The Tudor Rose: A New Age

Chapter 32

That evening, Elizabeth sat with her family at the head table with her in-laws as well as she ate and conversed with her sibling-in-laws. Before this treaty event, they would send letters back and forth, keeping tabs on each other. They were all very close with each other, considering that they were all almost brothers and sisters. James turned to his wife and said, holding his hand out to him, "Shall we dance, my love?" Elizabeth smiled and replied, "Why, yes, my heart." Soon after the royal couple joined the dance, the rest of  James' siblings and Elizabeth's sister joined in. Edward wasn't present since he was with his nephews and niece since they were all too young to be apart of the feast. As they danced, Henry and Francis talked amongst themselves about the new treaty, just to get a sense of what it would intel. While he danced with his wife, James' eyes then glanced over to his second brother who was dancing with a dark haired woman, wearing a navy blue dress. He noticed the lovesick looks the two shared between each other and it made his heart crawl with disgust. How could Henri treat his betrothed like this and she hasn't even made her appearance yet but her presence was noted?! He couldn't do that to his sweet Elizabeth, he didn't even have the heart to have any side relationship or have any mistresses. The French prince knew how the mention of mistresses upset his dear wife, since her father took many when he was married to her mother. Elizabeth noticed her husband's dazed off look and said, concerned, "James? Everything alright?" James shook his head, shaking away from his thoughts, and replied, giving his wife a reassuring smile, "Yes, my love. Nothing to worry about. Just got distracted in my thoughts is all." Elizabeth hummed to herself and continued to dance with James.

Throughout the feast, James had his eyes on his brother's lover, debating on whether he should step in and take matters into his own hands on breaking them off. He didn't want to but he didn't want anything to ruin the relationship with the Pope since this marriage involved his niece. The prince then excused himself from his wife and family, making his way over to his brother and his lover. From the table, Elizabeth watched with interest in what her husband was doing, hoping that he had good intentions. She wasn't the only one who had noticed James' interest but also Francis 2nd, Charlotte, Madeline, and Margaret had noticed as well.  The princess and her sibling-in-laws stood and went to converse with each other in a corner of the room, causing the courtiers from both courts to bow and curtsy. Elizabeth turned to Francis 2nd and said, "James hasn't had any interaction with Diane de Portieres before I came to France when we were younger, did he, Francis?" Francis shook his head and replied, "No, Elizabeth. This infatuation between Henri and Diane started after you and James got married and left for England. James never even knew or met Diane until now. Henri and Diane always met in secret and never even crossed paths in court unless they walked in the gardens." Charlotte noticed the distressed look on her sister-in-law's face and said, comforting her,  "He would never betray you, Elizabeth. He loves you so very much. He wouldn't risk anything for that harlot or any harlot for that matter." Margret looked at Elizabeth and said, "I could talk to him, if you'd like, Lilibet, see what he's up to." Elizabeth nodded and replied, "If you don't mind. I wish I didn't think like this but after everything that happened with my father and his wives, including my mother........." Madaline placed her hand on her sister-in-law's shoulder and said, "No one can fault you for thinking that way, Lilibet. You alone have suffered so much, there's no one to blame but your father and his own incompetence. He let each wife down and made his own mistakes." Francis 2nd nodded in agreement with his sister and said, "Agreed, well said, sister." Elizabeth sighed and said, "I thank you all for your support but I'm afraid that I am tired and shall retire for the night. I shall see you all tomorrow."

Elizabeth walked away from her sibling-in-laws, calling out for her ladies-in-waiting. Lady Eleanor was with her brothers, along with Lady Ursula and Lady Mariana but excused themselves when their mistress called out for them. As for Lady Natalia and Lady Caterina, they were already with Elizabeth so they simply followed after her. Henry VIII was the first to notice his daughter leaving the throne room. He then turned to Charles Brandon and said to him, curiously and concerned, "Why is my daughter leaving the feast, Charles? Is she alright?" Charles Brandon turned to see his goddaughter leaving the room and replied to his friend, "I'm sure she's just tired, Your Majesty. She did in fact give birth a couple months ago and might be still getting over it. She'll be alright, I'm sure. After all, she's a Tudor, Your Majesty." Henry could only nod in agreement and watched his daughter with a concerned look in his eyes. With Elizabeth, the princess rushed towards her bedchambers with her ladies failing to follow behind her. When Elizabeth got to her bedchamber, she thrust herself onto the bed and wrapped her arms around her, beginning to sob. Her ladies-in-waiting rushed into the room with worried looks on their faces when they saw her distraught figure. Eleanor was the first to step forward, since she and Elizabeth had been friends since childhood. The young woman placed her hand on the princess' shoulder and said, concern in her voice, "Ellie? What's the matter?" Elizabeth sobbed and replied, turning to her close friend, "We're not even a day in France and James might have already taken a mistress. I promised myself that I would turn away any time if my husband ever took a mistress because that's what my mother had done but I can't bring myself too! After what Anne Boleyn had done to her? Then herself with Jane? And Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard? And now Catherine Parr?! It's an endless cycle that won't break! I don't want to end up like my mother and have to give up what I have." Eleanor's heart broke at her friend's revelation, she knew that after years and years of suffering, it would all come tumbling down onto Elizabeth. Eleanor wrapped her arms around her close friend and said, "James loves you too much to take a mistress, Ellie. He wouldn't dare take a mistress when his heart is only belongs to you and you alone. Have you spoken to him about your fears?" Elizabeth shook her head and replied, "No, I have not. I have been far too busy with the summit's preparations to even begin to worry about this." Eleanor sighed and said, pulling away from her friend to look at her, "You need to talk to James about this, Ellie. I guarantee you that he doesn't have a mistress and is probably just trying to get used to being back at his family's court. He's also trying to get to know the French courtiers as he is their future King. I suggest that you talk to James and tell him what you have been feeling." Elizabeth then took in what Eleanor had said and nodded slowly.  She was willing to let her feelings be heard so now, she had to be ready to speak to her husband about it.

