Tudor Rose

Lives Ahead

August 1509 | Holbrook Residence

The sun never set on the Holbrook family. Tucked away in a sprawling countryside home, they were the picture of greatness and fortune to all those living across the land — a baron and baroness in love, three beautiful daughters, and enough money to buy anything they could ever want. They mastered the art of having just enough, always easy to admire and difficult to resent. They had plenty to be grateful for, but not so much that were entitled to being boastful. They were the closest thing to perfection that England had ever seen, and their history would surely be a prized possession of the country.

The family seemed to be buzzing when a demand for the three Holbrook daughters to live in the young King Henry's royal court arrived. It made the most perfect sense that they had secured such a chance. They sat around their library — which was practically bursting from how many books it held — chattering about the details. To see the family gathered together was a surprisingly rare sight. They were distant, but content. Regardless of what one thought of the Holbrook family, one thing was incredibly clear — their future was going to be so bright. It was destined to be that way

Lord Thomas Holbrook, the second Baron of Keswick, was eager to turn this opportunity into his way to seize even more in life — more money, more valuables, more power. Though there was so much greatness to his name, he was cursed to never be happy enough. Everything he had, he expected to be simply the best. Even his wife, Kathryn. The baroness was once a grand beauty with a dazzling personality. Equal parts poise and charisma, she was the most promising wife. But her light dimmed over the years, from the inside out. Some time ago, she would have shared her husband's excitement to scheme and shine. Now, she just nodded along to his words, so few thoughts to herself that it was a wonder she even stayed awake most days. The love between the baron and baroness had faded away so slowly that it was hard to even notice it was gone. Until, of course, it became completely obvious.

It was very fortunate that no one looked beyond the smiles, nods, and laughs of their three daughters. Like their parents, the truth of the Holbrook girls was so far from the pleasantness they showed. They were the biggest asset of the family. Three daughters, three potential marriages. Most importantly, three chances at becoming the next queen of England.

Beatrice, the eldest, was a marvelous young woman. Though she was humble enough to never admit it, she was easily one of England's greatest beauties — ocean blue eyes, warm blonde hair, and a frame that everyone envied. Even her sisters, with their dark hair and eyes, never compared. A near perfect lady, it was one of the greatest mysteries how she was still unmarried at the age of twenty-six. Her youth was slipping away more each day. The slope of her delicate nose fell more and the lines around her eyes were becoming obvious. Surely the chance to live in the English king's court was what she had been waiting so long for. That was the natural assumption, and she would never have corrected anyone. Perhaps if she convinced everyone else, she would convince herself too.

The second daughter, Elizabeth, was much more complicated to know and much less enjoyable to look at. She was far from ugly, just lacking the dazzle that the rest of her family seemed to have. Her flaws seemed obvious. Her achievements were scarce. In her nineteen years, she had never seemed to live up to the glory of her sister and it haunted her. How would she ever survive in a court full of exceptional ladies if she could never measure up to her own sisters? Elizabeth, bold and belligerent, had everything to prove and almost nothing to lose.

With the features of Beatrice, the coloring of Elizabeth, and a personality that fell somewhere between the two was Anna, the youngest. She was only eighteen but lived as though she'd been through a thousand lives. She was defined by those around her as a modest beauty. She was a bit sharper and darker; captivating rather than pleasant. Her personality was like a dangerous flame, always one touch away from burning down the grandeur of her Holbrook lifestyle. She challenged people. To some, she seemed untamed. To all, she was fascinating. The perfect girl to watch, but never know. If anyone was made to live at court, it was dear Anna.

Gathered around each other, the family laid out their expectations for the time the girls would be spending at court. Thomas spoke of his expectations, something his daughters heard many times before. Marry higher, never lower. Return with a husband, or simply do not return at all. Success was a need, enjoyment was a want. This time, he spoke with more urgency. The family, though they were thought to be glorious and magnificent creatures, was just like any other. They were all getting older, with no heir for all of the grandeur. They were worried and confused, just as anyone would be.

Beyond affirming nods and small exclamations, Katheryn did not contribute much to the conversation. There was a hollowness to her that everyone pretended not to notice. If the rest of the family pretended with enough conviction that the baroness was still in her prime — beautiful woman, loving mother, dutiful wife — then perhaps she would be again.

The three daughters had wildly different expectations for their time in the king's court. Beatrice was desperate for a marriage. Her heart was still tortured from a past lover that was never able to be completely hers. But more than that, she was afraid of what would happen if she never married. Life was not kind to ladies who did not become wives. Elizabeth was approaching the same mindset. Focused, but hopeful. A bit more romantic and a bit more prone to daydream, but realistic nonetheless. For Beatrice and Elizabeth, there was no room for failure.

Anna, however, did not subscribe to the same belief. Since she was young, she had made it clear she would never marry. She was so sure she would always be a girl who only belonged to herself. Everyone around her wrote it off as a girlish dream; something she would, in time, grow out of. To Anna, she believed it to be completely true. She wanted no part of the king's court, and did not shy away from saying it.

"You will go," her father assured her, "It is up to me if you go and I have decided you will."

Anna's expression turned sour and she turned her head away.

Elizabeth leaned in towards her younger sister and giggled. Then, she whispered, "The sooner you find a husband, the sooner he can mysteriously disappear."

Anna laughed. She shook her head, expression turning stony again. "That's not what I want, either." She was deeply lost in her life — not a clue what she actually wanted! They could all see it.

In a swift motion, the baron stood. "Wouldn't one of you like to be the next queen of England?"