The French Bride

Behind her smile

  89 Chapter 14: Behind her smile
Hello guys! English, it is not my motherly language, I'm French so I apologize if there are some mistakes. Don't hesitate to tell me where they are so that I can improve.

This is my first full length fiction, with chapters, I hope it will please you. It is a AU where Katherine Howard does not marry Henry and where Cromwell is spared. Instead of Katherine, Henry marries a french noble lady, on the advice of Cromwell.

I hope my little story will please you..

Sincerely
Marina Ka-Fai

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The French Bride

Chapter 14: Behind her smile

This day was quite a hard one for the young queen of England. Ursula left to her house in the country to give birth to her child. Marina had finally met Francis Bryan on this occasion and she found the man a bit scary. She did not show it though. And above all, it was the fateful day when her children were to be established in their own castle. Henry found one near Hatfield. Marina kissed her babies' foreheads, trying to hold back the tears she wanted to cry. Henry was here with her and he took her in his arms to ease her. She tried to think that they were going to be okay but it was beyond her control and her tears rolled silently on her cheeks.

On the afternoon, even if she was with her ladies, Marina felt lonely for the first time since she married Henry. Elizabeth went back to Hatfield, Edward to Windsor. Only Mary stayed because her husband was needed by Henry's side. She noticed then that Katherine was looking at her, it seemed that she wanted to tell her something but because of court's rules, she could not unless she was invited to.

' What is it Katherine?'

Marina looked at her, she looked still like a child but her belly was proving the contrary. And she realized that she missed being pregnant. Was it because her babies were sent away this day? She did not know.

' Your Majesty... My husband and I would like to ask you a favour...'

' Which one?'

' We would be honoured if Your Majesty agreed to be our child's godmother.'

' It would be an honour for me, sweet Katherine. Do you have a name in mind already?'

Katherine smiled, quite proud.

' If it is a girl, we want to call her Elizabeth. To honour the king's mother, grandmother and daughter. If it is a boy, we think of William.'

The queen smiled to this. Katherine always had the best way to light up her day. Thanks to her and to her activities, she did not really think of what happened in the morning. But when dinner time arrive, for the very first time, Henry did not come to meet her. And she could not help thinking that something happened.

Three days later, it was the same thing. Henry did not come. That scared her. So she decided to check herself what was going on. She did not notice that everyone bowed when she walked through the corridors. She found Charles Brandon leaving Henry's office.

' My lord, I'm quite glad to meet you.' Marina said in relief

' Majesty?'

' Something happened to my husband, did it not?'

She looked at him directly in the eyes. She saw surprise in it. Something did happen.

' Answer me.'

' It is the king's leg, Your Majesty. The ulcer has burst again and it gives the king a terrible fever. It... It had been quite a surprise for his physicians and ourselves, since his health was a lot better since he married Your Majesty.'