Winter's Consort

Chapter Seven

"Farewell, Your Grace." Elizabeth called as Henry mounted his horse. She waved to him and he sent back a beaming smile, though it looked straight to her belly where their boy was beginning to show not at her. Henry waved back to Elizabeth after a moment of nothing and then turned back to his party, he was leaving London on a royal progress. Even his mother was to go, but Elizabeth was to stay to make sure the boy stayed healthy, how could she argue she didn't was a sick baby. She wanted a healthy boy to cradle in her arms and see grown, not a baby born lifeless.

Lady Margaret was stood upon the steps, wearing her finest. She waved to Elizabeth and even Elizabeth's mother Dame Grey who stood beside Elizabeth. They had cast aside the Yorks yet they crowded their court, once Dame Grey was married to Scotland they would scatter without a queen to follow.

Elizabeth smiled, a hand rested on her stomach as if to show off the pregnancy which was still to be kept a secret. She wondered how soon she would be able to speak, Lady Margaret said she would tell Elizabeth when she could at least tell her mother but Elizabeth doubted that. Lady Margaret would most likely wait until Henry returned to tell anybody, she didn't want any trouble for her son if the baby was lost. But it wouldn't be. Elizabeth’s mother hadn't lost a single baby, they were all born and all lived. Plague took George that was nobody's fault but gods, and it was his will and Mary was almost a woman grown taken by sickness. Even if she did ride with Henry Elizabeth was certain she would have born a healthy son.

There again the risk was not worth taking, if they did lose the baby or if something happened to her and she bore a girl instead Henry would never forgive her for giving him false hopes. Nor would Elizabeth forgive herself for lying to an anointed king that they would have a son.

"That won't make the baby come any sooner. Give it time, Bess," Dame Grey told her daughter stepping forward to be in front of Elizabeth. Elizabeth daren't even turn her gaze, her mother knew, her eyes widened and she tried to take a deep breath without them seeing. Her mother continued, "It shall not be long and you can try again for your boy. You are both young."

"He shan't be with me for Easter." Elizabeth sighed as her husband's party was completely gone. She peered over to see Lady Margaret still watching the track. Then she turned and marched back inside, her skirts sweeping up the dust. Her ladies followed along more obediently than Lady Anne's ever did. They were like soldiers in dresses; turning so sharply and so well mannered.

"No, but mid-summer he will return to you." Dame Grey chuckled to herself. "You know, you do not love this king yet you miss him. I loved your father how much do you think that ached when he left me only with prayers of a boy?"

"I do not know." Elizabeth said still staring out into the courtyard hoping perhaps Henry would send someone back for her. She did not wish to spend those months with her mother, because once her mother saw her belly begin to swell she would know; and her mother was awful at keeping a secret. Lady Margaret could not be with her all the time, she was already leaving to see how well Winchester would be for the birth of their little prince. She wouldn't be there soon, then who would Elizabeth ask about things?

"A lot, trust me." She squeezed Elizabeth's arm, and rested her head on her daughter’s shoulders. Elizabeth shrugged her off and she looked at her, puzzled. "Whatever is the matter?"

"I am his wife." Elizabeth told her mother. Her mother let out a sarcastic laugh.

"Well we all know that. God, Elizabeth, the whole country knows that." Dame Grey laughed. "That doesn't mean you love him."

"I do love him." Elizabeth said simply. "He is my husband, my king and it is in my duties as a wife to love him. Do not think me a fool, but perhaps if you would let me know him as Lady Margaret wishes me to, then I might grow to love him as you do my father." Elizabeth turned away from her mother and began walking back towards the door to her rooms where her ladies waited. "And do not frown on my marriage, mother. You the woman who married in secret. A commoner married to a king. I am a princess married to a king. That is how it should be. You were not meant to marry my father. It was not his duty to marry for love. You killed my uncle, mother. You killed so many because you married him you do know that? It wasn't Lord Warwick who started the war again it was you."