10 September 1533
Sitting on a chair next to Anne, who was lying in bed, we were waiting for Mary Carey, George Boleyn and the Ambassadors of France to return with Edward and Elizabeth. Today was their christening ceremony. Anne was still very weak, but she beat the odds of surviving.
"Henry." She said, I looked over and place a hand on her raven hair, I had told her ladies earlier that I wanted it down, and just stroked it before I got up and kissed it.
"Yes sweetheart?"
"When can we start having children again?" She looked so hopeful that I couldn't help but laugh.
"Anne, you almost died giving birth to Edward an Elizabeth, I don't want to lose you ever. Our children need their mother." I said.
"But…" She started before I interrupted her.
"No Anne, Dr. Linacre said that if you conceive too soon you will be risking your life and the baby's life. I am not allowed to lay with you for at least 6 months." Dr. Linacre told me this morning, and I almost fainted. How can I not lay with my wife for 6 months?
"Six months?" She was outraged.
"Yes 6 months." I repeated for her.
"No no no no no no. If I wait six months you will surely go to mistresses. Henry, we don't have to wait six months." I knew that when I had a mistress it pained her, so I tried to not flaunt them in front of her.
"Sweetheart, I promise that for these six months, I shall have no mistresses, nor will I have any mistresses." I promised. Then I could hear the procession for Edward and Elizabeth. "They're coming sweetheart."
She just smiled, and then the door to her chambers opened. Everyone came in, and Mary handed me Edward and George handed Anne Elizabeth. I got up and sat down on the bed next to Anne. Everyone was still in a bow. I signaled their rise and they just stared at us with such happy smiles.
I had the biggest smile on my face and I looked down at my daughter Elizabeth. Bending down I gave her a kiss on the head. Anne was smiling down at Edward, who just cooed in his mother's arms. "He looks like you Henry."
"Elizabeth looks like you sweetheart." I heard someone cough and turned back to the people. "You are all dismissed." They all bowed and left, except the Boleyn family and her ladies.
Hours passed and Anne and I were just enjoying Edward and Elizabeth. Then one of the men of my households walked in and bowed. "I have a letter for your majesty. From Scotland." I waved him forward and he handed me the letter. I waved him off and when he was safely gone I opened the letter.
My Dearest Henry,
By the time that you receive this letter, it will be time for Queen Anne to give birth to her son. Every day since I have been informed of her majesty's pregnancy, I have had everyone at the Scottish court to pray for a safe birth. The reason that I am writing is for two reasons. I would love to see the marriage between my son James V and your daughter Princess Mary. It would be a great alliance to both of our countries. Please brother, my son is getting to the age where he should be getting married and having sons, just like your wife. Henry, my dear brother, at least think about the marriage. Think about it then write back to me. Also I would love to visit soon, maybe at the end of the month? That way I can see the new prince or princess of England.
With much love,
Margaret
"What does the letter say Henry." Anne asked as I threw the letter in the fire.
"My sister wants to come for a visit at the end of the month." I replied looking down at Edward, Anne and I had been taking turns on holding each child.
"That's wonderful; you haven't seen her in 15 years." She said. She was right, my sister fled back to England for a year after some political issues happened, but after a year she returned back to Scotland.
"She also wants to propose a marriage between her son James and Mary." I said, then looked at her very carefully.
"Are you going to allow it?" She asked, looking down at Elizabeth and caressed her cheek. She was fiddling with the blankets too.
"No, Margaret has been asking a marriage between the two for years, and I told her I wouldn't allow it. Ever since they attacked us years ago, I never wanted an alliance with them." Her face lit up a bit.
"What is going to happen to the Lady Mary?" She asked.
"What do you mean sweetheart?" Though I knew exactly what she meant.
"Mary is going to try and get in the line of succession somehow. Don't forget she is Catherine of Aragon's daughter. She will scheme and try everything to get ahead of Elizabeth even Edward." She pleaded.
"Sweetheart, she won't get ahead of any of our children. I'll make sure of that, and I'll make sure that she isn't even in the line of succession. She is a bastard and bastards don't become king or queen." I said. "You are very tired. I shall leave you to your rest." I handed Mary Edward, got up and kissed Anne on the lips and then kissed my Elizabeth on the forehead.
I walked out and down the corridor to the church. Thankfully it was empty, and I able to go to the front pew and pray.
"Thank you God. Thank you so much for not taking Anne from me. I need her so much here. I cannot live without her. Thank you for giving me a healthy son and daughter. The love for them both I cannot even describe. Please in your mercy, keep them safe and healthy. Don't take them away from me." I stayed in the church for awhile. After some time I knew I had to get back, back to my duties.
