Fortune Favors the Bold
London, 1518 Whitehall Palace
In the grand meeting room before the king's chamber, a group of noblemen-the privy council to be specific-were waiting for their lord and sovereign, King Henry VIII.
"The King!" The page announced.
"My Lords," Henry entered the room. He was a young man, with short brunette hair and a strong, athletic build. His aura was commanding. With the opulent black, silver, and gold embroidered matching jacket and trousers he wore, he showed no evidence that an important member of his family had been murdered, by the French.
"We meet to consider questions of great moment. The king of France has demonstrated to the world his aggressive policies. He's already overrun five or six city-states in Italy. He's a threat to every Christian nation in Europe yet he bullies the pope into declaring him Defender of the Faith. On top of that, to prove that nobody can touch him he has our ambassador in Urbino and my uncle murdered in cold blood. My lords, I believe these all just causes for war!"
There were cheers all around-albeit the two somber men.
"Your majesty is certainly right," The daring Duke of Buckingham supported."Your majesty is certainly right. You have every reason to prosecute a war."
However... "I warned you a year ago about French ambitions. It has taken this personal tragedy for your Majesty to accept my word."
Henry and Buckingham glared at each other until the King turned to the Duke of Norfolk, "Norfolk?"
"I agree with my lord, Buckingham. The King of England has an ancient and historic right to the French throne which the Valois have usurped. It's time we kicked them out. We should attack France with all our might." Norfolk proclaimed, followed by another round of cheers.
The King, still feeling a bit skeptical, turned to the man in red, "What say you, Wolsey?"
The cardinal straightened out his posture and gave the king an agreeable answer, "These are indeed just causes."
"Good. Then it is settled. We are to war with France." Again with the cheers. "Your Eminence will make all the arrangements," The cardinal simply nodded. "Now I can go play."
The council was dismissed by the king's leave. Yet, not everyone was in a rush to let the subject go.
"Do you really think we should go to war?" Sir Thomas Moore, the pious man in black, questioned his friend.
"I think we should try to do what the king wants us to do." Wolsey fought.
"What if the king doesn't know his best interest?"
Before Wolsey could respond, the Duke of Buckingham interrupted, "Your Eminence."
"My Lord." He greeted.
"Have you thought about my offer?"
"Yes, in fact, I am conjuring up the dowry as we speak." The cardinal began to lead the duke to the hall, till he remembered Moore, "Then Thomas, we should help him decide."
He whispered back to Buckingham, "Now, your grace, my daughter is..."
一一一
Speaking of said daughter, while the King was busy dabbling in his extramarital affairs, little did he know of the curious, petite, and sly beautiful young girl with golden locks peeping through the curtains.
For the young Wolsey, Henry's afternoon with Bessie Blount was no different than the others. The pair, like a rabid pair of cat and mouse, would chase each other around, fondle a bit, and then Henry would thrust from whichever angle he wanted. The moans would start out quiet until the thrust got harder and faster, and the moans would get louder and louder.
Things would end as quickly as they started. The mistress was not as exciting as she once used to be, or at least that how things seemed. She was getting comfortable because she had fallen in love with his majesty, stupidly enough. For the 13-year-old behind the curtain, pointing these things out was a game.
"How is your husband?" The king mocked, the couple was now laying down.
"My husband is jealous." They laughed. However, the laughing was cut short, when a bang followed by a soft "ow" was heard. The young lady behind the curtain had ended up getting tangled in the curtains, and once she tried to untangle herself, she fell.
"Chasity." Henry recognized the voice and whispered, "Wait, here." He started putting on his robe.
"Do you really have to go," Blount whined, and The King stared at his mistress. "Your majesty?"
"If you don't want to wait then you could see yourself out, Lady Blount." Without waiting for a response Henry headed towards the entrance of his dining room for the already fleeting golden haired blonde. "Lady Wolsey! Chasity!"
"I spied a lady–the same one–again." She sang as she ran to the other side of the dinner table.
"There is a punishment for spying."
"What's that?" She eyed him.
"Oh, I think you know, my lady." He sprinted toward the other side of the table and caught her.
"No!" She squealed. The king carried the girl and placed on the table. He took a seat on the chair beside her. "I hope your majesty does choose to spare me." She smiled.
"Don't I always?"
"Unlike your lovers." The girl swayed.
Henry paused before saying, "You shouldn't be spying."
"There are many things we should not do your majesty," She hinted. "Yet we still do them."
The king poured himself a drink, "Would you like some?"
"Ale? My father would have a fit."
"But is your father present?" The king challenged, and so the blonde took the cup filled with ale.
一一一
Over the next couple of weeks, the mood in court had lightened up. Everyone was back to their normal routines.
It was the time of day for Tennis. The King and Charles Brandon were facing Anthony Knivert and William Compton. As always, Henry and Charles were betting on some innocent lady. Chasity Wolsey could see that, but she was having trouble hearing the men as Sir More's sweet daughter, Margaret, would not stop talking.
"Oh, this is so exciting."
"Very exciting." Chasity tried to engage in the conversation as she also tried to hear who the men were betting on.
"Isn't this so intense and wonderful Chas?"
"Yes, very intense, Maggy," The blonde girl had an idea. "Let's move closer to the middle to see the match better Margaret."
"Alight." The young More did not stop looking at the match as she was pulled along.
Before she could even let go of her friend's hand as they got to the middle of the spectators Buckingham moved behind her.
"My Lady Wolsey."
Oh for heaven's sake. "My Lord." At this point, Chasity had given up on following the men's conquest.
"How are you enjoying the match?"
"It is quite exciting."
"Indeed. I have talked to your father."
"What says he, my lord? I have not seen him since breaking our fast this morning."
