The year 1543 was a pivotal year for Isabel's career, her feelings, and her marriage. Of course, as the eldest daughter of Baron Walton I of North Yorkshire, she is destined to be associated with many people and events this year.

Since her father was made a noble lord of Kircrington last year, she has been a regular visitor to Snape's estate of Baron Latimer III. As the two nobles were only five miles apart, she could at any time get on her horse and arrive at the Baron's manor in a very short time, and she would have a glass of wine with her close friend, Madame Latimer, and do some of the things that the nobleman's lady and lady loved to do.

In early February, she and her family attended Baron Latimer's funeral in Snape. On the afternoon of the Sunday after the funeral, Catherine Neville, Lady Latimer, invited Isabel and her sister Madame Frederick to the baron's estate alone.

A baroness, the eldest daughter of a baron, and a knight's lady sat in the shade of a tree in the back garden, sipping wine and tasting delicious fruits, fruit tarts and pickled fruits, smiling and talking about what they liked to talk about. Isabel ate the pickled figs and looked at Mrs. Latimer beside her, "Catherine, at your husband's funeral I found that you were not sad, but had a sense of joy, didn't you?" ”

Catherine pursed her lips and smiled, taking a sip of wine from her glass, "I've attended the funerals of the two barons, do you still want me to continue crying?" ”

"Well, you should indeed be glad that time has passed so fast, and that your second baronial husband has also gone to the New Jerusalem (the name of the city of God that John saw in his vision in the book of Revelation from heaven to earth)."

"Isabel, if it were me, I would have sung a song of joy to Hallelujah at the funeral." Mrs. Frederick, who was sitting across from Isabel, Euphemia, interjected.

"Well, Euphemia has a good idea. This is both an expression of joy at the Baron's entry into eternal life, and a more consistent with our Christian faith. Isabel smiled and nodded.

The three of them laughed softly in unison, and Euphemia glanced at Lady Latimer and said, "Catherine, now that you are a rich widow again, do you have any new plans for the future?" ”

When it comes to her future life, Catherine seems to have a greater sense of urgency about Isabel's marriage. Glancing at Isabel and then at Lady Frederick on the side, "Euphemia, my life will be too big a problem. However, I would like to know when your sister plans to get married. ”

"I'm running out of ideas about her marriage." Euphemia squinted at her sister, "Isabel, you know that my eldest son, Charles, is 5 years old, and my eldest daughter, Clarissa, is 3 years old, so you should know how many days you've been with the Duke of Richmond. Do you just want to be the duke's lover? ”

Isabel drank her wine, leaned back in her chair and looked up at the clear sky that was half obscured by dense branches, "No, not a lover, I'm just a retainer of Your Highness." ”

"Retainers or lovers, you can think whatever you want. If you don't marry this year, I'll have to tell my parents that you're going to be a nun in a Yorkshire convent. As Euphemia spoke, she imagined in her mind the image of Isabel in a nun's robes.

"Giggle...... "Cackling," Karin-rin laughed, "Euphemia, your sister would rather stay in the Duke's castle than be a nun." Besides, Yorkshire probably won't find a single intact abbey. ”

Isabel faced the two of them making fun of her, so she had to avoid answering. Soon, she deliberately shifted the subject to Mrs. Latimer, "Catherine, my marriage will definitely be taken care of. Just now, do you have any plans? ”

Catherine smiled without saying a word, holding a wine glass and looking intently at a dense forest outside the meadow in front of her, and whispered leisurely for a long time, "A few years ago, after the adults handed over the financial affairs of the family and the custody of my daughter, I found that I could not handle the financial affairs well many times. Perhaps, I would be better suited to stay in the court, as my mother did. ”

As long as Catherine thinks so, then she can surely become the last wife of Henry VIII this year. Isabel, who knew all this, deliberately showed a thoughtful appearance, and then smiled, "I think you can not only find your favorite things to do in the court, but also find true lovers and love, right?" ”

Catherine, who is only 31 years old this year, naturally refuses to let go of an opportunity to fight for her lover and love. In any case, she could indeed find a satisfactory other half in the court of the city of London. Putting down his glass, he stood up on the grass and turned to look at the sisters, "Isabel, you're right. You know, I married my first two husbands when they were very old, so I never enjoyed true love. ”

Halfway through speaking, Catherine paced slowly in front of them and continued, "I wish I could have my own love, and... Children of themselves and their lovers. ”

Euphemia nodded approvingly, and then looked at her sister, "Isabel, you should also find your love like Madame, and have one or two children of your own." ”

Isabel glanced at her sister, who was constantly "falling into the well", and did not speak. Rolling his eyes, he looked back at the graceful Mrs. Latimer, "Catherine, I support and agree with your idea. But how are you going to get back to the court? I mean, you've never been at court. ”

Catherine glanced at her, thinking for herself, "Isabel, you know that my mother was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Catherine of Aragon during her lifetime, and there was a strong partnership between them. I thought I should seize this opportunity to form a partnership with Miss Mary. ”

"Miss Mary?" Euphemia did not understand what Mrs. Latimer meant, and leaned over to her sister and whispered.

"Mary, daughter of Queen Catherine of Aragon." Isabelle's lips twitched, and she continued to look at the elegant and reserved Mrs. Latimer, "Catherine, your idea is very good, I support you." ”

In fact, Catherine Neville has found her love, Sir Thomas Seymour, Prince Edward's uncle. The conspirator who had falsely accused the Earl of Surrey and wanted to get rid of Isabel and the Duke of Richmond.