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“In
the autumn of 1290, the much loved Queen of King Edward I died. The King,
consumed with grief erects the famous ‘Eleanor crosses’ where her body rested
on its journey from Lincoln. But the King would remarry; Margaret of France in
1299 according to the current human time line. But in 1294 a beautiful strange
‘Princess’ arrives in the King’s Court and Edward – the ‘Hammer of Scotland’ -
is taken by her beauty and charm and decides to marry her! The time line is
under serious threat and Team 74 is dispatched to restore it.”
Alcohol
– Strong language – Violence [including torture and brutal executions] - Strong
sexual references [including sexual threat and assault] – Mild horror –
Supernatural happenings.
[1]
This episode is currently NOT PUBLISHED and is a working draft copy.
[2]
The original Title for this episode was: ‘EDWARD & KATHERINE.’
[3]
A ‘Temporal Detectives’ original story.
[4] The photograph is statues of King Edward and Queen Eleanor. The illustration was found in the Public Domain with few details. If you know anything about this please contact the author via his website: https://stephenjohnwilliams.blogspot.com
Concept
date: 23rd March 2021
First published: Not available
Status: COMPLETED, BUT UNPUBLISHED.
Location: BOOK SERIES 0 – EPISODE 0.
Revisions: 3 [Last revised May 2023]
Version: Final Draft?
Published Episode No. 00
Previous episode: NONE
Next episode: NONE
Age
recommendation: 15+
Average
reading time: Approx. 30 Minutes.
Angel-in-charge: Margret
Team
Assigned: Team 74
Human
Time: 1294AD-0693AH
Mission: 2
- 448100 - 3 – 1294
“She calls herself ‘Countess of Burgos’, from the Kingdom of Castile – same as the late Queen hailed from [Castile that is] – apparently her father is a cousin of the Castilian King Sancho IV. She does resemble the late Queen in appearance and manners and is a widowed woman aged about twenty years. Her husband was Count Felipe II of Burgos and they married when she was just ten and he was 31. He died the year following their marriage fighting the accursed moors. It was understood that, because of her youth, the marriage was never consummated and she has, of course, no children. Her closest ladies maid is a much older woman who was her ‘wet nurse’ and Nanny, serving her since she was born. The woman is called Anne and originally came from York. So the ‘Princess’ speaks good English and is well educated and can both read and write Latin, Castilian [Spanish] and French. I have seen her for myself my lord; she is a great beauty and appears robust and healthy. She rides with great skill and can sing and play the lute. She is here to travel with her Lady’s Maid to York to attend the burial service of Anne’s much beloved mother who died at the ripe old age of 72! [A very good age for the era] She asks for an audience with yourself to gain permission to travel in your Kingdom and I believe she will also ask for soldiers to accompany her entourage for safety. “ Sir Dudley hesitated for a second, gauging the King’s reaction before continuing.
“Apparently she has the means to pay for their services. She is a very wealthy widow my lord. The city and lands of Bogus are rich in sheep, cattle and merchandise. If you agree my lord she will present herself, here, tomorrow after the noon church bells are rung. She is most dedicated in her devotion to mother church and generous with alms to the poor. “ Sir Dudley finished his report and bowed a little.
The King rubbed his short beard and didn’t answer for a minute or two. “Wealthy enough to pay for an escort so that’s no burden on my pockets.” He grunted and stared up at the ceiling for another minute then turned back to Sir Dudley. “For the funeral of her long served ladies maid’s mother, she has travelled all this way? My Eleanor also knew about loyalty; she kept that dreadful woman in service because she had been her nanny, even paid for her funeral.” He sighed and rubbed his beard again; “My Eleanor was from Castile and not a finer, loyal, loving woman walked the earth. Yes, yes, alright. I will grant her an audience tomorrow.” He stared back up at the vaulted ceiling and almost smiled; “Now I must think about bloody sheep and the tax revenue they produce.” Now he did chuckle at that.
Sir Dudley bowed again and took a couple of steps backwards then turned and left the King’s presence. He would send a messenger at once to the lady who was still aboard the Castilian ship anchored in Woolwhich docks. Edward turned to Sir Mortimer; “She can have a couple of Knights – not from my best of course and a company of soldiers –make sure you get the money. She’s probably carrying Castilian gold and charge a month’s wages for each soldier and then add half that amount again for our costs. I believe that should produce a tidy sum for me…or rather the exchequer of England.” He smiled; “Well, bloody same thing in reality.” And did smile again.
Sir Mortimer chuckled, bowed a little and strode from the room, leaving the King sitting alone at the long table apart from four trusted guards standing in each corner. He thought about his dead Queen and ran a hand over his face. She had been dead four long, long years and in his heart; he still grieved as if it was yesterday. Maybe he should have taken a mistress, but he never had one while married to Eleanor. The nights, alone in his big bed, were the worse. They had sixteen children together and both had enjoyed making each one.
“Why eat pig’s feet when you can have swan.” He whispered to himself, remembering the numerous times his noble friends had questioned why he didn’t have a Royal mistress or mistresses and that was always his answer. Eleanor had not been happy with that remark and scolded him about it; but always smiled as she did it. He heaved himself from the seat and walked slowly to his private chambers, escorted by his four trusted guards. The Palace of Westminster was quiet and the afternoon sun streamed through the small windows of the long hallway. Then he saw Lord Arthur and Sir Guy standing with his private secretary John at the big door. John bowed low and gestured to the knights standing with him. “They wish an immediate audience Sire, they say it’s urgent.” The King nodded and said softly; “It’s always bloody urgent.”
The King’s secretary stepped away as the three men spoke in very quiet voices by the door. John knew that both the Knights had just returned from Wales and knew immediately that the king was not happy with their report. Despite trying not to actually listen, he heard the name ‘Madog ap Llywelyn’ mentioned and he knew that something big was brewing in Wales. That would not make the King happy if rebellion broke out in Wales, just as he was preparing for war with France over the Duchy of Aquitaine.
"ALEXANDRA AND EDWARD LONGSHANKS." 
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
“All incidents and dialogue, and all characters with the exception of some well-known historical figures, are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Where real-life historical figures appear, the situations, incidents, and dialogues concerning those persons are entirely fictional and are not intended to depict actual events or to change the entirely fictional nature of the work. In all other respects, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.”
CAUTION:
“SOME OF THESE EPISODES CONTAIN VERY STRONG LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE, HORROR AND SEXUAL REFERENCES. Some are RECOMMENDED suitable for persons aged 15+ years only.”
THE AUTHOR.