Charlie Fenton’s Reviews > Faithful Traitor: The Story of Margaret Pole > Status Update

‘Everything up to this point felt like a child’s game now that Margaret was faced with the reality of her youngest child held in the fortress whose very name struck fear into noblemen’s hearts. The idea that they had been scheming to arrange marriage for Princess Mary while her father lived and ruled with an iron fist seemed ridiculously dangerous and a wholly not worthwhile risk now that it was already taken.’

‘For Queen Anne, fortune’s wheel made a vicious downturn. Even Margaret was surprised when the king’s second wife was brought up on charges of treason rather than given the opportunity to remove herself to a nunnery. Henry used the situation to rid himself of a few others who had been overly fond of the Boleyn girl, accusing them of adultery with her and chopping off their heads.‘

‘One thing was becoming painfully clear to Margaret. The safe place that she had created for herself, for her children, the place she had hoped to keep Mary - it did not exist. Not in King Henry’s England. She was being forced to take a stand. They all were. You were either for Henry or against him. The grey area she had attempted to reside in since the execution of her father was no longer an option.’

‘For a moment, Margaret’s expression did not change. She remembered Henry greeting her as cousin when he first became king. He had made her countess of Salisbury and ensured that each of her children had a position worthy of her family’s name. She had been made governess of his heir, but now she was released. Mary was no longer his princess and she was not needed to care for her.’

‘The king’s sister, Mary, was unashamedly standing up to him, insisting that he put away any thoughts he had about marrying Boleyn. That eased Margaret’s fears somewhat. Mary had been queen of France and was currently married to Charles Brandon, the king’s best friend. She was a solid asset in any debate and would provide some protection for Reginald if necessary.’

‘She could say nothing else, though she wondered. Henry sometimes behaved as though he loved his daughter beyond measure and was happy to name her his heir. Other times, he showered such favor upon Henry FitzRoy, as Elizabeth Blount’s son was known. Margaret could not imagine how this made Catherine feel because her own feelings were fierce with love and protectiveness for the sweet princess.’

‘Would Henry be content with a girl as an heir? It seemed natural to Catherine because of her own mother, ruling Castile in her own right, but that was not the way things were done in England. Henry’s father had carefully established that he took the throne by conquest, not his wife’s royal blood. Thankfully, others had taken up encouraging and congratulating the queen on the birth of the baby girl named Mary.’

‘Raising Margaret up would establish that he was a better man than his father. It would let everyone know that infighting was over and all members of the royal family were to be welcomed at court with open arms. Looking at the perfect features of his tiny son, he saw no reason why he could not afford to welcome Margaret’s brood to higher glory.’

‘Like many queens before her, Catherine had chosen to be content that she would be the mother to princes and princesses, if not the only woman in her husband’s bed. Margaret was astounded by Catherine’s strength but grateful once again for the husband God had joined her to, for he had never caused her that kind of pain.’

‘Margaret wasn’t sure how to feel about the death of Henry Tudor, who had committed the legalized murder of her brother and defeated her uncle in battle. She certainly wouldn’t be shedding any tears for the man who had turned her future upside-down when he walked away from Bosworth as the victor. She had tried to find the good in him for Elizabeth’s sake, but now they were both gone.‘