Mary Tudor's BedChamber

Geoffrey entered in the room and bowed deeply

Your Highness, I came to see if you need something...

The gentle music drifted through the room-two of Mary's maids played musical instruments; one the lute and the other the viol. The two ladies sang in their thin voices in a mixture of Spanish and Latin.
The music was of Spanish origin though and the gentle tune was like a message from The Queen-conveying love to her daughter. It was her who sent her the pages for the music and Mary knew the song well-she knew every note, every verse, every subtle whisper of the innocence of love conveyed through the song.

As the music was played the rest of Mary's ladies were intently working on their sewing rings-all of them skilled with needlework had created pretty little patterns and pictures. However only The Princess's could be threaded with gold thread which sparkled in the candlelight. The sound of their needles penetrating the fabric onto which their patterns were born was like a back beat to the music.

Meanwhile the servants quietly and diligently packed away Mary's belongings. Opening trunks and gasping at the gowns of satin, damask, cloth of gold and silver. The jewels to adorn the tiny Princess which were of great worth and the books in Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, English...
Everything that would bring pleasure to Mary in Whitehall was carefully packed away and now only a few trunks were left full. As her belongings were neatly packed away Susan began to prepare Mary's bed for the night. The linen laid onto the bed, furs placed over the linen, lavender being rubbed on her plumped pillows and freshly washed sheets.

As the door opened Mary did not look up at first-expecting it was just another maid bringing in more gowns or bed linen for the evening. However when a deep voice echoed through the room the music stopped and all the maids looked up to find the owner of the husky voice.

The maids stood and curtsied-giggling amongst themselves at the handsome servant. Susan hushed them and nodded to the servant,"Sir."

After speaking Mary nodded,"I should like if you spoke with my father, His Majesty The King. Please ask after his health and ensure him that I love him greatly as his daughter,"Mary collected a letter written in her own hand from the table near her and gave it to Susan to pass to the servant.

Susan walked to Geoffrey and smiled as she handed it to him,"Could you pass this to him, please,"Mary asked kindly.

Geoffrey took the letter from Susan's hands and nodded

Of course, Your Highness. I'll bring it to your father personally. I wish you good night, my lady...

He bowed deeply again and left the room

Mary thanked the diligent servant and the giggling maids curtsied as he left.

Finally the servant's that lingered in the chamber left. All the tapestries were hung and caressed the stone walls, softening the chamber which would otherwise be cold and unwelcoming. The rich tapestries however which were threaded with rich golden thread, glistened in the dim candlelit. A warm homely glow was cast around the chamber-everything became tinged with a flaxen splendour with nothing left unaffected.

As the unnecessary maids were dismissed and scuttled to their chambers for the night, Mary began to prepare for her slumber. The day had began for The little Princess at the sixth hour in the morning and now most of the court were retiring sleepily to their chambers. Already some had collected lovers for the summer and they strolled hand in hand to their chambers, giggling like children and whispering like thieves. It was pretty to watch-the blooming relationships and friendships.
Each English rose in court truly came into flower- the sun blessed their faces with colour and lightened their fair hair with it's rays. Even the little Princess grew prettier; with the opportunity to play in the gardens, ride out with court and dance later into the evenings, gave for a happier disposition and more joyful face.

After she was bathed. Her lustrous damp hair was plaited, her linen nightcap poured over her skull and was tied gently neath her chin in a pretty bow. Susan read to her, as two other maids completed their sewing. A complete peace and wellness hung over the room-all seemed well.

Until there was a sharp knock at the door all was silent. Susan sighed and walked to the door, smoothing down her damask dress and adjusting her gable hood which concealed her fair hair that when set free tumbled down her back to her slender waist. As she carefully unlatched the door she saw a woman emerge from the shadows,"My lady,"she said and bowed her head.

Susan still at the door turned to Mary for instruction. Despite the fact Mary should have been wrapped in her bed by now, the furs and covers embracing her and the lavender soothing her into sleep, she was a Princess and as such the decision was hers.

The tiny Princess gave a faint nod from the other side of the room. Her little hands rested on her lap and eyes downcast. With her nod Susan opened the door wider and allowed the lady in-it was a strange hour to have an audience with royalty. Rather inconsiderate really...
As the woman sauntered into the chamber, Susan carefully latched the door and ensured it was tightly shut to ensure The Princess's privacy.

Susan resumed her seat by Mary quickly then and gave her a tender smile and patted her hatted head . Mary returned the gesture and smiled broadly-giggling and the sound was as sweet as skylark. Mary nodded to the woman in the room and examined her features- she had a pretty retroussé nose, a sought after feature in women.

Mary finally stood and curtsied to the stranger and gestured to a seat opposite hers.

The maids by Mary continued with their needlework-both creating delicate patterns. The needle bobbing in and out of the fabric that was secured to the ring. Susan sat by Mary, her eyes looked to the floor respectfully.

Mary looked up to the woman and replied softly,"Don't apologise,"she then smiled faintly and continued,"I thank you most heartily for kindness. May I learn your name?"

Mary enjoyed the serene quiet of the room. Even when it fast approached night there was noise in court-especially tonight as everyone arrived on the summer progress. Sitting by the fire and being played sweet music was Mary's greatest pleasure.
It was a stark contrast the constant noise and chatter in court. Ladies gossiping, men arguing and debating of politics, even the occasional gurgle coming from a new life that was just born. However that sweet gurgle, the reassuring cry of a new born baby was now just a faded memory for Her Majesty. She prayed most heartily to become pregnant and give The King a son. If it should be that a woman's fertility may be based purely upon prayer and piety then the Queen would have born several sons-all healthy and well.
Though it would seem to all that her days of fertility were over and the succession rested on Mary's delicate shoulders...

