A destiny fulfilled - An Eleanor of Austria TL
- Thread starter isabella
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If someone has not understood it, Henry‘s thoughts on Catherine are motivated by the fact who her death had forced him to go back on the plans of his father who he had choose to discard when he become King, added to the fact who Catherine‘s father betrayed him in the war and she is a wife who had not kept her promises.
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1514 (April) - Sometimes apologies can be given and accepted without words
Archduchess Eleanor was starting to feel a little better after meeting (finally) the English King: Henry had looked interested in her, and likely determined to use the opportunity given to them by the wedding of their siblings for knowing her a little before their own wedding, who would happen later in the year. Henry VIII was almost 23 years old, and was likely still trying to get over the death of his first wife and unwilling to admit it, or at least that was what Brandon, his best friend, believed. She knew for her own experience who anger was a powerful emotion and a good way to cover pain and sorrow and sometimes pride pushed people in that direction and King Henry had all the reason for being one of them. The fact who her husband-to-be was really handsome and charming had made her feel guilty for her inability to say more than few words, but she had appreciated the fact who the King had dismissed it laughing and hoping who she would be less shy in the successive days, giving her a way out from a very awkward conversation. She had felt the eyes of the King on her very often, including when she was talking with princess Mary, who luckily was extremely pretty and with a great resemblance to the portrait for which her brother had fallen, so was unlikely who Charles would be deluded by his bride (and so they all would be spared from one of the tantrums of her 14 years old brother. Mary Tudor looked to be a girl of character with a fiery temperament of her own, and Eleanor really hoped who she do not shared her brother’s inclination for tantrums or Charles and Mary would make very hard the lives of their households at any major disagreement or trouble).
Once they arrived in the hall of the palace Archduchess Margaret noted the casket in the hands of Suffolk and she lost her usual composture for a moment. Well, she just hoped who the Duke of Suffolk knew better than making a scene right now and was relieved when the Duke gave the object who had worried her to his King, who promptly offered it to Eleanor: strange who King Henry had a gift for Eleanor ready and wanted give it to her but was a nice gesture.
Eleanor looked with interest at the jewel who King Henry was offering to her: a pretty and without doubt precious necklace with Tudor roses separated by her initial. A good tentative to get on her good side, without doubt, but what made her most curious was who the jewel do not looked recently made or new. Her new sister-in-law let out a gasp at the sight of the jewel who her brother was offering to her and that made her more curious, she would need to ask to Mary later, then. For now she started the usual thanking before being shocked as King Henry’s next words on the fact who the jewel had belonged to his late mother and had been a gift to her from his father, had explained Mary’s reaction and pushed her to promise to treasure it, specially when the King added who his mother had been another princess with little reasons for loving the King who she had married and gifted that necklace to her but who his parents had been much happy together.
She had regretted who Brandon had been able to make her talk about her sentiments for the match, as she had knew who that would have given to King Henry a big advantage in dealing with her, as she had no doubt of the use who Brandon would made of her confidences but that was absolutely unexpected and a very good way to apologize for the past.
She had promised to herself to not fall for King Henry’s charm, at least not from the start, but he was without doubt charming and handsome and that gift... His beloved mother’s necklace... And now who she was again in her chambers, she was checking who the jewel was safe as she would never be careless with precious heirlooms...
Once they arrived in the hall of the palace Archduchess Margaret noted the casket in the hands of Suffolk and she lost her usual composture for a moment. Well, she just hoped who the Duke of Suffolk knew better than making a scene right now and was relieved when the Duke gave the object who had worried her to his King, who promptly offered it to Eleanor: strange who King Henry had a gift for Eleanor ready and wanted give it to her but was a nice gesture.
Eleanor looked with interest at the jewel who King Henry was offering to her: a pretty and without doubt precious necklace with Tudor roses separated by her initial. A good tentative to get on her good side, without doubt, but what made her most curious was who the jewel do not looked recently made or new. Her new sister-in-law let out a gasp at the sight of the jewel who her brother was offering to her and that made her more curious, she would need to ask to Mary later, then. For now she started the usual thanking before being shocked as King Henry’s next words on the fact who the jewel had belonged to his late mother and had been a gift to her from his father, had explained Mary’s reaction and pushed her to promise to treasure it, specially when the King added who his mother had been another princess with little reasons for loving the King who she had married and gifted that necklace to her but who his parents had been much happy together.
She had regretted who Brandon had been able to make her talk about her sentiments for the match, as she had knew who that would have given to King Henry a big advantage in dealing with her, as she had no doubt of the use who Brandon would made of her confidences but that was absolutely unexpected and a very good way to apologize for the past.
