89 Chapter 17: Treason

Hello guys! English, it is not my motherly language, I'm French so I apologize if there are some mistakes. Don't hesitate to tell me where they are so that I can improve.

This is my first full length fiction, with chapters, I hope it will please you. It is a AU where Katherine Howard does not marry Henry and where Cromwell is spared. Instead of Katherine, Henry marries a French noble lady, on the advice of Cromwell.

I hope my little story will please you..

Sincerely

Marina Ka-Fai

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The French Bride

Chapter 17 : Treason

Marina's words ran through Henry's head for a less than a few seconds.

' My dear love !'

He kissed her and then knelt as he could to kiss his wife's belly.

' This is the most beautiful gift I have ever received, thank you.'

The young queen smiled to this.

' The physicians think the child will come around august. As for the number of babies I am carrying, thy are not sure for the moment.'

Henry smiled. He could not wait to see his new child.

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Two months later, Marina's pregnancy was publicly announced. Ambassadors, kings, queens, princes and princesses sent presents from all over Europe. Henry had also one for his beloved wife. He offered to Ambroise and Eric a household and a castle in his realm. He knew that one day, Ambroise would have to return to France as new earl of Champagne but he would have a house in England if he desired to visit his royal cousin. Marina almost cried tears of joy when Henry told her.

' This is marvellous! Thank you so much!'

' You deserve it. After everything you have done, you deserve it more than anyone else.'

February came with a lot of surprise for the royal family. First of all, Mary's birthday. She was offered magnificent gifts. Ambroise and Eric also offered her something. They did not know if it was proper since Mary was a princess and they were not, they were only some relatives of the queen. But this touched Mary a lot. It was simple: a brooch and a rosary, but she was grateful. She found them beautiful, elegant and sober. They really paid attention to details. The brooch and the rosary were made in the Spanish fashion but an English touch. She thanked them with all her heart.

Then, a few days after, Ursula finally came back from her land. She had troubles after the birth of her daughter Lettice but she fully recovered. Marina greeted her with joy.

' How is your new family Lady Bryan?'

' They are all very well. My baby girl is perfectly healthy and my husband very happy with her. He is not disappointed.'

' This is a very good new.'

By the end of February, Katherine returned as well, much to Marina's delight. Katherine was her spring breeze. But February was not only made of good news. The ambassador of France came with a letter from Marina's father, complaining about that he had not been invited to visit his daughter yet . Her cousins were invited but he, the queen's father, was not.

' There is no way I can invite to court a man who has beaten up his own wife to death! Now that Marina is queen, he finally remembers that he has a daughter? He did to her the most cruel thing on Earth! Tell him there is no way I invite him! And if he tries to come, I'll have his head chopped off!'

The court was used to Henry's screams but it was the first time that he screamed that loud. Marina did not know what to do. She did not want to see her father. But she did not want England to have issues with France because of the story of her family.

' I am certain that Francis will agree with me on that matter.' Henry told her after she explained to him her fear.

And Henry was right. Francis forbade Marina's father to go to England. It made him enter into a rage. That brat who deprived him from having a son would pay. No one stood in Pierre de Champagne's way.

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France, earldom of Champagne.

' Take this poison and put it into a drink or into food. Make sure that the queen and her damn cousins don't survive.'

The man took a purse and the poison.

' I allow myself to remember you that by killing your daughter, you are committing a double treason and a regicide. And you condemn the earldom of Champagne to die along with you.'

' I do not care. This is her fault if I am sonless and I don't want my stupid nephews to have a chance to have what his mine, they are like her. You are a professional, I know that I will not be discovered or disappointed.'

The assassin nodded and took a boat for England. He arrived in England and he managed to get into the royal kitchen. He put the poison into the three glasses of wine that were to be given to the queen and to her cousins. He faded away after his business.

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A few hours after drinking, Marina was waiting for Henry to come and dine with her when she suddenly felt a horrible wave of pain, especially in her womb. She was so dizzy that Katherine had to help her, preventing her to fall down.

' Your Majesty! '

By instinct, Marina checked her legs. Her fingers were full of blood.

' Oh my god... '

Marina fainted in Katherine's arms, creating a wave of fear into her household.

' Everyone, please, calm down! We are here to help the queen! Someone will search for physicians, another person for midwives! Lady Bryan, please go to fetch His Majesty! The king has to know of this! ' Katherine declared trying to remain calm.

Everyone nodded. Lady Rochford went for the midwives, Joan for the physicians, Ursula for the king while Katherine and three ladies carried the queen to her bed and attended her. Katherine even had the idea of someone checking the food the queen ate, the drinks she had and the suspicious stuff she could have touched.

Eric and Ambroise fell very ill as well. Thomas Culpepper, who was in charge of their welfare, ran into Ursula who was heading to the king's office. They found this incredibly strange. When they explained it to Henry, he immediately thought of a plot. He gave his orders to Cromwell while he ran as fast as he could to see his wife.

When he entered, Marina was lying on her bed, she was awake, exhausted.

' Sweetheart!'

' Henry... '

' Her Majesty the queen is safe now. And it is all thanks to the lady Culpepper. If she hadn't give such wise orders, the queen and the child would have been dead by now. We found hints of poison in her wine. A poison that comes from France.'

If Henry was relieved to know that his wife and future baby were safe, he immediately had a thought of who did this. Three members of the same family, with the same interests and virtues, victims of the same sudden illness. It was an attempt of murder. And in England, Marina had almost no enemies. She was respected by Catholics and Protestants. No one at court had a reason to murder her or her cousins. The only one who was mad at her was her father. He had also a very good reason to murder Ambroise and Eric. Moreover, the poison was from France.

' Thank you doctor. I shall find a way to thank you for what you have done.'

The doctor humbly answered that he did nothing more than his duty. Henry kissed his wife forehead, saying to her to rest. Then, he took Katherine apart.

' Katherine, thanks to you, England has still its queen and future prince. You showed a courage and an intelligence that are beyond belief. How could I ever thank you?'

' Your Majesty is way too kind, I only did what I thought was the best at the moment. The queen means a lot to me, I could not bear it if something bad happened to her.'

' My rose without a thorn.'

Henry kissed her hand.

' I shall find a way to thank you, Katherine. Take good care of Marina. And tell her that everything is fine.'

The king left and found his secretary.

' I have sent a letter to King Francis to explain him our discoveries.'

' You did well. How are the queen's cousins?'

' Lord Eric is better but it seems that it is not the case for his elder brother. One of my spies is investigating and he found something interesting.'

' Which is? '

' This poison is made with plants that can only be found in the Earldom of Champagne. '

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Less than three days after, Henry received a letter from Francis. His spies worked day and night but found a lot of evidences against Pierre de Champagne. The poisoner was found but did not admit anything. But written orders written by Pierre were found in his house, his diary as well. He wrote how much he hated his daughters and nephews, his obsession to have a son. He also wrote his wish to see Francis to rot in the depths of Hell and Henry's leg to make him suffer until it drove him insane. That added to Cromwell's proofs, it was clear that Pierre was guilty. The poisoner and him were judged in France then in England where they were found guilty of high treason and attempt of murder by poisoning. The poisoner was condemned to die by being boiled alive. As for Pierre, since he was the queen's father, he was beheaded.

When Ambroise and Eric heard the cannons, they knew it was over.

' I wish I became the earl in other circumstances.' A weak Ambroise said

As for Marina, she felt nothing. That man was not her father anymore. He was not anymore since her mother's demise. She was orphan since she was nine. She cried no tears for him. The only thing that broke her heart was that Ambroise would have to leave to become the new earl.