The Italian Rose

Thirty-eight

After a successful procession, they all returned to Hampton Court, where a joust tournament would be held and a feast to be held and all those that housed the Royal couple during the procession were the guests of honour.

It was during the organising of the joust tournament that rumours spread throughout the court that the Lady Jane Seymour was spotted numerous times leaving the King's chambers during his stay at Wolfhall

Henry was adamant in searching who started the rumours as to all present during the stay at Wolfhall, the King and Queen shared a bedchamber, so these rumours had to be about before the procession and whoever was responsible will find themselves a head short.
Dorothy Seymour now Lady Fitzgerald was welcomed back at court, and in the Queen's service, Margery Seymour was also welcomed to court and placed in Isabella's service

It was here that the Ambassador of Istanbul approached Henry with another potential match for Henry, Duke of York. Sultan Suleiman's Kadin, Melekşima Sultana, had given birth to a Turkish princess, Mahpeyker Sultana, and because Melekşima was also a Haseki, she had more leeway in choosing her daughter's future spouse.

There is always that nagging feeling that Charles may die before he is crowned King and if that happens, young Prince Henry would need a woman with a strong alliance, even though the other ambassadors are trying to encourage the King to keep within the Catholic faith and not marry into a heritic faith that the Ottoman Empire worship. It was rumoured that Istanbul had a number of different faiths coexisting with each other, Muslim and Jewish being the top two, though there were a few Catholic rumoured to be living in Istanbul.

He would discuss matters further with Isabella, perhaps they could even visit Istanbul with their son to see how he gets along with the little princess, if Isabella agrees then they will make arrangements with the ambassador and the Ottomans.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Isabella welcomed Elizabeth Ughtred back to her service, as she was now Dowager Baroness of Jersey. Her late husband, Sir Anthony Ughtred, was given the title Baron of Jersey before his death in honour of his service to his king and country.

Dorothy Seymour now Lady Fitzgerald was welcomed back into the Queen's service. Perhaps both sisters could keep an eye on Jane as she seemed to be avoiding her duties as a Queen's Lady-in-waiting.

Isabella enjoyed the presence of her children at court, Charles was playing with Elizabeth and Henry Fitzroy, and her eyes immediately fell onto Anne.

Lady Anne Boleyn curtsey as low as her pregnant belly would allow, Isabella had a feeling that she may be pregnant with twins as Anne's pregnant belly seemed slightly bigger than normal.

It was here that Isabella's mood had soured. She was currently going over the preparations for a new orphanage to be built with Lord Cromwell.

"Your majesty," Elizabeth Fitzwilliam spoke, curtseying low. "Lord Philip Giuffrida and his lady wife is without."

Cromwell immediately noticed Isabella's facial expressions, he had wondered what this Philip Giuffrida had done to receive such expression from the young Queen, he quickly focused back on the task at hand not wanting Isabella to know he saw her grim expression.

"Send them in," Isabella instructed, glancing at Cromwell. "Lord Cromwell, please stay."
He noticed the desperation in her voice. He gave a small nod and set their work aside as Philip Giuffrida walked inside with his wife, Lady Julia Cumberland, following behind holding their daughter, Isabelle.