Windsor Palace, Kingdom of England, August 1508
The Queen of England made for her husband’s chambers, her head held high as she tried to disguise her distress. As she entered the room, where her beloved Henry was reading he closed the book and looked up at her from his desk,”What is the matter Giovanna? You look as if something terrible has happened?
She shook her head,“It is nothing Henry… Everything is fine.”
He chuckled,”So I suppose you just cry for no reason? I know something is wrong… Please tell me, my dear...”
“It’s Henry...”
The elder Henry rose an eyebrow,“What of him? Is he ill? Does he struggle in his studies?”
“No, he complains that you won’t let him go hunting.”
“Does he disobey me and go anyways? Why do you look so upset?”
“I… I told him that he could not go because we love him, and that he is your only son… He then asked me whose fault that is.” She paused as a tear rolled down her cheek and her voice cracked,” I know he didn’t mean it, but I just thought of our little John, and how I failed to give you a living son.”
Henry sat silent for a moment, serene as he narrowed his eyes…
Finally he looked back to her,“Tell me, did you have whipping boys in Naples?”
Giovanna shook her head, feeling as if she swallowed ice but told the truth anyway,”No, my father, King Ferrante disciplined us personally. My mother warned me of his temper, and I seldom provoked it, though he would slap my hand if I made an error in my studies. One time when my niece Sancha and I were fourteen he caught her laying with a stableboy… He beat her, gave her a black eye, and kicked her in the ribs as she cried, cursing at her and threatening to throw her in a nunnery. She was the lucky one... He personally castrated and blinded the poor boy, who was just two years older than us… Finally, after two days of torture… and mutilation... he cut his belly with a sword, and young Alessandro died in agony. He then had the surgeon stuff his body, and Alessandro joined the others who dared to prove his wrath, at the dining table that he liked to show the Papal Legate.” (1)
Her husband maintained a neutral expression, until replying with a lilted voice,”That is cruel… Yet you behave and act like the Queen you are… I have been too lax with my son.”
Giovanna’s heart hammered, and she kneeled to the floor supplicating herself,”Henry, please do not hurt him! He did not mean to upset me, I beg you!”
Henry shook his head,”No. I would never hurt my son as your father did to his granddaughter.” He then stood up,”Come with me, I think some fresh air would do us good.”
Giovanna smiled, though if she knew what was to occur, she may have reconsidered that response… The walk through the hallway was short, and as they exited the palace through a pair of double doors, Henry motioned to a groom,”Fetch The Prince of Wales and Charles Brandon, tell them I have something urgent to discuss with them.”
The groom bowed in respect,”Of course your majesty.”
As they continued walking, at a leisurely pace through the parkland Giovanna asked,”Why is it that you want Henry and his friend Charles to meet with us?”
“Oh I just thought we would go for a nice lovely stroll before the weather turns.
Giovanna smiled,”I am glad that you are forgiving of him..”
Giovanna did not notice the razor-thin smile that her husband had as he replied,”Yes, I will forgive him..”
…
After waiting a few minutes, Henry and his friend Charles Brandon arrived, alongside a few guards, who were to accompany them as they walked. Things started companionably enough, with Henry and Charles inquiring as to the King’s health. Suddenly, the King responded in a cold tone,”I hear that you were cruel to the Queen over the death of your half-brother… I would advise you not to ever do such a thing again.”
As his son mumbled out some apologies, Henry gave a curt order,”Guards, hold the Prince.”
Giovanna felt ready to faint,
No, he cannot hurt his son… Surely, he wouldn’t... Her husband then shot his son a stern glare as the confused guards took hold of him, nodding,”Oh you will be sorry boy…”
Charles Brandon for his part stood as still as a statue, to the right of the Prince perhaps unsure of whether his loyalties should lie with his friend or his king. Suddenly, The King approached the young man and slapped him seething, and with each strike scolded his son, who helplessly watched as his unmoving friend was attacked while Giovanna begged her husband to stop, yet the King pressed on,”This is for disrespecting the Queen..” With the second blow came,”This is for making light of John’s death..” As the third and final blow hit Lord Brandon’s cheek the elder Henry sneered,”And this is for being ungrateful for the privileges I clearly should not give you.”
As the King turned back to his son Giovanna tried to stop him, crying out,”Henry stop, I beg of you!!!”
Her husband brushed past her without a word and came face to face with his son, the younger Henry gritting his teeth in defiance. The King then shook his head, slapping his son hard across the face,”Should you feel unhappy under me, this is a taste of how you would fare with King Ferrante as a father.”
With his son recoiling from the slap, Henry took his wife’s hand,”Let’s go to my chambers dear, my blood runs hot…” (2)
(1) The stableboy story is fiction created for the purposes of this TL, but Giovanna’s father King Ferrante of Naples was known for his cruelty, and for taxidermizing those who crossed him…
(2) For those who are concerned, no, this is not a case of marital rape, though Giovanna is not particularly enthused she hopes that she can calm Henry down…
