22nd March 1554
The door opened and Edward, Anne Stafford, Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth, Laetitia, and even Baby Jane looked towards the door
"Ah, Mary..." Edward stood up from his chair "...at last" he extended his hand to her and she shook it, he pulled her into a hug
"Mary... my sister" Edward tested the phrase out, 2 weeks ago Mary had signed the act making her illegitimate. For this, Edward was allowing her to return to court
"Your Majesty" Mary replied, giving a curtsey, she then noticed Anne Boleyn
"Still around?" she sneered at Anne
Anne Boleyn crossed her arms, before giving Mary a stern glare "Yes, I am"
"Unfortunate" Mary replied, before turning to Edward "Shall we?" she asked gesturing to the door at the back of the room
Edward nodded and he and Mary entered the room, presumably to discuss things
"I do not like her... what have you ever done to her Aunt?" Anne Stafford asked Anne Boleyn
"Years ago, I married her father, made her illegitimate, had Elizabeth and treated Mary very badly, she never took me becomign queen well at all"
"Hmm, she always did hold a grudge" Elizabeth commented
"She didn't seem to bad when she came to visit" Laetitia commented airily as she placed Jane on to the chair nearby
"Papa sad?" Jane asked
"Not at all, Jane, on the contrary he's very ha-" the rest of Elizabeth Sentence was cut off by a loud yell of "Out!" followed by the sound of something smashing as it hit the wall
the door flew open and Mary stumbled backwards out of it
"Get out!" Edward looked flustered, he was red in the face, his crown lopsided on his head
"Edward, I-"
"Now!" Edward ordered, pointing towards the door
"Edward-" Mary tired to protest
"Laetitia?"
Determined not to show her fear, Laetitia stood up straight, before curtseying and walking up to Edward "Yes your Majesty?"
"My sister" Edward spat the word like poison "is to be escorted back to her home, and placed under house arrest again. Could that be done?" Laetitia nodded "Thank you, Laetitia"
"Edward?" Elizabeth interrupted, he glanced to her, all anger disappearing from him
"Hmm?"
"What did Mary do?"
The door closed behind Mary and Edward slumped into his seat at his desk, rubbing his forehead
"What did she do?" Elizabeth asked again
"She abused my daughter and deceased wife" Edward replied, looking upwards towards Elizabeth
"Why would she do that?" Anne Stafford asked
"The same reason she did it to Elizabeth's mother, she sees Me, Elizabeth and Jane as blockages to the throne, I have no doubt that she'll try again..." Edward trailed off as Laetitia helped Jane off of the chair, and onto the floor, Jane got to her feet
"Papa!" she cried, finally noticing he had returned as Anne Boleyn had taken to distractig her while Edward was shouting
Edward held out his arms, Jane gave a wobbling step before taking another, and then another, and another, she then broke into a run, running towards her father, who scooped her up into a hug
"My papa" Jane spoke
"My Jane" Edward replied, resting his head against hers, she was beginning to look like her mother now, and she was beginning to get her mother's attitude
"She's really growing up isn't she" Elizabeth commented to her mother
"Yes, she'll be a good queen" Anne Boleyn replied
"Yes, yes, she will" Edward replied, Jane giggling as he bounced her on his leg
Elizabeth gave a smile and looked out of the window "I'd best retire, it's getting late..." Edward merely smiled, nodding his head briefly
"Anne, Mother, Edward, Jane, Laetitia" she nodded to each of them in turn before leaving
"I'd best be off to your Majesty" Anne Boleyn told him, she curtseyed and left the room closely followed by Anne Stafford
"Shall I take The Princess back for you our Majesty?" Laetitia asked
"Would you mind?" Edward asked
"Not at all your Majesty" Laetitia replied, smiling as she left
"That's what I need as Queen, someone like Laetitia..." Edward trailed off as he too, retired to his bed chamber, thinking to himself
[TBC]
