The Betrothed, The Bridegroom, and The Rose and the Thistle Summary

In The Betrothal, Margaret Tudor is in the royal palace with her brother, Henry who will be Henry VIII when he becomes King of England, and her sister, Mary, who is only six. Margaret is the oldest of the three at twelve and Henry is ten. The three children are very aware of their royalty and Henry and Margaret are somewhat at odds. Henry loves pageantry and wants to be the center of attention. Margaret refuses to play to this need and is herself about to become the center of attention as her marriage to James, King of Scotland, takes place.

Henry believes that those of noble birth - such as Henry's father, the king - should always look the part. Henry himself is conscious...