Henry smiled at the news. Catherine was pregnant again. He hoped this time that it would be a son he and England all deserved. He took time with his mistresses for his pleasure, but any children they gave him would not be counted. He was happy for all the children he has produced, but Wosley makes sure that he does not spend much time with them. He missed having children running around the palace and to make him smile. Catherine had already had three children and all of them had died. He was beginning to lose faith in his marriage to her. What if he really was cursed from marrying his brother's wife, but maybe he wasn't. He told himself that if this child did not live, he would seek for a divorce. He was getting older every year and so was she. Catherine would eventually reach the point where she could not give birth to anymore children, but e refused to think about it.
"Your Majesty," a messenger said, walking into the room, unannounced, "The Queen sends for you. There was an issue the baby."
Henry stared blankly at him. He was glad no one else was in the room, or rumors would fly about how he could not father children. He had executed people for less then that, but he ignored it and hurried away to his wife.
Catherine was in her night shift in bed. Her face was covered with distress and he feared the worst.
"Did you lose it?" he asked her plainly. He just wanted to know if his child would be okay.
Thomas Cromwell stepped out from behind him and bowed low.
"The baby lives," he said with the sweet sound of relief in his voice. Henry also felt that and released the tension in his body. He walked up to the bed and kneeled down beside it. He touched his wife's hand and kissed her gently on the lips. He held her hand as if he would never let her go. This was how it should be. Two people in love at all time, but he did not know how to keep it this way forever. He loved her, but he would always need to provide the commitment and heirs to England. He was the King and needed to act like it, but she was also the Queen. She had looked away when he took his mistresses, lost his temper, and bore his bastards. She loved him. He was her first.
"What was wrong?" he asked her in a soft voice, trying not to disturb the now sleeping Queen.
"She was bleeding. She must be churched at once in order to protect herself and the baby," Thomas replied at once.
Henry looked at his wife lovingly and looked back at Thomas. "Do it," he said, as he stood and walked out of the room.
Thomas was left alone with the Queen and no one must know what the\y had gone through. He and Catherine were the only people who knew the secret, but they must never tell. If it was known that the Queen had an affair, then she, as well as he, could be executed for treason and adultery. If it was known that the child was Thomas' and not Henry's, then other charges could be added on top of that and the topic of Henry's fertility would be put on the table. Thomas never wanted to hurt Henry. He loved him and had been with him for many years.
Catherine moved in the bed and opened her eyes and looked around.
"Has Henry left?" she asked Thomas.
"Yes, and I am to have you churched at once. The bleeding may have an affect on the baby."
Catherine's eyes welled up with tears. She loved her husband and anything else she had with Thomas had been a mistake, but she could do nothing about it now. They were in too deep. Thomas came and knelt down the same way Henry had before him.
"Catherine," he whispered. "All will be well. Please do not cry, my love. We will get through this. Our baby will be healthy and strong and will be King one day."
"Thomas, it is treason. I must tell Henry that it is not his child."
"If you do that, then you, me and our baby will die and Henry would be shamed all over this country as well as all of Europe. Do you really want that? Your child will be great. I am sure of that."
He stood up to leave and began moving toward the door. He was sad that he would lose Henry's trust due to him sleeping with his wife. Thomas was depressed and wished there was a way to brighten up his mood, but he did not think anymore about it.
"Thomas?" Catherine called his name. "Please do not go."
He turned around and looked at her with the same expression he had when they first slept together. He walked back to the bed and looked down to her.
"Thomas, please stay with me," she said as she patted the bed, motioning for him to join her. He did. He lay on top of the covers, fully clothed, and wrapped his arms around her.
"I love you, Thomas," Catherine said sweetly.
"I love you too," Thomas replied.