Tudor Garden

walking around the gardens with my head bowed and a heavy heart, seems i am not pretty stops at a pond as tears roll down my face, i always hoped i would find love but i can not find that perhaps a arrange marriage will be place before me once the court have decided of my fathers fate. Perhaps i deserve nothing and end up alone for rest of my life. Missing my mother so much. Holds my knees into my chest and starts to sob.

Princess Mary finally escaped the confines of the draughty castle. What seemed like endless lessons and learning grew tiresome. The rare opportunity had arisen to go into the gardens and The Princess clutched this opportunity with both hands. As the desert would embrace a drop of water- Mary embraced the chance of a little freedom...the chance to be a child.

Everything in The Tudor garden seems reborn. The air is no longer cold but cool and pleasant, a welcome respite from the golden sun which grows in heat every passing day. The once white grass which was covered with a thick blanket of snow is now growing and full of life and vibrancy. The plants and flowers give off their sweet scent as if to announce their rebirth and welcome all to sigh at how pretty they have become.

Like the plants had shed their old leaves and dead petals, the minute Mary left the palace behind her she threw off her heavy cloak that weighed her down like a anchor. Her governess chided her but she no longer cared-she was free to roam the grounds that she had so missed.

As she skipped through the gardens and the moist grass squelched beneath her gentle footsteps she saw a woman who looked miserable and lonely. The Princess paused and turned to her governess, tilting her head slightly. The governess knew what she was asking and scowled at the girl a few yards from the Princess,"Mistress Cordelia,"she mumbled, not mentioning her last name to the naive Princess.

The precocious little Mary bounded up to Cordelia and swept her a graceful curtsey-impressive for her few years.

hearing my name i quickley wipe my eyes and look and see the governess and my sister Mary, smiling as it as been a long time since i spoken to me little sister. I stand up walk towards them and curtsy Good day your highness and ladies trying to smiles

Cordelia showed some familiarity towards The Princess Mary which The Princess did not recognise. As far as she was concerned she was a perfect stranger...she knew little of her claim to being the daughter of His Majesty.
The governess behind The Princess gave a disapproving look,"Your Highness,"she said to The Princess Mary, offering her hand,"Perhaps you should like to explore the gardens further. The-"

The Princess looked to the governess,"No thank you Lady Bryan. I should like to speak with this lady,"she smiled politely at the governess but did not take her arm,"Mistress Cordelia?"

She looked up to Cordelia who curtsied well. Mary smiled proudly at her title and stood a little taller.

yes, Princess Mary kneeling down to her sister

The Princess smiled warmly,"Mistress Cordelia...would you like to join me for a walk?"

The governess tutted loudly behind The Princess, wringing her wrinkled hands together,"Your Highness. I really must-"

The Princess sighed loudly,"Lady Bryan. I wish to walk with this lady-will you deny me that?"

She glanced at Cordelia and smiled a little. The governess swept a curtsey to the young Mary,"Of course not...Your Highness."

Mary smiled triumphantly and began to walk through the garden with Cordelia. She smiled appreciatively at the garden-it warm, bright and beautiful. The governess walked behind The Princess but was not too close that she could here what was being said. Her eyes bored into Cordelia-a scowl played on her thin lips.

smiles i would love to walk, how is the young princess these days? I hope you are busy studying?

The Princess Mary smiled, her hands clutched infront of her tightly tied stomacher,"I have been well. I was ill for a long time and still fall sick regularly but now I am better. I am glad to escape my chambers."

The Princess skipped a little ahead of Cordelia and waited for her to catch up-she shot a look to her governess Lady Bryan who followed them with a stern look.

"I seem to do nothing else but study...I enjoy music most of all,"The Princess turned to who she thought was a stranger,"How old are you-do you still have to study?"

smiles Am 15 soon to be 16, i do not study no more i was sent away from home to study when i was your age smiles down and impressed how well the little Mary speaks, ignoring the governess of Mary. I love music as well i can play the lute very well i was taught from a early age.

The Princess looked down and frowned slightly,"I fear I am soon to be sent away,"Mary lowered her voice,"The Lady Salisbury is said to take over my care from Lady Bryan. It is said that The Cardinal Wolsey talks with my father...they are to send me to Ludlow castle in the Welsh marches where me and my household shall reside until it is my father...His Majesty's pleasure to see me return to court."


