Son of Hope

Chapter Ten - Bad Blood

Catherine sat between myself and Harry and the head table with our family and The Castile's. Father tried to pry his way with the new Queen in hopes of getting Edmund de la Poole. I toyed with my glass at the place I found myself in.

"Well, the circumstances are unfortunate, but we are glad to offer you our hospitality. In any case your grief and your trying journey have not ruled your beauty."

"Ugh, disgusting." Harry and I gagged at our fathers words then glanced to one another, he held a small smile.

"When we have supped, we will confer on trade and matters of the state." Lady Grandmother added and then i actually turned to my brother.

"Subtle meet brick." he snorted and covered his mouth to make it into a cough then had some wine.

"Joanna tell me of your family. Your new baby is a boy." Catherine broke the conversations of her marital family.

"The baby stayed behind at home with our children and a nursemaid." she glance to her husband who was not paying any attention to her but rather one of our serving girls. "Cathy let us dance. We used to dance when we were children. Your hands were tiny." I glance at Catherine who is in turn look at me.

"Your mother has just died." Lady Grandmother reprimanded

"Then we will dance to celebrate her life and triumphs." Joanna countered, not concerned or upset with her mothers death at all.

"Oh, yes, I would love to see you dance." Joanna stood calling for Spanish music much to grandmothers dismay and my fathers insistence. Catherine rose to her feet to join her sister.

"Someone get my father out of here before we all throw our guts up on the table." Harry drawled and i leant over and slapped his head.

"Shut up idiot."

"The Spanish Queen is someone else's wife, Father. You must learn to find your own." Harry continued in his feud. Now that Catherine went back to him and still there was no talk of marriage.

"So you would shame your own King, would you now."

"Why on earth would i do that to my own brother?" My eyes widened and I looked to Harry

"Don't get me involved in your argument. This squabble has nothing to do with me." I retort shaking my head and then leant over to him "For gods sake have you learnt nothing from mother."

"Why must you always..."

"Because she was the smartest woman we know. You want something, you are smart about it. Remember what she told us. what did she tell us?"

"Hidden and Patient." he huffed

"Yes, so don't be dumb and obvious." I watched as Catherine and Joanna danced. Joanna was interested in her husband and Catherine looked uncomfortable but danced anyway. My eyes drew to Catherine though as her red hair shone like embers from a blazing fire. Harry stood and stormed off but nothing else caught my attention till Joanna grabbed a goblet of wine and threw it at her husband. Then she too left in a fit of anger.

"Joanna? Joanna!" Catherine called for her sister. As mine stood by her

"Good Christians, let us go to Mass." Lady Grandmother voiced and I stood going over to Catherine and Mary.

"Come little sisters." Mary took my hand and Betty took Mary's "Lady Catherine." i offered her my other hand and she turned to me worried and confused but took it none the less. I escorted them out and to the church.

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The next day, my father and Lady Grandmother succeeded in keeping them in England for now at least. Now Philip joined us for trade negotiations in council. I could see why Joanna had the look of wanting to murder him. He was an insufferable an and even I wanted to slit his throat after knowing him a day.

"Ah, we all want peace in Europe, but ..." Philip drawled

"I have laboured for it through my reign and we are close." Father retorted

"The King has sacrificed to win ." Stafford added which I agreed, not only him but mother as well. She lost her life trying to protect this country.

"Yet even here in England, two sides form. Rich nobles and then the poor people who hate you for their taxes, no?"

"De la Poole will plunge us back into bloodshed. No one benefits from this assault on the English crown. You could stop it. Your father..."

"My father." Phillip annoying waggled his finger at my grandmother "he hates walnuts." oh my...the door opened and a groom came in with a note for my father he read it and then passed it on to me.

"Go deal with your brother." he told me and I nodded leaving the council i left the room and there across causing no obvious trouble was my twin.

"Thank you." I breath "Spending five minutes with the man I see why Queen Joanna constantly had that muderous look on her face." The two of us walk away

"That bad."

"The man is an imbecile, gives all us men a bad name. Blathers on about...well I mentally switched off for most of it. Be grateful you are not Prince of Wales and have to attend such meetings. You are saved from that, at least."

"Edward, Harry." we heard the dulcet tones of Catherine followed by the bellows of our father.

"I barter for your brothers future of this throne while you dawdle and wreck havoc on the sidelines making love play. You're the reason he slipped away."

"What?" Harry and I questioned

"While your brother actually tries to bring that traitor here, you drink your way through seeking information to hold over my head just because I refuse what you assume you would have. You should be in there helping Edward negotiate his return." Father fumed

"He is not important?" Harry replied catching on to why our father was angry.

"That's enough you two." I step in between them.

"You mock my efforts, your mothers efforts to keep this throne for our family. Everyday you whine and complain about life unfair convinces me further that I made the right decision in name your brother as my successor. One day you will not have us to guide anymore." Father huffed as he made his way past us

"I count the days!" he came back and hit Harry.

"Father, that's enough!" I shout "Go! Go and see mother, she will calm your anger. Go, father." I snapped and encoraged him to leave. He did and i turned back to my brother

"Clearly I'm the smart one."

"Harry." Catherine joined us and I looked between the two of them

"See the nurse come to soothe your ails." I comment "Tend to him, I must talk with some aqaintences."