29 September 1533
Everyone was so happy and excited of the birth of Edward and Elizabeth. Edward and Elizabeth were to go to Hatfield in a few days which would be their permanent home. Of course, Henry and I were able to visit them all the time, and when they were older they would be allowed to come to visit court. Hopefully when the children were older, I could try and get them to come live here at court with Henry and me.
I was sitting in my chair, by the fireplace. Even though I gave birth about 3 weeks ago, I was still very weak and in pain. Dr. Linacre said that I can soon be able to move around the palace as I used to next week.
Dressed in my white silk nightgown, my golden robe, and my raven hair braided, I held Edward in my arms and looked down at him with much love. I had two cradles in front of me. One for Edward and one for Elizabeth, and Elizabeth was in her cradle. She was sleeping and looked so peaceful.
"Good job Anne." I turned around and there stood my father. All my ladies curtsied to him.
"Ladies you are all dismissed." I said, they all curtsied to me and then left, leaving me, him, Edward and Elizabeth. "Father." I said, stretching out my hand which he took and kissed. Then I sat Edward back down in him cradle. "What do I owe such a visit?" I asked.
"I wanted to congratulate you." He replied staying right in front of me. "You have given birth to a son, and you have made the king very happy."
"I have also given birth to a daughter. And don't forget father that I laid my life down for the birth of the Prince and Princess." I replied.
"Speaking of which, that daughter of yours should be a son, not a daughter. Yes you did well by giving the son a male heir, but you need another son. You need to give his majesty a Duke of York." That was getting me mad.
"I'm sorry father, but as much as you want to believe it, women cannot control the sex of a child. I nearly died given birth to Edward and Elizabeth, and I love them both. Even if one of them is a girl, at least she is healthy!" I yelled. Then he slapped me. I groaned in pain as he grabbed my should forcefully. Elizabeth had woken up and started crying and when Elizabeth started crying so did Edward. "Let go of me!" I screamed, "You're hurting me!"
"Now listen up girl…" He started.
"Release her." Henry's voice commanded. He was standing at the curtain and was looking quiet mad. My father quickly released me and I stumbled back, and fell to the floor. I couldn't even move. Henry ran to me and picked me up. He sat me down on the chair I was sitting down earlier and the babies were still crying.
"Sir Thomas, I order you to leave. I will see to you tomorrow. Right now I don't even want you in my sight." Henry commanded. My father bowed, and left right away. Henry went over to where Edward was, picked him up and then set him down in my arms, and then grabbed Elizabeth. The second Elizabeth was in Henry's arms she stopped crying. Edward as well stopped crying.
Elizabeth fell back asleep very fast. Edward cooed in my arms, and then slowly closed his eyes.
"Anne, why do you let him talk to you that way? You are the Queen of England, nobody should be able to talk to you in that way." Henry asked after awhile. I looked down at Edward and watched him sleep.
"He's my father; he's been this way ever since mother died. We have all gotten used to it." I replied not looking up from Edward.
"Anne," He said placing one hand on my knee, "You must tell me if this ever happens again. Alright?" He asked me.
"Alright Henry." I said, finally looking up from Edward and met his eyes.
"Also, as you know tomorrow Edward and Elizabeth will be taking the journey to Hatfield," He started.
"Yes, I am aware of that." I said coldly. In the past weeks I have gotten very attached to Elizabeth and Edward, and I did not want to see them go.
"I know how you are concerned about Lady Mary, so I have arranged that she will be one of Elizabeth's ladies." He said.
"One of her ladies?" I asked, and was appalled.
"Yes, before she had servants so in her mind she was still a princess and now that she is serving Elizabeth it will show her that Elizabeth is the princess not her." Henry said. "I'm thinking of Elizabeth sweetheart." He said.
"Thank you Henry." I said, and then caressed Edward's cheek again. I could not believe that after today I will not get to see my sweet children grow up. They would be far away from me, it pained me so much.
"Anne, they will be alright. I promise that soon we will be able to go and visit them." Henry said. Sometime it seems as if he could read my mind.
"Henry can I ask you something?" I asked him.
"Anything sweetheart." He replied.
"Do you think that when Elizabeth and Edward are older, that they might be able to come and live here at court?" That was my wish was for them to come and live here.
"Sweetheart, I don't want them living here because in case a sickness breaks out and I don't want them getting caught in it. If they are out living in the countryside they have a better chance of not catching a sickness. I can promise you though that the children can come and visit court multiple times." He said and my heart sunk a little.
"Alright." I was quiet as I continued to caress Edward.
"Sweetheart, I'll let you rest, and I have some issues to get to." Henry said. He kissed Elizabeth on the head, and then placed her down. Then he stood up, kissed Edward on the head and then kissed me on the lips.
