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Face claim for Clarice de' Medici - Synnøve Karlsen.
Chapter One Hundred & Fifteen: The Scottish Tragedy.
12th of April 1538 - St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
"It is a boy, Your Grace," James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray announced to his half-brother, a grim look on his face knowing that the sudden and early birth of the King's second legitimate son was cause for deep concern. The Queen had barely been six months into her second pregnancy when her water had broken, the entire court was in shock especially after how well her first pregnancy had gone with James, Duke of Rothesay. The boy was a bonny lad and there was no denying that he was a strong and healthy boy, the Stewart line at least secured with his birth even if his younger brother was not to live long.
"He shall be Robert, Duke of Albany," King James declared to the court, his eyes focusing on the Earl of Moray before he moved to him wanting to know how his wife was. The Queen's health was of great importance to him, he knew that her health had not been the best before they had come to Scotland; the climate taking great effect on Madeleine's constitution in recent months.
"How fairs my Queen? How is Madeleine?" James asked eager to hear of his wife, no doubt she would be upset with the early delivery of their son; there would be plenty of time for them to try again once she was recovered. James and Madeleine would have many children, he was sure of that; a house to rival that of the Tudors, they would have their own dynasty and they would have nothing to fear from the English. Margaret Tudor walked up behind her son, she had been summoned to court for the celebrations of the birth of the Duke of Rothesay; she had remained at her son's invitation once it was discovered that Madeleine was pregnant again.
"Her Grace is grieving for the boy, she prays for his health though the physician assures he is perfectly formed just small," James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray replied, avoiding looking at the Queen Dowager knowing that his own placement at court was not at her pleasure. Like many of his siblings, he had been born out of wedlock to the late king and had been born before their father's marriage to the English Tudor Princess.
"God willing, Her Grace will recover," Margaret stated crossing herself, she would keep Madeleine in her prayers and she knew that this time would not be easy for Madeleine having suffered it herself. James was her only living child from her marriage to his father, his brothers and sisters had died in their infanthood; she recalled how hard things had been during such times, how devastated at each loss wondering if God was punishing her.
Her second marriage had only seen the birth of her daughter, Margaret Douglas who was now Duchess of Calais who had a son of her own now and from what Margaret had heard was betrothed to one of the Boleyn girls, Filiberta if she recalled correctly. It was a disappointing match on the father's side if Margaret was honest with herself, she didn't care what titles and rewards King Henry heaped on his in-laws; the only advantage the girl had was that her mother was probably the most well connected woman in Christendom. A match that would have been more suited perhaps to a King, than a low gentlemen such as George Boleyn despite his promising courtly career when he married Clarice de' Medici.
"I shall attend to the Queen with your blessing, I am sure she would appreciate my companionship," Margaret told her son, she swept into an elegant curtsy before she made her way out of the hall and headed towards Madeleine's chambers. Margaret couldn't help but think of her own time as Queen, how different her life had been to where she was now; at least King James would have never shamed her by hiding his mistress in one of her homes.
Her son was reluctant to allow his mother to seek another divorce, stating that the last thing he needed right now was negative light being cast down upon his family because of her actions. Margaret had even written to her brother, hoping that he might be of some sort of assistance; however, Henry was far too focused on his own issues as he moved to secured the succession further in the name of his children with Queen Anne, especially if the rumour regarding another pregnancy proved to be true.
19th of April 1538 - Richmond Palace
Seated with Princess Beatrice, the Duchess of Bedford focused on the writing before her as she helped teach the young girl how to read and write in French. Queen Anne had asked Clarice to take over the teaching of the young princesses when it came to the language; one that both Anne and Clarice spoke with ease.
Beatrice would need a more cemented education in french, for she was to one day be the wife of Prince Aubert, Duke of Anjou; she would live in the french court and it was important to Anne that she fit in. Letters had slowly started to be exchanged between the two children, most written by their attendants and teachers; though one day the two would be expected to write to each other on their own accord.
Anne watched as Clarice worked with Beatrice, there was no one better in her mind to train her daughter about the ways of French court if she could not do it herself. Princess Elizabeth was being taught many languages, her main focus was Swedish to better communicate with her own future husband; although it was hard to ignore her progress in French and Italian either.
Alexander like his sisters also seemed to enjoy his language lessons, already writing his own letters to Anne of Denmark as plans were slowly put into place for the day that the young Danish princess would travel to England for the wedding. The Boleyns were also preparing for the marriage of Mary's eldest daughter, Catherine Carey who would be wed to Sir Francis Knollys.
The marriage would not take place for another two years, Francis being given to him the favour that he had shown to his father, and secured to him in fee the estate of Rotherfield Greys. He had also been granted the position of gentlemen-pensioners at court, securing himself in the favour of King Henry; he would be able to support Catherine when they were wed and he was in great favour with the Boleyns. Concluding her lesson, Clarice stood from the table where she had been working with Beatrice and she made her way across the room to where Anne was lost in thought.