The woman's discomfort was clear. As she sat in the comfortable chair, upholstered with rich velvet, with even the hands and legs of the chair pain stakingly carved with intricate and delicate patterns, her posture was not that which someone at ease would be.
Instead she looked rather like the Lady Bryan-her features tense, her back straight and mouth in a hard line. Of course until she smiled but even that did not reach her dark eyes. The woman had an exotic quality to her-she was unlike the English roses flopping about court.

Mary rose from her chair again and swept a charming little curtsey-the three ladies present sighed in adoration at the little Princess. Despite the fact she was in most ways her fathers daughter-she had been blessed with her mothers grace,"Dowager Duchess,"she then smiled with as much warmth as that which radiated from the burning fire,"I trust my mother,Her Majesty, was most pleased to have you in her service and I apologise for your husbands death-he shall be in my prayers."

Mary then returned to her chair and continued,"Should you like something to drink, Your Grace, there is some delicious ale I have brought with me to Whitehall. It is most nice when it has been slightly warmed."

Mary nodded as she could feel her become more at ease-nestling into her chair instead of perching on it as a a falcon ready to fly free.

At her nod the two idle maid rose from the chairs-depositing there sewing rings on their chairs. One of the maids fetched the ale from beside the fire-it was contained in a small jug of little or no worth. However the fine glasses which the other maid fetched were. Tall and slim and increasing in diameter nearer the top-the glasses glinted in the dim light. The way in which the glass was cut gave it the appearance of crystal and as they chinked together the thin trill was as men shouting threats at one another before a joust.

The ale was poured and Mary was served first-the maids kneeling before her and serving her the ale reverently. Immediately she took a sip and smiled,"It is delicious is it not,"Mary said as she brought the glass to her lips again.

The maids then scuttled back to their seats and continued with their needlework.

Mary nodded, her little head bobbing up and down like a horse impatiently waiting to begin a hunt,"I tasted it in The Cardinal Wolsey's rooms and it is my favourite drink now,"she said happily as she took another sip. She then placed the fine glass on a table by her and smiled at Susan who returned the kind glance.

Susan was a favourite lady in waiting and longtime friend to Mary in the lonely court. She saw her Mistress as a mother would see one of her children, a sister would see her sibling and friend would see her companion, and thus she was protective of her charge. Loving and kind-she provided care that Mary required as a growing girl. Although she was known as the 'ice maiden' by men in court-she was beautiful although did not give herself freely. Courted by many and desired by many although their advances soon froze like the Thames in the winter as she reminded them of her betrothal. Her long fair hair and notably green eyes were her best features ...that and her height. She stood tall amongst the ladies and her wit and charm set her apart from the other women in court.

Mary smiled at her words and so did Susan-glad of her loyalty in the ever changing court...thanks to Anne Boleyn,"Your Grace is exceedingly kind and I gladly accept your offer. I consider us perfect friends already-you are always welcome here or indeed in my residence Ludlow in Wales should you be there."

Mary smiled and cleared her throat a little. As the daughter of a Spanish princess she was as skilled in Spanish as she was in English- her grasp of the language was impressive for her age,"Yo sin duda vendrá. Una día espero visitar el lugar de mi madre, la reina, el nacimiento,"she spoke quickly and with as much fluency as a Spanish born infanta.

The maids giggled at her fluency-impressed by her quick response as they completed their sewing. One had constructed a tudor rose and the intertwined vines spelled her initials and her sweethearts . The other had made a simple pattern with a delicate border and in the centre she completed Princess Mary's motto as a tribute to her mistress-Veritas filia temporis Susan smiled in adoration and Mary beamed proudly..if only Her mother saw.

"Did you not learn any when you were in my Mothers household,"Mary asked inquisitively and took a final sip of the warmed ale.

Mary noticed that the woman seemed to disappear into her memories-she seemed almost consumed with her thoughts. It were as if a mist was draped over her eyes and all she could see was her memories and events that had taken place long ago It seemed as if she remembered another lifetime-her furrowed brow and lines on her otherwise smooth forehead making her look as if she is in deep concentration, straining to see the memories.
Many women would have seen it a good thing not to be have influenced by Spanish traditions. The oppressive gable hood all The Queen's maids wore, the muslin that they wore from the ending of the stomacher to their neck when they attended mass and the constant prayer in The Queen's rooms. Some admired The Queen's piety and others thought it ludicrous…perhaps Nan Saville thought this too and therefore did not not adopt many of The Queens ways.
"Do you think you should ever like to return to Spain or are you quite content here?"Mary asked.

Mary tilted her head,"Germany…why did you leave your home?"
Mary wondered how she should cope if she was sent abroad. When she was just a child of two years she was promised to the Dauphin, the infant son of King Francis I of France, however after just three years the contract was repudiated. Then some years later she was contracted to marry her cousin, Her mother's nephew, the Holy Roman Emperor.
Although yet again, within a few years the marriage plans were cancelled. In any case she would have surely had to move to a foreign land when she was of age-just like her mother was. Unfortunately her mother had a weak grasp of English when she arrived on English soil…Mary however ,should she have to move, she would be able to speak with her spouse in an array of languages.
"Do you think to re-marry?"