Chapter Ten
Mary bent over and vomited into her bucket. The vomiting was becoming less frequent, but at four months with child, she still wasn't immune to the vomiting. However she supposed it was mostly nerves that were making her sick. Touching the very prominent bump hidden within the confines of her heavy gown, Mary frowned and swallowed hard.
Cleaning her mouth out with some water, she examined herself in front of the mirror and bit her lip. The skirts may be thick and layered but the bodice still went over the stomach and the curve was beginning to show. It was like her stomach had suddenly popped out in a matter of days. Suddenly paranoid with fear at being discovered, May hastily loosened the gown and raised the stomacher and bodice up higher so the skirts could conceal her sin. She had better dresses to wear of course that did the job of hiding the pregnancy, but it was May day and she was specifically supposed to wear this gown.
A gift from the queen. It was emerald green, made of silk and taffeta with gold patterning and lining. French style that showed an ample amount of cleavage, however she had raised the dress enough to conceal her cleavage and 'bump' without looking ridiculous or strange. Nevertheless the fear dwelling inside her refused to die down. The dresses the seamstresses had made for her were good, but wouldn't conceal such a thing after another month. Mary was sure of it. Her plans to wait another few months would be met short it seemed.
There was no way she could hide this under her gowns for so long. Sighing and running her fingers through her hair, Mary knew she and George would have to arrange another meeting to reveal their crime to the King. It wasn't like George could stick around at court much longer himself. He was to be married to Jane Parker at the end of the month. What they needed was a few days before they came forward and bared the brunt of the King's rage and anger.
Unconsciously, Mary's hand reached over to the golden chain around her neck and she clutched the wedding ring that was attached to it. She didn't know what motivated her to do such a thing, but she felt as if the ring would give her strength. Sighing, she put the chain back into the depths of her bodice and turned away from the mirror. Women like her got their strength from love. There were many like her that had married men without permission because they were pregnant and managed to live a life of peace after they were banished, but that was where their similarities ended.
Those women had love and were loved in return. Mary had neither. Despite George's strange behaviour previous night's ago, she didn't think for a moment that he cared for her and was only hoping to save his own neck. Nor did she love him in return. No, not at all. So what strength did she have to draw upon? She didn't love her child, she didn't love the man who gave her this unwanted sin incarnate so she supposed all she had left was her faith.
Simpering to herself, Mary headed to her outer chambers to meet her two ladies in waiting. A gift from the king. Mistress Jane Seymour was one and a Lady Eleanor Lucas was another. Mary had heard the queen had foisted this sultry eyed woman on to her because of a rumoured affair with the king, but the enemy of her enemy was most likely her ally so who was she to complain?
"I'm ready to go," she said coldly and swished around to head into the great hall. The King and Queen had prepared a grand feast in the gardens, dancing, music, entertainment from jesters and jousting for the May day celebrations, although Mary suspected most of it was in celebration for the queen's recently acknowledged pregnancy. Something that set her teeth on edge. But she had to remind herself that any hopes she had for the throne were lost at this point.
George sat in the stands next to his father with Jane flanking his other side. She clapped and cheered as she watched the lesser nobles joust and gave her opinions and bets on who would win. George only listened absentmindedly though he felt numb inside. His attention constantly flickered over to Mary sitting near the king and the Duchess of Suffolk and for reasons unexplained he couldn't take his eyes off her.
Maybe it was because he married her a few days ago or maybe it was because she was carrying his child, but she was starting to look more and more beautiful each time he saw her. Even his sister the queen had remarked that the Lady Mary seemed to be thriving, putting on lazy happy weight, gaining colour in her cheeks and having an exotic vibe in her blue grey eyes. His sister's perception of Mary was correct in every sense, but the compliments from the queen made his father sneer in disgust.
"I see you are starting to perceive what a threat she is," his father whispered to him once he noticed that he was staring at the Lady. George straightened up making sure Jane was occupied with the Percy and Seymour that were about to joust before he answered. "Yes," he whispered back in relief. It was a good thing his father had mistaken his emotions. "I am trying to convince Anne to have her sent away from court under the pretence that she should study or for her health. I was thinking of having her housed with the Sheltons' where she will be out of the way until I can deal with her, but Anne foolishly believes this poisonous snake is reconciled to her position in life. Women! Bah!"
He offered no reply and merely nodded on the matter, but before he could tear his eyes away from the Lady Mary, he found that she was staring right back at him with a questioning look. He couldn't quite read the mixed feelings in her expression, but he nodded to her respectfully to avoid any suspicions and turned away. Jane was staring at him with pursed lips. "What?" he questioned in annoyance.