When he walked out my ladies were walking back in to get me ready for bed. Madge came over with a brush, let my braid down and started brushing my hair and Jane Parker washed my feet. I just sat there and looked into the fire place.
After they were done, I shook them off. I remained sitting there staring into the fire and lost in my thoughts. The next thing I knew, somebody was picking me up.
"Sorry sweetheart, I didn't mean to wake you." Henry said, as he sat me down on the bed. Then he slid in right next to me. Automatically I turned into him and buried my head into his chest. His arms slipped around my shoulders and held me near him. Then I fell into sleep.
30 April 1534
"Your majesty, the children have arrived and on their way to the Queen's chamber as we speak." One of my groomsmen said. I nodded and he left. Looking back at my papers, I saw the arrest warrant for one of the men of my privy chambers and his treason. I signed the death warrant, then went to go to Anne's chambers.
As I walked through the corridors, everyone was bowing to me, but I didn't even notice them.
"Your majesty, King Henry has arrived." I heard one of her ladies say as I walked in. All of her ladies curtsied except Anne who was holding Edward and her sister Mary who was holding Elizabeth.
"Sweetheart, are these my children? I saw them only 4 months ago, and they weren't this big." I exclaimed. I felt horrible that I have not been able to see Edward and Elizabeth since their visit for Christmas, but Anne had been able to get free from court.
Elizabeth had reddish hair starting to grow and Edward had brown hair starting to grow. They were still very small, but they were healthy. Every week we get reports on the children and how they are.
"They have grown so much, and they are only 7 months old." Anne exclaimed.
I chuckled and went over to Mary and took Elizabeth. "My sweet Elizabeth." I said as I kissed her head. She giggled a little and kicked her legs. Everyone laughed, and I was the happiest father in England. I looked around at everyone and smiled. Then my eyes went to Mary, my daughter. The girl who I called the pearl of my world.
She always kept her eyes and head down and didn't look up once. I turned my head away from her and went back to Anne who was tickling Edward and getting happy laughs out of him.
"Sweetheart, I wanted to say that the preparations for the May Day festival are going wonderfully smooth. You are doing an amazing job." I said to her.
"Thank you." She said then brushed Edwards's hair with her hand. Edward yawned and laid his head on Anne's shoulders. Then he closed his eyes and fell asleep. I noticed that Elizabeth was getting a bit tired as well.
"The children should go to the nursery for their naps now." I said. Lady Brian, who was both of their governesses at the moment, came forward with two ladies. They each grabbed a child, not before we both kissed them. Then the ladies took Elizabeth and Edward out.
"Henry, I'm sorry but we must all start to get ready for the feast tonight." She said. I nodded, and she and all the ladies bowed as I turned and left.
………
"Madge, will you bring forth the jewels?" I asked Madge. It was about time that I started to head down to the feast. Edward and Elizabeth were sitting on the floor with some toys. Even though I was getting around, it was always nice to have them near me.
"Yes your majesty." Madge said, curtsying before leaving for the jewels. She came back with the jewels that I had picked out earlier to match my outfit. I was wearing a gold colored dress with embroidery down the bodice of the dress. It was an outfit made for the queen. For jewels I was wearing a pearl extravagant necklace that had matching earrings. I wearing a crown as well that had pearls in it, all in all, I was very fashionable. My hair was tied back but yet still fell down.
"Your majesty, the king is here." Jane Parker said. Then curtsied as Henry walked in. I stood up and curtsied like the rest of my ladies. Elizabeth and Edward stopped playing and squealed when he walked in. They were just so cute and funny.
"Your majesty." I said still in my curtsy.
"My queen." He replied, came over and pulled me out of my curtsy and kissed me. "You look beautiful darling." He said after we ended the kiss.
"Thank you." I replied. I went over to Edward and Elizabeth and kissed them both on the head. Then I took Henry's hand and we walked out of my chambers and to the feast.
"Their majesty's, King Henry and Queen Anne." The announcer said. We walked in and everyone dropped to a bow. We walked forward all the way to the front of the room, and sat down at our thrones. Once we were seated, everyone went back to the party.
Food was brought out to us and we ate. "Anne, would you like to dance?" Henry asked after we finished eating.
"I would love to." I replied. We stood up and people applauded as we made our way to the dance floor, and began the dance.
"Are you having fun Anne?" He asked.
"Of course I am Henry. Though I do wish that Elizabeth and Edward are here as well." I replied.
"Don't worry sweetheart, soon they will be enjoying parties as well, and everything will be complete." Henry said.
The night went by fast, and the feast was wonderful. "Anne, would it be all right with you if I come and visit you tonight?" Henry asked before we departed.
"I would love that." I said, and then left. I went to go get ready for my night of no sleep.
Well that was a fun chapter to write. Please review and tell me what you think of it all. DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING!!!