Meanwhile, with James, James had kept his eyes on his brother and his brother's mistress, trying to come up with a plan to break them apart. He didn't want to but it was for the good of the monarchy that Diane was gone. James slowly made his way over to his brother but was stopped short when he was pulled away by his sister, Charlotte. Charlotte pulled her brother away into a distant hallway, away from the noise, and smacked him across the face. James was taken back and instantly placed his hand on the spot where it was smacked. He looked at his sister in shock and said, "What was that for?!" Charlotte placed her hands on her hips and replied, glaring at her brother, "You know damn well what that was for. You are more focused on breaking our brother's love affair apart than what you are doing to your wife. She thinks you're having an affair while you're doing this little charade!" James' eyes widened and said, "What? I could never have an affair like that." Charlotte sighed and replied, "Then, tell her that, brother, not me. You know that Elizabeth is sensitive to any mistress situation. She's just retired to her bedchamber, you should go see to her." James sighed, he then nodded and headed to his bedchambers which he and his wife had shared. When he had arrived his and his wife's bedchambers, the prince hesitated in opening the door. After a moment, he knocked on the door and entered, after hearing a soft "enter". James came into the bedchamber to see his wife sitting at her vanity while Lady Caterina had brushed her hair. Her other ladies weren't in the room, so he assumed that Elizabeth had dismissed them to enjoy the festivities. Elizabeth smiled softly at Caterina and said to her, "Thank you, Caterina. That'll be all for the night, you can join the other ladies at the festivities and enjoy yourself. I shall retire for the rest of the evening." Lady Caterina returned her mistress' smile and replied, curtsying respectfully to her, "Of course, milady. As you wish." Caterina then placed the hairbrush on the vanity and turned to leave. She curtsied to James and said softly, giving him a sympathetic smile, "Your Royal Highness." James nodded in acknowledgment at Caterina and bowed his head to her. Elizabeth let out a sigh and said to her husband, "What is it, James?" James cleared his throat and replied, "Charlotte came to me and told me what had happened. You know I would never do that to you, my love. I love you and I only have eyes for you." Elizabeth stood from the vanity seat, her nightdress flowing, and said, anger and betrayal on her face, "Then, explain to me why you were so interested in the Lady Diane de Portiers during the feast tonight than spending the night with me!! You had eyes on her the entire time!!!" James sighed and replied, "I was trying to figure out a way to break her away from my brother, Elizabeth. I just know that their love affair will affect the monarchy in a very bad way but I just don't know how. So, I'm trying to find a way to break it up before the Lady Catherine de Medici arrives." Elizabeth sighed sadly, realizing that she had thought so lowly of her husband. She looked at him, saddened, and said, her voice soft as she felt as if she was going to cry, "W-why didn't you tell m-me?" James walked over to his wife and replied, placing his hands on her cheeks gently, "I didn't want to worry you. You already had too much on your plate so I didn't want to stress you even more." Elizabeth felt tears sting her eyes and said, "I really wish you should've told me. I thought you were in love with Diane and were trying to pursue her." James gently wiped a tear off of his wife's cheek that had trailed down from her eye and replied, sadness and regret in his voice, "I know I should've told you, my love. I was wrong to keep my intentions from you. I'm grateful that Charlotte told me what I was doing wrong. I vow that from now on, whatever I plan to do next, I shall keep you informed first and foremost. You have my word and my promise." Elizabeth smiled softly but sadly and said, "That's all that I ask." James returned his wife's smile and brought her into a soft, but passionate kiss. From the doorway, Lady Caterina had watched the exchange through the cracked door with a soft smile. She didn't want to leave her mistress and her mistress' husband because she was worried what the outcome of the argument would've been. She then softly closed the door behind her and walked back to the feast that was still going on. No matter what the royal couple would face, they had vowed that they would never break apart and that their love would be everlasting.