Isabella of Spain often listened to the light murmur of her children sleeping. Joanna and Mary often shared their bed to each other and Elizabeth cuddled her mother. The boys did as they were told.
"Mary? Wake up darling." Isabella kissed her daughters head
"Mummy." Mary sighed rubbing her eyes
"You leave for Rome today." Isabella smiled
Mary was going to Rome to be educated as the future Holy Roman Empress. Charles V's future wife at least that's what everyone thought. Mary was only six.
Charles Brandon and his family had survived the plague but Anne Fitzroy died. This caused turmoil between Isabella and Henry as well as Charles.
"I don't want to leave." Mary whispered
"But you have to. It's what your father's wants." Isabella kissed her forehead
"Is it truly?" Mary asked looking at her mother
"Unfortunately, yes." Isabella slowly helped Mary up from her bed and to dress before breakfast.
—————
At breakfast Mary was listening to her father talk about Joanna and her reading.
"What about me father?" Mary looked at him not eating
"What do you mean?" Henry ate his food
"I leave for Rome today." Mary said
"You do? Really?" Henry looked at her with a twinkle in his eye
"I do papa." Mary protested
"No you're lying. You can't go. Whose going to hide in my chamber and scare me?" Henry asked her
"I'll send letters of the stories." Mary said proudly
"You will? Goody. I'll use them against..." He mouthed the word Joanna
"Papa!" Joanna smacked him on the hand
"Oh! You just committed treason! What punishment should she endure, Mary?" He looked at her and winked
"Death." Mary said coldly
"How so?" He questioned
"Execution by beheading with an axe." Mary giggled
"Per say what if I used the axe against you?" Joanna asked
"You wouldn't dare!" Henry smiled
The three of them grabbed their small dining knives and fought with each other giggling and smiling.
"Now now now. If one of you gets hurt I'm not cleaning it up." Isabella smiled at Elizabeth
"What if we have them all beheaded and we rule mama?" Elizabeth whispered
"Then we'd surely be lonely." Isabella smiled at her daughter
"Very true indeed." Elizabeth giggled.
The family enjoyed their breakfast before farewelling Mary who would take a boat to Rome accompanied by Clara who was proud to be offered the chance to go.
—————
"Can you believe Mary is gone?" Isabella asked Henry
"The castle is surely grateful. It's much more quiet now." He sadly smiled
Henry would never admit his favourite was Mary and her spontaneous mind. The girl he adored sent to Rome by his own hand. Most likely never to be seen again.
"Do you think she'll like Rome?" Henry asked Isabella
"She will. She loves art and music. They have much of that." Isabella remembered her holidays to Rome before she was sent to England.
"But politics are often the cause of young death." Henry pointed out gutted at his decision
"True but Mary is smarter than any of those religious men combined. She'll out manoeuvre them all."
"She is your daughter." Henry smiled at his wife
"Indeed she is. But she has your temper." Isabella grinned as the young teenager she once was.
"How dare you?" He grabbed Isabella and threw her on the bed tickling her, "Take it back!"
"You're only proving it's true!" Isabella laughed
"Oh really?" He kissed her
—————
Wolsey and Henry talked most of the day.
"And have you thought of the alliance with the French?" Wolsey asked
"Sending away Lizzie just after I sent Mary away. I can't. Not yet." Henry said
"Princess Elizabeth would have everything she'd ever need. A safe and happy home." Wolsey continued
"Enough!" Henry shouted, "Why does this alliance matter so much to you?"
"No reason." Wolsey bowed and left
"Oi boy!" Wolsey snapped at his spy
"Mary is successfully on her way to Rome and by the time she is there she'll be dead. Henry will hear the news and blame the Roman Empire. He'll have to turn to his French allies." The boy grinned wickedly
"Very good." Wolsey smiled
I'm so so sorry this is so short but next chapter will be longer and about Mary and Joanna. Maybe some Elizabeth and more magic as well!
YOU ARE READING
Can't Pretend // TSP
FanficIsabella of Castile is the daughter of the King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Her sister is Catherine of Aragon. She is told to help her sister to settle into England. But Isabella finds love with Harry Tudor who she was raised with. Isabella was s...
