Author's Notes: Wow, two updates within days of each other; can you believe it? I hardly can and I wrote them. LOL! I must admit that I was floored by all the reviews for the previous chapter. You all rock so hard, thank you!
Also, I wanted to thank those of you who have expressed concern for me regarding my mother. I have good news to share: she has finished her chemo treatment! It was rather aggressive (12 rounds over 6 months) and hopefully all the bad cells were zapped. She's hanging in there but the side effects will linger for a while. It's been one crazy journey for her and for me. I appreciate the kind words that I've been given by many of you.
Chapter 7
After receiving the news of his wife's pregnancy, Henry remained quiet. His friends found him to be too quiet for their liking. Yes, he was dumbfounded at first and marveled over the impossibility of it all but now he seemed to be internalizing things. Both Charles and Anthony were worried for the King. He did not seem to be taking the news well at all.
Not being able to bear the silence anymore, Charles finally spoke up. "Henry, are you all right?"
Whipping his head around, Henry stared at his best friend. "Are you fucking mad? Of course I'm not fucking all right! How do you expect me to be all right when…when…I cannot even say it?"
His eyes were wild and Charles stepped back. "This ruins everything!" cried the King in frustration. "Everything. How can I continue with divorce or annulment proceedings when the Queen is with child? The Kingdom would not allow such a move. As it is many are angered with me for wanting to divorce her and I am fine with that, but there are only so many lines that can be crossed. Not to mention the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V who will wage a war if I cross his pregnant aunt. Even France with King Francis will not be on my side. The bishops and cardinals will be against me as well."
He shook his head, the weight of the news giving him a headache. "And yet, what will this do to my beloved Anne? She will not forgive me for bedding Katharine one last time let alone three—" at this revelation, Charles and Anthony raised their eyebrows in surprise at one another. He took the Queen three times?
Ignoring the looks of his mates, Henry continued. "Even if she were able to forgive my indiscretion, she will never forgive me for conceiving another child with Katharine."
Neither Brandon nor Knivert thought that was necessarily a bad thing, even though their friend obviously disagreed. To their minds, this was going to solve a lot of problems. How could they impart this upon His Majesty though?
"Are you not pleased, my Lord, to have another child?"
Closing his eyes, Henry thought of the prospect. "Don't you understand, Brandon, that the likelihood that the Queen carries this child to term and this child being healthy and viable is quite slim? Given past history alone… Not to mention it is unlikely that this will be a son. This means we are right back to square one. I will be humiliated if she were to give birth to a healthy daughter."
Charles had daughters whom he loved but he also had the son that Henry wished he could have, so he did not know how to assure the King. "It is possible," he acknowledged. "Is it not?"
"The fact that Katharine is with child to begin with speaks of the impossible being possible. But I dare not hope as I had in the past. I will resign myself to this: the proceedings will be delayed not only through the holidays but throughout her pregnancy. Once the child is born, if it indeed survives, we will go from there, depending on the sex. If the child does not survive then after a period of grief, our path continues."
Both men nodded their agreement even if they felt it was cold. But Henry was a King before he was their friend and royals were not exactly known for their warmth. Except of course for the Queen. She, however, had been raised in different circumstances.
"Where is Linacre?" Henry asked them, startling them from their thoughts.
"He remains in the Queen's apartments, in one of her sitting rooms. I told him that you might want to speak with him," explained Charles.
"Good man," Henry said. "I shall speak to him and hear what he has to say myself. Before I go, I have a request that I need you two to follow."
"Of course, Your Majesty," they both said.
"Do not tell another soul about this conversation or about the Queen's condition. There is no use causing rampant rumors throughout Court. Both enemies and friends (he didn't specify whether his enemies or Katharine's) could use this to their advantage. I will determine when others need to know. For now this stays amongst the three of us, Katharine, and Linacre. Do her ladies know?"
"I do not believe so," offered Anthony. "They were not with her when he examined her nor when we spoke to him."
"Good. It had better stay that way. At the very least until I am able to speak with the Lady Anne in private over this matter."
His friends agreed to keep this matter to themselves and shortly thereafter, Henry left.
Knivert was shaking his head. "This is a mess," he declared.
Brandon gave him an unsure glance. "It does not have to be. This could solve everything."
"You're awfully hopeful, Charles. To my way of thinking, there are many variables. That the Queen doesn't miscarry; that the child is not stillborn; that the child is healthy; and above all else, that the child is a male."
"That it is all true. But the fact that the Queen is carrying the King's child in the first place is a rather large miracle in itself, do you not agree?"
"Of course. But it is at the worst possible time," he said, echoing the King's earlier words.
"Or at the best possible time."
*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&
"Your Majesty," greeted the King's personal doctor, Linacre.
