Son of Hope

Chapter Thirty Four - Children of the king

-1520-

Catherine had given birth to another son Prince Edward and he thrived like his brother and sister who were now four. I chased them about happily taking a break from matters of state. Catherine held Edward watching us content though Eleanor who joined her held a look of sorrow. Since the news that Harry had fathered Henry Fitzroy the look of sorrow always accompanied her no matter how she tried to give her best smile and look of defiance .

The children squealed in delight as I picked them up and twirled them around. Enjoying time with their father.

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Now sat in my office I reluctantly attended to matters of state, the door opened and Catherine stormed in. Nothing ever good came from her stomping into a room. It was always followed by news that would turn my temperament. I liked being of good humour but a angry wife with that kind of entrance was bad.

"Edward."

"Yes, my love."

"I am told that Wolsey fancies himself of higher office than the Queen of England." she tried to show more restraint that what she came in with. I sigh and leant back in my chair.

"What is he saying now?" I question

"That Hope shall be wed. He informs our daughter of such tidings." I groan in frustration and rub my face standing up"Is it true?" I open the door

"Call for the Cardinal Wolsey please." the groom nodded and I closed the door.

"I expressed a thought, a idea that Hope might have an engagement like her mother before her. Such a idea bounced around between trusted people that she might wed the new french dauphin. A thought which was overheard and wrongly distributed without either of our permission. I assure you." There was a knock and Catherine moved to stand next to me.

"Enter." Wolsey entered and bowed to us.

"Your Majesty, Your Grace." I sat myself back down.

"Wolsey, my mother once spoke how you helped her with a dilemma. How she chose to entrust you with a task instead of whom you worked under. Tell me how do you go from following orders of one monarch to blatantly ignoring another?"

"I do not know what you speak of, my lord."

"Oh now you lie to me, it baffles me how you wear such trusted clothes and speak with the devils tongue. Next thing you'll deny is your belief that my brother should have been King. I mean he's the Tudor that you can control right." he went to speak "You eavesdropped on a conversation concerning matters of which you had no right to meddle in. My words spoken in confidence to trusted members of the council found their way back to my daughter of which she had no need of knowing yet."

"I only sought to prepare, the young Princess of her duty to her father."

"That is not your place. I never gave you such a order or request. I never spoke to you in confidence of the inner workings of my mind. I am getting tired of you reaching above your station, thinking you can bully me into submission. You are no more a man of God than I am a saint of christendom. Anything regarding my children will be discussed with their mother first, then my children and then the council. Of which you are no longer a part of, I will be writing to the Pope airing my grievances against you as to why I advise him to send a better emissary. You are banished from court anything that was gifted to you by the crown is seized forth with. The only thing you may keep is your accommodations in York, where is suggest you retreat to never to darken my door again. You're officially done here. Guards!" the door opened

"Remove the Cardinal from my sight and he is not allowed admittance again." they nodded and escorted him out. Catherine moved around to face me.

"I should have done that years ago." I shook my head "Now to the matter of Hope and her possible betrothal."

"Why does it have to be her to marry France?" she questioned

"Because I have no sisters left to marry off. With Mary now Queen of Spain since your fathers passing and Charles' assent. Betty Married to Charlie and Meg married to Earl of idiocy, we must now look to Hope. I'm not happy about it either but it is a smart and wise move." she still looked displeased.

"How about this, we take the measure of the dauphin, I have corresponded with King Francis of the idea and there is a summit to be held between us. We go see what is what and then discuss before taking a view."

"Very well." I stood and went to kiss her as she returned to our children.

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Plans were made for our departure and now we were at the docks waiting to board, while I was talking with Stafford and Wiltshire. Lady Pole spoke with my wife.

"Beg your Grace's Pardon. The Language of the docks is too coarse for a lady's ears." Wiltshire addressed my wife as we heard a disagreement across the way from us.

"He's right though. Nothing beats English leather. Look at this saddle Stafford had made for me. This'll put Francis in his place." I chuckle glancing back at them while examining the gift.

"Ah, word is he's too drunk to even sit in his." Stafford joked to which we all chuckled at.

"That does not bode well for the good character of his son." Catherine commented as I stepped away and offered my hand to her. She took it and i kissed it.

"Well let us hope he takes more after his mother then, shall we?" I gave her a faint smile and escorted her to our children. I took Hopes small hand as Sebastian took his mothers and we boarded the ship.

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The journey was bumpy and the children apprehensive. They were young and had been told little of what was going on. I had the brought to us during our last night before we eventually docked.

"Come, come." I beckoned them in and they stumbled around before I pulled them onto my lap. I kissed their head's "Now, your Mama tells me that you are scared and confused about our trip to France."

"The Cardinal said I was going to be married." Hope peered up at me "What is married, Papa?"

"Married or marriage is a union made in front of God. And promise to your husband or wife that you are with each other for the rest of your days." I told them "And the Cardinal should not have said that to you, he was wrong for doing that."

"Why?" Sebastian wondered

"Because it was something that shouldn't have known about yet. He listened to something that was private and took control of something that he had nothing to do with." I answered "My loves. We are going to France to speak with the King on what is right now a maybe that you Hope will be married to his son. Your Mama and I haven't said yes to anything yet. Nor has the King of France. If we do say yes then it will not be for a long time till you are much older. By then, the idea won't sound so scary as it does now. Or things could have changed, who knows."

"What will happen when we arrive there?" I turned to Hope.

"Well there will be a lot of greetings to people we know including the King and Queen. The King will want see you and we'll talk for a little bit. You will mainly be with your Aunt Eleanor and your cousins. Okay." they nodded I let them down but turned them around. "It is okay to be scared. You are young and you have a lot to learn. But remember this. You are the Prince and Princess of England. You are our children and you are the Grandchildren of the most iron made Queens this world has seen. Queen Hope of England and Queen Isabella of Castile. From us and them will give you the strength no Frenchman can stand against. Hold your head high and always remember that.

"Yes, Papa." they nodded making me smile

"Now off to bed with you, tomorrow is a long day." I sent them off with Catherine who turned back giving me a loving expression.