Chapter two
May 1 1536
Anne was playing with Elizabeth twirling her around. She was ecstatic that she still could see her little girl grow up. She was even more thankful that Elizabeth was still a Princess. She would make sure that no action of Anne was ever going to compromise Elizabeth's situation. Anne was determined to become the best mother there ever was. After all now that she was not the Queen she could spend her time taking care of little Elizabeth, even if there was going to be difficult to explain the situation to Elizabeth. Henry had left that to her and Anne was sure this was a test. Her beautiful little girl had already wondered why her mother had curtseyed to her. While Anne was almost at the same rank as her little daughter she still needed to curtsey.
"Mama you promised to explain to me?" Elizabeth looked up to Anne with trusting eyes. Anne looked at her own and Elizabeth's entourage.
"You are excused for the time being. The Princess and I will take a walk." They curtseyed and slowly left. Anne took Elizabeth's hand and started walking. They walked under silence even if Anne knew that her little girl was very eager to find out what was causing this behaviour. Finally she could not stop herself from tugging her mothers skirt softly and pleadingly look up to her mother. Anne smiled slightly even if her little girl always acts older then her age; she was still a little girl. She scooped up Elizabeth and walked to the closest bench and sat down. Anne stroked Elizabeth's hair happy that she still could do it.
"Do you remember when Papa explained the difference between Mary and you?" Elizabeth nodded.
"Papa and Lady Mary's mama were never really married, even if they did not know that for a very long time." Anne smiled bitterly at Elizabeth's words but willed it to fade. Elizabeth was far too young to understand all of this.
"They had a form of an annulment. This annulment meant that they never had been married. A couple of weeks ago it was discovered that I cannot have any more children. Papa needs more children so we agreed that we got another form of annulment. That form means that we were married but that since I cannot have more children our marriage was dissolved." Elizabeth looked at her deep in thought.
"Does this mean that I will be a Lady like Mary?" Anne smiled slightly, knowing her fears of Elizabeth being made a bastard had been close to became reality.
"No Elizabeth since our marriage was valid you are still a Princess since you are born in a legitimate marriage. However since our marriage is no longer I am not Queen of England anymore." Elizabeth looked at her frowning.
"But you have always been the Queen of England!" Anne smiled largely now, this smile was not tinged with bitterness.
"No darling there have been many Queens of England for many hundred years. Since I am not married to the King I cannot have the title." Anne paused wondering if she should explain the idea of title in your own right and courtesy title. She drew a deep breath.
"Your father inherited the title of King from his father and it is his title. His wife is called Queen of England since he is King of England, but the wife only gets this title because of her husband is the King. For a Queen to be Queen in her own right she needs to inherit it from her father. This had never happened in England" Anne knew it was very likely that someone was listening to them and would report to the King what she said. She also knew that for her own daughter's safety she cannot expect to inherit the throne.
"Do you understand my darling?" Elizabeth nodded, but she still thought it to be strange. However Elizabeth knew her mother never told lies which Lady Bryan told her was wicked.
"What are you called mama if you are not Queen anymore?" Elizabeth hoped her mother still had a good title because Elizabeth thought there was none better than mama. Anne took another deep breath happy that Elizabeth seemed to accept the changes.
"I am Queen Anne, the marquess of Pembroke. But I am not a Majesty or Queen of England, just Queen Anne. I am a Highness like you, my darling." Anne paused.
"Do you remember precedence darling?" Elizabeth nodded but did not say anything.
"Now you have precedence over me but I am just behind you." At this Elizabeth frowned. How could she have precedence over her mama? Mama had always been first. Elizabeth said this but her mama assured her that it was alright and how it was now. They sat together a little longer before Anne realised that Elizabeth needed to go to her lessons.
After walking back Elizabeth to her servants Anne had one more thing she needed do to at Hatfield.
"Lady Bryan I would like to speak to the Lay Mary." Lady Bryan curtsied.
"Yes your Ma… Highness. I will send for her at once." Anne did not dare to move a muscle when Lady Bryan nearly misspoke. Anne and her attendants, Nan Seville and Madge Shelton stood and looked at the landscape. Nan disliked Jane Seymour and refused to serve under her. Two places had to make ready for Mistress Seymour's sisters and Madge as Anne's cousin had been asked to leave. Anne knew that Madge liked Mistress Seymour and felt her cousin's disappointment when she was dismissed. Since Anne had not always treated Madge well, she offered Madge a place as in her household. While Anne no longer was Queen of England she was a high ranking peer she was expected to have a couple of Ladies in waiting.
