I'm so sorry for the delay in posting this. I've got no excuse. I've been fighting with this story and where to take it. It started out as a oneshot, but you were so positive that I continued, even if I didn't know where to go with it. This is very short, but I think I've figured out a bit more about what I want to do so I'll try to post soon again and keep the chapters coming.

Thank you to all of you who have favorited or alerted this story and those who reviewed. All of these things show that you like what I do and please don't stop reviewing.

I know some of you don't like the fact that I seem to be mean to the Queen, but I'm following history in that aspect. I'm not creating miscarriages that she didn't have or taking away children she had. Before Mary she had son that died as a baby and then Mary. I might speed historical happenings up in future chapters however, since we are so early in the life of Henry.

Now onto the chapter!

Chapter four

May 1523

Mary held the queen as she wept knowing that she could do nothing to ease her pain. She wished she could do something for this woman who was so gracious and good and always so dignified. She heard the king enter and met the gaze of Maria De Salinas. She could see the woman begging Mary to tell the king. She was the one most likely to keep him somewhat calm.

Mary stepped out into the chamber and looked at the man she had left so recently. He could blame her for this. After all she had left his bed just hours ago. She was fully prepared for the possibility of the king blaming this mishap on her. She only hoped he would not blame the queen. The king looked at her with his eyes begging her to not tell him that another child was lost. Mary swallowed the lump in her truth and curtsied. They were in front of a lot of people and right now it was important that she was not the king's mistress, but the queen's some kind of friend. The fact that she was bringing the news might make it better or worse, but this was not the time for her to act as his mistress. She felt dirty enough as it was.

"Your majesty, the child did not live. I am terribly sorry." He seemed to not look at her but something above her right shoulder on the wall.

"Was it a son or a daughter?" his voice lacked all of his usual emotions and now sounded more like her father usually did. It lacked emotions and it scared Mary more than any angry words or threats he could make.

"It was a boy your majesty." The king nodded and swished out of the rooms, probably to grieve in private. Lady Willoughby came out and saw Mary. Mary drew her nearer and whisper to her.

"It feels wrong of me to be here. I am no longer one of her majesty's ladies and my place at court… Unless you need me I would like to go pray for her majesty and the baby's soul." The queen's closest friend nodded and squeezed her hand.

"This is not your fault Mary. You might have a certain position, but that position exists in every court in the world. It's is your actions that matter in this issue and yours are not bad. You pray for her majesty, you do not plot against her. I will send for you if she asks for you. Look after his majesty if you are able to please." Mary nodded and hoped that the king would not act out after this sad early birth of a prince.

The king saw Mary come into the chapel and watched her pray. He could here her whispers and as he heard her prayer for the royal family and her asking for forgiveness for her sins and that her sins not be punished on others and he was touched. Another woman, and their family members, would have told him about the queen's failures and promoted herself. In fact several courtiers had already approached him on the subject after the news of Catherine's miscarriage. Mary prayed and felt guilty. How had he managed to be blessed with two such wonderful women he could only guess. While he felt grieved by the loss of another heir, he knew that Catherine had done nothing to endanger herself. He had felt anger on her, but hearing the words of Mary reminded him of the trouble for so many women when it came for childbirth. Still disappointed that he had only two illegitimate sons to show instead of legitimate ones he closed his eyes and prayed for the soul of his unborn child and the recovery of his queen.

The six weeks before the queen was churched was boring. The king worked constantly and when he wasn't working he was visiting his princess and the boy he had fathered by Mary. Bessie's child remained with his mother and stepfather. The king was sombre and that terrified the court. Some, mainly the young inexperienced courtiers, thought this to be bothersome. After all why should one stop living just because the queen had miscarried. Some remembered the war of the roses and feared what would be if the young princess would inherit. There had never been an uncontested reigning queen of England. Some feared what would happen should the king start becoming angry and directing his angers on others. Some fraction were pleased that his majesty took more interest in his affair fro different reasons ranging from pleasure at the diminishing power of Wolsey and genuine belief that the king should rule. Some like Mary was concerned for the king.

Mary had never seen him act like this. It scared her. He was still polite and pleasant to the queen and her and doted on his children. They spent the nights together but did not engage in any intimate activities. It was as if he was a young boy seeking comfort. It made Mary's heart twinge and made her realise how deeply and unintentionally she had fallen for the king. She still worried about his new behaviour. Would this behaviour last or would she soon be faced with another face of the king. Only time would tell, but Mary was not a woman for court games. She knew that her sister was not particularly worried since he still treated Mary like his beloved.

Edward Seymour was one of the men who relished the new king. While he was more likely to be able to discover attempts to fool him, it was possible for someone to place forth someone to comfort him. Now was the opportune moment to start placing someone in front of the king as a new entertainment. The king's mistress the countess Rochford had yet to bear the king a new child so he might tire of her. If she did get pregnant then the king would not sleep with her. It was the perfect moment to push forward a woman that eventually could not only temporarily but permanently replace the lady Rochford. After all the woman might keep out of intrigue but she had still caused great troubles for him since their discussion had roused the kings displeasure since he felt that Edward had imposed on lady Rochford.

Edward needed to find a good candidate. None of his sisters were any rival for the beauty of lady Rochford or most ladies of the court really. He knew Jane was seen as plain and prudish. However she was the only woman in his family who could be called beautiful and was at court in her majesty's household. He knew that Jane considered herself fiercely loyal to the queen, but she might be persuaded to engage the king, even if she saw it as a sin to sleep outside of marriage, if he used the lady Rochford and her possible fall from favour as encouragement. It was the only thing he could do.