The Mistress of King Henry VIII

Chapter Thirty-Two: Betrayal

Queen Victoria

April 11th, 1519

Almost a week has passed since I was almost poisoned at the feast. Henry had almost torn apart the entire kitchen and the cooks to see if it was one of them.

The cook who had prepared my food had disappeared and both Henry and Charles were looking for the cook.

I nodded my head to the people of my court as I held Edward in my arms and held Henri's hand as we walked in the corridors along with Julien and Morgana.

"Your Majesty." A voice said and I looked up to see Mary coming out of her chambers.

"Hello, Mary. Adjusting to being back in England?" I asked as she bowed her head to me.

"I hated France. It was far too sunny for my liking." She said and I let out a laugh as I bounced Edward.

"Oh! You have not meant them yet. Mary these are your two nephews. Lord Henri FitzRoy and Prince Edward Tudor, the Prince of Wales." I said and Mary smiled as she looked at the two boys.

"I can't believe you took Lord FitzRoy in," Mary said as she offered to take Edward from me and I allowed her to.

"Well, I had his mother killed for spreading lies that Catherine was still Queen," I said and Mary shook her head.

"I told my brother not to marry Catherine. That nothing but horrible things would happen if he married our brother's widow." Mary explained as we continued our walk.

"Catherine yelled at Mary the last time we visited her. Because Mary called me Mama Victoria." I said and Mary stopped walking as she laid Edward down in her arms.

"Catherine! She is still allowed to write letters is she?"

"Yes, Henry just banished her to the estate that she owned. Why?" I asked as I straightened Henri and placed my hands on his shoulder.

"Has my brother thought that Catherine ordered this? News has most likely reached her you are with your second child. I mean Catherine has a son but he died a week later and her second pregnancy right after they annouced it to us she suffered a miscarriage." Mary explained.

"I was here for the last one. Henry was trying very hard to court me but I would not let him as long as he was still married to Catherine." I whispered and Mary handed Edward to Morgana.

"I will go speak with my brother and have him check Catherine's estate and her letters. She always kept copies of the things she wrote. I believed it to be odd." Mary said before she bowed lowly to me before rushing away with her ladies.

I stared after her for a moment before sharing a look with Morgana who shook her.

"Nevermind Mary. Let us continue our walk before we return the boys to the nursery." I said and Julien nodded as he started to lead us on our walk again. Henri broke apart from me and rushed to Julien's side and tugged on his hand earning me to laugh.

"What if it was Catherine who tried to poison you?" Morgana asked as we turned and began our circle back to the nursery.

"If it was heavens knows what Henry will do to her. I have heard all the tales of Catherine's miscarriages. Mary is truly her only healthly child." I stated as we walked past Woosley and he bowed to me before continuing with his men.

"She lost all of them? She was pregnant five times?"

"Yes, two boys survived birth but died shortly after and the other two were miscarriages," I explained as we reached the nursery and I took Edward from Morgana and kissed his forehead.

"Maman t'aime mon petit prince!" (Mommy loves you, my little prince!) I said before I set him on the floor and he began crawling to Lady Marie.

"Did they enjoy outside?" She asked and I nodded as Henri rushed over to me and I scooped him into my arms.

"Yes, remember they have double the guards now. But if they do not say the code ring the alarm." I explained as I kissed Henri's head as Lady Marie took him from me.

"Of course, Your Majesty. Enjoy the rest of your day. Shall I bring the boys around before bed?"

"Yes, I would like to have them in my chambers tonight," I said as I waved goodbye to the boys before Julien and Morgana led me outside and I stopped when I saw Henry in his gear.

"Henry! Where are you going?" I asked earning him to stop as he faced me.

"To Catherine's estate. My sister brought me her suspicions and then we finally caught the cook and he had letters saying Catherine paid him to come to the palace and try to either kill you or force you to have a miscarriage." Henry explained and I stopped as my hands wrapped around my stomach.

"The child is innocent. What is wrong with her?" I whispered and Henry pulled me into his arms and held me without hurting the baby.

"Shh, she will never try to hurt you again. This is why we have testers." Henry said as he tried to reassure me.

"But she almost succeeded. All because I am doing something her body failed at." I hissed and Henry stared at me for a moment as he fixed a piece of my hair.

"Go into your chambers and relax. We are riding to Catherine's estate and taking her plus her entire household in and to the tower. Those who did not know will be set free but those who knew much like Catherine will be hung." Henry said and I nodded as he kissed my forehead.

"I shall be back in time for Lady Marie to bring the boys to our chamber for bedtime. Morgana, Julien, please make sure she relaxes and eats something." Henry said and the two bowed in front of us.

"Yes, Your Majesty." They said and I bowed my head at Henry.

"Bonne chance." (Godspeed) I said and Henry nodded at me before he turned and walked into the courtyard towards the horses that waited for us.

"Come Vicky. You heard Henry." Morgana said as she wrapped our arms together and we began making our way to my chambers.