So, this story has been nagging at me for a while. It basically explores what would have happened in history is Anne had not lost that last child, the son, that basically sealed off her fate in Henry's mind. And, in my opinion, it would have been waaaaay different. Anne Boleyn is my favorite Henry VIII wife and English queen in history. She changed so much for England.
And I must say, as to the Anne Boleyn birth date argument that's been going on for YEARS: I believe that Anne was born in 1501, because frankly, all of the letters and stuff had to come from someone born earlier than 1507. But, for this story, we're going with the 1507 birth year.
13 January 1536, Whitehall Palace
Anne Boleyn had never, for as long as she could remember, been so scared before in all of her 29 years. When she saw the blood on her nightgown and on the sheets of the bed, she though for sure, no she knew, that the son that she so desperately needed had died. And then all the what if's came into her mind.
What if Henry had never fallen off of that horse?
What if she had never caught him with Jane Seymour?
Would the baby had never been so close to death?
Thankfully though, within an hour or so, the doctor had successfully been able to hold off a miscarriage, and, though she was ordered to take her lying in much earlier than planned, her son would be safe. Her savior would be safe. Henry had heard the news of the baby's close call to death and came barging into her rooms, only to be stopped and held back by Charles Brandon and Anne's ladies in waiting. Once he was allowed in, he was told that, though it had been a close call, the child would be fine if Anne took to her lying in immediately. He soon agreed and then sat with Anne.
They had had a long talk where Henry soon confessed that part of him blamed himself for what had happened. If he hadn't have been so foolish as to get up onto that horse, than maybe this wouldn't have happened. Or if he hadn't have taken an interest into the Seymour girl and stayed focused on Anne, than everything would be fine.
A few harsh words were mixed in. Naturally.
Though, one thing that Henry soon caved on was Jane Seymour. Anne soon pressured him into sending her away from court, because as she had put it, 'her presence within her ladies would only cause her great trouble, which, with the health of the child in mind, was not something that anyone would want.
Jane Seymour was to leave the court and return to Wolf Hall at first light tomorrow morning.
Her father was also very pleased to hear that she had successfully kept her child in her belly, and sent word to her of this. George was one of the first people by her bedside after Henry had left, and was making her laugh soon after he walked inside the room.
"You're always the one looking to keep the attention on you aren't you? The attention strays and you come up with some act to get our hearts in our throats."
By his words, one would this that he was giving her a stern talking to. But, the smirk on his face proved otherwise. This was a joke, like so many before in their lives together, which she could only glare at.
"Like I planned to have a scare like that George. This child, this son, will be the saving grace for all of the Boleyn's and Howard's. If he were to be lost, than we would be lost too."
Her voice was strong and stern, and George could not find a reply for that, for he knew, deep down, all jokes aside, that it was true. If Anne had failed to carry this child to term, then Henry would get rid of her, especially with the new death of Katherine of Aragon.
Though, for know, with the help of some divine intervention, Anne and her child, were both safe. The Boleyn/Howard family was safe in their pedestals of one of the highest families in England.