She had promised to herself to not fall for King Henry’s charm, at least not from the start, but he was without doubt charming and handsome and that gift... His beloved mother’s necklace... And now who she was again in her chambers, she was checking who the jewel was safe as she would never be careless with precious heirlooms...
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Looks like Henry is off to a good start in apologizing to eleanor. Hopefully things will continue to go well once they are actually married.
Ooh, it seems that Henry is doing well in trying to make things up to Eleanor....
They will get along. Neither is in love with the other and they both know who theirs is a political marriage. Eventual common interests, children and political things will do the rest.
Yes, he is. Eleanor accepted the gift as the apology who it was and appreciated it a lot. Now she will let go all her fears as she can not have any doubt about Henry’s intentions if he gave such gift to her.
Because he had broken their betrothal for marrying Catherine some years earlier. Eleanor was still too young for marrying and he too impatient for waiting for her. As Eleanor was hurt by that rejection and now he is marrying her, well Eleanor (and the other Habsburg) expected an apology for the earlier slight as Catherine’s match was NOT dictated by politic (as Eleanor was both the more prestigious match and the better alliance).
And? Betrothals were broken all the time for other parties. Catherine was a adult princess who Henry knew and who's father was regent of Castile and King of Aragon. Eleanor had a dead father and a insane mother and a brother who were atleast half a dozen years away from being ruler of anything. Plus Catherine's alliance with the Hapsburgs did give Henry a connection to the imperial house. Eleanor was raised in the real world and she knew shit like that. I don't think she spent her entire life having rosy dreams about Henry.
Eleanor was around 12 years old in 1509 so marrying Catherine who could (even if in reality she did't have much luck) provide heirs to the throne and who was liked by the english people was a rather smart choice at that time. It turned out terrible for Catherine in the end, but she was a damn good queen, regent and connectional line to Europe's royal families.
Plus Margaret of Austria had a good relationship with Catherine their entire lives, so I don't think she would have spewed hatred like she does here.
But I'm tired of having the same argument with you all the time, so I'll leave it here.
She had all the rights to do this in the years of their engagement, when everyone was telling her who she would be Queen of England one day. Ferdinand of Aragon was NOT regent of Castile, and Eleanor was a princess of Castile, Austria and Burgundy, whose brother was likely to inherit also Aragon.
Marrying Catherine was simply rushing to marry someone able to give him children soon AND not reasoning with his head: Catherine would NOT give him any connection who Eleanor had not (and the one to Ferdinand and Aragon was the only who Catherine had closer than Eleanor)
Eleanor was younger BUT the better match by miles over ANY aspect but AGE. Catherine brought DIRECT ALLIANCE only with Aragon and her dowry was UNPAID in the end. In OTL Henry and Catherine’s marriage started to sour exactly in this timeframe when Ferdinand of Aragon betrayed Henry. Waiting a couple of years for Charles‘ sister (who was still 10 years old when Henry VII died), would have been a smarter choice.
And NOBODY told to Eleanor to hate Catherine, but Henry VIII was betrothed to Eleanor at the death of his father AND the Habsburg surely were NOT happy to see the match planned for Eleanor going to Catherine. Sure better Catherine than a French girl, but they had wanted and planned that match for Eleanor.
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1514 (April) - Sometimes first meetings do not follow any plan
Charles, Duke of Burgundy was a fourteen years older boy used to have everything he wanted and while was currently enjoying his hunting trip, he was unable to stop to think to the near arrival of his bride: Mary of England was really so beautiful as that enchanting portrait had made her appear or he was going to be deluded by the real woman? Hopefully Mary would be pretty as was promised and his Spanish grandfather would not be too unhappy for his wedding, but in any case his aunt Margaret was right: waiting for a three years old girl for making his grandfather (who he has heard quite often being called as untrustworthy) happy and risking the alliance with England would NOT be a good bargain (and as he was NOT like his maternal grandfather, he would hated who someone would believe him so inconstant to be an unreliable ally).
Then suddenly a messenger, sent by his aunt, reached his group with the news who the English fleet had been sighted and at this point would already been arrived in Antwerp, a day earlier than expected. Charles‘ first reaction was of disbelief: he had organized that hunt just for curbing his impatience for the arrival of his bride and she finally arrived while he was away? Was like someone had made a bad joke to him and Charles was feeling guilty as he has planned to receive Mary at the docks... Well, he decided who right now he had only one thing to do: rushing back to the palace and hoping who his absence had not given a bad impression of him to his bride. Sure he was a ruler in his own right and heir of many other lands but he also wished who his future bride see him as her own special knight and that was a bad start...
