Festina Lente

Chapter Seventy: Christina of Denmark

20th of January 1535 - Milan, Italy

Allowing her maids to prepare her for bed, Christina of Denmark, the Duchess of Milan could not help but admire her chambers that had been gifted to her by her husband. 

It had only been a few short months since she had come to Milan, Christina had never imagined that this was how her life would work out after her father had been removed from his throne.

Nobles had rebelled against her father and offered the throne to his uncle, Duke Frederick of Holstein forcing the entire family into exile. 

Even the fact that her mother was the sister of the Holy Roman Emperor had done little to secure her father in his position which had left Christina and her siblings in a rather uncertain situation.

Instead of finding herself married off to a prince which would have suited her station as a Princess of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden; she instead found herself wed to a man old enough to be her father while she was only thirteen. 

Not that she could complain, the Duke had been nothing but kind to her since she had arrived and Christina had been treated lavishly by the people who welcomed her as their new Duchess. 

Francesco might not have been what Christina would have chosen for herself but she was contented to be his wife, she would play her part and secure her husband's position when the time was right.

Staring at herself in the mirror, Christina tried to push past the unfortunate memories of the past; she was sure that the usurper would be put down one day and her father restored to his rightful place. 

Having been raised by grandaunt and aunt, Margaret of Austria, and Mary of Hungary, she could not truly remember her mother who had died several years earlier.

Her dark locks were freed from their confinement atop her head and Christina pursed her lips as she eyed the ladies that were in her service that had been gifted to her by her husband. 

Though she did not doubt for a moment that there were spies set upon her that reported her every move, her letters to her father checked and she was treated with suspicion especially now that there was a new king on Denmark's throne.

King Christian III had not long succeed to the throne after the death of his father, King Frederick and Christina could not help but feel amused by the man who shared her father's name. 

He already faced rebellion from those who wished to see her father restored to his rightful place, rather than imprisoned as he had been in recent years.

The doors to her chamber swung open causing a loud crash when the door hit the wall, the sudden intrusion snapping Christina from her thoughts and she turned to glare at whoever had disturbed her peace. 

Seeing the frantic expression on the maid's face, made her pause and Christina was almost convinced that the lady might just keel over as she looked pale in the face and her eyes wide.

"What is it?" Christina demanded, waving the ladies that were attending to her away and she moved to stand from her vanity where she had been preparing for bed. 

She could not imagine why someone would disturb her in such a way considering the late hour, perhaps her lord husband had drunk too much and requested her presence. 

Such a thing would be refused, of course, she was not of age to warm his bed and she was certain any number of whores would do the job until such a time that she could do it.

"There is an army approaching my lady," the maid announced causing whispers to fill the room, the news was quickly filling the villa that Christina called home and there was no denying what was about to happen.