Author's Notes – Keep in mind, I don't speak Spanish. The couple spainish sentences between Mary and Katherine were found via google, so they may be wrong. Perdóname, no sé en qué estaba pensando is supposed to mean, forgive me. I don't know what I was thinking while Está bien is supposed to mean it's alright. I don't mind spoiling my faithful readers, as you keep me writing and make this story possible. I try to respond to everyone, but I don't always get a chance. Please know, your words of encouragement mean a lot to me and I do read every single one I get.

Edit - I'm seriously considering killing off Papa Boleyn. Any objections?

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Sir Thomas More rubbed vainly at his temples, trying his best to stave off the impeding headache blossoming between his eyes. A new and sudden admiration for Cardinal Wolsey struck him as he realized just how much work being Henry's Lord Chancellor entailed. He and the cardinal had never really gotten along, maintaining a façade of friendliness in public. Upon the cardinal's death from the sweat, Henry had almost at once made him his new Lord Chancellor. Thomas had not felt he deserved such an honor, but how did one say no to the king?

Letters from Thomas Boleyn had been arriving on his desk since the king had banished the Boleyn family in its entirety from court. More had read a few of them, informing Henry that the letters contained pleas for a return to court. He'd promptly ordered all correspondence from Boleyn to be burned, wanting absolutely nothing to do with them any longer. Dutifully, Thomas had complied but now he hesitated. The letter in his hand was not addressed to the king, but to More himself. The writing wasn't the now familiar script of Thomas Boleyn, nor did it look like a ladies writing so it could not be Anne. Not that she would write me anyway, he mused wryly. He'd made it abundantly clear she could not look to him as an ally. He would only recognize one queen and that was Katherine.

So if it wasn't Anne or her father writing to him who was? He frowned slightly in thought before he vaguely recalled that Thomas Boleyn had a son, George. Could that be who wrote this? Part of him wanted to cast the letter in the fire, along with all the others. Another part though wondered what exactly was so important that George would risk his father's wrath to send Thomas a letter. Sighing, he grabbed his letter opener and broke the wax seal. Unfolding it carefully, he sat back in his chair and began to read.

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"So it's true mama? Papa really banished his concubine from court?" Mary questioned eagerly in Spanish, all too aware of her mother's ladies lounging nearby. It was a lovely day and she'd convinced her mama to have a picnic in one of her favorite gardens. Now, they all lounged under the shade of a great tree, a small feast laid out before them. Her mother's ladies were talking amongst themselves as they carefully stitched clothing to be given to the poor.

Blue eyes flashed dangerously at her daughter's words. "Mary," she rebuked gently, frowning at her daughter's language. "That is no way for a princess to speak."

"Perdóname, no sé en qué estaba pensando," Mary replied casting her gaze downward. She knew she shouldn't say such things but it was hard not to. She'd been absolutely furious with her father these past years, unable to believe her loving papa was trying to set aside her beloved mama for a woman she viewed as a harlot. "Have you forgiven him yet?"

"Está bien," Katherine replied with a soft smile, before frowning slightly at her daughter's next question. Had she forgiven Henry? No, not yet. He'd been trying, she admitted, bringing her lovely jewels, writing her letters and poems. He'd even brought her beloved Mary back to court, just for her. Banishing that Boleyn girl and her wretched family had only been the start.

He no longer even went wenching, vowing to her in private that he would remain chaste until she forgave him and invited him back to her bed. She'd been privately skeptical about this vow, knowing Henry a little too well to truly believe it. He'd apparently meant it though, as several of her ladies had heard various women muttering about how the king had rejected them when they had offered themselves. Maybe it is time I forgive him, she mused silently as she turned Mary's attention away from her parents and onto her studies.

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Mary Tudor, Duchess of Suffolk, clutched her ribs as she laughed hysterically. "Henry asked you, his brother-in-law, how to seduce a woman?" she gasped out, unable to stop laughing. Oh, that was priceless! What on earth had her brother been thinking? Did he forget that while Charles was indeed something of a rake, the man was also married to his baby sister?

"It's not that funny, Mary," Charles told her, crossing his arms over his chest but even he couldn't hold back a smile at the memory. "And my advice obviously worked."

Finally getting control of herself Mary chuckled at her husband's prim tone. "If you say so, Charles," she agreed readily, smiling as she walked into their bedchambers. Servants scurried about, packing her things and making ready to go back to court. She had retreated to Suffolk when her brother was making such a fuss over that Boleyn girl, not wanting to have any part of it. She had nothing but respect and admiration for her sister-in-law and was not about to watch as this great woman was humiliated by her own husband. Now that the Boleyn's had been banished from court, Mary was more than willing to come back and make peace with her brother.

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"Henry, may I have a word with you?" Thomas More questioned lowly, having hurried to keep up with Henry's fast pace.

"Make it quick, Thomas. I'm meeting with my daughter to go riding," Henry replied, pulling on his riding gloves. He and Mary had not gotten to spend much time together, as she preferred to be with her mother after their long separation. An invitation to go riding with her father had been quickly accepted.

"I received a letter from George Boleyn," Thomas told him hesitantly, knowing how the king would react at hearing the Boleyn name again.

Henry scowled and stopped, glaring at his Lord Chancellor. "I've told you before Thomas, I want nothing to do with that entire family."

"I know, sire, but-"Thomas began but was quickly cut off.

"There is nothing more to say, Sir Thomas. I want absolutely nothing to do with them and that's final. Now, if you will excuse me," the king ground out, stalking past More and into the courtyard where a groom waited with his horse. Thomas watched him go, wondering how he was going to break the news that Anne Boleyn was pregnant with the king's bastard.