Chapter Thirty-Three: Tudor No More

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24th of July 1532 - London, England

Admiring herself in the mirror, Mary could not help but trace her fingers down the smooth material of her gown; she would be wed to Ippolito that day and then she would be expected to do her duty. 

It had been Ippolito that had assured her that there was no rush and had shared with her his plans to one day return to Florence and retake what had been taken from him and given to another.

Her father having promised to help reinstall Ippolito back in Florence and there were private talks happening in France with the French King to perhaps recreate a Duchy that Ippolito and Mary might control in Florence. 

A joint venture to free people from the control of the Emperor who seemed to control the region with an iron fist considering it was the home of the Pope's very own family.

Mary had not considered that she would ever leave England, the idea of traveling to Florence and seeing the country were her husband was from excited her and she found herself desperate to learn more. 

Perhaps it would do her well to speak with her sister-to-be, Clarice had been absent from court preferring to retire to Beaulieu while she could and spend time with her daughter. 

It was one of her ladies that snapped her from her thoughts with a whisper that her mother had arrived, Mary having requested her presence to prepare her for what may lay ahead of her on her wedding night.

"Mama," Mary greeted with a curtsy, she was most pleased that her beloved mother would be here today to witness her wed; her father had been most kind and her dowry was fitting for a daughter of a King. 

It would afterall be the last wedding thrown since her beloved brother was less than a year old at present while the Duke of Richmond and Somerset would likely be married away from court to his Howard bride.

Katherine couldn't bring herself to smile at Mary, her heart felt heavy at the fact that her daughter was to be married to a man beneath her station this day. He was not what she had wanted for her daughter, still sure that the son of her nephew would perhaps be a better match for Mary; a marriage that would see her as Queen Consort of Spain at the least.

"Are you well?" Mary asked sensing her mother's displeasure, she glanced back at herself in the mirror thinking that she looked beautiful and she was most grateful for the Queen's help in sourcing such beautiful material for her gown. 

Anne had been wonderful in helping her with what little wedding preparations that she needed to do herself, she had no doubts that the woman had an impeccable taste in fashion considering she always dressed fit for a Queen.

Taking in the dress that her daughter was wearing, Katherine had no doubts that the Queen had played a part in helping prepare it for today; a frown forming on her face and she knew that what she had to say was better said without unfriendly ears listening. 

With a wave of her hands she dismissed the ladies that were gathered to serve her and Mary, she moved to take a seat as she waited for the room to be vacated for them.

"I have often pictured this day, you dressed in such finery as you prepared to marry a man of my choosing and one suitable for your station as the future Queen of England," Katherine stated, emotion colouring her words and she stared at Mary wondering what her beloved mother would say if she could see them now. 

Isabel of Castile would be ashamed if she could see how far her beloved daughter had fallen since her death, that her own granddaughter's rightful place was being taken from her.

Opening her mouth to respond, Mary hesitated unsure what to make of what her mother was saying; she glanced nervously around unable to comprehend what Katherine was saying to her. Surely her mother could not mean to discuss such treason with her on her wedding day.

"It is God's Will that you shall be Queen of England," Katherine insisted moving to take Mary's hands, she would ensure that herself and while she waited to hear back from the Emperor, she was preparing a force for Mary. 

One that would deal with the Boleyn faction when the time came and Henry passed on, she would ensure that there was no doubts that Mary was the rightful heir to the throne.

"I shall not be Queen. You speak treason against my father and my brother," Mary hissed wondering if her mother had lost her mind, they might think they were alone here but there was no telling who might be listening. 

It would only end in tears and she would not have her father think for a moment that she did not support his marriage to Queen Anne and her brother's position as heir.

She may have cried when he had been born for what his birth had meant but Mary accepted that perhaps God had another plan for him and it was her duty to see the rightful Medici heir restored to their position. 

Her children would be the heirs to Florence and would rule over it like Ippolito's father had done; if her father's plan and that of the French King worked then she would perhaps even find herself as the Duchess of Florence.

"Any other mother would be thrilled to see their daughter married off to such a man as my intended, he is most kind to me, he treats me well and keep me in a life most comfortable," Mary insisted shaking her head unable to believe that her mother had waited until now to speak with her on such matters. 

Today was to be the best day of her life, a fact that had now been tainted with the news that her own mother was talking treason and if they were discovered then she did not know what her father might do.

"I will hear no more talk of this. I will not take the throne nor shall I ever," Mary spat before moving away from her mother, she would not tell her that her time in England would one day come to an end then she would be leaving for Italy. 

Perhaps it was better this way, she knew now that her mother could not be trusted at all and she would not allow the woman that she had once held in such regard to ruin her.

From this day forth, she would no longer be Lady Mary Tudor the Marquess of Winchester for that name would one day bring her a world of trouble from her mother's own hand. 

No instead from this day she would be Lady Mary de' Medici, the Duchess of Hertford and would ensure that there was no way that Englishman would consider following her by learning all she could from her new sister, the Duchess of Bedford.

***

"Your Grace," Mary stated offering a smile to her new sister, she was most pleased that Clarice had returned to court having not had the chance to meet properly since she had been away from court on her own estates. 

It was her great hope that she would be able to meet her niece soon, she could not help but hope that she would prove herself as lucky as Clarice had done in the early stages of her marriage.

"I find myself rather lacking in knowledge of your homeland and it would be an honour if you could teach me," Mary said linking arms with Clarice, she ignored the looks that her mother was giving her not caring what Katherine thought. 

She had made herself clear before the wedding and she would keep to her promise, she would ensure that no one would doubt that it was Alexander that the future of the throne was invested it.

Her future was in her own hands and she would do anything to ensure that no one would doubt her loyalty to the crown, her father and her brother. 

It would saddened her when she left the only home that she had known but she would do it, she would leave England behind and be a good wife to her husband and mother to her children. 

Florence seemed so far away and she knew so little about it, she was eager to learn about the place that she would one day call home; she would not consider any other future for herself.

"I am certain that I have some books that describe the beauty of Florence, I have never seen the like anywhere else," Clarice admitted conspiratively to Mary, she considered England a close second of course but nothing compared to home in her mind. 

Her time in Rome and France did not compare and Clarice very much doubted that she would ever be afford the chance to see her home country again.

Mary nodded at that, it was a start and she was going to practice her Italian knowing that it was a most if she wished to be accepted by the people of Florence. 

Ippolito had spoken fondly of his time there and at how the Pope had stolen his birth right and gifted it to another, an action that further angered Mary towards the man who had refused to see that her mother had been lying to keep the throne. 

Not sparing a glance towards her mother, Mary knew that Katherine would not stop her plotting she would be her own undoing and she just had ensure that she didn't get pulled down by her

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