Since the Duke of Richmond hosted a banquet and ball for his wife, Mary Fitzroy, during the festival of March 1st Sunday, Mary has changed some of her attitude towards the Duke's relationship as husband and wife. At this moment, during the feast of the Feast of the Epiphany, she hopes that the relationship between the two can go further.

"Madam, Your Highness is here." The valet Eugene, who had taken the lead first, stood at the entrance to Mary's room and whispered.

Afterwards, he immediately retreated to the door and gave way to the Duke of Richmond behind him. When Henry entered the room, he saw Mary and the two maids standing in place. Curiously glanced at some of the embroidery items on the small table on one side. He said mildly, "Madam, I'm back." ”

After Mary and the maid saluted one after another, Henry stepped forward and gently hugged Mary and kissed her face. When the two of them were seated, Mary, who was in a good mood, said to the maid, "Kelly, go and bring a glass of wine to Your Highness." ”

Henry, who was sitting in front of the window, looked at the graceful and luxurious Duchess, "Madam, it's the festive season, embroidery... You can do it after the festival. ”

Because the maid Amy was still standing a few steps away from her at this time, Mary kept the duchess's appearance and smiled reservedly, "Your Highness, these embroideries are also done in your free time. You know, you didn't come just now......"

"yes, I know." After some deep thought, the Duke of Richmond decided to say something else to his wife, "Madam, I want to tell you that before I return from Durham Castle, Lord Cumberland invited me and you to a banquet at Skipton Castle. ”

Mary looked at her husband sitting across from her and smiled, "That's good." It appears that your cousin-in-law, Lord Cumberland, wishes to improve your relationship with your members of the Committee. And, of course, the relationship with your family in private. ”

"Madame, you know that I and Lord Cumberland's... Kinship? ”

"I heard about it from my father. However, since His Majesty annulled her marriage to Queen Catherine of Aragon, Lady Cumberland's mother's relationship with Her Majesty has become very bad, has it? ”

At this time, the maid Kelly held the plate in both hands and brought a glass of wine to the Duke of Richmond, "Your Highness, this is your wine." ”

"Well, put it down." The Duke of Richmond commanded softly, and then looked at his wife again, "Yes, as a good companion of Queen Catherine of Aragon, Lady Cumberland's mother not only objected to Her Majesty's annulment of her marriage to Queen Catherine, but also developed a great dislike for the later Queen Anne Boleyn. ”

From 1310 onwards, the Earl of Cumberland, who had lived for generations at Skipton Castle in Yorkshire, became a close friend of Henry VIII in his youth. However, it wasn't until Henry Clifford, Second Earl of Cumberland, married Eleanor Brandon that the Cumberland family's relationship with Henry VIII became a little delicate.

Eleanor Brandon's mother, Mary Tudor, was the sister of Henry VIII and the aunt of the Duke of Richmond. On March 3, 1515, Mary Tudor, who was not yet 19 years old, was secretly married in France to her second husband, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. She gave birth to a third child in 1519, named Eleanor Brandon.

In 1525, Henry VIII conferred the title of Baron Clifford X as Earl of Cumberland for the sake of his military plans for the defence of Scotland. Thus, in terms of the relationship between the king and the local nobility, the Clifford family, the Cumberland family, who had lived in the north for a long time, remained loyal to Henry VIII. It was because of this loyalty to the king that Earl II of Cumberland was able to enter the Northern Council and become a colleague of the Duke of Richmond.

Subsequently, between 1525 and 1532, the relationship between the siblings became strained between Marie Tudor, the mother of Eleanor, the wife of Earl II of Cumberland, who objected to her brother Henry VIII's annulment of her marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Mary Tudor insisted that it was an unforgivable mistake for Henry VIII to divorce Queen Catherine, a noblewoman of great family background and a wonderful, courageous, and intelligent woman.

Under the influence of his wife's mother's views, the Earl II of Cumberland and his wife were in a businesslike mood with Henry VIII. In May of this year, when the Earl II of Cumberland received an invitation from the Duke of Richmond to a banquet and ball for the Duchess, he was forced to attend the banquet at Richmond Castle in the face of his fellow committee members.

Therefore, the invitation to the banquet of the Duke and Lady of Richmond on the occasion of the Feast of the Epiphany can only be regarded as a kind of officialdom etiquette, without the slightest personal feelings. Disturbed by the souring relationship between his father, Henry VIII, and his aunt, Mary Tudor, the Duke of Richmond had little personal affection for the Cumberlands.

Duchess Mary still knows a little about these personal aspects. Staring at the Duke of Richmond, who no longer spoke, Mary could only obey her husband's wishes, "Your Highness, Lord Cumberland's invitation is a courtesy return to the last banquet. I suppose that the courtesy of the nobles and the association of the council made it necessary to pay a visit to Skipton Castle. ”

The Duke of Richmond had been considering whether to go to the Earl of Cumberland's castle for a banquet. After hearing Madame's words, she raised her eyelids and looked at Madame, "What if I don't go to the banquet?" ”

"Well, if you don't go, I'm afraid it will affect your relationship with Lord Cumberland's colleagues in the Northern Council."

"Madame, you are right. So, while at Durham Castle, I did not immediately accede to Lord Cumberland's request. ”

The atmosphere of the conversation became a little awkward, and Mary came up with an idea to end it quickly. Thinking to herself, she whispered to her husband, "Your Highness, why don't you give some gifts to Lord Cumberland and his wife." This way, you will avoid touching on bad family relationships and not ruining your fellow relationships with Lord Cumberland. ”

The Duke of Richmond nodded as he lowered his glass after taking a sip of wine, "Well, that's a good idea." What do you think should be a gift? ”

"Etiquette among nobles?! Well, what do you think about sending a bunch of falcons and falconers to Lord Cumberland? ”

"Very well, who to send to Skipton Castle to deliver gifts?"

"Let Miss Isabel go. She is not only your retainer, but also a good companion of mine. Besides, Skipton Castle is in Yorkshire, so I don't think there's any danger. ”

Meanwhile, Isabel was in her counsellor's room admiring the Duke of Richmond's gift to her, a handguard sword of Henry VIII.