Chapter 160: Becoming A Woman
December, 1616
Mary shifted slightly in her chair. Mother had asked her to attend her in her chamber at Greenwich today, and Mary wasn’t really sure why. Mother didn’t spend that much time with her, at least not as much as she used to, instead spending a lot of time with Henry’s children, which Mary understood. Her nephews and niece were young and Anna and Henry needed the help, but Mary still felt a little hurt at that. But now Mother had asked her to attend her.
Was it because of something she’d said or done? Or was it because of what had happened yesterday, when Mary had woken up to find herself sleeping on bloodstained sheets. She’d screamed when she’d seen the sheets, and it had taken both Mrs Robinson and the Countess of Perth to get Mary to calm down. The sheets had been changed and Mary had had a nice cool glass of cherry wine, and been allowed to calm down.
Mother had arrived then, taken one look at the scene and then told Mary to find her the next day, and so here she was. “Mary, sweetheart, are you well?” Mother asked, making Mary blink.
“I….” Mary said unsure of how to respond.
“You’re wondering why you’re here?” Mother suggested.
“Yes.” Mary said, deciding to go for the truth.
“Don’t worry you’ve not done anything wrong.” Mother said softly. “I simply thought after what happened yesterday you might want to talk about it, that you might have some questions you wanted answering.”
Mary thought on that, that was actually quite logical and she wondered why she hadn’t thought of that before. Eventually she said. “I…is it going to keep happening?” That terrified her, waking up every day, or every month to find her sheets covered in blood.
Mother sighed. “I’m afraid so, yes. But it need not be as it was yesterday.”
“Really?” Mary asked, daring to hope.
“Yes, it may vary in terms of how long the cycle lasts, but it won’t be quite as vicious as this was.” Mother said.
“Why does it happen?” Mary asked, she wanted to know why her body was bleeding when she hadn’t done anything to make it bleed.
Mother sighed. “Because you are a woman or are becoming a woman now, and this is your body’s way of showing you that.”
“But I’m only eleven!” Mary protested. “I’m not ready to be a woman yet!” Especially if it meant getting married and doing that thing that produced children.
“I know, sweetheart, I know, but God has made it so that changes will start coming over your body from now.” Mother said.
“What sort of changes?” Mary asked.
“You will grow taller, and if your father’s family is any indication you will be quite tall. Your breasts will grow, and you will experience feelings that might be unusual to you.” Mother said.
“Like?” Mary asked though she wondered if these were the same feelings that led to children being produced.
“Thoughts and feelings that might scare you when you first feel them, but just remember that they are perfectly normal, and there is nothing wrong with them.” Mother said.
Mary nodded, though she wasn’t quite clear about what thoughts or feelings Mother expected her to feel. “I…are they romantic feelings and thoughts?” Mary asked.
Mother looked as if she was struggling to find a proper answer, but then she simply nodded and said. “Yes, sweetheart.”
Mary nodded and then said. “I don’t feel different.” If she was becoming a woman surely she should feel different no?
Mother laughed. “You won’t for a little while, the changes will be small at first before becoming greater as time goes on.”
“That sounds fun.” Mary said smiling.
Mother smiled as well and said. “It can be.”
A moment passed and then another and then Mother said. “And remember if you ever have a question about what’s happening to you and your body, please don’t hesitate to talk to me, you can tell me anything, sweetheart.”
Mary nodded and said. “I will, Mother.”
Mother nodded, shifting the conversation onto something else. “Mrs Robinson tells me that you’ve been spending a lot of time reading up books written by Sir Francis Drake.”
Mary felt her eyes widen then, worrying that she was about to get told off. Such books weren’t for girls after all, at least that was what she’d been told by someone or the other. “I have.” She replied tentatively.
“And, how have you found them?” Mother asked.
“Very interesting.” Mary said, her caution being replaced by enthusiasm. “They’re very informative and go into a lot of detail about the steering of a ship and the running of a crew.” Mary loved that part, examining how people functioned in such proximity for so long, it was fascinating.
“I see.” Mother said.
Mary looked at Mother and saw that her brow was furrowed. “Is that wrong?” She asked then.
“Not at all, sweetheart.” Mother replied. “Indeed, I think it’s a good thing.”
“You do?” Mary asked surprised.
“Yes, I see no reason why you can’t have an interest in the navy and in sailing. Indeed, given our family’s history, I’d be surprised if you didn’t.” Mother said.
“The fact that I’m a girl isn’t a bad thing?” Mary asked softly.
Mother took her hand. “Not at all, in fact I think it’s a good thing.”
“You do?” Mary asked surprised.
“I do.” Mother said. “Why should the boys be the only ones who get to discover the joys of the sea? God did not make it against his word for women to sail. Therefore, there is no reason why you too cannot sail.”
“Truly?” Mary asked, excited, could this mean she got her own ship?
“Truly.” Mother replied.
Mary squealed, got up and hugged Mother tightly.
Mother laughed and said. “Now, you will need to show what you know do you understand?”
Mary pulled back and nodded. “I do.”
“Good.” Mother replied. “Now, go, and get some food.” Mary nodded, letting go of her mother and bounding toward the table with a spring in her step.