" How is Mary settling in?" Henry asked Anne the next evening after Mary's request.
Anne looked at Henry carefully before replying. ". I have installed her in suitable apartments close to my rooms, since she is to be my lady-in-waiting now." Henry nodded at this, glad that Mary was being treated honourably. Henry took a deep breath and then pressed on.
" Sweetheart, Mary has asked to see her mother." Anne looked up sharply at this.
" She has asked to see Katharine?" she frowned. Theoretically there was no reason to stop Mary seeing her mother other than the fact that Anne hated and mistrusted her.
" And what did you say?" she asked him slowly.
" I told her that I would speak with you, as my wife and Queen first before giving her an answer." Henry gently picked up Anne's hand and kissed it.
" Is that wise Henry? Mary may have accepted me but Katharine hasn't. You know she still hasn't accepted me as Queen." Henry frowned at this.
" Katharine is ill Anne. Very ill. Mary has proved herself to both you and I as a loyal and obedient subject. Now that Mary has seen reason, she could persuade Katharine to do the same. Mary should be allowed to see her mother." Henry ruled.
" Henry, sweetheart, I think Mary should sign the Oath. " Henry's frowned deepened and Anne hurriedly continued.
" It would make the Catholic rebels accept that Mary is a bastard if she declares it herself." She said persuasively.
" That's enough Anne." He said, annoyed.
" Mary has acknowledged you, Lady Bryan has said that she is respectful to Elizabeth. That is enough. Mary is still my daughter and she deserves to be treated as such. Understood?"
Anne pursued her lips and nodded but said nothing. Henry had that look that he wore every time he spoke of his daughter. But she could do nothing against Mary until she gave Henry a son.
However an idea formed in her mind.
" Perhaps a chaperone, should accompany Mary to the More?"
Anne smiled sweetly.
" I have instructed the Spanish Ambassador to escort Mary there and back. It is only a day visit."
" I was thinking that perhaps I could go to the More with Mary as well." Anne said.
Henry shot her a puzzled look.
" Why in God's name would you want to visit Katharine?"
" Well…" started carefully. " I was thinking that I could keep an eye them and get to know Mary better, after all, the Lady Mary is my stepdaughter."
Henry looked at Anne thoughtfully. He couldn't really believe that Mary would like to have Anne at the More but then again, Henry just couldn't bring himself to trust his eldest daughter. Instead of helping her mother to accept that she was not Queen of England Mary might unknowingly incite her mother to further rebel against him.
Anne was right.
" Very well sweetheart. We shall tell the Lady Mary the good news."
Anne just smiled.
****
The Christmastide and New Year festivities were finally over and Mary could not say that she was sorry to see them go. She still had no word from her father about her request and feared the worst. Her mother's voice had not spoken to her again and Mary had a feeling that she wouldn't until Mary had seen her, or, rather, her other self.
Mary had to start her duties as Anne's lady in waiting and in some ways it was worse than living at Hatfield. The other ladies treated her with deference, as was expected due to her position as the King's acknowledged daughter and Anne always oozed icy politeness and a cold smile and Mary would do the same.
But Mary was desperately, desperately lonely, at least at Hatfield she had had baby Elizabeth to distract her from her woes. Here at court she had no one, except Ambassador Chapuys and of course, her father.
Mary didn't know why she was surprised. It seemed that whether she had a second chance or not, she was destined to always be lonely. She recalled with perfect clarity how she had chosen her husband Prince Philip, her cousin the Emperor's son and fallen in love with him the moment she had seen him. She would never tell anyone of course, but the reason she had fallen in love with him was because of his resemblance to a certain Duke of Bavaria.
However, Philip of Spain didn't heal the hole in her heart that was due to years of neglect from her father, the cruelty of the Harlot and the separation from her mother. If anything, he made it worse.
She thought that he loved her, until he left for Spain while she thought she was carrying his child. The memory of coming out of confinement with no child, knowing that she would never have a child, having to watch the young, beautiful Elizabeth, the daughter of the Harlot swan around and delight in her misery still made her face burn with anger and embarrassment.
That was when her burning of heretics had really started. As if by burning people, she could burn away her heartbreak and misery. Then and only then, could God give her a child and send her husband back to her.
That wasn't going to happen this time. When Mary became Queen again, she would insure that she was tolerant of Protestant people. She had learned from her mistakes. God had punished her for her sins by letting her be childless and now her mother had sent her here to start again.
Now, here she was as Lady in waiting to 'Queen' Anne. She was soon startled out of these thoughts by her father's arrival.
" Sweetheart." Henry said, entering the room and searching for his daughter.
" Father." Mary curtsied as he gestured for the other ladies to leave.
" You may sit." Henry said, sitting himself next to Anne and holding her hand.
" Mary, the Queen and I have discussed it and we have agreed to your request. I have spoken to the Spanish Ambassador and arranged for you to be escorted to the More for a visit with your mother within the week" Mary was shocked that he had agreed so easily to her request.
" Queen Anne has graciously agreed to accompany you on your day visit to the More." Henry beamed, looking expectantly at Mary.
Mary said nothing. She didn't know which was worse, only being allowed to see her mother for a single day, or Anne being there the entire time.
Anne smiled at Mary and, releasing Henry's hand, grabbed Mary's instead.
At the feel of the Harlot's cold, cold hand holding her own Mary had to fight not to scream at her and slap the smile off of her smug face.
" I have been longing to get to know you better Lady Mary. After all, you are my stepdaughter, this visit will give us that opportunity."
Henry was still smiling. He was seated with the wife that he adored and the daughter he loved and they were actually holding hands! Henry would never have thought that Mary would ever accept Anne but in his mind they were fast becoming friends. When Elizabeth a little older and he invited her to court, they would all see that they were all one, big, happy family.
Henry failed to notice the smugness of the smile on Anne's face or the pure fury that was just barely concealed in Mary's eyes.
" I thank Your Majesties." Mary said softly, not tearing her gaze away from Anne.
" We will have a wonderful time won't we Mary?" Anne said in a sickeningly sweet voice.
" Indeed Madam." Mary managed to force a smile, but inside she was seething.
So the Harlot knew how to manipulate her father as well, did she?
As she looked into Anne's triumphant face she knew it was war.
One that Mary intended to win.
I'll cut your little heart out
Cause you made me cry.
AN: This might be my last update for a little bit as it's my birthday soon and straight after that school goes back, but I'll do my best. To Guardian Angel I hope you liked the Mary/Anne interaction, more to come next chapter. Also next chapter is Mary's big visit with her mother (I know that it's impossible for a day visit from court to the More but I am taking licence with that Ok?). Finally the above lyrics are from Girl With One Eye by Florence and the Machine. It mostly inspired this chapter.