Charles’ companions were shocked by his improvvise departure, but hearing of the early arrival of the English party resigned to their fate and pushed their horses at full gallop, hoping to keep Charles’ pace for the two hours needed for returning to Antwerp at the fasted speed possible and who the English princess, their new Duchess, was truly as beautiful as Charles hoped (and possibly sweet tempered) or their lives would quickly become miserable...
Two hours later an almost exhausted Charles, arrived at the palace, and as he was still going too fast was barely quick enough to prevent his horse to run over some young maids who were walking in the park. He was going to say some quick words of excuse to the girls when one of them looked towards him, and he recognized with his total horror the features of the girl of his dreams and lost any chance to say something coherent: princess Mary in person was, if possible, more stunning than her portrait and he had just made the worst possible first impression on her...
Mary Tudor had no idea of why that young boy was unable to say barely a word when Archduchess Mary (who, being only 8 years old, had no idea of what was happening other than the fact who the situation was extremely funny) started to giggle and asked to Charles, who was reached by his companions what happened to him...
As the 18 years old girl was surely spoiled but neither heartless or unkind and the fact who the Duke, her husband, had arrived much earlier than was expected and looked to be at the end of a long run, flattered her, she just laughed and smiled to him, thanking the Duke for his premure in returning so quickly just for greeting her and complimented him for his excellent control of his horse, as very few knights would be so able to stop just in time in front to an unexpected obstacle, specially at his age and after a so long run...
Charles was still unable to say much of coherent, but was clearly grinning for Mary’s words, who reassured him on the fact who his bride was at least well disposed towards him and ready to forgive him for that disaster...
He was able to recover his sense just enough for excusing and take leave from his bride-to-be and his younger sister and go at the palace... a bath and a change were absolutely needed and he would need to find a way for getting full forgiveness from that stunning girl who he was to marry...
Then suddenly a messenger, sent by his aunt, reached his group with the news who the English fleet had been sighted and at this point would already been arrived in Antwerp, a day earlier than expected. Charles‘ first reaction was of disbelief: he had organized that hunt just for curbing his impatience for the arrival of his bride and she finally arrived while he was away? Was like someone had made a bad joke to him and Charles was feeling guilty as he has planned to receive Mary at the docks... Well, he decided who right now he had only one thing to do: rushing back to the palace and hoping who his absence had not given a bad impression of him to his bride. Sure he was a ruler in his own right and heir of many other lands but he also wished who his future bride see him as her own special knight and that was a bad start...
Charles’ companions were shocked by his improvvise departure, but hearing of the early arrival of the English party resigned to their fate and pushed their horses at full gallop, hoping to keep Charles’ pace for the two hours needed for returning to Antwerp at the fasted speed possible and who the English princess, their new Duchess, was truly as beautiful as Charles hoped (and possibly sweet tempered) or their lives would quickly become miserable...
Two hours later an almost exhausted Charles, arrived at the palace, and as he was still going too fast was barely quick enough to prevent his horse to run over some young maids who were walking in the park. He was going to say some quick words of excuse to the girls when one of them looked towards him, and he recognized with his total horror the features of the girl of his dreams and lost any chance to say something coherent: princess Mary in person was, if possible, more stunning than her portrait and he had just made the worst possible first impression on her...
Mary Tudor had no idea of why that young boy was unable to say barely a word when Archduchess Mary (who, being only 8 years old, had no idea of what was happening other than the fact who the situation was extremely funny) started to giggle and asked to Charles, who was reached by his companions what happened to him...
As the 18 years old girl was surely spoiled but neither heartless or unkind and the fact who the Duke, her husband, had arrived much earlier than was expected and looked to be at the end of a long run, flattered her, she just laughed and smiled to him, thanking the Duke for his premure in returning so quickly just for greeting her and complimented him for his excellent control of his horse, as very few knights would be so able to stop just in time in front to an unexpected obstacle, specially at his age and after a so long run...
Charles was still unable to say much of coherent, but was clearly grinning for Mary’s words, who reassured him on the fact who his bride was at least well disposed towards him and ready to forgive him for that disaster...
He was able to recover his sense just enough for excusing and take leave from his bride-to-be and his younger sister and go at the palace... a bath and a change were absolutely needed and he would need to find a way for getting full forgiveness from that stunning girl who he was to marry...
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Blissful is unlikely as they were both too spoiled and have tempers and throw tantrums for that but they will be surely happy together...
Sure, specially if Mary had not understood who that boy was Charles, but once she had that information everything was clear and she was, well, flattered...