"It would be best if we had this conversation later. In a less public space."
"Yes."
"My lady." He nodded to her and returned to his original spot. Once he left, the golden-haired girl let out a sigh of relief. An act which did not go unnoticed by the king.
一一一
Days later and Chasity was dressed in her usual lady-of-waiting attire for the Queen. She was serving drinks to their Majesties as they were having a tense lunch. They first were conversing about Mary, who Henry did not visit enough, and then Katherine's more powerful nephew, the King of Spain, who Henry was envious of. To make matters worse, The Duke of Buckingham would not keep his eyes off the king or Chasity, and Bessie Blount could not keep her longing gaze from his majesty.
Chasity could not help but feel bad for Katherine, because all she wanted was her husband's affections. By this point, however, her husband had clocked out of their marriage. Before Chasity could get any further into her thoughts, Buckingham began to speak up.
"Your Majesties..."
"Yes, My Lord?" Henry looked over his shoulder.
Buckingham put his serving tray on the table and pulled a nervous Chasity to his side, "Would your majesty agree to the union between the Lady Wolsey and myself?"
Henry laughed that laugh and looked to Chasity to see if this was a joke. The lady would not meet his eyes. It was not.
"Does the lady agree to the match?"
Chasity hesitated, "Yes your majesty. However, as I am still 13, my father thought it would be best to get married once I turned 15."
"Very well." That was all the king could really say.
一一一
Chasity Wolsey was officially betrothed to the Duke of Buckingham, sadly. It was now later in the week, and she was accompanying her enraged betrothed to the night's festivities.
"He has no right to any of this," The duke continued to rant. "His father seized the crown on the battlefield. He had no claim, only through a bastard on his mother's side."
Chasity, standing beside him, was too shocked to do anything. The duke was not wrong, but then why did his father not seize the throne when he had the chance to? And anyway, Henry was King, what Buckingham was thinking of was treason.
"Your Grace's family is more ancient." The Duke of Norfolk encouraged.
"I am the direct descendant of Edward II. This is my crown and my court. Not his crown or his court."
"That is treason, Your Grace." Norfolk bravely pointed out.
"It's the truth. And one day we shall make it come true!" He turned to the illuminated blonde on his right. "With a son." He was off on a warpath. God Bless the poor soul who would cross paths with him tonight.
It was now the young Wolsey and Duke of Norfolk on the balcony. The golden-haired girl stood there silently sipping her wine.
"You are to be congratulated, Mistress Wolsey."
"Congratulated?" The girl was puzzled, why would he congratulate me?
"Excuse me," He stepped closer and whispered. "You are betrothed to the richest man in the kingdom."
"A treacherous one at that."
This made the duke smile, "Still a rich one at that."
"If I may be so forward, why does Your Grace care?"
"Well, in your new position as a Duchess you will need allies. People you can trust." Like I could trust a Howard.
"I have my father–"
"Your father will only be around for so long, and any offspring you have will pose a threat to his majesty. "
Chasity was baffled, "But I would never–"
"Think about it, my lady." The duke disappeared into the darkness.
一一一
"How are the war preparations going, Papa?" The golden-haired Wolsey asked her father, as she helped him organize incoming tax documents.
"They are not." The Cardinal dismissed.
"What do you mean?" Chasity knew that the King was preparing to fight the French.
Her father simply waved his hand, "Hopefully there will be no war." He proceeded to hand her another document from across the table.
"Your Eminence, Lady Blount is here." His pageboy announced. For a moment, the father and daughter shared a look of confusion and irritation.
Bessie Blount, with a solemn expression, entered the office and to make room for her, Chasity moved beside her father-continuing her work.
"What can I do for you, Mistress Blount?" Wolsey asked, uninterestingly.
"I am with child, Your Eminence." Chasity had a gut feeling that the child was not Blount's husbands.
"Yes." The cardinal thought nothing of it.
"It is his majesty's child." The mistress revealed.
The cardinal stopped, "You are certain?"
"Yes."
"Have you told the King?"
"No."
"Good. I will inform his Majesty in time. In the meantime, you will say nothing to anybody on pain of death. Do you understand?" She nodded sorrowfully. "When you are no longer able to hide your condition you will be removed to a private place for your lying-in. And there you can give birth to your bastard." The cardinal harshly put. Both ladies paused for a moment, but as soon as Chasity met Bessie Blount's pleading gaze she looked away, unable to help her.
Once the mistress knew that she would gain no sympathy from her fellow lady-in-waiting, she gave up, "Thank you, Your Eminence." She left with tears streaming down her face.
"Papa that was uncalled for."
"Well, she was aware of the risks of giving herself to a man that was not her husband, let alone the King of England. Now you must hurry, we need these documents checked and organized before dusk."
Chasity couldn't help but laugh, "Yes, Your Eminence."
一一一
After a rather eventful trip to England, Thomas Boleyn, the French ambassador, was elated to give his daughter some good news.
"Where are my daughters? I have some exciting news," The ambassador shouted along his Paris home until he found his brunette daughters in the main room. "There is to be a summit between King Francis and King Henry near Calais. And I am to arrange it."
The girls looked at their father expectedly. "That means you'll have the opportunity to meet the King of England." The sisters turned to share laughs and smiles at the opportunities that awaited them.
Thomas to a glass of wine a raised to his left, "Mary," and to his right. "And Anne Boleyn. To your futures."
一一一
In another part of the world, the King of England and his most loyal advisor were celebrating the summit, as well.
"I can't wait for this summit. It will change the world forever."
"That is my dearest hope and my ultimate belief." The trusted cardinal claims.
"Nothing will ever be the same, your Eminence. You and I will be immortal."