In May 1545, the Duke of Richmond granted a cordial request from Lady Ripley: to live with Duchess Mary Fitzroy for a time. Soon, the Duke fulfilled his promise and exercised his rightful husband's rights with the Duchess during the days they lived together.

Subsequently, the Duke and Lady Ripley followed the instructions of Henry VIII to return north to strengthen the Anglo-Soviet border guards. As the clock ticked to the last week of July, the Duke unexpectedly received a letter from Arundel Castle in Sussex. The letter, written by the Duchess of Norfolk III to the Duke of Richmond, states that the Duchess's daughter, Mary, had experienced some physical changes shortly after her return to the South, such as a continuous increase in body temperature, nausea, vomiting, and other changes.

The Duke of Richmond became more and more amazed the more he looked down, and he could not help but be even more surprised when he looked down. The Duchess said a lot of all sorts of things in the letter, and mentioned that her daughter's health had changed because she was pregnant with the Duke of Richmond's heir. When the Duke saw the word "heir", he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as a father that he had never felt before.

However, while the pride has not yet disappeared, another thought has arisen. He felt that he didn't like children, especially boys. He felt a little strange that he would have such thoughts, and he couldn't find a reason for it. In the end, the Duke had no choice but to let Lady Ripley come before him and ask his Privy Counsellor to give him some suitable and pertinent advice.

At this time, Isabel Walton, the Lady of Ripley, was still busy tending to her castle estate. After following the two Duke's palace guards back to the familiar Sherif Hatton Castle, they went straight to the Duke of Richmond's study. As soon as the Duke saw her, he showed her the letter from the Duchess of Norfolk.

Later, a smiling Isabel congratulated the duke, who only responded politely with her congratulations. Isabel glanced at the Duke's face sitting behind the desk and asked a little strangely, "Henry, I can see that you don't seem to have the pleasure of being a father, do you?" ”

The Duke of Richmond stared at her in thought, and after a moment he added, "Isabel, now I have a thought, perhaps, very bad. I don't like kids, you know? ”

Actually, Isabel did not understand the Duke's thoughts. In her part of the modern memories that have become mutilated, there are indeed some people who do not like to be surrounded by children all the time, and there are quite a few ordinary people who like children. People who like children, don't have to explain too much. And how can ordinary people who don't like children explain their thoughts?

She never seemed to have thought about such a question. Therefore, when the Duke threw a look at her hoping for an answer, she could only shake her head apologetically, "I'm sorry, Henry, I... Can't answer your question. ”

The Duke of Richmond pursed his lips and smiled, nodding again, "Well, I know, and I'm sure many people can't answer my question." ”

As soon as he finished speaking, the Duke continued, "If Mary gives birth to a female heir for me, perhaps I will change some of my attitude towards children. ”

The Duke's call reminded Isabel of John Neville's father, Baron Latimer III, towards his two children. John was snubbed by his father after birth, while his sister was cared for by the Baron's energy. If John's stepmother (Queen Catherine) hadn't sent John to Isabel's father's estate for custody, perhaps John would have become a wild child in the northern countryside.

"Henry, you... Do you like girls? At the moment, Isabel felt that the Duke of Richmond was in many ways the polar opposite of his biological father, Henry VIII.

"I thought, maybe yes. However, Mary has only just become pregnant, and only God can decide whether the child in her belly will be male or female. ”

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In the second week of April 1546, the Duchess of Richmond gave birth to a baby boy named Thomas Fitzroy in her father's castle. However, when the Duchess wrote to her husband, the Duke of Richmond, about the birth of her first child, she was treated coldly by the Duke.

The Duke of Richmond took advantage of the break after lunch to stroll with Lady Ripley in the open space west of Sharif Hatton Castle. The duke held the hilt of his saber in his left hand and crossed his waist with his right hand as he walked, and said, "Isabel, is this boy named Thomas my first child?" ”

Isabel wanted to laugh when she heard the duke's words, but she still nodded reservedly, "Yes, Henry. The Duchess will not betray God, nor will she betray you. ”

"No, that's not what I'm trying to say. I mean, can I not have this child? ”

"My God, Henry, Thomas is your eldest son and the official heir to your title and domain. How can you think so? Isabel couldn't help but say a few more words, she thought the Duke's idea was too unbelievable. As far as she knew, no nobleman of the highest rank would easily abandon his eldest son, unless the eldest son died at an early age for various reasons.

The Duke of Richmond didn't know how to tell his thoughts, and subconsciously reached out and scratched his red-haired head. After thinking about it for a while, he added, "According to the precedent, Thomas would live with his mother until he was 7 to 9 years old, and then send him to the guardian's territory to live, learn, and grow. ”

After saying that, he nodded and smiled at Isabel, "Isabel, at least I don't have to see Thomas until he turns 21, don't you think?" ”

Isabel nodded approvingly, "That's right, Henry. Only, are you sure you don't want to meet your eldest son and heir? ”

"Yes, Thomas is a demon from hell who will constantly intrude my life."

"Okay. Now, you can decide which nobleman will be your eldest son's guardian. ”

The Duke of Richmond looked at Isabel with a sly look in his eyes and whispered, "Lord Ripley, I think you are the right person to be my eldest son's guardian. ”

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At this moment, the Duke of Richmond sat in the main seat of the hall, feeling sorry for his good companion. He thought a lot, even about the future life of several of the children of the Earl of Surrey. After a brief silence, he raised his head and looked up at the baroness beside him and said, "Isabel, if the Lord is executed by His Majesty, what will happen to his children?" ”

Lady Ripley stared at the Duke in silence and said slowly, "Perhaps, Lady Surrey will entrust the Lord's children to your lady in custody." ”