The Baker's Daughter Volume 2 by Bonny G Smith

Author:Bonny G Smith [Smith, Bonny G]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781717107817
Published: 2018-05-14T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 38

“A woman is never feared or respected as a man is, whatever her rank.”

– Mary of Hungary, Regent of the Netherlands

Richmond Palace, December 1553

Mary huddled as close to the fire as possible, but there seemed to be no remedy for the bone-chilling cold that December. She drew the fur cape more closely about her shoulders and blew on her fingers; it was so cold in the room, despite the fire heaped on the hearth, that her breath made white clouds that lingered on the air before dissipating. She ran her hand over the smooth fur of the cape; it had been her mother’s, left to her in Katharine of Aragon’s will. But her father had not allowed it to be sent to her and she had come into it only recently, when Susan Clarencius had been looking for some other garment, and had happened upon it, in a trunk long stored away.

She longed to rise and mull some wine; that would warm her from the inside out. But it was too cold to even think about getting up from her chair, where at least some warmth had been stored by sitting in one place for so long. She could have rung for one of her ladies to come and mull the wine for her, but private moments were all too rare, and she wanted to savor alone the reading of the document that lay in her lap.

For at last she held in her hands the final draft of the marriage treaty between herself, Queen Mary of England, and Prince Philip of Spain. It was this document that would ensure not only her own personal happiness, but also the Catholic faith in England. For once it was finalized and ratified, there would be nothing to stop Philip’s departure from Spain. They would be married as soon as he arrived in England, and God willing, she would be with child before the snowdrops bloomed. Her stomach gave a pleasant little flip at the thought. She was all at once eager and fearful at the same time. What would her cousin think of her? Could he love her? Would he grow to love England, and the English people? She lifted her eyes and gazed at Philip’s portrait. Only time would tell.

But of more immediate concern was the help that he would lend to her burden of rule. Renard kept warning her that she had three great enemies of which she must be mindful, and for which it was vital that remedies must be planned and developed. These were the king of France; the heretics; and her sister, the Princess Elizabeth.

Henri of France would always be a thorn in her side; how could it be otherwise? The two countries were ancient enemies and always would be. She had written to Henri upon her accession to assure him of her good faith; he was mightily perturbed by her choice of husband. But what could he expect? She was related by blood to the emperor and an alliance between them was a foregone conclusion.

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