Festina Lente

Chapter Forty-One: The Scottish Queen

15th of July 1533 - Richmond Palace

Holding her head high as she climbed out of her carriage, Margaret Tudor stared up at the Palace where she had spent her childhood; it had been many years since she had been here and so much had happened since she had last been here. 

It had never crossed her mind that she would have to return for the funeral of one of her siblings, especially not when things had been going so well. 

The news that her brother had remarried and welcomed a son was pleasing, she had been horrified when she had learned of Katherine's actions considering the two women had been close when they would both been at English court. 

Margaret smoothed her black dress, she was dressed in mourning for her sister and she had come back to England to attend her funeral knowing that now only she and Henry remained. 

After many years in Scotland, Margaret was surprised to see how much had changed for the court; it felt different to the court that she had left behind and her father had ruled over. 

Making her way inside, Margaret could not help but think about growing up here; she could almost hear her parents laughing and see their smiling faces while she and her siblings played. 

The herald announced her arrival and Margaret knew that her time in England would be spent ensuring peace between her and her brother's kingdoms; she did not want her son's position threatened by her brother. 

Making her way through the court towards the dais, Margaret recognised few in attendance and took notice that many that were here would be supporters of the Queen. 

She had not meet the new wife and Margaret had almost been amused from the pious warnings of her brother that marriage was divinely ordained and his protests against the shameless sentence sent from Rome. 

At the time he had himself had been trying to rid himself of Katherine, who had later been proven to be a traitor to the throne that she had once held.

"Brother," Margaret greeted stiffly, she had always been closer to Arthur than she had been with Henry just as he had always been closer to Mary; she could see how devastated he was at her loss. 

She remembered how she had felt when they had buried Arthur, she had cried for what felt like days and she had been so angry that God had taken her brother from her; it should be him sitting on the throne. 

"Sister," Henry replied softly, the years had been kind to her it seemed and he was surprised that she had come back for the funeral; he had expected her to stay in Scotland instead of making the trip to London for the funeral. 

"Allow me to introduce my wife, Queen Anne," Henry continued turning to his wife and pressing a kiss to her hand, her pregnant belly on display and Margaret was not sure how to feel about seeing this woman. 

Despite the fact that Henry was free to marry whoever he wished, there was something about the fact that he had gone on to marry his former mistress that unsettled her. 

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty," Anne greeted softly with respect, her dark eyes taking in the woman that was now her sister by marriage; she wanted nothing more than for this to go well. 

Margaret was the only family that her husband had left, his parents were gone and she had never known Arthur while Mary had been rather distant siding most likely Katherine during everything. 

The last thing Anne wished was to get off on a bad foot with Margaret, despite the fact that they had never got along she was sure that Henry was relieved that his sister was here at this time.