The Princess Mary sighed with a heavy heart but smiled weakly when she spoke of music,"I play the lute and viol-my mother, Her Majesty says I have a wonderful talent for music."

I promised your mother the Queen if you are sent away i will look after you best as i can, i will visit you. The Queen your mother as been very kind to me and she cared for me when i was a small child. knowing the Princess suffered the same fate as i did, wishing Anne Boleyn leave things alone. I would love to hear you play perhaps we can play music together

The Princess Mary stopped, suddenly curious of this girl. When she was younger she could rarely see her mother and now this stranger says she was cared for by The Queen?
"Mistress Cordelia...how did my mother care for you...how did you come to speak with her?"

She then gave another weak smile,"Perhaps we can..."

i was often brought to court as a child at Christmas, your mother cared for me it was the time i saw my father but once i was older he would come and visit me at my home on my birthday. But your mother would always write to me. looking down but feeling sadden that am unable to say who i am as the Lady Bryan is still very close to us

"Write to you,"Mary whispered reflecting. Her mother was constrained as to when she could write to The Princess Mary-her letters were read and the only happy time was when Their Majesties were on progress in the summer and then they would visit Mary. She felt a sudden pang of jealous,"Do you not have your own mother?"

The Lady Bryan scoffed behind The Princess...

The Lady Bryan put her wrinkled hand on The Princess' shoulder,"Your Highness-Mistress Cordelia only means to sing Her Gracious Majesty's praises,"she shot Cordelia a cold stare,"She means nothing of it."

Mary sighed, knowing how difficult it was to not be near your mother. She knew the pain and longing to see your mother-she understood,"I know my mother is kind but why would she write for your father? Can he not read or write either?"

chuckles my father is a busy man, and he does not have time to write to me

Mary sighed lightly,"My father is often busy-especially now though no one tells me why…"

She glanced up,"Is your father at court…of nobility?"

Lady Bryan gave Cordelia a sharp, cold look-a warning. The Lady Bryan did not believe Cordelia's claim to being His Majesty's daughter-many courtiers did not believe her. Many assumed she done it for money and her own pleasure-how dare she, thought Lady Bryan.

Sensing her eyes bore into her, Mary shrugged off her hand and took a step closer to Cordelia.

yes my father is at court, but very busy man. I hardly get to see him, but knowing am in the same place as him warms me in my heart not sure if my sister would understand thinking perhaps she needs to speak with her step mother and find out when and if they should tell her.

The Princess nodded her head,"Lady Bryan...could you please leave us?"

"Your Highness, you should return to your studies or say your prayers for the evening,"Lady Bryan retorted, not trusting Cordelia alone with The Princess whose flesh was considered sacred. She was considered a gift from God to Their Majesties and the English people.

Mary turned to her lady governess Lady Bryan,"I swear I will not be long-I will shortly follow you..."

Lady Bryan swept a deep curtsy and dirty look to Cordelia. She slowly walked from them and occasionally turned her head to see where they were or what Cordelia was saying.

The Princess smiled and skipped infront of Cordelia,"I fear you keep something from me,"Mary smiled and stood proudly,"As Princess of Wales I command you to tell me what it is."

She burst into a fit of laughter at how like her father she sounded.

chuckles well am not sure i should be the one to tell you or not, perhaps if you ask your mother or father next time they see you they will tell you about me. You are very bright young lady, i know you will make us all proud one dayas i watch the princess laughing i start to laugh and smile which is the first time in days

The Princess smiled as she skipped ahead of Cordelia,"You speak as if you are my family!"


"What do you mean you will all be proud of me?"

smiles well in that case say i am part of your family, We are proud off you, your bright as a button

Princess Mary frowned a little as she felt that something of importance was being kept from her,"Well Mistress Cordelia...I fear I must leave. The Lady Bryan will soon wonder where I am."

The Princess walked closer to Cordelia and smiled lightly,"Good day to you Cordelia..."

As she began to walk away she glanced back,"Perhaps you should visit me and we can play some music together."

She then scuttled into the castle, clutching her heavy skirts. As she entered the castle servants and courtiers bowed to her but she did not stop and smile in return. She knew something was being hidden from her...

watches her leave then finds a spot underneath the tree forgetting why she was upset but happy she finally manage to speak with her sister but fear she might be in trouble for saying too much, sits and watches the court go by after a while it starts to get cold so i head towards the palace