She narrowed her eyes and stared past him which suddenly made his heart beat faster until she stared at him again. "Why did you nod at the Lady Mary?" She inquired sharply. George supressed a sigh and shrugged. Lady Mary, Lady Mary, Lady Mary. Did they not have something else to criticize? "She was looking this way and as a lady of high rank I must nod to her Jane," he said in a careless tone. His father was right in some regards. Women!
She didn't seem convinced, but nodded anyway and let the matter drop.
Most of the courtiers had decided to dance half way during the feasts although George noticed that the Lady Mary carefully and very self-consciously sat and observed the spectacle with a fake smile plastered on her face. His widowed sister Lady Carey was kindly sharing a few words with her to which she was cordially replying, but George was overcome with this sudden passionate urge to talk to her. He even wanted to dance with her.
However knowing how odd it would look and what a dangerous position it would put them in, he refrained and sufficed to observe her from afar. The day was long and warm and George himself got carried away drinking and feasting. However when most of the courtiers decided to return to the palace for when the night became cold, Mary walked passed him and quickly mumbled "come to my chambers around midnight. It is important." He watched wordlessly as she walked ahead with her ladies as if she hadn't uttered a word to him
But he was not about to disobey her.
Kissing Jane quickly on the cheek, he split away to follow the king and queen to the main dining hall for dinner striking up a conversation with Mark Smeaton and his music before attending to the king. All throughout the night his thoughts circulated around Mary and it took a great deal of self-control not to gaze at her. Mary took her leave when she had feasted enough and went to her chamber. It was a few more hours before George would be allowed to go there and even so he would have to do it inconspicuously.
Seeing that his presence was no longer required, he left the dining hall unaware that his fiancé's curious and calculating eyes followed him all the way out. He spent the greater portion of the night sitting on his bed contemplating the whole situation with him and his new wife before wondering what Mary wanted to speak to him about. Was it the baby? Had something happened? The thoughts spiralled around perpetually until he decided that he couldn't wait any longer. It was almost time to see her anyway.
Grabbing his cloak, George left his chamber and proceeded to make his was to Lady Mary's rooms hoping no one would recognize him or question as to why he was there. He knocked on her chamber doors to see Mistress Seymour open it with a quizzical look. She was dressed in her night shift with a hastily tossed on robe to cover herself. "Sir George Boleyn," she said in surprise or rather irritation. He took an instant dislike to her. "Mistress Seymour I apologize for the inconvenience but the Lady Mary requested by presence for an important matter."
She eyed him suspiciously renewing all feelings of dislike for her again. "At this hour?" She said in disbelief. He nodded, inwardly chastising himself for not using the servant's passages. He was under the notion that Mary herself would have answered the door. "Just a minute," Jane Seymour said, shutting the door to announce his arrival to her mistress. She came back a few moments later and let him in. "You are in luck. Lady Mary was just reading and said you had something to discuss with her about the queen," she said quietly paving way for him to enter. He wasn't even inclined to dignify her remark with a response and made his way into Mary's privy chamber.
Surprisingly she was still dressed in her gown and was lamenting over one of Thomas More's works. Utopia to be more precise and he briefly wondered if that book itself was decreed or considered heresy. "Ahh Sir George," Mary said with perfect indifference. "You have come to help me choose a gift for the queen. Forgive the late hour Jane, but Sir George was occupied and could not come at a more appropriate time. You may leave us and go to your bed." Offering no protest, Jane did a slight curtsey and left the two of them in privacy.
Mary beckoned him to take a seat and asked him if he wanted some wine. He refused and cleared his throat. "What is it Mary?" he questioned with the heat of concern in his voice. She hesitated a moment and licked her lips. "I'm starting to show," she said. He raised a brow at her. Was that all? She glared at him for his masculine idiocy and elaborated further. "I am starting to show a lot George. My belly is becoming quite prominent. After all I am four months with child and give or take a few weeks I do not think any of the gowns I have at my disposal will cover it up. They are too tight to wear already and even my walk is starting to turn into a waddle. People are going to notice so I think we need to discuss what we should do."
He gazed at her for several moments as he digested her words. He wanted to see her belly but the rest of her body was hidden beneath the table. She already looked plumper for some weeks now, but he supposed to everyone else, it was the return of her health. He bit his lip and began to think of what to do. "How do you wish to proceed?" He said, weakly hoping her ideas would be better than his own. Her expression was grim, but she proposed her plan to him as calmly and coherently as she could.
