The Mistress of King Henry VIII

Chapter Twenty-Seven: My Birthday Banquet

Queen Victoria

February 14th, 1519

I laughed as I watched Henry offer me a bouquet of roses.

"Thank you, Henry," I said as he kissed my forehead. He bowed his head before taking my crown from Morgana and placing it gently on my head.

"You are nineteen years old now Vicky!" Henry said as he helped me stand up.

"Thank you, my love. And thank you for the banquet you are throwing my honor." I said as he offered me his arm.

"It is my pleasure. You are my Queen and tonight we will formally introduce Edward to court." He stated as we made our way out of my chambers and towards the banquet hall. The trumpets played and page boys held the doors opened and we walked inside.

As we walked by our people they all bowed or curtsied low to the ground. I nodded at every single one of them before Henry and I got to our thrones and stood there.

"Thank you all for coming tonight. We celebrate my wife, Your Queen's, birthday today. But also tonight we formally introduce our son to court. Our son who has long been awaited and long prayed for." Henry began as he grabbed my hand and firmly held it.

"So I propose we raise a toast both to my wife and to my son," Henry said as Charles handed him a goblet.

"To Queen Victoria and Prince Edward!" He called out and everyone repeated it. I bowed my head in thanks before clearing my throat. I watched as Lady Byron stepped forward and handed me, Edward. I balanced him gently on my hip and faced the crowd.

"Though it is my birthday we also welcome our son to court. I am very happy and very proud to introduce to you all Prince Edward Jonathan Tudor, Prince of Wales. You have been prayed for such a long time and our answers were answered. " I said and everyone cheered softly at us.

"He is my little boy and I never thought I would stand here and introduce him to you all. So I ask that for tonight before you all sleep you pray for him. May he grow strong to be a good king after his father." I said and everyone clapped their hands.

I nodded my head before turning to Lady Byron and she took Edward back.

"I believe he needs to be changed. And do not forget to give Henri his medicine. When Henry and I visited him earlier today he had a horrible cough." I said and Lady Byron bowed her head.

"Of course, Your Majesty. I will take care of it. Just enjoy your birthday banquet." She said and I nodded before turning around and taking my seat next to Henry. He took my hand in his and kissed it softly.

"Happy Birthday darling." He said as our food was brought towards us.

"Thank you. I use to hate my birthday because it was always cold but with you, it never feels cold." I whispered as I fixed his hair. Henry nodded before he began eating his food.

Henry and my mother went all out for my birthday having all of my dinners. Smoked ham, white rice, and vegetable soup. And my cake will be a rich sponge cake and frosted with vanilla.

"My favorites," I said and Henry nodded.

"Of course, only the best for my Queen." He said and I laughed as I picked up my spoon and began eating my soup.

"You only say that when you do something Henry. So what did you do?"

"I have done nothing bad. That I hope." He said and I rolled my eyes before going back to eating my soup. Once I was done my second maid brought me my smoked ham and rice.

"Would you like the meat juice poured over your rice, Majesty?"

"Yes, it adds flavor to the rice," I said and she bowed her head before doing as I said and then walking away.

"Your Majesty, a gift has arrived for you," Morgana said and I raised an eyebrow at her.

"A gift? I accepted gifts for my birthday earlier today." I said as Lord Julien walked over with a box.

"Who is it from?" Henry asked as Julien placed the box in front of me.

"It is from Ferdinand, The Prince of Austria. He left a note." Henry said and I raised an eyebrow before grabbing the note from the box and reading it.

May this serve you well, I had it crafted specifically for you. Happy Birthday Your Majesty. -Ferdinand, Prince of Austria.

"Crafted for me? Open the box." I ordered and Julian opened the box and I gasped when I saw a sword with a gold handle.

"It is beautiful," I said as I lifted up the sword.

"Careful, Vicky."

"I know how to wield a sword, Henry. I spoke to Charles and he is going to train me." I said as I put the sword back into the case and gave it back to Julien.

"Put it in my apartment," I said and he bowed his head and walked away. I turned to Henry who was staring at me.

"Training. Why do you need to be trained?"

"I am the Queen of England, Henry. And the mother of the Prince of Wales. I need to know to defend myself." I said before the music began and I smiled.

"Would you care to dance Vicky?" Henry said as he stood up and offered me his hand. I gladly handed it and allowed him to pull me up and onto the dance floor. I bowed my head to him before he wrapped his arms around me and we began waltzing around the dance floor.

He spun me around and when he pulled me back into his arms I gasped as he dipped me.

"What? I'm not going to drop you?" He whispered and I shivered as he brought me back up.

"You never have and you never will," I whispered before I kissed him softly.

"How about after we cut your cake we go back to my chambers?" He whispered before the song ended and everyone clapped for us.

"I like that idea. It has been a very long time." I said and I watched as Henry's eyes turned a dark color before grinning.

"It has been. Are you sure you are up for tonight?"

"Are you?"