Anne saw Lady Mary approaching and asked Nan and Madge to be some distance away. Lady Mary was scowling at her. Anne smiled slightly.
"Mary we will never agree on titles I fear. I propose that for this conversation I am simply Anne and you are simply Mary. I do feel that this is an important conversation." Mary looked at Anne before he slowly nodded.
"Shall we take a walk?" Anne suggested. They started walking while Anne tried to find a way to start this conversation.
"I would like to apologise Mary. My behaviour toward you has not been pleasant. I should have been more understanding. You were just a girl when all of this started I, among others, asked you to sign a document that asked you to hurt your mother." Mary looked at her.
"Why are you saying this?" Mary knew that this woman was no longer his father's wife but did not know the details. Did Anne fear for Elizabeth and wanted Mary to speak for Elizabeth if Anne could not? Did she want Mary to take the oat?
"Because this needs to be said. I have been proud, ungrateful and jealous these past years. I wish to change that." She looked at Mary.
"I am lo longer Queen of England and have no power. I do not need to play the court games anymore, which I am very thankful for. I do not wish to hurt you. Do I believe that your parents' marriage was illegitimate, yes. However things could have happened differently. In a more pleasant way." Anne closed her mouth before she could say more. Mary looked quizzically at her.
"Many times there is someone nearby to hear you speek. What happened, happened. However bad it was. I can give you little advice or help Mary as I have already said I have no power left. If you are asked to take the oat again, remember that my relatives and I am I no position to order such a thing. The King is proud and it is dangerous to hurt that pride. Your mother would not want you to die Mary of that I am sure. Please consider my words and take care. Once again I apologise for the pain you have felt on my behalf." Anne whispered this to Mary standing very close to the young woman praying that she would understand. Mary nodded.
"I understand. What are you to be called? I know that Elizabeth remained a Princess." Mary managed to keep the bitterness out of her voice.
"I am Queen Anne, the marquees of Pembroke. A highness placed after Elizabeth in precedence." Anne felt sympathy toward the woman beside her.
"Please do not let Elizabeth suffer because of her relatives. You are sisters." Mary smiled at her and wondered what the causes of the annulment were. She decided to ask. Anne smiled.
"I cannot conceive more children, so our marriage is dissolved but still recognised as legitimate. I am sorry Mary." Both Mary and Anne knew she was referring to Mary not being able to become a Princess. Mary looked Anne in the eyes and nodded. Mary would never like this woman, but perhaps even Anne could change.
Late that evening Anne arrived to her new home. Nan made all necessary arrangements and soon Anne was in her chamber. She still needed to have an attendant sleeping in the room. However both Nan and Madge had gotten soaked in the rain and Anne had finally become truly alone. Anne had not been alone for years. She sank down on the bed and felt tears running. She had loved him! And he was going to do it! He was willing to believe her to be an adulteress! That was what her ladies were questioned about! She was going to be accused of taKing others to her bed when she wanted him in it! The absurdity of the accusation found Anne and she started laughing she laughed until she cried and the only thing that head her cries of pain where her hands and knees as she rocked on the bed.
May 3 1536
Chapuys stared at his papers. The past couple of weeks it had been hard to send a letter to his master. Now he was trying to write one to the emperor. Chapuys thought about how he would formulate things. He had heard the formers Queens' argument with her father. He could not resist gloating at her and was on his way to her chambers. The guards outside was not paying attention so he could hear it all. It had given him much to think about, too much in fact.
He knew from own experience and from former ambassadors that the earl of Wiltshire was a nasty person and it made sense that it was he who had caused so much trouble. After all women did not have the same intelligence as men. Perhaps the woman was not so horrible, even if Chapuys did not like her or her marriage to the King. He now realised that they should have tried to kill the Boleyn man instead. It would probably have been easier and that woman would not have caused as much hurt. Perhaps no hurt at all. Chapuys knew that she was a follower of Luther but at least she still believed in God. Her father was definitely more dangerous than her. And he was still at court.
May 14 1536
Today the King had married Jane Seymour. All court was celebrating including the Duke of Norfolk. He did not want the King to see him sulking. No he would be happy of the new marriage and bide his time. If this Queen failed as well he might be able to use another girl of Howard blood. Not that that girl would succeed as good as Anne had been. For now Norfolk would please the King. It was likely that favours would shift and Norfolk wanted to be on the winning side.