Author's Notes- We're gonna hear a bit from Papa Boleyn as he wouldn't get the fuck out of my head, followed by some twin interaction. Bit of a cliffhanger at the end there ? Also, in case anyone's wondering, while the twins are accompanied by servants, they're speaking twin speak. Twins commonly develop their own language, so while they understand one another, no one else does
Thomas Boleyn liked to think he wasn't an ambitious man, but perhaps that was simply the sin of vanity getting the better of him. Born the grandson of a merchant, he felt he'd been looked down upon most of his life. Even when he'd been knighted and later made ambassador to France, he still felt as though he could rise higher. If someone with no breeding, like Charles Brandon, could do it, why couldn't he?
His brother-in-law certainly felt his sister could've made a better match, he thought sourly. Now, though, he was beginning to hope he could rise higher than even Norfolk. Anne had clearly caught the king's eye, and kept it, if the letters George had stolen from her were to be believed.
The princess Joanna was notably fond of Anne, seeming to prefer her to her other ladies in waiting. Access to the young royals was heavily regulated, so using the child's affection for Anne was out. He could, however, do the opposite. Anne's affection for the child was just as obvious, after all. With a few well placed words, he could steer Anne towards the king's side as his queen.
"You wanted to see me, Papa?" Anne's voice startled him from his imaginings and he looked up to see her standing in the doorway.
"Anne! Yes, my dear, come, sit," he greeted, standing and gesturing to the chair opposite him. She did as she was bid, stopping long enough to receive an embrace and kissing his cheek affectionately. "You are well? And the young princess?"
Anne nodded an affirmative as a servant discreetly served them both wine before retreating. "Yes, papa, I'm very well. Her highness is as well, and sends her regards."
Privately, Thomas doubted the last part but didn't question it. "You won't be needed soon?" He questioned, hoping to have more than a few moments to really enact his plans.
"No, his Majesty is visiting with both the prince and princess and seems to like having them mostly to himself," she replied, smiling softly at how much the king clearly cared for his children. It was nice to see him taking such an interest after neglecting them in his affections for so long after the death of the queen, she reflected, missing the calculating look on her father's face.
The king had been called away only a few moments into spending time with the twins, but both their tutor and governess had decided to give the children some time together. Edmund, for one, was eternally grateful for the break. When he was long, he decided, his son wouldn't have to do the boring lessons he was currently forced to endure. "I've missed you sister," he said with a smile, obediently holding his hand out for the doll she was currently passing to him.
"I missed you too, brother. Your lessons take up far too much time," she chided, manipulating her other doll into a sitting position.
"I agree. And they're so boring!" He complained, mimicking her actions with the doll he was holding. "What are we even doing with your dolls?"
"Oh, nothing. Mary and I used to do this, pretend we were playing but actually we'd talk," she confided, artfully arranging her dolls hair just so. "Could be useful for you one day."
Edmund shrugged non-committally. He didn't like to think of when he'd be king, because that meant papa would be gone. Those thoughts bothered him more than he liked to admit. He knew, logically, that for him to become king, their papa would be either too old or gone to heaven like their mama. "Yeah, maybe," he agreed uncomfortably.
"I think we'll be getting a new mama soon," Joanna told him after a few minutes, breaking the silence they'd lapsed into. At Edmund's skeptical look, she continued. "It's true! Papa likes Lady Anne. He asked me to help him find things she likes so he can tell her how much he likes her."
"You mean... your lady Anne? Are you sure?"
Joanna nodded fervently. "One and the same."
Edmund was quiet, considering. "Is... Is she nice?" He asked in a small voice. Mary had told them about their mama, but Edmund had no real idea of what she was like. She'd sworn their mama was nice and that she'd loved he and Joanna both even before they'd been born. He wasn't so sure if she'd have loved them if she'd known she'd die just to birth them.
"Very. You'd like her a lot, she even knows archery, falconry and hunting," she pointed out, hoping to catch her brothers interest.
It worked. "Really?" He questioned in surprise. Well, maybe this having a new mama wouldn't be so bad, he reasoned. He could even have a brother! The thought cheered him immensely. He loved both his sisters, but they were girls. A little brother would be far preferable to another sister.
Anne swallowed hard against the bile rising in her throat. When she'd seen through her father's carefully crafted words, he'd gotten straight to the point. George - and oh, how she was going to box his ears next she saw him! - had stolen some of the letters the king had written to her and promptly handed them over to their father.
He'd proceeded to make it perfectly clear he would use whatever means necessary to see her both wed to the king and crowned Queen of England. Ducking into what she thought was an unused chamber, she quickly shut the door and leaned against it, breathing heavily. Closing her eyes, she tilted her head back and mentally told herself to breathe.
"Lady Anne? Are.. you alright?"
Startled, she abruptly opened her eyes and felt herself grow pale as she came face to face with the king.
