The Duke of Richmond hurriedly answered his father's question, "Your Majesty, Miss Isabel is waiting outside the door for an audience now. ”

Henry VIII nodded, "Let her come to meet her." ”

At this time, Isabel was standing outside the hall of Sharif Hatton Castle waiting for an audience. Today, at the request of the Duke of Richmond and at the behest of her family, she changed into a knightly kin-level bodysuit and a crescent moon hood. After all, she was going to meet His Majesty the King and His Majesty the Queen, who were "by the grace of God, King of England, France, and Ireland, Keeper of the Faith, and Head of the Church of England and Ireland," and therefore the rules and etiquette must be followed.

"What do you want to say when you see Henry VIII? Or is it a question and answer? Dressed in a bodysuit with a stiff cloth lining and a hood, Isabel Walton, accompanied by her valet Anne, pondered such questions in the hallway outside the hall.

At this moment, Baldwin, the Duke of Richmond's bodyguard, walked briskly in front of her, saluted, and said, "Miss Isabelle, His Majesty has allowed you to come to her audience. ”

Anne Cook, the daughter of a kitchen maid, never imagined that she would one day be qualified to stand just a gate away from the King of England. Looking at Isabel very excitedly, even her voice became a little trembling, "Miss, His Majesty the King wants to summon you. ”

"Anne, are you alright?" Isabel glanced at the maid and shook her head with a smile, "It's okay, I'll be out soon." ”

"Miss, follow me." Baldwin took two steps back and stood in front of Isabel to the left to make way for her to the hall.

Isabel calmly followed the guard from behind Baldwin into the hall, and bowed to the seated King Hengde VIII and Queen Catherine before the staircase in the center of the north of the hall. Although only Sir Francis and Sir William Ingleby were the only Yorkshire magistrates, squires and local officials present, she was more familiar to judges, officials and squires from the neighbouring royal territory of Richmondshire.

Sir William Frederick, the Magistrate standing beside Sir Augustine, whispered, "Sir, I didn't expect your daughter to be so beautiful in her dress. ”

Sir Augustine glanced at Isabel and stroked his beard and smiled triumphantly, "My daughter has always been so beautiful. It's just that you don't have a chance to see it. ”

The secularization of the aesthetic culture of the English aristocracy, located in Western Europe, began with the Renaissance. The architecture, costumes, and especially the style of painting produced during that period had a great influence on the aesthetics of the people of the time. People like and worship the images of people and gods in the paintings, especially women, who like to make their skin as white as the characters in oil paintings, which is their persistent pursuit.

Perhaps it was because Henry VIII, who had possessed too many young and beautiful aristocratic women, and lived in a court full of light songs and dances all day long, and was not infatuated with the elegant and dignified Isabel Walton with a high nose bridge, deep eye sockets, not very fair skin, and dark brown hair, but exuding a beautiful aristocratic femininity from the inside out. This is probably because her hair is not blonde, and there is also the reason why she is not familiar with her when she first met.

After briefly inquiring about Isabel's family and its members, he looked at the Duke of Richmond standing beside him with great interest, and asked her in a low tone with royal majesty, "Miss Isabel, Henry said that you have received some education and have studied the art of knighthood, right?" ”

Isabel looked casually at Henry VIII, who was about to weigh more than 300 pounds (136 kilograms), and replied gracefully, "Yes, Your Majesty." I studied French, Latin, philosophy, and theology, as well as reading, writing, history, and socializing. During her days with the Duchess of Richmond, she also learned etiquette, makeup, embroidery, cards, chess, and dice. ”

"Hahaha... Solitaire and dice. Henry VIII laughed and turned to look at the queen beside him. Queen Catherine smiled at her king's husband, "Your Majesty, life in the court is inseparable from this. ”

Henry VIII nodded, then looked at Isabel again, "Well, what about knightly skills?" ”

"Your Majesty, I have learned horseback riding, hunting, archery and swordsmanship, but I don't know much about falconry." Isabel replied truthfully.

"Henry, is that really the case with Miss Isabelle?" Henry VIII asked the bastard who was standing beside him.

"Yes, Your Majesty. Miss Isabel was an elegant, intelligent aristocratic lady. ”

"But I didn't hear her singing, dancing, or using a musical instrument just now."

The Duke of Richmond smiled awkwardly but politely, "Your Majesty, it is true that Miss Isabel has not learned to sing, dance, or use a musical instrument. Also, she always had to take care of a lot when she was working for me. ”

Henry VIII nodded in reply with some regret, and seemed to be a little less interested in Isabel. In his opinion, a young and beautiful aristocratic woman must not only be versatile, but also have a beautiful singing voice and a beautiful and skillful dance posture to attract his attention. As for this Miss Isabel, it would be nice to be the lover or wife of a nobleman.

"Henry, what is Miss Isabel doing for you?"

"Your Majesty, she serves as my private secretary and advisor. When I'm not in the territory, I ask her to oversee the affairs of my territory. Well, the more detailed affairs of the territory are handled by the gentlemen and yoman I have hired. ”

Henry VIII thought for a moment and nodded again, glancing at Isabel, who was standing gracefully and reservedly, "Henry, it's good that a young, beautiful young lady can serve you and perform these territorial affairs......"

The Duke of Richmond listened to his father's teachings and waited for him to continue, but suddenly found that his father had not continued. He felt a little incredible, and thought about it, so he had to change the topic, "Your Majesty, the dinner time is almost up, can we have a dinner party?" ”

In fact, Henry VIII intended to talk to his son about Isabel again in his private time. Now, in the presence of all the nobles, knights, squires, and local officials, he did not want to talk about matters related to illegitimate children. When he heard that dinner time was approaching, he hurriedly laughed, "Okay, nobles above the rank of gentleman can bring their wives to the dinner." ”

The Duke of Richmond was about to leave when he heard Henry VIII command, "I will allow Miss Isabel to attend the dinner." ”