Soon after the lessons with Thomas Moore, Elizabeth and Mary were taken to their shared bedchambers where they continued their studies with their governess. Lady Salisbury was lecturing the princesses about how their parents are important to the kingdom and why they must take their responsibilities seriously. She noticed that Mary was dazing off and said to her, a little annoyed, "Princess Mary! *Mary jumped at her governess' shout* Are you even paying attention?" Mary replied, glancing at her sister, "My apologies, Lady Salisbury. I was distracted." Lady Salisbury only sighed in annoyance then continued. The herald announced, "His Majesty, the King!" Elizabeth and Mary glanced at each other with surprise but dropped into curtsies, as did their governess. Henry entered the room and smiled at his two daughters. He said to them, opening his arms, "My daughters." Elizabeth smiled at her father and gracefully walked over to her father.
Henry smiled proudly at his eldest, there was nothing that could explain how proud he was of Elizabeth. Henry brought his eldest into his embrace then brought his youngest into his embrace. After the embrace, Henry felt it was time that he needed to tell the two girls about their half-brother and Elizabeth's betrothal to the Dauphin of France. He knew that his wife would be displeased about it but it was his place as the girls' father and the King of England to find them good marriages and to secure an alliance for the sake of England. The man pulled the children aside and sat on the window seat. He placed Mary on his knee and patted the place next to him for Elizabeth. Henry said to the two girls, "I am sure you girls both know of your duties as princesses. Yes?" Elizabeth nodded and replied, "Yes, Papa. To be a wife of a good household and to secure an alliance for England." Henry nodded at his eldest daughter and said to her, "Yes, my precious jewel. I am sure you two girls have heard of the rumors around court?" Mary glanced at Elizabeth. Out of the two girls, it would be Elizabeth who had heard of the rumors. Despite Elizabeth being only six years old, she was very smart and could take in information faster than any other children her age. She had heard about her father having an affair with Elizabeth Blount, one of her mother's ladies-in-waiting. The woman ended up having a pregnancy and gave birth to a boy, long waited for by her father. One her mother could only dream of.
The young Elizabeth remembered the nights her mother would be in tears and she would do her best to comfort her. She only wished that she could take her mother's pain away and make the woman pay for what pain she had caused her mother. It wasn't her mother's fault that she couldn't produce any children, of course, that was her point of view. The girl knew that her father blamed her mother for not conceiving any healthy children. Henry knew that Elizabeth was hesitant to say yes, since he knew that she knew of the rumors. He said to the two girls, "Well, the rumors are true. I do have a son with Lady Blount. You have a brother." Mary thought, 'A bastard brother. One who could never get the throne.' Elizabeth only held her tongue, it wasn't her place to scold her father for his infidelity. Henry took a deep breath and said to them, "As for another thing, Elizabeth is betrothed to Prince James of France." Mary's eyes widened and said, glancing between her sister and her father, "The Dauphin of France?" Henry nodded at his youngest. His concerns turned to Elizabeth, seeing that she didn't respond. Elizabeth knew that she would be betrothed to a prince at some point in her life but she never expected to be betrothed at age six. The girl said to her father, "If it is God's will, then it shall be done." Henry smiled at his eldest daughter and placed a kiss on her forehead. He could only hope that Catherine would be calm when he tells her about the betrothal.