"I plan to tell the king soon, this can't wait," she said and he nodded. She frowned and let out a deep sigh. "Within the week George," she said in annoyance. Why were his perception skills so slow tonight? He froze for a minute and his eyes went wide. "Y-you want to tell him this week?" he said with a gulp. She nodded and glared at him severely though he offered no complaint. Instead he slumped his shoulders like a man defeated and it almost made Mary sympathize with him. Almost.
"What choice do I have?" She argued hoping he would be man enough not to abandon her because she had every intention of accusing him of rape if he did. He stayed silent and merely nodded. What else could he do? She was right. Their choices were very limited. "I'll be the one to have to do it you know," she said quietly earning her a peculiar stare. "My rank as the King's daughter means I will be the one to tell him the news. It has to be me so that they can't accuse you of blackmail or seduction."
George shifted uncomfortably at her words. The latter he was clearly guilty of but neither of them had any desire to reveal it. "Just know that I'll be by your side Mary. I won't forsake you or abandon you no matter what they do to me." She looked at him in contempt as if she didn't believe his words and it caused a painful ache in his heart. "They might send you to the tower," she whispered. "Before they release you for either banishment or exile." Or execution she failed to add. He gave her another sad smile, but she did not return it. "Our options are either to tell the King himself, or have a mediator inform him. The only options are Cromwell or the queen." Or even Brandon? She thought. George scratched his head when he considered this and decided Cromwell was an option he definitely did not want to consider. "The queen would intercede on our behalf," he agreed, but he continued "however she is with child and it might be too great a stress to reveal such a thing."
"She will find out anyway," Mary deadpanned becoming impatient with his foolishness. George glared at her sharply, but telling Anne was not an option either. Finding out after they were both gone would be better as otherwise the king would think she had something to do with it. God knows, despite being with child, the King was showing signs of boredom with her and until she gave him a son, her position would never be secure.
"Yes but there is only so much we can do. Our only option is to tell the king himself I believe." She frowned and gave him a long hard look before relenting. "Very well. The court is proceeding to Hampton next week. When shall I tell him?" He thrummed his fingers on the oak table as he considered. What was the point in waiting?
"As soon as possible," he demanded more than suggested. Mary raised her brows. "As soon as possible?" She echoed almost in terror, but quickly composed herself. Silence ensured over the room. "Very well," she conceded knowing that there was no other option before them. "I will tell him tomorrow morning," she resolved as if that would be enough to muster up her strength.
George reached over and brushed her hand with his fingertips. When she didn't recoil he clasped his hand around hers reassuringly although he was as scared as she was. "I will take care of you," he whispered. And for the first time in weeks, her mouth twitched up into a bland smile that really did reflect her feelings. It was nice and for a split moment, George felt that he was finally getting through to her.
As soon as sunlight shone through the windows of her room, Mary stepped out of bed keeping her robe wrapped around herself to hide her curves and hastily got into one of her best gowns. She did not let her ladies help her into her dress, only fasten the clothing and nothing more. It was just too risky. Just on cue, Lady Eleanor entered the room followed by Mistress Seymour and a simple maid. Mary smiled at them and ordered Lady Eleanor to place her hair in a pearl net while Mistress Seymour laced up her gown and her maid doused her hands in rose water and scrubbed her face.
Mary had chosen a gown of sapphire blue for the day with pearls as the jewels to go with it. Her golden chain with her wedding ring was still concealed in her bodice and it brought her some security being close to her heart. She wanted to see the king before breakfast and inform him of the news. She was ready for his rebuke and whatever consequences came with it. It was nothing more than the beginning of the end.
Stating to her surprised ladies that she was going to visit the king, they followed her without question through the halls to his chambers. Everyone bowed to her, acknowledging her importance at court until she stood in front of the groom of the king's chamber. "I am here to see the king," Mary said coldly leaving no room for protest. She had mustered up all this courage and she was not going to back down now.
The groom hesitated but announced her arrival into his chambers. The king was sitting at his desk, thankfully alone mulling over some new religious decrees. "Mary," he said in surprise as the groom announced her arrival. She swallowed hard as the king stared at her expectantly. Breathe she told herself. "I request a private audience with Your Grace," she replied,her voice quavering a little. She was sure her legs were shaking because the king appeared to notice.
"A private audience," he resonated in concern and gave a look for the groom and her ladies to be dismissed. "What is it Mary?" He said while pouring some wine to which she was not going to drink. She hesitated a moment and took a deep breath.
God don't fail me now she said to herself.
"Father," she said in a voice stronger than she felt. She was not going to leave room for him to question her.
"I have married a man…and I am with child."