Henry nodded in acknowledgement. "I am told that you have thoroughly tended to my wife the Queen and come to a conclusion on what ails her."
"Yes I have."
After making sure that the door was closed to any outside ears, Henry walked the doctor over to the window whose curtains were drawn so no one could see them.
"I've been told that she is with child. Is that true?"
Nodding, the doctor said, "Yes. I would say that the Queen is approximately four weeks' along. This means, if all goes well, the child will be born sometime in late June."
"And what are the chances that everything will go well?" wondered the King.
"Your Majesty, I cannot give you statistics. Her Majesty is," he paused, trying to speak delicately, "she is older than when she carried Princess Mary. Age can sometimes be a detriment. But that does not necessarily indicate that there will be any more problems than usual. I know she has a record of stillborns and miscarriages. That is always a concern."
That in itself was enough reason for Henry not to anticipate this pregnancy. What good had it done him, in the past, to look forward to having another child when she lost it during pregnancy or when the child died days after birth? Or worse yet, in the case of Prince Henry, less than two months after birth? He had held so much hope in that child, his little prince. It was their second child—after losing a first daughter—and he was born on New Year's Day, surely that was a sign of positive things to come? Alas, he died of fever.
"Still, she could have a normal pregnancy and smooth delivery and give birth to a fine, healthy son," the doctor told him, trying to be reassuring.
"Yes well we'll see, won't we?" asked a doubting Henry.
The doctor did not know how to respond. He was well aware of the King's Great Matter and now this would complicate things. However, it was not his place to judge; he was merely a doctor.
Sighing, the King asked, "Is there anything else I need to be aware of about her condition?"
"Just that she needs to avoid stress as much as possible."
Henry nearly laughed at that remark. Avoid stress? With everything that was going on.
"She needs to rest as much as she feels like and take it easy when she needs to. She must eat a healthy diet. I will monitor her condition as much as you would like, unless you prefer one of her own doctors…" Linacre's voice trailed off as the King shook his head.
"That won't be necessary. I will entrust their care—that of the Queen's health and the health of this child—to your good hands."
The doctor expressed his gratitude and said that he would do everything within his power to make sure that they were both well. He also told the King that he would be at their service, whenever needed. Henry thanked him and then dismissed him.
Finally he was alone. Sitting down in a chair he bowed his head as he tried to wrap his mind around the news that was told to him a mere hour ago. Now what? He wondered. What must I do about this?
His next thoughts were to the reaction of the Lady Anne. She would be devastated at his "betrayal." How could he hurt her like that? It was not fair that the Queen should become pregnant now. However unfair, though, it was a fact that he could not avoid, even if he wanted. He must tell Anne before she heard it elsewhere for although he trusted Knivert and Brandon, there were many in Court whom he did not and word would spread like fire at the news.
He had one stop to make before seeking out Anne though.
*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&
The Queen was resting in her bed, her long hair cascading down her shoulders. She was feeling a bit nauseous, which is why she was still in bed. What she wanted to do was to find Dr. Linacre and ask him what was wrong with her. Was it so horrible that he was afraid to share it with her? Was she truly dying?
Katharine had been quite surprised to learn that Henry had summoned his own private doctor to attend to her. Maybe he still had some feeling left for her. She didn't want to oblige her cynical thoughts which said that he merely put on appearances as she was told that both Sir Thomas More and his Excellency Eustace Chapuys had gone to the King on her behalf. He might have felt pressure to take action.
Dr. Linacre was a most excellent doctor. He was well-studied and he had taken good care of her husband, whenever he fell ill. He even looked in on Mary on the few occasions when she had been so ill that Henry sent him after her. He had asked a good deal of questions, even intimate ones which had made the Queen blush slightly. She didn't understand why he would inquire of such matters, after all it was well-known that she was unable to bear children and impossible that she would have conceived a month ago. At least, that is what she was trying to convince herself as it would be too painful to hope otherwise.
Suddenly she heard her door opening, so she straightened her posture in bed. She wondered who it was and why none of her ladies informed her of company. Turning her head in the direction of the door, she was surprised to find her husband entering.
"Henry," she said in surprise.
"Madam," he greeted her, walking towards her bed. She stared at him. He seemed deep in thought; there were creases along his forehead. He seemed to want to say something, but did not know how. This was making her nervous. Surely he wouldn't give her the news of her illness, would he? Oh such a cruel thought that he would gloat over her predicament and his good fortune.
Henry hesitated as he looked over at his wife who looked quite pale and tired. He wondered how she had taken the news of her pregnancy. He was certain that she would feel vindicated.
"Please tell me what is troubling you, 'husband. It is not Mary, is it?" she asked with concern.
Shaking his head, he said, "No. Princess Mary is well as I am told."
