweetheart. I know that women can be in charge. I grew up watching my mother and grandmother rule Spain, in my father's absence when he ruled the Empire. If my Dukedom passed to our daughter, I would not be saddened or disappointed. I would go before the eyes of our Lord God and thank him for his many blessings to our marriage. Our wealth, our happiness and our children, whether they be sons or daughters." he said.
With that Catarina had tears in her eyes and passionately kissed him. Juan returned the kiss and climbed on op of her and began to passionately male love to her.
February 11, 1554
Hampton Court
Queen Anne of England's Bedchamber
Anne sat near her window, as she drank her tonic. It did seem to ease the pains within her, but she was finding it very difficult to hide. Her physician said to give the tonics some time, before her illness was to disappear. However, she had great reason to be happy. Her children were coming to visit Court today. She was doing everything she could to heal herself.
Suddenly, There was a knock at her door. Anne downed her tonic and stood up.
"Enter." she said.
The door opened and five of her six children walked into her room. They smiled at their mother.
Anne smiled back.
"My beloved children. Welcome home. I pray that your journey was at ease." she said.
William smiled at his mother.
"It was, My Lady Mother. We all met halfway. I was delighted to see my brothers and sisters again." he said.
Anne looked at her son, Edward. He was fully well, after being nearly killed the previous year. He had spent most of the year, recovering and spending his time with his younger brother and sisters and the clerics that he kept around him.
Anne walked up to her second son.
"My dear boy, are you well? You have had a very rough year." she said.
Edward nodded his head.
"God has been with me, Mother. I am healed. Although, I pray daily for the late Marquess of Dorset and my beloved cousins.' he said.
Anne felt a slight pain in her stomach. She decided to ignore it, so she would not alarm her children.
She then turned to her youngest son, Prince Owen. Although he was now fourteen years old, everyone knew that he greatly loved his mother.
"My precious Owen, are you well, my dear boy?" she asked.
Owen nodded his head.
"I am well, Mother." he said, as he hugged his mother.
Anne then turned to her middle daughter, Princess Eleanor. Now aged eleven years old, she was becoming a young woman now. Her hair was now dark auburn and was becoming very beautiful. She and Owen were also learning to speak Italian, since they were both betrothed to Naples.
Anne smiled at her.
"My sweet Eleanor. I have missed you very much. Are you well? How are your Italian lessons going?" she asked.
Eleanor smiled.
"They are well, Mother. My tutor says that I speak Italian, as if I were an Italian woman born." she proudly said.
Anne laughed, despite the fact it hurt her stomach.
"You make your Father and I proud of you. You are such a bright girl." she said.
Finally, Anne turned towards little Princess Margaret, now four years old. The youngest Princess was accompanied by her governess and was sad that she couldn't rush into her mother's arms. While Anne normally welcomed such embraces, she knew that she did not have the strength to pick up her youngest child and was grateful that her child didn't rush to her. However, she could not stand to see the saddened look on her child's angelic face.
Anne, summoning what strength she could, knelt down and opened her arms.
"Come to Mama, Maggie." she said.
Princess Margaret smiled and walked to her mother and hugged her, tightly.
"I missed you, Mama." she said.
Anne kissed her daughter's cheek.
"I missed you more, darling." she said.
William kept looking at his mother. It was something that was different with her. He couldn't put his finger on it, but she was different.
February 15, 1554
Alcazar of Segovia, Segovia, Castile, Spain
Infanta Elizabeth, Regent of Spain and Princess of Asturias Private Chambers
Elizabeth was reading her Bible, while watching her daughter, little Isabel, play. She smiled as her child played. Elizabeth loved her daughter and her duties. The war with France was exhausting and she greatly missed Luis. In his absence, she had overseen two weddings, but she greatly missed his embrace. It also pained her that her daughter was growing up as an only child. She was nearing her twenty-first year in life and was praying that the war would end soon, so she could fill up the Spanish nursery once more.
