Queen Victoria of Cambridge
May 15th, 1521
I held Mary's hand as we walked the corridors. Everything was being set after Mary's funeral from the other day. Little Mary fought with us to go to her aunts funeral and Henry allowed her but said the other children were too young and couldn't come.
The court would still be in mourning for another two weeks before we went into light mourning mode.
"Victoria." I heard someone call out and I turned around to see Henry walking towards me with Margaret.
"You look as if you are to pop any day now." Margaret said as she bowed her head to me.
"Not yet. The doctors believe late June. Just another month. Has something happened?" I asked and Henry cleared his throat.
"I need you to talk some sense into Charles. I have tried and so has Margaret." He said and I stared at him for a moment wondering if this was a set up.
"Me? Has something happened? Is Francis alright?"
"Charles has sent Francis away to the royal nursery and has put his wet nurse in charge. He will not leave his quarters since the funeral. He refuses to eat or bathe." Margaret explained and I winced.
"And what do you expect me to do? Beat him to get up?"
Henry stared at me for a moment and nodded.
"You two were close once. Maybe your motherly instincts can knock some sense into him." He said before he leaned over and kissed my forehead before moving along with his sister. I stared after them for a moment before sighing.
"Julien?" I called out and my head guard turned to me and bowed.
"Take Mary to Lady Bryon. I have a Duke to deal with." I explained and Julien bowed his head.
"I serve at the pleasure of the Queen."
I watched him walk away with Mary before I placed a hand on my belly and turned to the south part of the castle where Charles and Mary's quarters were.
It took me nearly fifteen minutes to get there and the guards outside his door bowed to me.
"The Duke asked not to be disturbed Your Majesty." One said and I raised an eyebrow.
"Good thing he is only a Duke and I am a Queen. Now open those doors." I commanded and they jumped to their feet before opening the doors.
"Her Majesty, The Queen!" He announced and when I stepped inside I saw the mess Henry and Margaret spoke of.
"Charles! Charles where are you?" I called out before I heard footsteps and out he came.
"Henry and Margaret sent you didn't they? They couldn't get me to behave so they send it the mother to deal with me."
"Oh stop it. Henry said us being close once would likely speak to you. I know you mourn Mary in your own way but look at yourself Charles. I do not even recognize you."
He stared at me for a moment before laughing.
"Do you know why I mourn her? She was my scape goat. Being in court all the time it was always her. I came to see my son and she knew it. She left me a letter saying she knew all along and how it broke her heart but me being happy was more important." He confessed as he stepped forward and placed the letter on the table.
"Go on. Read it."
I stared at him as I reached up and grabbed the letter and unfolded it.
Dearest Charlie,
Everyone knew I was in love with you from the moment I was a child and would stare after you whenever you and Henry would take off on your adventures. When Henry said I could marry whomever I wanted after Louis and you agreed I was overjoy.
But then I found out about you and Victoria. At first I thought report her to the King and have her head cut off. But one day I heard you laugh with her and it wasn't how you laughed with me. And I knew. I knew then and there she was the one you truly loved.
I was pregnant with our first child then. So I sat back and let you be happy. Then you and Victoria stopped speaking and you grew sad. I should not have been happy. But I was. You began loving me again. Loving me as a husband should love his wife.
As I sit here dying I ache to be held in your arms like old times. Like when we first married and we would lay on the floor by the fire wrapped in all the fur you could find.
You loved me and I know it. But you didn't love me like you loved her.
Love Francis how you love Albert. Let those two bond as brothers. Let them be friends as you and Henry were growing up.
I do not want my boy to be alone as I was in my childhood with no one near my age. It is good he has Albert and his cousins.
I love you Charlie and I will be watching from heaven as your guardian angel. Please tell our son stories of me. Of how brave and wild I was.
Forever yours,
Mary, Duchess of Suffolk
I looked up from the letter and Charles was staring at me.
"It is not your fault she died Charles. She got sick and so did you. But they say Mary was always a sick child. She did not have the strength to fight it." I explained and Charles sighed.
"How is Albert?"
"A wild child. Growing into his own now. He tries very hard to bully Edward around. He misses you."
He nodded as he ran his fingers through his beard that was growing wild.
"I will make you a deal as you have done many times for Henry. You clean this place up, you bathe because my God you smell like a common whore. You leave Francis in the royal nursery with his brother and cousin so no one will think when you visit."
"And what do I get in return?"
"I ask Henry to appoint you to head the guards again. You will be able to do as you once did and be free like that."
He stared at me for a moment before stepping closer to me and falling to his knees. I gasped as I went to reach him but he only bowed his head.
He stood there for a moment and then reached up and placed a hand on my ever growing belly.
"Two are in there. Should you not be confined?"
"No, after how horrible it was confined with Albert I am going to be free until these two come into the world."
"What do you think they are?"
"Henry hopes for a boy and girl. But I hope for two girls." I said with a smile and Charles smiled before staring at me.
"I missed you, My Queen."
"I missed you as well Duke. Now get up and get going."