The Mistress of King Henry VIII

Chapter Fifty-Five: Trip to Wales

Queen Victoria of Cambridge 

January 15th, 1520

I sat beside Mary in the carriage with Henry across from us. We were making our way to Wales in order for Henry to meet with the soldiers at that border and for Mary and I to tour Wales. 

Today is Lady Isabella Boylen's funeral and Henry refused to attend. 

"Why will you not let it go Victoria?" 

"Well Henry! That little girl was your daughter! You publicly claimed her and today she will be buried and you are not there! You sent  your sister Mary to represent you!" I said as I flipped the page in Mary's book for her. 

"I never knew if she was truly mine Vicky." 

"It does not matter. Isabella was only one year old. She was innocent." I snapped before I saw Mary look between us. 

"Why must we go to Wales? It is so far away and very boring!" She whined and Henry chuckled softly. 

"Because they are our people! They see you as their Princess of Wales still!" 

"But I am not! Edward is the Prince of Wales!" 

"We know that Mary darling, but Edward is still to young to come with us on these visits. You are old enough and I believe you are wise enough to help us with some problems." I explained kindly and Mary smiled. 

"I can help?" 

"We would not have brought you here with us unless we thought so," Henry said before the carriage stopped. I peaked out of the curtain and saw that we had arrived in Wales and people were waiting for us. 

I turned to Mary and fixed her headpiece and cloak as Henry moved towards the carriage door so he could climb out first. As the door opened and Henry climbed out I had heard the cheers. He waved softly to the crowd before turning around and helping Mary out first. 

I stood up and made my way out of the carriage and grinned at the cheering crowd. 

"Your Majesties! Your Royal Highness! Welcome to Wales!" A man said as he approached us and I raised an eyebrow at him. 

"Lord Chamberlain! It is wonderful to see you again my friend. As you know this is my wife Queen Victoria! And my daughter Mary, Princess Royal." Henry introduced and I bowed my head softly to the Lord Protector of Wales. 

"It is an honor to have you here with us in Wales. The councilmen are ready when you are, Your Majesty." He said to Henry who bowed his head. He turned to me and I nodded. 

"I shall find something for Mary and me to do," I whispered as I pulled Mary closer to me and she looked at her father. 

Henry stared at us for a moment before looking towards Julian. 

'They are under your protections Julian." He said and Julian bowed lowly to Henry before he was led away. I watched as he walked away before looking down at Mary. 

"How would you like to introduce yourself to the people who are here to see us? You may take Lady Byron with you?" I offered and Mary grinned before rushing to Lady Byron and telling her what I had said. 

"I heard you fighting with His Majesty." A voice said and I looked to my right to see Charles. 

'I thought you were meant to be in the meeting with Henry and the councilmen?" I asked as I waved to a group of children that walked by. 

"Lord Chamberlain does not like me very much after I slept with his daughter." He said and I held back a laugh. 

"Took that poor girls innocent did you?" 

"You and I both know I was not the first one. What were you fighting about?" He asked as I stepped to follow Mary and he fell into line behind me. 

"Today is the funeral for his daughter Lady Byron and he sent your very pregnant wife to go attend in his name," I said and Charles sighed softly. 

"Henry does not believe that she was his daughter." He said and I whirled around to glare at him. 

"I do not care! He publicly said she was a Tudor and she died due to a horrible fever and he refused to attend the poor girls' funeral!" I hissed before I saw people stopping to look at us. I inhaled softly and closed my eyes before looking at Charles. 

"It was wrong. The child was innocent in every way." I whispered before I moved away from Charles and to Mary who was waving me over. 

"This is my momma! Queen Victoria!" She said and I smiled softly as I reached Mary. The small children and their parents bowed softly to me. 

"Welcome to Wales, Your Majesty. I am Fredrick." A small boy with black hair said as he bowed his head to me. 

'Why hello Fredrick. Thank you so much!" I said and his mother chuckled as she placed her hands on her son's shoulder. 

"It is an honor for you to be here Your Majesty. It means a lot to us here in Wales." She said and I smiled at the woman. 

"I am very happy to be here. May I question you on one thing?" 

"Of course!" Her husband said before I ignored him and turned to his wife. 

"The orphan children? Are they cared for? Educated?" I questioned and the woman sighed. 

"Not as they should be, Your Majesty." She confessed and I smiled softly before waving Charles over. 

"Yes, Your Majesty." 

"Have money brought to the orphanage here in Wales. So the children may have their three meals a day as well as to be staffed with a tutor and people to help them." I ordered and Charles bowed his head before walking away. 

The couple stared at me in awe and I smiled at them as I felt Mary wrap her arms around my skirt. 

"Children are innocent in every way. They deserve to be fed, educated, and cared for like every other human being."