“Your Grace.” I greet the Queen with my deepest curtsy, rising when she has blessed me.
“What is troubling you AnaRose?” she asks as soon as we are seated in her privy chamber, her dozens of ladies of waiting working on a beautiful half finished alter cloth.
I hesitate before answering, almost spilling the truth, begging for her pardon for not telling her earlier, and asking for her advice to fix this mess, but thinking better of it I smile penitently. “Just thinking.” She searches my face with her gray eyes, the eyes that Kyle has, and smiles small two, taking my hand into hers.
“It is a lot to take in, but you needn’t worry, you have almost six months to decide, no need to decide this second or tomorrow, or even next month.” I take a breath and draw myself to full height.
“How should I decide?” I ask bluntly, thrown off by my question she releases my hand and takes a sip of the sweet expensive wine from France.
“What do you mean little Rose?” I smile at the way she says my name with love.
“How should I go about picking one of them? To know who is better for me?” she understands and thinks for a moment.
“Well, you will know in your heart which one you desire more, but if you want to go about this logically, then it is due to the fact of position, wealth, title and lands. Of course if you want to be Princess of Wales, or Duchess of York, soon to be Queen or just sister in law to the Queen and King. If you want all the lands or just the amounts that James will inherit and whatever Kyle will give him. If you want your sons on the throne and daughters marrying and becoming Queens in different countries, or if you want your children to be next in line to the throne, after Kyle and his Queen’s children. If you want your children to be the cousin of the next king of England, they two could be married to higher positions later one, but the best suitors will of course go to Kyle and his Queen’s children first, then to yours. Your sons may never become Kings, and your daughters Queens if you marry James, but you will not have to worry about the hardships of being Queen, dealing with ruling a court, and raising the next future King. But you will have the highest power and title in all the lands for a woman, you will be above a mere courtier, you would be above a mortal, almost as divine as an angle, so they say. Your body will be sacred, your hands heavenly jeweled, your name praised throughout the country and lands. You could be Queen Susanna Rose. Or you could be princess, and Duchess of York.” I have thought and figured this all out.
“Do you believe I would make a good Queen?” Her eyes soften.
“I know you would be a beautiful and splendid Queen, fair and strong, the people will fall in love with you, you could raise a great prince and future king of England, but you could also be a splendid and beautiful Duchess of York.” I cast my eyes down. Mulling over this all. “But you have months to think this through and decide. But for now we have supper.” I rise with her, bowing, before going through the door behind her. Her ladies in waiting rise and curtsy, standing in order behind me as we go to dinner. James sits next to her father tonight, watching the dancers and the king’s fool; Kyle sits next to me, being attentive as ever. Asking me my thoughts on the dishes, and the fool. If my wine is to bitter, or my meats to over cooked. I smile and shoo his care away, but my heart is warming to him. He is devishly handsome and smart, mysterious and strong. Born to be king, but looking at James, staring at us talking intently makes me pull away and try to look less interested. It is tiring to make sure the princes do not feel betrayed or left behind. Finally as the puddings and cakes are set down in front of us, the king turns from his fool and smiles at her eldest son.
“Are you ready to leave by next week?” I sit straighter, looking at the king and Prince.
“Yes, but I thought that I would stay throughout the summer progress and go back in the fall.” Kyle says tensely, I can see his jaw lock and his hand tighten around his knife.