Letting out a sigh of relief, Katharine then said, "You have spoken to Dr. Linacre about my condition, haven't you?"
He nodded gravely. "It is really serious, is it not?"
He gave her a peculiar look. "He didn't tell you?" Henry asked in surprise.
She shook her head. "No. Please, what is wrong? Am I…am I…" she couldn't say it.
"Katharine, you are with child," her husband told her bluntly, not softening the news.
She merely stared at him. "What did you say?" she asked and he repeated it.
"But, but that is impossible!" she cried in confusion. "The doctors all along have said that I could not…that is why we have not…these past years…no."
"It is true. You are a month along."
Katharine didn't need to do the math; the one (three) and only time she'd been intimate with her husband in so long was forever etched in her mind. "Dios Mio!" she exclaimed and then made the sign of the cross. It was a miracle. Her prayers have been answered, after all these years!
She wanted to leap for joy or even weep for joy, but she couldn't as that was unbecoming of a Queen and she also was still feeling poorly. But at least now she knew why. It had crossed her mind briefly a week ago when she first started feeling ill but she hadn't allowed herself to even dream that it was possible. She should have trusted her first instinct and trusted that anything was possible with the Lord. She crossed herself again and gave a silent prayer of gratitude.
"Thank you for telling me, 'enry," she said her voice soft and tender.
"Yes, well about that. I do not want it known throughout the Court just yet about your pregnancy," he informed her and she gave him a dismayed look. Ignoring it, he said, "It is too soon to make any announcements, we must wait at least until you are further along."
"I understand," she told him and she did. Especially given her past pregnancies and losses. While she wanted to tell certain people of the news, for now she will keep it a secret. "What about our daughter Mary? Can she be told that she will have a new sibling to look forward to?" she asked him with hope in her eyes.
Shaking his head, Henry said, "No. She is not to know right away either. Katharine, I know you think this is cruel of me—" she remained silent neither agreeing nor disagreeing with his assessment, "but I am doing what's best. For all of us. It will do Mary no good to get caught up and then be disappointed."
So that's what it was. He had no hope for this child—for their child. "If that is what you desire, then so shall it be."
Henry raised a brow, surprised that his wife gave in so easily. He was relieved though as he did not want yet another fight with her on his hands.
"Linacre will be your physician throughout this pregnancy." Another surprise. Henry was going all out, having his personal doctor monitor her.
"Thank you, Henry," she told him graciously and he nodded.
Her mind was swimming with a multitude of thoughts. Her most pressing one was what did this mean for them, for their marriage? Would he still pursue a divorce, even in her state? Would he still leave her for Lady Anne? She didn't dare ask those things.
As if anticipating what was on her mind, Henry told her much of what he told Knivert and Brandon, though he worded it a bit more delicately. Grateful to him, Katharine reached out her hand and placed it atop his. "I will do everything in my power to keep this pregnancy, Henry. You must know that."
"I do." And he meant the same for his part. Seeing the serious look on her husband's face, Katharine couldn't help but feel a twinge of concern for him. She knew that this is not what he ever would have anticipated, but it was happening. He must be so overwhelmed. Katharine herself was. It was difficult to process such news, even though to her it was joyous news.
"Are you feeling well now?"
Nodding, she said, "Just a bit nauseous."
"I will have someone bring something for you."
She gave him a small smile and thanked him with a squeeze of his hand. Heaving a sigh, he nearly reached out to brush a tendril of hair off her forehead, but he forced himself not to. He couldn't get caught up in her, not now. It would only cloud the issue and things were clouded enough with the pregnancy. Instead he pulled his hand away from hers and walked away from her bed. If she was bothered, she didn't show it.
"I must go. I have a meeting to attend." It was a lie but he did have somewhere important to be.
"Henry?" she asked when he was at the door, his hand on the knob, about to turn it. He turned around and looked at her. "Yes?"
"Thank you for being the one to tell me about the pregnancy. I'm grateful that the news came from you."
Swallowing, he nodded and then left the room and her apartments. When he was in a private hall, he leaned against the wall to catch his breath even though he hadn't exerted himself, he felt out of breath. Closing his eyes, he took a breath before finding one of his servants. "I want you to find the Lady Anne Boleyn and tell her to meet me in my privy within the hour. It is imperative that this happens," he added and the young man gave his assent, leaving to fetch her.
Forty-five minutes later, Anne arrived to his privy chambers. "Your Majesty?" she asked with deference, wondering what hopeful news he might bring.
"We have to talk," he began without any pleasantries. "It is about Katharine."
Anne had to force herself not to roll her eyes. What now? She wondered. What is that old lady up to?
Henry had waged a battle within himself on how to brace the news to Lady Anne, but he ultimately opted for bluntness. "The Queen is pregnant."
