After William Parr had a brother-in-law like Henry VIII, he naturally got along well with his brother-in-law's illegitimate son, the Duke of Richmond. Although they are not very close friends, the two can be called a good pair in the eyes of others. However, after the two good partners added a daughter of Baron Walton, the relationship between the two became a little delicate. There is no mustard, no jealousy, and no shameful behavior of throwing away the etiquette of the high nobility for the sake of the baron's daughter.

This time, the Duke of Richmond was ordered to enter Whitehall to accompany Henry VIII, which was a credit to the Earl of Essex. William spoke to his sister, Catherine Parr, about the Baron's daughter, in the hall dedicated to Her Majesty the Queen, "Your Majesty, Lady Isabel has come to the City of London this time... I'd like to talk to her alone. ”

Catherine's eyes focused on the chess game in front of her, picked up one of her F2 white pawns and walked straight forward, slightly raising her eyelids to glance at her opponent, her brother William, "William, do you want to talk to her about her betrothed husband dying in battle in Scotland?" ”

When William saw Her Majesty the Queen, who was playing white (the game of chess is played by the white player first), after making her first move, she gently picked up her B8 black horse and jumped over the B7 black pawn in front of her (in chess, the horse is the only piece that can cross the piece), and placed it on the C6 square, and whispered, "Yes, Your Majesty." However, I would like to talk to her about other things. ”

Next, both players take turns playing and minimizing their opponent's moves (the king is the only piece that cannot be redeemed), using their own move to restrain the opponent's moves. At the same time, he used the position of 10 minions to cover his elephant and the car to rush and kill. Catherine's expression became a little lighter as she saw that she was about to defeat her brother, "William, Lady Isabel is my good companion, and I want you to be with her too. It's just that she's in the north and you're in the south. If you want to marry her, you should let her come south. ”

William glanced at the endgame of two or more chess pieces on each side except for the king, and replied thoughtfully: "Your Majesty, I will tell her what you think." Uh, one more thing. ”

"Well, what's the matter?"

"Can you send someone to tell Your Highness to come into the palace to accompany Your Majesty and you?"

"You mean the Duke of Richmond?" Catherine glanced at her brother curiously, thinking about how to kill the other king.

"Yes, Your Majesty. At present, Lady Isabel is still residing in Her Highness's Durham residence, and I do not want my conversation with her to be known to His Highness. ”

At this time, Elizabeth Brooke, the unmarried maid standing two steps behind Catherine Parr, although she maintained the appearance of a maid, looked from time to time at the Earl of Essex, opposite Her Majesty the Queen. William seemed to sense something, and glanced at the young, beautiful maid quietly.

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On that morning, the Duke of Richmond, dressed as a duke, came to Henry VIII's drawing-room. After waiting for some time, he saw four court attendants carrying a delicate sedan chair into the door of the drawing room, and Henry VIII, who looked unusually old and haggard, sat on the sedan chair and stared at him without saying a word, followed by several young saber attendants.

Soon Her Majesty arrived at the King's drawing room with several maids and two lady-in-waitres. Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Richmond then sat around the table and played a card game with Henry VIII. After three or four games of gambling nature, the Duke of Richmond had lost £50 to Henry VIII and £30 to Queen Catherine.

The Duke of Richmond chuckled softly at Henry VIII and the Queen, and without any hesitation, took some money from the leather pouch on his belt and placed it on the table. According to the amount of the money lost, it was paid to his father, Henry VIII and the queen, respectively. A smile appeared on the face of Henry VIII, who had won a lot of money, and he glanced at the gambling money paid by his illegitimate son and said with a smile, "My son, the 80 pounds you lost this time is not a small amount, and there is also a part of the mercenary fees you paid for me. I don't think you've got a lot left over from your annual honoraria over the years, right? ”

As one of the attendants shuffled the cards of the three men with swift and gentle movements, the Duke of Richmond glanced at the Queen and then looked at Henry VIII and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, in fact, my annual honorarium is still deposited with my cashier." Moreover, this money is not territorial income. ”

Henry VIII was a little curious about the origin of the bastard's money, and then thought of the loot captured in the battle of Stirling, nodded and said, "My son, is it the loot obtained after the battle of Stirling?" ”

While the squire shuffled the cards and distributed them to the trio, the Duke of Richmond shook his head, "Not the spoils of war, Your Majesty." ”

Then, hesitantly and a little excitedly, he looked at his father, who also had red hair, "Your Majesty, this is the money that my advisor earned in Spain's overseas territories. ”

"Spain's overseas territories?" Henry VIII was also in good spirits after hearing the bastard's words, and hurriedly asked the attendant to bring three glasses of wine.

"Henry, do you know how Lady Isabel made her money?" Queen Catherine was also curious about the Duke of Richmond's words.

The Duke of Richmond was very proud in his heart, but he didn't dare to reveal it easily. But in accordance with the questions of the king and queen, he replied with some seriousness, "Your Majesty, after you had given me some privateering permits the year before, my adviser had done some overseas trade with the Spaniards in the use of official documents in the seizure of French seaborne goods. ”

Henry VIII recalled the time of the war with France again in 1543 and smiled lightly, "Henry, you are fortunate that your adviser did not plunder the ships of our allies. ”

Queen Catherine wondered what Isabel had done at sea, or how she had learned about the maritime trade. He smiled at Henry VIII and nodded, "Your Majesty, will you allow me to ask His Highness a few more questions?" ”

Henry VIII threw the cards on the table, picked up the glass beside him, took a big sip of wine, and nodded to his queen. Queen Catherine smiled lightly and looked at the Duke of Richmond on her left, "Henry, can you be more elaborate?" ”

"Yes, Her Majesty." The Duke of Richmond agreed, and then told Isabel of the maritime trade, "Your Majesty, the Spaniards are short of country farmers in their overseas territories who spend their lives in the dirt. ”