Well i'm glad things worked out this time. though clearly mary and charles aren't going to have the smoothest relationship.
No, that would be impossible but neither will have ever any regret over their marriage (and that is NOT little, specially for him)
That was NOT in my original plans but while I was writing the temptation was too big so... Still both them and Henry/Eleanor had a decent beginning so...
1514 (April) - Departures
Archduchess Margaret looked much relieved to escort their English guest at the docks for their departure, fifteen days after their arrival as everything had gone smoothly and better than her expectations as Charles had struck an unexpected friendship with the English King and looked to be fully in love with his new bride, at the point who, four days after the wedding, she had been forced to admonish both of them on the possible consequences of too much activity in the wedding bed, and at least the new Duchess looked to have understood her words as in the last six days she had pushed Charles to spend less time in bed and more in other activities, specially hunting with her brother and Suffolk, while she was spending her time with her new sisters-in-law. Mary Tudor, Duchess of Burgundy, had been used to be the baby in the household so being the eldest in the Burgundian group (Eleanor had almost three years less, Charles four years and Isabella five while her namesake was over nine years younger) was something totally new, and she had discovered to like that a lot...
Eleanor, now finely dressed and with her Tudor roses’ necklace prominently displayed over her dress (as she had done for Charles and Mary’s wedding, with great joy of king Henry) was relaxed and looked with anticipation to her own wedding, who was decided would be celebrated in October as the English King was a little unwilling to wait too long and both Charles and Eleanor had agreed to his wish. King Henry’s courting had without doubt destroyed Eleanor’s worst fears and Margaret had seen her usually reserved niece blushing with happiness at the tournament for Mary and Charles‘ wedding when King Henry had asked her favour before the joust and specially when he had offered her the crown of roses for the Queen of tournament after winning it.
In truth Archduchess Margaret’s relief was owed more to the fact who she would be free for at least six months from the presence of the Duke of Suffolk and his, luckily much toned down, courting than to fact who (almost) everything had gone smoothly until now...
After returning at the palace following the departure of the English fleet, Margaret was surprised to hear Charles ordering to Isabella to stop her annoying giggles as the victim of Isabella was Eleanor, still blushing for the chaste kiss who the English King had stolen from her while taking his goodbyes among general laughings and Charles usually was the first to take fun of his sisters‘ troubles and embarrassments...
Well, she supposed who that change was owed to the English Mary, as the young Duchess of Burgundy had already tried to change argument as soon Isabella started and stopped little Mary from join her sister...
Everything had started to change here and in few months the passage would be completed as after Eleanor’s departure for England, she would retire in her lands, adjacent to her Savoy’s dower lands, leaving the rule of Burgundy fully in the hands of its Duke, while Isabella and Mary would depart for Vienna, as Mary was to reside there until the time for the full celebration of her wedding and Isabella would depart from there as soon the Alps consented her journey to Milan.
Eleanor, now finely dressed and with her Tudor roses’ necklace prominently displayed over her dress (as she had done for Charles and Mary’s wedding, with great joy of king Henry) was relaxed and looked with anticipation to her own wedding, who was decided would be celebrated in October as the English King was a little unwilling to wait too long and both Charles and Eleanor had agreed to his wish. King Henry’s courting had without doubt destroyed Eleanor’s worst fears and Margaret had seen her usually reserved niece blushing with happiness at the tournament for Mary and Charles‘ wedding when King Henry had asked her favour before the joust and specially when he had offered her the crown of roses for the Queen of tournament after winning it.
In truth Archduchess Margaret’s relief was owed more to the fact who she would be free for at least six months from the presence of the Duke of Suffolk and his, luckily much toned down, courting than to fact who (almost) everything had gone smoothly until now...
After returning at the palace following the departure of the English fleet, Margaret was surprised to hear Charles ordering to Isabella to stop her annoying giggles as the victim of Isabella was Eleanor, still blushing for the chaste kiss who the English King had stolen from her while taking his goodbyes among general laughings and Charles usually was the first to take fun of his sisters‘ troubles and embarrassments...
Well, she supposed who that change was owed to the English Mary, as the young Duchess of Burgundy had already tried to change argument as soon Isabella started and stopped little Mary from join her sister...
Everything had started to change here and in few months the passage would be completed as after Eleanor’s departure for England, she would retire in her lands, adjacent to her Savoy’s dower lands, leaving the rule of Burgundy fully in the hands of its Duke, while Isabella and Mary would depart for Vienna, as Mary was to reside there until the time for the full celebration of her wedding and Isabella would depart from there as soon the Alps consented her journey to Milan.
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