The Tudor Rose: A New Age

Chapter 30

James held Elizabeth's arm in his as they walked towards the tutor room with Nathaniel on the other side of his wife. When they reached the room, they could hear a soft conversation between the tutor and Nicholas. The guard at the door bowed to the trio and opened the door for them, allowing them entry. Little Katie was the first to notice her mother and grinned brightly. She stood from her seat and said, rushing over to her parents, "Mama, Papa!" Elizabeth and James crouched down and took their daughter into their arms. Lady Bryan gasped and said, scolding the little girl for ruining the lesson, "Princess Catherine!" Elizabeth chuckled and replied, "It's alright, Lady Bryan. She can greet us whenever we enter the room." Nicholas grinned at the sight of his parents and said, running over to them as well, "Mama, Papa!" Being only twelve years old, the young Tudor-Valois prince had gotten tall for his age, being the same height as his Uncle Edward. Elizabeth smiled and said to her son, "Are you paying attention to your tutor, Nicky?" Nicholas nodded and replied, "Yes, Mama. We're learning about Scotland today since I might be betrothed to Queen Mary." Elizabeth smiled softly and said, "There won't be any definite plans until we negotiate first, my dear one." Nicholas looked at his mother and replied, "N-negotiate?" James chuckled and said, "Yes, son. It means to come together to make a deal that works for both sides. Your mother needs to first meet with your grandfather to get his opinion first since he is the head of the family and then if he approves, we shall go from there." Cate, Nathaniel and Mary's daughter, stood next to her father and said, curiously, "But if the King says yes, will that mean that Nicky will be King of Scotland?" Nathaniel smiled and replied, "Not fully, sweetling. He'll only be a consort because Mary of Scots is the Queen by birth but only because of her father's untimely death in the war. She is still young, only turned 5 I believe. Your aunt is also Mary's godmother. Isn't that right, Elizabeth?" Elizabeth nodded and said, "Yes, brother. Marie de Guise had made me Mary's godmother at her birth and had invited me to her fifth birthday celebrations but I couldn't go since Father was on his honeymoon but she was understanding." Katie smiled at her father and said, "When can we go to Scotland, Papa?" James chuckled and replied, "Soon, dear one. But we may have to make a trip to France and see Grand-mère and Grand-père." Nicholas grinned and said, "Yes! And see Auntie Charlotte, Uncle Henri, Uncle Francis, Uncle Charles, and Aunt Madeline?" Elizabeth giggled and replied, "Yes, my son." Nathaniel sighed and said, looking at his daughter, "I suppose I should go check on my wife. She'll be laying down now." Cate smiled and said, "Can I go too, Papa? I want to see Mama." Nathaniel nodded and replied, "Of course, darling." Lady Bryan smiled softly and said to Elizabeth and James, coming up to the royal children, "In that case, it's time for the children's walk in the gardens, Your Royal Highnesses." Elizabeth and James stood, with James helping his wife. Elizabeth smiled and said, "Alright, well, Papa and I shall see you at dinner, children. Behave for Lady Bryan, alright?" Nicholas and Katie nodded at their parents and bowed to them as they left, as did Nathaniel and Cate who followed after them.

James and Elizabeth stopped in the middle of the hallway, causing Elizabeth's ladies to freeze behind them. Other courtiers bowed and curtsied as they passed. Elizabeth smiled and and said, "I'm afraid this is where we shall part ways, my love. I must check on my sister and brother and I'm sure you'd rather do something else." James smiled and replied, placing his hand on his wifely cheek, "I'd rather be with my family but the Seymour brothers did happen to invite me on a hunt today with my Lord Suffolk. They also invited Nathaniel but he declined since he was taking Cate to see her mother." Elizabeth nodded and said, "Ah, well, good hunting to you men. I think I'll visit my sister after my sister and brother. I haven't seen her since her confinement." James chuckled and replied, "Well, then you best be off. Give Lizzie, Eddie, and Mary my regards." Elizabeth smiled and said, "Very well, then. The best of luck on hunting. I shall pray for your safe return." The couple shared a soft kiss before going their separate ways with Elizabeth's ladies behind her. Elizabeth made her way to where her siblings were with their own tutors and heard soft piano playing. The guard at the door bowed to her and opened the door for her and her ladies, allowing her entry. The eldest Tudor princess walked into the room and smiled softly at the sight of her younger half-sister dancing with their half-brother, the two laughing and giggling as were the other adults in the room. However, there was one woman who didn't go unnoticed by the princess and that was the Lady Anne of Cleves. It had been a long time since Elizabeth had seen her dear old friend and she was glad she was back in court. After the divorce between Anne of Cleves and Henry, Anne became very close with Henry's children, considering them her own since she couldn't have any. After the music ended, everyone clapped in the room as did Elizabeth and her ladies. The group noticed the princess and jumped to their feet to curtsied, greeting her with a soft "Your Royal Highness". Elizabeth smiled and said to her brother and sister, "That was very well done, sister and brother. I suppose you have been tending to your studies?" Elizabeth 2nd grinned and replied, rising from her curtsy, "Yes, sister. I've been working on my Latin, translating back and forth. And I have been practicing dancing for court." Elizabeth chuckled and said, "Then, I suppose I shall have to look at that Latin of yours, should I? How about you, Edward?" Edward grinned and replied, "Yes, sister. Lizzie has been helping me with Latin and my studies as well. We've been learning about the French this past week." The young boy was now almost ten and he would soon take on his royal duties as the Duke of York. He wasn't the Prince of Wales since his sister held that title as the eldest and favorite daughter of the King.