"Is everything well sister?" Clarice asked knowing that her own letters from Italy often made her lost in thought, she longed to see Florence again even if she wasn't sure that she would ever return to the home of the Medici. Ippolito and Mary had three children Lucrezia, Giuliano and Henri and Clarice was more than aware of her brothers plans to send his youngest son Henri to England in a few years' time to be raised by his sister and her husband so that he could one day assume Ippolito and Mary's English titles.
"Troubling news from Scotland, it seems Prince Robert's health has taken a worrying turn, they do not expect him to live long," Anne noted to her sister-in-law, a deep frown on her face knowing that she could not imagine what Madeleine was going through right now. It seemed unavoidable when the boy had been born, reportedly months too early from what Anne had heard but losing a child was not something that she would wish on her own worst enemy. Clarice shook her head, she could not imagine how Madeleine was feeling, such a loss would be a devastating blow to the girl that had once been such a joyful soul.
"Poor Madeleine. I shall send her my well wishes and my condolences," Clarice murmured, she would write to her cousin that evening; wanting her to know that she wasn't alone, that she did have family close by if needed. Madeline was family, even if Clarice had not seen her in a few years; she would not allow her to suffer alone when she needed someone, who might be a friendly face during this time.
Anne looked over at her daughters, knowing that she would not wish this pain on either of them; she did not know what the future would hold for Elizabeth or Beatrice but she prayed that all would be well. Aubert and Eric were lucky men to be married to her daughters, they would be the best educated women in all of Christendom with the Boleyn girls coming in a close second.
"They have Prince James, hopefully the Duke of Rothesay will prove a hearty babe," Anne noted, knowing that the heir to the Scottish throne was only seven months older than his brother. There would be time for them to try again, Madeleine was still young and James would be a much more understanding husband than Henry would be about the loss of a child.
23rd of April 1538 - St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
After eight days of life, Prince Robert Duke of Albany had passed away. He had steeply declined despite the initial hope that he would survive, the doctors had done all they could for the boy but he had been to weak and small to survive in the end. Not even a day later, Prince James Duke of Rothesay passed only seven months old, despite the fact that he had been a strong boy; it had been sudden and the doctors had no explanation for what had happened to him.
Madeline had screamed when the news had been brought to her, her two sons lost to her within hours of each other; she had collapsed, the doctors rushing to aid the Queen as she wailed for her sons. James had faired no better when the news had been brought to him, he had trashed the office that he had been in; guards sharing nervous looks as they listened to the commotion inside.
Margaret had done her best to offer comfort to the couple, the sudden loss of both sons and heirs rocking not just the court but the realm. Madeleine lay in bed, staring lifelessly at the wall as she ignored the whispers of her ladies; she cared not what they thought nor what they had to say, tears trailing down her face as she wondered why God had taken her boys from her.
James and Robert had been her boys, heirs to their father's throne and securing the Scottish line for years to come; all that had been destroyed in a matter of hours. Madeleine felt like she had failed James, that something must be wrong with her for this to happen to their sons; her health had never been the best and she knew that there had never been strong hopes that she would have children of her own.
The doors to her chamber opened and her ladies swept into curtsies as they welcomed King James, he dismissed his men and made his way over to Madeleine. His face filled with grief and he cared not that others said that he should not come to her, but he had found that he could not stay away; James wanted to be with his wife during this time of grief.
"Madeleine," James murmured moving around the bed to stand in front of his wife, he stared at the devastation on her face and he felt his heart break even more wishing that he could take away her pain. The doctors had advised when Robert was born that they wait several months to try again, they weren't sure that the Queen's constitution would allow her to give him another child nor did James care.
"I'm sorry," Madeleine whispered, her voice broken and rough from all the screaming that she had done when she had been told that her sons were dead; she had failed as a wife and as a queen to do her one duty to James and the realm. James shook his head, dropping down to take her hands in his own and wipe away her tears; he whispered sweet nothings to his wife, wishing only for her to share her grief with him.
"It is not your fault my love, I would rather have you than a hundred children," James vowed to her, there were cousins and others that could be groomed to take the throne if he did not produce an heir. He would nominate someone if that meant that he got to spend the rest of his life with Madeleine at his side, she was the sun and he longed to bask in her light for as long as God allowed him to do so.
Madeleine stared at James, wondering how he could be so kind when it was her fault that their sons had died; that they had been called to God before they had even lived their lives. Throwing her arms around James, Madeline buried her head into his neck as the tears started to form; he held her and they both wept for the sons that they had lost, the lives that they would never live.
The room was silent as the royal couple grieved their losses, the entire court would mourn with them and it would be many months before they would recover from such a devastating series of losses. Madeleine vowed that James and Robert would not be their only children, she did not care what the doctors said; she would find a way to give James, the heir that he deserved and would rule Scotland when they were both gone.
She knew that her husband would not endanger her life for an heir, she wanted to do her duty even against the strict instructions of the doctors. Madeleine was content to wait, allow herself to grieve and recover before she would again attempt to give James an heir that he could be proud of.
I recommend Bed of Deceit by BellalunaMcKenzie, For Even as Love Crowns You by wizardfantasy and Sanctuary by Cattyfan. Also check out My Lord Husband, The Enemy by Esme24, That Subtle Wreath by EvilFluffyBiteyThing and its sequel, A Progress in Kent.
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