Ambassador Chapuys Bedroom

Inigo smiled and shook his head

Muchas gracias, mi amigo! But no...there is not a date, yet. You know, Eleanor is very shy, but her husband really cares her and makes her feel comfortable in a foreign country. She misses Spain, I guess. She reminds me our Queen when she arrived to England to marry Prince Arthur...Bueno! Let's hope Eleanor will be happier than our poor Catalina...

He said, raising his eyes to ceiling

Eustace smiled a little and nodded.
Ahh y que no echaría de menos España? I am sure I will miss it, it is so cold and wet here! He rolled his eyes and added serieously.
It is not an easy task to be queen and not all of them have great predecessors as our Catalina has. Our Catalina was born and raised to be a queen and impressed everyone at first sight because of her royal appearance.

He frowned again as his friend spoke about her sad sad life today.
I will do everything in my power to comfort her, the Emperor worries about her and adjured me he will not forget her.

Inigo nodded slowly and sighed again

I'm sure you will, mi amigo. Oh...have you heard about Autumn Party? It will be tomorrow. Surely the King will come with his...concubine, instead with our Catalina. I think I'll join it before leaving. What will you do, dear Eustace?

He asked, wondering what was in his mind

Eustace stared at his goblet for a while, shook it gently and drank the last wine from it.

Autumn party? I guess it is a good opportunity for me to meet people and to see for myself what is going on. I am glad you will come too, my friend, so there will be at least one friendly face! he smiled and shrugged.

I guess everyone will be there, so yes, of course I will go. Do you really think he will bring his concubine and neglect our Catalina?

He asked, frowning again. Catalina accompanied Henry at all festivities, if she would not be here this time, things were truly wrong.

Inigo nodded sadly and looked at him with a serious glance

Oh...I fear he will, mi amigo! The Queen always was at his side in official occasions. If he is starting to negletct her for his concubine, it is really a bad sign! Bueno...I think it's time to go, dear friend. I have many things to prepare. See you at the party, then...

Inigo stood up and smiled, nodding with his head

Eustace frowned deeply and nodded, too.

Who will stop this madness, mi amigo? He can do as he pleases, obviously. No one will stand up against him and fight for the true Queen of England! You did a great job here, Inigo, but I think times have changed... and not for the best. I hope I can continue your work, I will do my utmost to defend Spain's interests and support our Cataline, I promise you!

As Inigo stood up he stood up as well, smiling faintly.

See you tomorrow then, mi amigo, let's have a party, anyway! He nodded and walked with him towards the door to show him out.

Inigo smiled him back and nodded

I have no doubts you will, Eustace. I couldn't choose a better replacement of myself. Buenas noches, mi amigo! ¡Salud...

He patted softly his arm and left the room

The server from Princess Mary knock at the door from the Ambassador Chapuys Bedchamber.

" Mr.Ambassador here is a letter from the Princess Mary".
The server give the letter and leave the room.

Quote :

Dear Mr.Chapuys,
please help my mother.My father the King will all do that he became the divorce.
I think the Boleyns support the King,they want more force at court.
My Mother is the only true Queen of England.
You must tell the pope and the Empire what my Mother must suffer
at court. I believe at your loyality for my mother.
Good safe you Mr. Chapuys.

In love Princess Mary Tudor !

Inigo needed to see his old friend Eustace after hearing about recent events. He knocked quickly at his door

Eustace, mi amigo! Are you there?

Eustace was writing in his dairy as he heard the familiair voice of his friend.
He stood up and opened the door, smiling.

Inigo! Come in, mi amigo, I was just thinking that I would like to drink a good Spanish wine, do you like some, too?

He walked with him to two comfortable seats close to the fireplace.
Please, sit down, my friend, I think we have a lot to talk about. But first, tell me, how are you?

Inigo walked inside room and hugged Eustace with a warm smile. He sat in front of his desk and nodded

Muchas gracias, mi amigo. I really need some wine. I'm rather good, but we haven't talked since long time, and many things happened in court since then. Have you...heard about the King?

