Preface

I was about twenty one when we had our first, deep meaningful conversation. I unusually had married late and he had been a guest at my wedding. I never thought I would ever get the chance to talk to him and after that one conversation everything changed and nothing would ever have been the same. If I had just known what the outcome would have been, I would have stayed in France and married there and maybe my family would have been alive. However I didn't blame my mother and father, nor did I blame my brother or the King or my husband or the Queen. I blamed her. I hated her so much. All of this was her fault and her selfishness and perseverance had followed her until the end. She died with laughing eyes. Even when her head was separated from her body, those coal black eyes of hers were still looking at us all in mockery and even in death she had still brought her curse upon the Kingdom.


Chapter One

My maid quietly tightened my bodice and helped me get into the many layers of my skirts and smooth them out. I was dressed simply, which was what I preferred when I traveled as well as some awkward silence. I wasn't one to speak much and I always kept my head modestly lowered. I had spent fifteen years growing up in Hever and now I was finally going out into the real world and getting a taste of court life.

I helped my maid pin back my hair and place on my hood and she stood back to admire her handy work. "My goodness child you look beautiful!" She beamed. I smiled at her weakly and looked back in the mirror. I didn't really see anything special. Just plain old Mary with my solemn blue gray eyes. "Your father will be having breakfast with you my lady so you better go quickly and say your morning prayers."

Obediently I did and went to the private quarters and knelt before the crucifix. I uttered prayers to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and asked the Holy Virgin to protect me while I was away and to keep my heart and virtue pure. I made the sign of the cross and uttered a quick amen before heading down to the main dining hall. Food was already lain out in the table and my father and mother were chatting quietly amongst themselves.

"Ah, Mary you're finally here. Come and sit by us child as this will be the last time we see each other for a while." I politely nodded and took the seat opposite my mother. Although in her late thirties, my mother still retained some of her childish beauty. Her face was clean and glowing and her eyes were an exotic coal black just like my sister and brother. I was the only one out of the Boleyn children to inherit my father's blue eyes. Her blond hair was still healthy and shiny and although she had a few distinct wrinkles around her eyes and mouth, she was still beautiful.

She was everything I adored even though she wasn't really the motherly type. She kept her distance from her children and made sure they were all brought up strictly, but sometimes I was so sure that she just wanted to hug us and soothe us. I sighed inwardly as hints of jealousy plagued my mind. She missed Anne. But Anne was off studying in the Netherlands and since I had gotten nowhere, she was the favorite of the family. She was younger than I was and only at age twelve had she been sent away because of her excellent skills.

I frowned in dismay, but I was glad she was gone. Now it was my turn to make a name for myself. My father blessed our food and we started to eat. I wasn't very hungry this morning so I slowly ate some bread and cheese. My mother was the first to speak. "Now Mary remember everything we told you. You will be representing England just as the Princess will be and you must present yourself as a good and modest woman of the Princess's entourage." My father grunted agreeing and spoke up himself. "Yes and if any opportunity arrives take it. Try and make yourself the Princess's favorite. There will be open doors to many opportunities for good marriage proposals. You are of age now and you will be married soon."

My mother gave me a warm smile, one that I hadn't seen very often. "Make us proud daughter." I sipped my wine and answered my parents as they quizzed me on the French court customs and language. When breakfast had finished we gathered what we needed and jumped on the carriage for the long ride to court. It was silent until my mother spoke up. "How is the King and Queen? I have not been at court for quite sometime husband."

My father cleared his throat and spoke in his usual gruff voice. "The King is doing well and is as healthy and vibrant as ever. Her Majesty The Queen is once again with child and hopefully this one will live. She has already lost three children, which is not a good sign, but all her victories and manners as a Queen make up for it." My mother agreed and added to the conversation. "Well she is able to become pregnant fast so I am sure if she is careful, she will deliver the child and many more God willing."

I didn't bother to join into the conversation. I was excited to get away from England and go to France and be independent. I knew I would miss my mother a little, but anything was better than the dull atmosphere in Hever. I bit my lip as my head fell in deep thought. What was I going to do in France other then serving the Princess Mary Tudor? I wanted something interesting to happen that's for sure. I didn't want to be good little modest Mary. I wanted a beautiful gentlemen to whisk me away, dance with me during balls, walk with me in gardens, write poems about me with his lute and to make love to me at night.

Would I meet such a person? Did I have the courage to seduce such a man? They say France is the place of romance so I hoped it would live up to its name.

We arrived at court and my father helped my mother and I out of the carriage. He went off to arrange for us to be presented and my mother gently placed her hand on my shoulder.

"Mary I have something for you." Curiosity sparked in my eyes as she reached into her red velvet pouch and pulled out a locket attached to a golden chain. She handed it to me and I gently opened it. Strong emotions ran through me as I saw there was a painting of my mother on the inside with me on her lap. I was a young infant so I didn't remember this been painted. On the other side of the locket was a painted picture of the Holy Virgin and Child. I kissed it and smiled at my mother. "I promise I will always cherish this mother."

She smiled back at me and patted my shoulder. "I hope you always do. You know that you're my most prettiest child. You are more prettier than Anne and more handsome than George. That is one of your greatest traits and one which I am proud of. Now promise me you will make me the happiest mother in the world?" She let me hug her and I promised.

My father came back and we headed into the castle ready to be announced to the King and Queen. I looked at the locket once more and quickly hid it in my bosom and followed my parents up the stairs.

For now the old Mary was gone and the new one was to be born.