Richmond Palace, Kingdom of England, January 1510
The bed was mercifully warm, especially given how brutally cold the winter was. She was in her sleeping husband’s arms, though the two of them were both clothed, for a few months ago, the last time they had tried to engage in the act of love, they had been unsuccessful. Giovanna hardly cared, it was nice when they were once able to do so, but it was not something that their marriage relied on, their love was deeper than that. Henry yawned as moonlight filtered into the room,”What do you think of Mary’s betrothal?”
Giovanna tried to jog her memory, and could not find the name of the man her middle stepdaughter was to marry,”You said she was to marry in Denmark?”
He nodded,”Yes, to the Crown Prince Christian, the heir to his father’s lands.”
“Is he not much older than her?” Giovanna asked.
“Well, he’s a few years younger than you are… Still, they say he is quite handsome… His mistress certainly seems to think so…”
She shot her husband a disapproving look,”Henry! You would wed her to a man who you know will be unfaithful?”
“Maybe he will not be… I am sure that Mary will be vivacious enough to win him over. Besides, Mary becoming Queen of Denmark would not be without its advantages… It will bring us more trade in the North Sea and will allow her to be close to Catherine once she leaves to marry the Duke of Burgundy.”
Placated by her husband’s words, Giovanna kissed him on the cheek,”Goodnight my love.”