The Tudor Rose: A New Age

Chapter 13

After a few weeks of the birth of Catherine, Elizabeth and James decided it was time for them to go England where they could introduce their daughter to Elizabeth's family. As for the introduction between Nicholas and his little sister, it went smoothly than the couple thought it would. Nicholas was content with the idea of having a little sister and made a vow that he would always protect her. The small family of four, along with the couple's ladies-in-waiting and valets and guards in separate carriages, sat in their carriage as they road to the Hampton Palace. Elizabeth held a bright smile on her face as she held her baby girl in her arms, who was asleep after her feeding, and looked out of the window. She couldn't express how delighted she was to be back in England. She was excited to see her family, although she couldn't say that about meeting her father's wife. Mary had told her how stuck up and snobby the young Queen was and how she tried to decrease Mary's household for not wanting to be friends with her. James smiled at his wife and said to her, with his arm around Nicholas' shoulders, "Are you excited to be back in England, my love?" Elizabeth smiled back at James and replied, "You have no idea, dear. It's about time for this little girl to meet my side of the family. I only hope that Mary and Papa are alright with the name I chose." James chuckled and said, "They'll be fine, Elizabeth. You wrote Mary a letter about Katie's birth. In her letter, she was more than delighted that her niece was named after your mother. You have no need to worry, darling." After what seemed an eternity, the small family arrived at Hampton Palace where they were greeted by the court and the rest of the royal family who stood outside of the palace to greet them. James excited the carriage first then helped his son out, who practically jumped out of the carriage, and then gently helped his wife out, who still held their daughter in her arms.

The small family walked down the long walkway that was in the middle of the long lines of courtiers and stopped towards the end where Henry, Katherine Howard, Mary, Nathaniel, Elizabeth 2nd, Edward, and young Cate all stood. Henry smiled at his son-in-law and daughter and said to them, "Welcome home, Your Highnesses. We are pleased that you have arrived safely." James and Nicholas bowed while Elizabeth, with Katie in her arms, and her ladies-in-waiting all curtsied. James replied, "As are we, Your Majesty. We are glad to be back in court." The courtiers all applauded and cheered for the small family's return and went back into the palace. Henry came up to his daughter, noticing the bundle of blankets, and said to her, with a smile, "My precious jewel, you gave birth while you were in France?" Elizabeth nodded with a smile and replied, gently pushing the blankets from her daughter's face, "Yes, Papa. James and I have a daughter. I named her Catherine after my and Mary's mother. If it pleases you." Henry smiled lovingly at his daughter then looked down at his second granddaughter and said, "I am most pleased, my precious jewel. There will be more chances for you and James to have sons. You are still young." Elizabeth smiled brightly at her father and turned to her twin sister, to show her sister her new niece. Mary smiled at her sister and said, bringing her into a gentle side hug, "I am so glad to see you home safe, my dear sister. Now, where is my beloved niece?" Elizabeth chuckled and replied, gently handing her daughter over to her sister, "As are we, my sister. She is right here. You may hold her if you'd like." Mary took her niece into her arms and smiled at the baby girl. She said to her sister, not taking her eyes off of the baby girl, "She looks so much like my Catherine when my Catherine was born. I am glad you named her after Mother." Elizabeth replied, "Yes, I also named her after Princess Charlotte of France, James' sister, and our great-grandmother." Mary looked up at the mention of their great-grandmother and said, "Lady Margaret Beaufort?" Elizabeth nodded and replied, "You know how much I idolized her as a young girl. I wanted to honor her since she is the reason why our family is still on the throne." Mary only nodded in understanding, it was true that she knew how her sister idolized their deceased great-grandmother.

After finally introducing their daughter to Elizabeth's family, James and Elizabeth decided to retire to their chambers to rest from their long journey. However, Elizabeth didn't want to rest until she knew that Nicholas and little Katie were in the royal nursery under the watchful eye of Lady Bryan. Elizabeth held her son's hand while her lady-in-waiting, Lady Natalia of Italy, held little Katie as they made their way to the royal nursery. Lady Bryan opened the nursery doors and curtsied when she saw Elizabeth 1st. She curtsied and said, "Your Highness, what a pleasant surprise. What brings you here?" Elizabeth smiled and replied, as she entered the nursery with Nicholas and her lady-in-waiting, "I came to leave Nicholas and Katie in your care. James and I need to rest from our long journey before we join the court once more." Lady Bryan nodded in understanding and said, as Lady Natalia gently placed the bundle of blankets into her arms, "Of course, Your Royal Highness. You have no need to worry. The young prince and princess will be safe with me. They will have Her Highness, Princess Catherine of Sussex, for company as well as His Highness, Prince Edward of York." Elizabeth smiled at her old governess and replied, "I have faith in you, Lady Bryan. After all, you were my governess after I left Lady Margaret Pole's care in favor of my sister to have her. There is no one in the world I would trust my children with but you, besides my family and husband." Lady Bryan nodded, with a smile, and curtsied, gently since she had her old charge's baby girl in her arms. Elizabeth left the nursery, after making sure her children were settle in Lady Bryan's care, with Lady Natalia behind her.

On their way back to the royal couple's bedchambers, Elizabeth crossed paths with Katherine Howard. Elizabeth curtsied to the young girl, since her status was higher than hers with Katherine being Queen, and said, "Your Majesty, what a surprise." Katherine Howard smiled at her husband's heiress and replied, "Your Highness, it is a surprise to see you indeed. How are you fairing with your return to court?" Elizabeth said, "I am doing well, Your Majesty. I was just heading back to my bedchambers from dropping my two children at the nursery with Lady Bryan. My husband and I were going to rest for awhile before we joined the rest of the court." Katherine Howard nodded and replied, "That is delightful to hear. His Majesty talks about you and your husband often. When he speaks of you, his face lights up and a smile graces his features." Elizabeth chuckled and said, "Well, His Majesty just likes to talk about his children, like all fathers do, Your Majesty. If you will excuse me, I must head back to my bedchambers, my husband is expecting me." Katherine Howard replied, rushing to stop the princess from going her way with her ladies-in-waiting behind her, "Wait, Your Highness. Would you like to join me and my ladies for tea later? It would be my greatest honor." Elizabeth said, smiling apologetically, "I must confess that I will be far too busy to join Your Majesty, if you will accept my apology and regrets." Katherine's eager smile fell but shrugged it off and replied, "Of course, Your Highness. I understand. Your courtly duties as well as motherly duties must take up all of your time." Elizabeth curtsied to the young Queen and said, "If you will excuse me, Your Majesty, I must be going. Good day, Your Majesty." Elizabeth turned and left the young Queen with her ladies, with her own lady-in-waiting following her. Lady Natalia smiled at the princess and said, "If I may say so, Your Highness. You handle her so well." Elizabeth chuckled lowly and replied, "Yes, I did, didn't I? Well, now you know how to handle out to get out of a situation." Lady Natalia giggled and said, "I am glad my uncle, the Pope, allowed me to be in service of Your Highness. I am going to learn so much under your service." Elizabeth chuckled and replied, "Well, I hope you do, Lady Natalia." The two young ladies talked all the way towards Elizabeth's bedchambers where they found James waiting for Elizabeth. After getting settled, Elizabeth dismissed her ladies-in-waiting and James dismissed his valets so they could rest.