Don't think so! Although Elizabeth is always Lillibet to the family, never her full name
Thank you, so is Henry! But George's birth is why Mary can't be called Henry's Mistake, as I think @Ogrebear once called her
A Queen Twice Over: Mary Tudor the Elder Marries Francis I of France
- Thread starter FalconHonour
- Start date
@FalconHonour: I lose my laptop for a few weeks and you're killing off infants! Can I ever leave you alone? I mean, I knew it was coming, but still...
On the plus side - yay, more adorable babies!
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Also, remember, Mary is a Tudor. Would you make her angry by interfering in her plans? I, certainly, would not.
And Boleyn babies at that!!
No, I wouldn't either! I prefer my head attached to my shoulders, thank you 😛
That I can agree with. I wouldn't want to be in the same room as the famous Tudor temper start to fire up. *shivering*
You make a Tudor angry and God help you, your family, and your cow. They'll kill them all.
I think you want the Harry Potter thread for that!
Hum... I wonder who Mary's Chief Mage was?
Sorry not sorry. Three monarchies and counting>>>bovine hoodo voodo
Section LXI -April/May 1525
Windsor, April 1525
“Honestly, darling, I don’t know why I bothered ordering George a cradle. He’s hardly ever in it,” Henry teases.
Mary, who has just taken George into her arms – taken him milk drunk and sleepy straight from the wet-nurse’s arms – only laughs as the baby nestles into her warmth and dozes off.
“I don’t know why you expected anything different. You’re the one who read me Marco Polo’s Travels during my confinement. You remember the description of the Cathay Prince, don’t you? The one who was thought to be so precious that even his feet weren’t allowed to touch the ground? He was carried everywhere. [1] Why shouldn’t our son be the same? Isn’t he just as precious? Besides, George hardly ever cries when he’s being held. He’s happy in people’s arms. And you want him to be happy, don’t you?”
“Of course!” Henry exclaims, raising a placating hand, “Our son is the greatest treasure in England. Of course he should be given whatever makes him happy. I take it your sister says he’s growing well, then?”
“Margaret’s never seen a healthier child,” Mary boasts proudly, and Henry beams. He’s waited so long for an heir. To hear George is thriving and a joy to be around is balm to his long-borne hidden wounds. Moreover, the boy is clearly a tonic to Mary’s spirits as well. Gone is the fractious, peevish woman who carried both Lillibet and George. George’s birth has helped Mary relax into her role as Queen, and she is a witty ray of sunshine now, much more like the girl whom Henry was entranced by three and a bit years ago. He can’t wait to see her return to Court after her churching. Now that she’s happier in herself, she’ll be a much better wife and Queen, and probably a better mother as well.
Admittedly, she does dote on George rather more than is likely good for the boy – whoever heard of a baby who is never in his cradle, for heaven’s sake? - but then she’s young and likely still riding the wave of delight that comes with birthing a Prince. It’s only just over a week since she gave birth after all. There’s still plenty of time for her to get her humours back in balance and for things to settle down?
Having reassured himself thus, Henry smiles at Mary and rises, “I’ll leave His Highness to sleep then. I’ve a Privy Council meeting to get to. But shall we dine together this afternoon?”
“I’d like that,” Mary smiles and Henry kisses her temple.
“It’s a bargain, my sweet. Order the cooks to make whatever you fancy, and I’ll see you after Nones.”
With that, he strides from the room, shaking his head and laughing to himself as he hears Mary demanding George be wrapped in a lambswool blanket lest he catch cold. Bless her, she only wants the best for their golden boy.
Fontainebleu, May 1525
“My brother has a son! My brother has a son!” Marie bursts into Francis’s chambers, literally singing the words, “My brother has a son!”
Francis cannot help but laugh. He can’t remember the last time he saw Marie this enthused about anything. Definitely not since little Marie passed away last December. Her sudden delight is infectious.
“I know, darling,” he chuckles, standing from his desk to catch her by the waist as she spins gleefully in his direction, “Henry wrote to me as well. He’s asked if I’ll be godfather.”
“Have you said yes? Have you said yes!”
Hope shines in Marie’s eyes, and Francis laughs again and then nods. “I have, yes.”
Marie squeals, snatching the letter Francis proffers so quickly she almost tears it.
Francis watches her, shaking his head indulgently. Most of the time, Marie is the perfect French Queen, but moments like these betray the fact that beneath the meticulous façade lies an impulsive young girl, a girl who is still very much English in her sympathies.
Why, she hasn’t even thought about the fact that George’s birth means Henri will never inherit England alongside his cousin Mary! Or that therefore, there will never be a Valois Empire straddling the Channel in the way there was once a Plantagenet one.
“We should hold a tournament! We should hold a tournament for George!” Marie’s excited exclamation breaks into Francis’s musings, and he blinks at her.
“The French? Hold a tournament for the Duke of Cornwall? I’ve never heard of such a thing!”
“Oh, but it’s not just for the Duke of Cornwall. It’s for your godson. For my nephew,” Marie wheedles, winding her arms around Francis and looking pleadingly up at him, “Please, my love? You know how much it would mean to me. Besides, we haven’t held a tournament in months. Your men will be getting rusty.”
Francis chuckles wryly, “You won’t take no for an answer, will you? Oh, all right. I suppose we could all do with something to cheer us up after the last few months.”
Marie squeals in delight and kisses Francis hard.
“Thank you! Thank you!”
[1] I have no idea whether or not this really is in Marco Polo's Travels, but it sounds like the kind of thing that might be - and very much the kind of idea that Mary would latch on to!
I am kinda glad that Mary is a happier and less shitty person now. Hope that stays…and without negative consequences for Diane and others.
Ah poor Francis and his plans for the Valois dynasty to rule England too.
Ah poor Francis and his plans for the Valois dynasty to rule England too.
He is! He's just so thrilled to see her happy again!
They are. For the moment.
They've just had a son. What did you think they were going to be like?