She was granted that title when Henry thought he wouldn't have anymore children after her. However, when he did, he let her keep it since she had always done as she was told and kept in his good graces. Elizabeth chuckled and said, "Very well then, young prince. What can you tell me about France?" She then took a seat with her ladies surrounding her. Eleanor and Mariana stood on both sides of her while Caterina, Ursula, and Natalia stood behind her. Edward held his arms behind him and replied, "I know that France's rulers are King Francis and Queen Claude and that their son, your husband, is Prince James, making him the Dauphin of France and you the Dauphine.  They are very into politics and the art influence. And they are very close to Rome as Catholics." Elizabeth grinned and clapped for her brother, causing the rest of the room to clap as well.  She chuckled and said, "Well done, my dear brother. These lessons will be useful soon because we may have a summit with my in-laws." Elizabeth 2nd gasped happily and replied, "A summit?" Elizabeth 1st nodded and said, "Yes, but it all depends on this letter I have to send to King Francis. I'd rather negotiate than have war, in comparison to Father. He wants the glory from winning battles but you can't replace the lives that had been lost or destroyed in a war. It's not for the faint of heart, dear ones. You will learn this one day." Elizabeth 2nd, or Lizzie, replied, "Will there be celebrations at the summit? Dancing?" Elizabeth 1st chuckled and said, "Yes, sweet Lizzie. There will be dancing, feasts, jousts, and all sorts of festivities. All of which you and Edward can attend and enjoy. You will have your royal duties to preform, naturally, and step up as well because our dear sister, Mary, won't be able to attend since she would be in her confinement." Edward looked up at his eldest sister and said, "Do you think that if we write to Mary and visit her, she won't feel so lonely?" Elizabeth 1st smiled softly and replied, "I'm sure she'll enjoy that very much, Edward. We shall all go and visit Mary together. How does that sound?" Edward grinned and said, "Today?" Elizabeth giggled and replied, "Not today, I'm afraid. Mary and her family are getting settled back at their estate. Let's give them some time alone before visiting them, shall we?" Elizabeth 2nd and Edward both shared a glance and nodded at their eldest sister, smiling. All of the Tudor siblings were very close with each other, which didn't go unnoticed by the court and kingdom, despite their different mothers and what had happened to them. They were famously nicknamed the Four Musketeers. Elizabeth 1st sighed happily and said, "Alright, then. I shall leave you to your schooling. Father will return here in a couple days and we'll be busy preparing for our trip to France. I want you two to be as helpful as you can be in the preparations. That way Father will have less to worry about." Elizabeth 2nd nodded and replied, placing her hands on Edward's shoulders, "Of course, dear sister. We'll do whatever is asked of us." Elizabeth 1st smiled softly and said, standing, "Thank you, sweet Lizzie. I shall leave you to it, then. Carry on. *She then turned to Anne who stood from her curtsy* Thank you for keeping these two company, Anne. It is very much appreciated. I do hope you are enjoying your time at court. Maybe James and I should invite you to our estate in Wales for a dinner or two." Anne smiled and replied, "Of course, Lilibet. It's always been my pleasure. And I am, thank you. I would enjoy that very much."

With that, Elizabeth 1st nodded with a smile and turned to leave, causing everyone to bow/curtsy and mutter "Your Royal Highness". Once they were close to Elizabeth's chambers, Elizabeth turned to her ladies. She smiled at them and said,  "That shall be all for today, ladies, until tonight I prepare for bed. I will be working with Sir Francis Bryan with these courtly matters. You all may mingle and enjoy yourselves. Thank you. If you want to tend to my children, you shall if you wish." Eleanor shared a worried glance with her fellow ladies and replied, "Are you certain you don't want us to do anything? Such as do a bit of tidying or anything?" Elizabeth chuckled and said, looking at Ursula and Natalia, "If it's alright with Ursula and Natalia, I'll have them to that. You, Mariana, and Caterina have done plenty." Ursula smiled and replied, "Natalia and I will be happy too." Eleanor, Mariana, and Caterina shared uneasy glances before curtsying to Elizabeth who nodded at them with a smile.  The princess watched as her three ladies-in-waiting walked down the corridor then turned to enter her bedchambers. The four guards bowed to her and opened the door, causing Elizabeth to enter with Ursula and Natalia. Elizabeth sighed and said, causing Mr. Fell to walk in, "Mr. Fell? Where is Sir Francis Bryan?" Mr. Fell bowed in greeting and replied, "I believe Sir Francis is in the council chambers, Your Royal Highness." Elizabeth sat down at her desk and said, "Good, could you fetch him for me please? Tell him that he and I need to look over some court matters." Mr. Fell bowed and replied, "Right away, Your Highness."