The Mistress of King Henry VIII

Chapter Sixty: Margaret

Queen Victoria of Cambridge 

March 10th, 1521

I rushed after Henry as he raced towards the front of the courtyard. A pageboy has just told us Margaret's carriage had just arrived and she had the girls with her. 

"Henry! Wait!" I cried out earning Henry to slid to a stop before looking at me. 

"Forgive me. I forget you cannot run as fact with carrying two children in you." He said as he walked towards me and reached for my hand. 

"They say she is here with the girls and they are fine," I whispered as I pressed my hand to his cheek. 

"They got her out alive and we lost no men," I added and Henry sighed. 

"James was killed and she did not write to me. She did not call for me" 

"Oh, Harry. Sometimes, us girls do not want to bother our brothers with our problems. She didn't want to bother England." 

Henry stared at me for a moment before nodding. 

"Come. We need to greet her." He said as he rushed with me towards the entrance courtyard. The carriage had just stopped when we stood still. 

The door flung open and out stepped Charles holding a small blonde child in his hands. He turned around and helped Elizabeth step out. 

"Elizabeth! My sweet girl!" I said as I stepped away from Henry and my niece raced into my arms. I held her close and rubbed her back as she cried into my chest. 

"Margaret," Henry called out as he stepped to the carriage. A hand came out and out stepped Margaret looking at us. 

"My boys. They have my boys." She whispered as she stepped towards Henry. 

"Your Majesty." She whispered before she bowed her head. Henry stopped her when she went to curtsy. 

"You are a Queen. A mother to a King. A daughter of a King. And a sister to a King. You will not bow. You will not grovel. Do I make myself clear?" He stated and Margaret stared up at her older brother and shook her head. 

"They have the boys Henry. How can I not grovel?" 

"They are alive and well. That we must be grateful." He said and she nodded before looking at me. 

"Oh look at you! Twins?" She asked as she stepped towards me and I nodded. 

"Yes, we are nearly there. The physician believes they should be born near Henry's birthday." I said as I pulled apart from Elizabeth and turned to Margaret. 

"How about Lady Megan takes Elizabeth and Alexandra to the royal nursery to be with Edward and Albert?" I offered and Margaret stared at her girls for a moment before nodding. 

"Yes, of course. Lizzie, make sure you listen to the ladies and look after your sister." She said as she stared at her daughter. 

"Are you going to be okay mummy?" Elizabeth asked and Margaret smiled at her. 

"Of course I will. We are Stuarts are we not?" 

Elizabeth bowed her head to her mother before following Lady Megan who held Alexandra in her arms before walking inside to the royal nursery. 

"Where shall we stay Henry? We left with the money in my pouch as well as with the little clothes we were allowed to keep." Margaret asked as we began to lead her inside and towards Henry's office. 

"I will take you and the girls to the town and get clothing. You will stay in your grandmother's quarters. Queen Elizabeth's." I stated as I walked beside Charles. 

"You are my sister. I shall provide until we can deem Scotland won't declare war and we can get you with your boys once again." Henry said as he nodded to the guards to open the doors. 

"How was it? Getting them and leaving?" I asked Charles and he sighed. 

"They were locked tighter than their crown jewels." He said and Henry let out a laugh. 

"Why did they lock you up sister?" 

Charles stepped forward and pulled the chair out for me before sitting down himself. 

"They believe I helped get James killed." She whispered as a maid rushed forward to bring drinks. 

"Why would they think that?" 

"We had gotten into a fight when a woman said she carried his son. James has never cheated, to my knowledge, but he had a bastard set of twins before we married. They are older but he wrote into law they had no claims to the throne." She began as she took her goblet of wine and sipped it. 

"When he told me I was so angry. I told him if he died I wouldn't care. That our son would be a better King. But when they told me the news he died in a small battle I broke. I fell to the floor sobbing. His brother had to catch me." 

I stared over at Henry who shook his head. 

"You are safe now Margaret. We will take care of you and the girls until we can get James and Albert." 

"James is to young to be King. He cannot handle the pressure. Albert is a child. Barely old enough to write his name without help. They need me!" 

"Yes, they do! But you also have Elizabeth and Alexandra to worry about." Henry snapped and I flinched into my seat. 

"Do you remember what it felt like when our parents worried constantly over Arthur and cared nothing about us? It was horrible! I felt worthless! Do you want that for your girls?" 

"Henry," I whispered as I saw Margaret sobbing. 

"No. No, my brother is right. I remember hating Arthur because he got all of our parent's attention. I swore when I had my children I would never do that to them." 

I watched as she stood up and wiped her eyes. 

"If I may, I would like to retire to my new chambers and sleep. I am exhausted." 

"I will take you," Henry said as he stood up and offered her his arm before leading her out of the room. 

"Are you alright?" Charles asked and I sighed as I placed my hand on my belly and rubbed softly. 

"She is here safe and sound. But I cannot help but fear war may be looming and I could lose the people I love" 

I stared at Charles for a moment before sighing. 

"Does that include me?" He whispered and I nodded before reaching and touching his hand. 

"Of course it does Charlie. I need you in my life. Now and forever."