He asked, knowing that he was scandalized like him, maybe even more

Eustace smiled and poured two goblets of wine.
Let's have a drink then... and yes, I heard about the king. He obeys no worldly higher authority anymore and therewith sidelined the Pope and insulted our Roman Experor. Even worse is that he will probably marry the concubine as soon as possible, since he can dissolve his marriage himself.

He handed Inigo a goblet and sat down, frowning.
So what will happen next? This country is doomed...

Inigo took the goblet and nodded

Gracias. Yes...I think you're right. The Pope has no authority on him anymore. He has no authority on the whole England. I never thought he could really break with Rome, one day. And all for that girl. Do you think...that Pope Paul is considering an excommunication?

He asked, before taking a sip from wine

Eustace took a huge sip and shook his head.

I am sure he is considering it! I know the Emperor is furious and demands the Pope to excommunicate him, but he is a crafty man and has not acted yet. I only fear that even excommunication will not stop Henry to do as he pleases and marry that Concubine. he sighed deeply.

Inigo nodded and took another sip from wine

I know that very well, mi amigo. And if this will really happen, what will happen to poor Princess Mary? Her future is so uncertain, now...

Eustace nodded while staring into the flames of the fireplace.

Poor Mary... and poor Katherine, what will happen to them? The Emperor assures me of his support but he has many difficulties himself to defend and increase his borders and also dealing with the heretics everywhere in his huge kingdom.

He sighed deeply and turned his eyes to Inigo.

All we can do is pray, mi amigo...

Inigo nodded after him and looked at fireplace too

Indeed, dear Eustace. But if the concubine turns the King against Katherine and her daughter, she could even lose her rank as Princess and being cut off from succession's line. And concubine's bastards would raise to the throne! This is the true tragedy, mi amigo...

He crossed and raised his eyes to the ceiling

He gasped and held his goblet so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Imagine that! The concubine's bastards on the throne of England! Our Roman Emperor would never allow such thing, that would mean war! Henry would never dare to challenge him, would he? And what about good Roman people like the Chancellor More and bishop Fisher? I heard that the Pope considers to appoint him a Cardinal, Henry would not ignore them, would he?

Eustace stared desperately into Inigo's eyes.

Inigo shook his head with a perplexed air

What you have just described...looks like Apocalypse, mi amigo. I pray constantly for More and Fisher. And the King should not ignore Pope's will. They are the only ones who still braines in their heads and hreart in their chests...

He rolled his eyes and crossed

He sighed deeply.

An apocalypse, yes... though I am sure that he will come to his senses one day an let the Concubine go. Even so the harm can be done by that time. He seems to avoid people who don't agree with him. I have not met him in weeks, he does not want to recieve me and ignores me in public. I don't know what to do, mi amigo, I can not force him to allow me an audience. Have you spoken to him, recently?

Inigo sighed and shook his head

No..neither me, Eustace. It seems he ignores all spanish people, recently. I don't know if it's to avoid any problem with Emperor, or simply because we remind him his wife too much. In both cases, this means we can do nothing, for now...

He sighed again and took a sip from wine

He nodded in agreement and took another sip.

No, nothing for the king, at least... but the more for the queen and Princess Mary! We can support them in every possible way, Inigo. I will visit Mary at Ludlow and offer her my services. Have you spoken with Katherine recently?

Inigo nodded and looked at his glass

Yes, I have. She looks so sad, mi amigo. I told her that the Emperor and the Pope will never give up her cause. But I also admire her dignity. She is the worthy daughter to Ferdinando and Isabella...

Eustace sat at his desk, writing reports to his master, the Holy Emperor Charles V. He held close contact to him as also to his most superior, the Pope.
He frowned as he reported the situation at the English court, his deep and legitimate concerns about the fate of Queen Katherine, aunt to Charles and devoted to the holy faith, embodied by the Pope.

It turned colder in his room but he did not notice, he had to finish these letters first. His hand flew over the parchments and he ignored the cramp in his fingers, untill he heard a gentle knock on his door.

William had entered the court in a black cape he had no reason to be introduced to the royalty as his main promise to the pope was to assassinate the kings new concubine. With him he carried the letter from pope paul and entered Eustace chamber. Ambassador with me I have carried from rome this letter to be safely delivered into your hands and to be read with your eyes only. Still cloaked William handed over the sealed letter.