Thomas Howard's Study

"You are welcome my dear and when you return I have someone who want's to meet you".

As I turn I ask my servant to watch her closely.

"I hope you enjoy your visit to your mother as well my dear".

His words make her ask at once, "who wants to meet me?" She frowned as she knew he was probably going to be watching her again.

I turn and talk to my daughter: " Mary have you ever heard of John More because he has offered his hand in marriage to you?"

"John More? Is he related to Sir Thomas More?" Mary asked him curiously. She had never heard of John More and she wondered how he knew her.

" John More is the son of Sir Thomas More my dear and he is a Lawyer and he noticed you when you went to Whitehall and he came to me and asked if he could meet you my dear" and he is fluent in Spanish but struggles a bit with English because he has been in Spain for too long".

" Would you like me to arrange a meeting Mary"?

Mary tried to remember if she had ever seen this man but nothing came to mind but obviously she must have made some kind of impression on him. "I will have to brush up on my spanish but yes I would like very much to meet him. I will not consent to marry any man without meeting him first."

" Great my dear I will let him know imediately he will be very grateful and his conversation will start in Spanish and you just try to follow my dear ok and where do you wish for him to meet you?"

"Thank you Father and I would be willing to meet him anywhere that he can." Mary told him and then she looked over at her Father, "how soon will be you be getting married again?"

"I shall inform him soon".

"I hope to get married soon".

"Thank you Father and I hope that all goes well so you can marry as soon as you wish." Mary told him with a smile.

"Thanks my dear daughter. I hope you like John More".

Mary nodded to her father. In her mind she wanted to try to embrace this possible arrangement. She knew that one day she would have to marry but Francis. He haunted her mind and all her memories of him made her want to cry for the pain of missing him. She hated that she had been so naive to think that she might have meant something to him, that he might have cared for her more than just a lady to warm his bed. The more she thought about marriage the more she thought about him and now she was fervantly hoping that perhaps John might be someone that she could truly care for.

"My precious daughter my lord John is willing to see you in your chambers at Whitehall and your mother is waiting for you there as well. " If you agree to this marriage I will let you see Francis".

"Then I shall travel to Whitehall to meet him and Mother." Mary said at once but then looked at her Father with surprise. "Why would you let me see Francis?"

" Because my dear daughter I know you miss him and want to be with him but I cannot allow you to marry him because you might deceive me again and so if you are willing you can marry John More and keep Francis as a dear friend and I hope you enjoy your visit to Whitehall."

" I will be there Mary so do not do anything out of order".

Her Father knew her so well. Missing Francis was a pain that she felt daily but to be with him but not able to touch him, to hold him or to kiss him would be impossible. She was grateful that her Father understood her pain but how could this ever work? "I will promise to do my best not to deceive you again and I doubt Francis would want to marry me. He deserves a great woman, not just a silly girl." She said softly trying hard not to picture him in her mind and the last time they were together...that could not be the last time she was feeling love, that thought depressed her at once.

She nodded to her Father once more then turned to leave.

" I hope so my dear and I will grant my favourite daughter lands if she agrees to marry John More and I am sure Francis will understand".

"Thank you Father.". Mary smiled at him then left the room.

"You may do anything but marry him my dear.

I arrive back from a busy trip and go and see my husband.

"Thomas my husband you wanted to see me"

"Elizabeth I see you have returned and I need to speak to you about our daughter Mary's marriage.

I announce to the servant of the lady Middlesson journey here and I prepare glasses of ale and prepare the room ready to see her.

I had traveled to Norfolk from Scotland, I held in my hand a parchment from Norfolk telling he wanted to see me, I was not sure why he wanted me here and the curiosity got the better of me.

I was announced in " Lady Misseldon Is here "

Please do come in my lady.

Here have a glass of ale.

How are you?