AN AMAZING DAY
During the decadent reign of King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Princess Mary Tudor build an unlikely friendship. Please comment nicely!
"So, Lady Mary, are you ready to go and visit your royal father in London? His Majesty is expecting you." Anne Boleyn's green eyes glittered like a cat's. Her slim white fingers lightly brushed the fur trim of her expensive cloak. "Your father is now my husband, dear. That makes me the Queen of England. Perhaps I can help you regain his favor."
"I shall obey . . . Your Majesty." Mary waited as long as possible before dipping a curtsey and using the undeserved title. She was determined, absolutely determined, to keep up an icy silence during the long carriage ride back to London. She wanted nothing to do with the horrible harlot.
"Look, those children are building a snowman," the usurper chirped, pointing out the frosty carriage window.
Mary dismissed the wintery scene with a disdainful sniff.
"My brother George and I used to make snowmen all the time," the false queen continued, in that annoying chatty tone. She studied the scowling princess with smiling green eyes. "Have you ever built a snowman, Mary?"
"Mother doesn't like me to play outside," Mary said shortly. "She says it is undignified." Something made her go on in spite of herself. "Sometimes I go out on my own. I like to watch the gardener's children play."
"Yes, I see." The chatty queen actually fell silent for a bit. But then she said, "Do you think your mother would be angry if we stopped and visited those children?"
Mary didn't know what to say. Katherine of Aragon had told her that she must submit to the cruel Queen Anne, that God would punish the evil woman in His own time. But she actually enjoyed playing in the snow – and Anne soon had the ragged local children laughing and making merry as well. Mary could tell she wanted the common people to like her. Her servants kept giving out bread and cheese. At nightfall there was a hot supper for everyone at a nearby inn.
"Well, that was fun!" Anne Boleyn exclaimed, once they were back in the carriage. It was dark outside now, and very cold. But the royal carriage was warm. The clever queen had brought along oil lamps, thick furs and a red-hot foot-warmer filled with glowing charcoal. There was even a new drink called hot chocolate, which Mary took to with delight.
"I wish all this had happened before," the young princess murmured sleepily. "Maybe if we were friends before, you wouldn't have wanted to take mother's place."
"I am the Queen of England," Anne Boleyn said, in a steely voice. Her piercing green eyes were cold and warm at the same time. "One cannot avoid one's destiny. But I will never take your mother's place. Do you understand, Princess?"
Mary nodded. She hated the way her life had changed. But she understood why her father loved this amazing woman. It had been an amazing day. Before long she was fast asleep, her head resting on Anne Boleyn's fur-clad shoulder.
A/N: A very perceptive person pointed out that Mary's brute of a father made her illegitimate when he married Anne. At this time she would have been called "Lady Mary" rather than "Princess." But I think the story shows why the warm, courageous Anne is willing to bend the rules a little at the very end.