Shortly after 8 a.m. on Saturday, Isabel and three other guards left Horton Manor and continued their rapid march south. After a short break and lunch, the group arrived outside the Duke of Richmond's ducal estate in Windsor just after 2pm.

Upon entering the estate, one of the guards took her letter of visit to the Earl of Surrey, nearly two miles away, while the other carried a letter of invitation written for her by Anne Parr to the address provided by Anne Holbein in search of the famous court painter.

Luckily, both guards returned to the manor before dinner with good news. A guard reported: "Mrs. Surrey was delighted to receive a letter of visit from Miss Isabel and was eager to meet for a moment at Surrey Manor after Sunday Mass this week. ”

Another guard reported: "Mr. Hans Holbein, upon receipt of the letter, said that he was very honoured to be able to paint the noblest Prince Henry, the Duke of Richmond and the Duke of Somerset. He promised to go to the Duke's Windsor estate on Monday of the following week to discuss the painting with the Duke's appointee.

Soon the time came to the next day, after lunch at Sunday Mass, Isabel and Guard, who were lightly dressed, rode to the Winkefield area of Windsor. Follow the road near the village of the Green Maiden and ride your horse to the entrance to Surrey Manor.

After the sergeant guarding the gate of the manor opened the door and let her go, Fast on horseback behind Isabel looked at the two rows of towering, straight street trees on both sides of the road, and couldn't help but let out a burst of admiration, "Miss, I'm sure this Lord Surrey must be an elite knight favored by His Majesty. ”

Isabel knew that Fast was coming to Surrey Manor for the first time, and looked around with a light smile, "Fast, you guessed it right. So, do you also want to be an elite knight like Lord Surrey? ”

"Mademoiselle, there is no doubt about it. I mean, if there's an opportunity. ”

"God will give you a chance, and it depends on whether you can seize it."

The group followed the road to the fork in the road, turned right, and marched to the open space in front of the Surrey Estate. When the group jumped off their horses, Fast's eyes immediately focused on the house on the left side of the manor, which was used for indoor horse jousting. Weir, the steward of Surrey Manor, immediately came to Isabel with two male servants and saluted, "Good day, Miss Isabel." ”

"Good day, Mr. Butler."

"Please come with me, Lord and Mrs. are waiting for you in the living room." After the butler finished speaking, he instructed the manservant to lead the horses of Isabel and the others.

"Fast, a few of you are at the mercy of Lord Surrey's butler." After Isabel finished speaking to a few people, she followed Vail towards the gate of the manor.

The three guards stayed where they were after agreeing, and one of the guards whispered curiously beside Fast: "Fast, what do you think that house is for?" ”

"Well, probably the house where the servants live."

"Even if it's a house where the servants live, it can't be built so wide."

"I don't know, I'll just ask the Lord's butler later."

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Isabel walked outside the meeting room, and without waiting for Weil's command, she stood there arranging her costume and the cross-handed half-sword she was wearing. After the housekeeper entered the meeting room to inform her, she walked into the meeting room with brisk steps.

At this time, Lord Surrey and his wife Frances Howard were sitting in their seats and whispering. Isabel stood in front of Vail and saluted and said aloud, "Good day, Lord Surrey. ”

He turned to look at his fellow Countess, "Good day, Lady Surrey." ”

Frances couldn't contain her joy and quickly stood up and walked in her direction. He took her hand and returned to the side of his seat, "Isabel, I thought you would have lunch with us today, why did you come now?" ”

Isabel glared at her good companion and then at the Earl of Surrey, "I'm sure your Excellency's mood must have become bad because of something, so I can't easily disturb you." ”

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, withdrew his distracted gaze and looked at her with a faint smile, "Miss Isabel, what do you think could be something that makes me feel bad?" ”

"I don't know, maybe it's the Six Dogmas Act that the king enacted last year, or if it's something else. ”

"Well, Miss still sees the religious reform very clearly."

"Thank you, Your Excellency, for your compliment."

Frances wanted to talk to Isabel alone, but she noticed that her husband's face still looked heavy, so she sat down in silence. The Earl of Surrey crossed one leg, supported the armrest of the seat with his right hand and stroked his beard, and said slowly, "Miss Isabelle, as the Duke of Richmond's Privy Counsellor, you must have your own good opinions on certain matters. So, I have a question I'd like to hear from you. ”

"Your Excellency, please speak."

"On the 18th of last month, His Majesty conferred upon Thomas Cromwell, First Secretary of State, the title of Earl of Essex and the title of Lord of the Seals. However, it was this Lord of Essex who brought His Majesty to the marriage of Queen Anne of Cleves......"

"Your Excellency, ......what do you mean?"

The Earl of Surrey stood up and paced slowly in front of Madame and Isabel, "Your Majesty is now very angry with Queen Anne of Cleves, even with Lord Essex, who brokered this engagement. Therefore, such a new nobleman could not have taken up the office of a respected chief minister of state in my father's opinion. ”

It was May 1540, which meant that Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, would be executed two months later on a day in July. The Earl's enemy, the leader of the conservatives, was the Earl of Surrey's father, the Duke of Norfolk III.

Thinking of this, Isabel suddenly woke up to the words of the Earl of Surrey. Damn it, it's a fucking political conspiracy! The Duke III of Norfolk wanted to use the case of Queen Anne of Cleves to overthrow Thomas Cromwell, the chief minister of state who advocated the Reformation.

However, how could the eldest son of the Duke think of coming to ask for his opinion? Did he think that the daughter of a magistrate in the northern royal realm would also play politics?

Next, Henry VIII's fifth wife, Catherine Howard, will make a grand appearance. Catherine, who is innocent and fantasies about the love between men and women, is pushed to the front of the scenes by her cousin's father, and then becomes a victim of this war between Catholicism and Protestantism.