Suddenly, there was a knock at her door.
Elizabeth placed her Bible aside.
"Enter." she said.
Lady Sancha Guerra stepped in.
"Forgive me, My Lady. But Lord Jorge Lencastre is here to see you. He says it is urgent. He has waited weeks to see you." she said.
Elizabeth nodded.
"Send him in immediately." she said.
Lord Jorge stepped in and bowed to Elizabeth
"My Lady, The Regent of all of Spain, I bow before you." he said.
Elizabeth bowed.
"Rise, my Lord Duke of Coimbra. Please tell me of your situations." she said.
Jorge cleared his throat.
"It is in regards to your sister, the Dowager Queen of Portugal, Lady Isabella." he said.
Elizabeth held her hand up to stop him from going any further.
"Lady Sancha, please take Infanta Isabel to the Nursery. She need not be privy to this conversation." she said.
Sancha nodded and smiled at the three year old Soanish Princess.
"Come, Isabel. We must go." she said.
Little Isabel stood up and followed Sancha out of the room.
Elizabeth looked at Jorge.
"You must forgive me. I do not like to discuss these type of affairs around my child." she said.
Jorge nodded.
"I understand. I have several little ones of my own back in Portugal." he said.
Elizabeth smiled.
"Thank you for understanding, now what is wrong with my sister?" she asked.
Jorge sighed.
"She was very difficult with me several weeks ago. I was sent here to collect her daughter, Lady Maria, to return her to Portugal for her marriage to your nephew, Infante Duarte. However, she was very brutal to me. I am not sure if it is grief or if she is truly..."
Elizabeth turned toward him.
"Mad?" she finished.
Jorge slowly nodded his head.
Elizabeth sighed.
"You are an ally of my sister, the Queen of Portugal, so I know I can trust you. Yes, our sister tends to lose her reasoning and has the world's most terrible outbursts. Why is Lady Maria being summoned to Portugal this early? She is barely fourteen years old." she asked.
Jorge cleared his throat
"King Carlos thinks it is best if Lady Maria lives with his daughters under the care of your sister, The Queen, until she is to be wed to the Infante. However, the Dowager Queen refuses to hand her over." he said.
Elizabeth sighed.
"I will have rooms made for you, until Lady Maria is handed over to you. Please go to the kitchens and tell the servants to prepare you a meal." she said.
Jorge bowed and left Elizabeth's sight. She sat down and placed her head in her hand, as she sat down on her seat.
Lady Sancha walked in and looked at Elizabeth.
"Are you alright, my dear Lady?" she asked.
Elizabeth sighed.
"Sancha, do you have sisters?" she asked.
Sancha nodded her head.
"Yes. my older sister is the Grand Duchess of Tuscany, my younger sister is still a child at home with my mother. I also have two sisters who are both with God." she said.
Elizabeth nodded her head.
'Have they ever troubled you?" she asked.
Sancha shook her head.
"Never. I love them dearly." she said.
Elizabeth nodded.
"That is good. However, I hate what one of my sisters has become. I have to shield her from the world, for the sake of my daughter and future children." she said.
Sancha walked up to Elizabeth.
"Forgive my words, My Lady. But my mother told me all about your sister. She didn't like her because of the turmoil she caused my uncle, King Carlos,when she was in a pretend marriage with my late uncle, King Diego." she said.
Elizabeth nodded her head.
"Sancha, when you become a mother, you will find yourself doing things, for the sake of your children. When Infante Juan returns from Aragon, I will ride to Valladolid to see my sister. Please have everything prepared for my journey. It should be in a few days." she said.
Sancha nodded and left Elizabeth alone in her rooms.
A/N I decided to give you all another chapter and I hope you all enjoy it! I hope you all enjoy it. In the Next Chapter, there will be another wedding, two sisters who battle and a high born woman finds love in the most unexpected place that will have her homeland talking for years. Please Read and Review and Chapter 36 will be up very soon!