The Duke of Richmond stared at Isabel Walton, who was independent and self-reliant. Obviously, her answer was a bit of a surprise to him. Henry looked at the other person's eyes and thought, "Could it be that after 72 weeks with her, she still hasn't liked me?" ”

"Why would she not like me? Because Lord Lancashire pursued her? ”

"Impossible. Lord Lancashire was only a poor and conservative governor of the county, and I was the Duke of Richmond who my father had made himself. Can an earl be in the same position as the most honorable duke? ”

"Perhaps, she thinks that even with me she will not get land, wealth and fame?"

"Well, I admit that she has no inheritance. But I could exchange what she wanted for pounds sterling. ”

"Or is she not interested in these things? My God, a young, beautiful woman does not like money, land, beautiful dresses, so what more does she want? ”

"Unbelievable, she is indeed a devout Catholic? Is she willing and unreserved to accept what Jesus Christ has taught her spiritually, in her faith? ”

"No, by all accounts, she had no intention of returning to the Spanish convent."

"By the way, it must have been my father's reason that influenced her opinion of me."

"What can I do if my father refuses my request that I want to be with her? Unless I voluntarily renounce my status as a duke? ”

The various reasons for Henry's consideration were still limited to the values and outlook on life that were peculiar to human beings in this era. In his view, wealth, land, fame, and respectable status are the basic conditions for everyone to survive in this secular world, and even the most desired thing for the beggars who are wandering around at the moment is land.

Isabel naturally didn't know what Henry, who was staring at her, was thinking, and just calmly sipped the wine in her glass. Of course, the deadlock still had to be broken, and she was the first to speak: "Henry, let's assume that the king agrees that you will be with me, but you pay the price that my identity will not be recognized, and you will also lose your duke's title and domain." Henry, can you afford such a price? ”

Isabel kept looking at Henry's expression and eyes, and when she saw that Henry's eyes had become a little dark, she took advantage of the situation and said, "Although the king is your father, you have not been recognized by the royal family, the upper and lower houses, the Privy Council, the hereditary nobles, and other nobles, and I think you know why." ”

"Because I'm bastard, do you mean to talk about it?" Henry's face was filled with a sad look.

Isabel really can't bear to hurt a boy who is only 17 years old this year, but she doesn't want to force herself to accept Henry? Fitzroy's feelings for himself. Staring at him, he smiled softly: "Actually, this matter is not up to you. So, if you want to get someone or something that you like, then you have to make your father happy for you, proud of you, and lucky to have your son. ”

The sad Henry seemed to understand the meaning of her words, and glared at Isabel with innocent eyes: "Happy for me? Proud of me? Do you mean to say that I should do something that might make my father happy and proud? ”

"Yes, it's like when the king was hunting, and his horse threw the king to the ground. And you will be able to train the horse in a very short time, so that it will always be at the behest of the king alone. ”

"I see. Isabel, what can I do to make my father happy? ”

"Henry, you can think about it, what is it that makes the king unhappy and distressed right now?"

The young duke stood up abruptly, and walked up and down the reception area of the study with his hands behind his back. After a quick thought, he put his hand on the tall pointed arches at the top of the two ends of the Gothic chair, and said in a stern and methodical manner: "What is unhappy about the king now is that he has never had a male heir. However, I can't help him with this. ”

"The second is the Reformation. However, since the Archbishop of Canterbury promulgated the Ten Points Programme this year, the King's reform of the Catholic Church has become more and more radical. I don't think my opinion can change the king's mind. ”

"The third is the people who are outraged by the Ten Points, and the northern rebellion that you told me is about to begin. Isabel, perhaps I can show the king my efforts in this matter. ”

Isabel leaned back in her chair and looked at Henry's serious appearance, crossed one leg and said easily, "That's right." Henry, did you send the letter I asked you to write to the king before I left? ”

Henry looked at her excitedly and nodded: "As soon as you leave, I will have someone send the letter out." At this time, I think my father must have known about it. ”

"Good. Henry, as long as you settle this matter, I am sure that no one will stand up against any of your father's actions in the future. When Isabel picked up her glass and tried to drink, she found that the wine in the glass was gone, and she had to put it down.

"Really? That's great, maybe my father will agree to ......me and you as soon as he's happy."

"Wait, Henry, before you plan to do anything, you'd better follow your father's wishes and complete the marriage ceremony with Mary Howard at once."

"Hmph, it's just a ritual. As soon as the ceremony was over, I would tell Mary why I wanted to live separately from her. ”

"This reason is not only for Mary to believe, but also for her father and brother."

Seeing that her guidance to Henry had worked, Isabel stood up and said with a smile, "Your Royal Highness, may I go now?" ”

"Isabel, where do you want to go? We're not done yet, are we? Henry's eyes widened, feeling a little strange.

Isabel made a helpless expression, shook her head and said, "Henry, as soon as I saw the person you sent, I rushed back without stopping. Until now, when it was almost lunch, my family and I hadn't met in person, so ......"

Henry suddenly laughed with realization: "I'm sorry, Isabel, you go back quickly." ”

When Isabel was about to leave the study after saluting, she heard Henry say again, "Isabel, I want to have lunch with you, would you like to?" ”

"Henry, I'm so tired, I want to take a break."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Uh, you'll come back to me later. ”

"Henry, I'll go to Lord Haswell's manor tomorrow......"

At this time, there were three more knocks on the door.

"Come in." After Henry spoke, Eugene, who pushed the door in, said softly after saluting the two, "Your Highness, Mr. Field said that lunch is ready, can it start now?" ”