Isabel Walton's trip to Sussex lasted more than two weeks. Although she missed the Grand Banquet and Ball held by the Duke of Richmond for the Duchess in her domain during this time, she still had something to gain.

For example, he went on a hunt with Lady Francis Howard and the Guards at the Duke of Richmond's new estate, and practiced swordsmanship with William Parr, Mrs. Latimer's own brother, on the school grounds. She also accompanied Lady Surrey to Arundel Castle, the possession of the Duke of Norfolk III, and forwarded letters from the Duchess of Richmond to her mother, the Duchess of Norfolk.

In addition, it took two days to travel to Southampton, a port city more than 30 miles away from the new estate, to learn more about the local shipbuilding market. Because it is necessary to understand the shipbuilding market, after all, this is to prepare in advance for the operation at sea in a few years.

When the time came on June 10th, it was the day she returned to Windsor with Lady Surrey and the court painter. On that very day, however, a historic event broke out in the city of London, more than 60 miles away from them, when Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, the First Secretary of State, was arrested at 3 o'clock in the afternoon at a council meeting and immediately taken to the Tower of London for imprisonment.

In the days that followed, a series of big events took place. On 24 June, Queen Anne of Cleves was ordered to leave the court by Henry VIII. On 6 July, she was informed that Henry VIII had decided to re-adjudicate their marriage, and two days later she was asked to grant that their marriage was null and void, to which Anne agreed.

On 9 July, Henry VIII officially declared his marriage to Anne of Cleves null and void on the grounds that the couple had never had a marriage and that Anne had previously entered into a marriage contract. On the 28th of the same month, Henry VIII and Catherine Howard from the Norfolk family quickly completed their marriage ceremony. At this point, Catherine, the cousin of the Earl of Surrey, became the fifth wife of His Majesty the King, and she was young and beautiful, and she also had the most noble title she had ever imagined: Her Majesty the Queen.

Also on July 28, another big event took place. Thomas Cromwell was escorted to a public place in the city of London to be executed without trial. The ragged former Chief Minister of State indifferently walked up to the execution table and gave his final prayer and speech before dying.

Then, quietly kneel in front of the guillotine and place your head on its side. When the executioner used a sharp single-edged axe to cut off the head of the former Secretary of State, he routinely hung the head on London Bridge.

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When this series of events took place in the city of London over the course of a month or so and spread to northern society, it did not seem to have had much impact on the lives of the local nobles, knights, and squires. They have become accustomed to the divorce and remarriage of His Majesty the King, whom they respect, and have no objection to it.

Of course, the death of the Earl of Essex, the Chief Minister of State, is worth celebrating. Because Catholicism won this religious war, victorious over the Reformed factions entrenched in the court.

As a result, this year's Catholic holiday, the Feast of the Transfiguration, is particularly lively in the northern region. Because August 6 was the feast of the Epiphany, the Duke of Richmond, who was the chairman of the Northern Council, announced a three-day vacation on August 4.

Since Isabel was not seen by Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond, on the Catholic feast of March 1st Sunday at the end of May and at the Grand Banquet and Ball for the Duchess at the Duke's Palace, he planned to return to the territory on July 2 to rest for the Feast of the Virgin, in order to meet Isabel.

Who would have thought that on the day of the feast of the Feast of Our Lady, his wife Mary would take up most of his time. It wasn't until August 6, the feast of the Epiphany, that he was able to meet with Isabel and talk about sensitive issues and matters of particular concern to him.

Shortly after 8 a.m. on August 4, the Duke of Richmond, who held the power to oversee the northern aristocracy and army, led dozens of guards to gallop back to Richmond Castle. More than two hours later, the Duke and Duchess of Richmond, dressed in a newly custom-made duke-class attire, stepped into the living room.

After meeting with all his retainers, including Isabel, to discuss some territorial matters, the Duke of Richmond announced the decision to celebrate the feast of the Transfiguration and take a three-day vacation. As the rest of the retainers left the parlor one after another, Isabel, who was standing in front, saw an anxious look on the duke's face, so she was not in a hurry to leave.

The Duke of Richmond smiled and nodded at her, then looked sideways at the Duchess Mary and whispered, "Madam, I still have some business to discuss with the Privy Counsellor, you can go and rest for a while." ”

Mary glanced at Isabel, who was standing on the left side of the throne, and nodded to her husband, "I will wait for Your Highness in the room." ”

After Mary left with two valets, the good-looking duke asked the manservant to bring Isabel another glass of red wine. At the same time, he also got up and left the main seat with a glass of wine. When he came to Isabel, he looked at the other party, "Isabel, you are my privy counsellor, but I have not had the opportunity to meet you until today. ”

Isabel looked at the Duke standing in front of her, raised the wine glass in her hand and saluted the Duke with a smile and said, "Your Highness, as long as you want, you can go back and forth between Richmond Castle and Durham Castle every day." ”

"Two castles a day? Isabel, then the chairman of this committee will be replaced in a few days. ”

"Really? Unless the king agrees to replace another trustworthy nobleman. ”

The Duke of Richmond smiled lightly and walked over to Isabel with his glass, "Alright, there's no one else here but Eugene, unless you're still going to call me 'Your Highness.'" ”

Isabel nodded, "Henry, since I returned to Richmondshire in June, you must have had a lot of questions for my opinion. After all, it's my duty. ”

"You're quite right, and I'm sure you can see it better than the rest of the committee. I mean, everything that's happened in the city of London since June. ”

Isabel took a sip of wine, paced behind the duke's back and turned to look at him, "Henry, in fact, everything that happens in the city of London will not affect your current position. ”

Henry paused and looked at her suspiciously, "But the Bishop of Durham told me that the Duke of Norfolk was behind the Duke of Norfolk in the beheading of the Chief Secretary of State. ”