If it weren't for the fact that Lady Surrey's Frances Howard was pregnant, Isabel didn't bother to care if she would have fallen, injured or had more serious consequences in the back. When he stopped, he turned his head and stared at her coldly.

Frances gasped with her hands crossed as she caught up with her. Isabel glanced at her still unpregnant belly, shook her head, and said, "Are you alright?" I mean your kids. ”

"I'm fine. Look, I've been four months old and I can't see it at all. Frances waved her hand.

"Okay, now you can say that."

"I'm sorry, Isabel, I don't know of any other lady who has ever said such a thing to you."

"It's okay." Isabel pointed to the only old tree in the lawn and said, "Let's go, let's go and rest under that tree for a while." ”

When the two came to the foot of an ancient tree with a hemispherical canopy, Isabel helped Frances to sit slowly at the base of the tree, and sat on one side of the grass by herself. He said to the 18-year-old pregnant woman, "Why didn't you call your maid to follow you?" ”

Frances, who had returned to her usual state, straightened her skirt and said with a smile, "I'm not old enough to need a maid to support me, am I?" ”

"But, now that you're pregnant, maybe you'll do have a boy to succeed you to the title of House Fokker?"

"Isabel, what did Lady Lancashire say to you?"

"Nothing special, Madame Lancashire just wanted to recommend me to the court, that I could receive more protection and gifts there......"

Frances giggled: "What does balabala mean?" ”

Isabel lay on the lawn beside her, her hands on the back of her head and looking up at the sky without a trace of clouds: "Just wait or a series of meanings." At least living in the court would have been better and more fed, clothed, and paid for in a secular society. ”

"Well, I know that Lady Lancashire is from the Westmoreland family, and the family name is Neville. During the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII, the family had relatives who served as female officials of the queen in the court. ”

"You know a lot, Lady Surrey." Isabel turned her head and said appreciatively.

"You think that only you are an excellent, intelligent aristocratic woman, and so am I." Frances replied unconvinced.

Isabel didn't contradict her, just smiled and accommodated her. Then, whispering, "I'm still the same thing, I don't want others to interfere in my private life." ”

"What if His Majesty appoints a noble husband for you?" Frances tentatively used Henry VIII to block her words.

"No, His Majesty would appoint a marriage to a knight's daughter? There are so many knights in the whole kingdom, so many knights' daughters, and your Majesty the King will notice my presence? Isabel was somewhat dismissive of such a statement.

"You are the Duke of Richmond's favorite lady, governess, retainer, duke's secretary, and privy counsellor. Anyway, in the Duke's Palace, apart from the Duke and the Duchess, you are the Chief Minister of State, and sooner or later His Majesty will notice you. ”

"Well, it looks like I'm going to have to go into exile in Europe."

Frances brushed the hair on her forehead and smiled, "I'll just think you're joking." Isabel, even if His Majesty the King appoints you a marriage, it is nothing, anyway, it is only a marriage of politics or interests. If you marry a very old nobleman, live separately for a few years, and wait for the nobleman to die, you will not become a noblewoman with a territory, a castle, and a wealth. When the time comes, are you afraid that you won't be able to find a young knight to pursue you? ”

"Hahaha, it's funny, you even arranged when I will be a widow." Once again, Isabel showed dismissiveness.

Frances shook her head: "There are many noble ladies who have had this experience. ”

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After dinner, the Earls of Surrey and the Duke of Richmond returned to Surrey Manor. While several people were sitting in the parlor drinking and chatting, Isabel asked Henry very strangely: "Your Highness, today is the day of your marriage to the Duchess, why don't you stay in the manor to accompany Madame?" ”

Henry glanced at her, who was sitting next to Lady Surrey, "Isabel, it's a private party now, don't call me 'Your Highness' anymore."

Frances took her glass and said with a smile, "Henry, did Mary quarrel with you because of Isabel?" ”

The Duke of Richmond sat back in a long chair, drank wine and said, "Not entirely because of her." Mary asked me where I planned to live after marriage. Then I asked her, where do you like to live? ”

Then Henry said, "Mary said she liked to live in the country, the land of Henry and your father. ”

Frances glanced at Elobel, who didn't quite understand Henry's words, and quickly explained to her: "It's Arundel Castle in Sussex, and the Norfolk family has owned this castle and nearby territories since the 11th century. ”

Isabel whispered, "Where is Sussex?" ”

Henry looked at her and said, "It's a county in the south of the kingdom, near the English Channel. ”

"Well, close to the English Channel?! Henry, what is the living environment like, I mean compared to Richmondshire. ”

"The living environment and natural scenery of the two places are very similar, except that one is in the north and the other is in the south. In contrast to Richmondshire, Sussex is free from the ravages of barbarism, violence, chaos and war, making it a good fit for a woman like Mary. ”

The Duke of Richmond took another sip of wine as he said this, and the handsome face of Thomas Seymour suddenly appeared in his mind. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Isabel say, "Henry, do you remember what I said before that you intend to give me a gift?" ”

The Earl of Surrey suddenly laughed: "Henry, it seems that you have been planning not to live with Mary for a long time, have you?" ”

Henry Howard's words made everyone else laugh, and Henry blushed slightly and said, "I remember, you said that you asked me to buy land and estates in the South, and prepare to move to the South to live in the future. ”

Frances immediately said with some amusement, "Henry, why don't you buy some land and a manor house in Sussex and live there?" Then, Henry and I moved from Windsor to be your neighbors, what do you think? ”

Isabel brewed her dreams and pondered, "Henry, is there any port near Sussex?" ”

Henry nodded: "About 40 miles west of the county is the port of Southampton. The port has been an important port for ocean trade and passenger transport since the Middle Ages, and it was possible to reach France by ship from the port. ”

"Isabel, do you want to take a boat to Europe? Great, if we all live in Sussex, we would have taken a boat from the port of Southampton to Europe. Frances exclaimed excitedly.