Chapter XIII

January, 1523

Wiltshire stalked in front of his fireplace as he fumed silently. He glowered as Anne entered his chambers in good spirits.

"What are you so pleased about?" he growled. "Are you delighted that your brother is now on his way to the Tower?"

Anne's mouth dropped open. "What?"

"Hmmph. Of course you are unaware of it. That butcher's son sent me a letter, telling me that George has been arrested. I must secure his release." He eyed Anne critically. "You are not young, yet you are not old. You are not as pretty as Mary, but you are not hideous either…"

"No," Anne said at once. "I will not seduce the King."

"Pah. Did I command you to enchant the King? Only a fool would try. We all know our beloved king is a man of honour who will never cheat on his wife. No, we have Mary as the Duke of York's mistress. The Duke of Somerset on the other hand…he is unmarried and had not taken a mistress of yet. Go and allure him. You are not exactly a beauty, but you will do. Once you have the Duke of Somerset in your thrall, convince him to persuade the King to release George and end Wolsey's career. That butcher's son has no right to be part of the Privy Council. It is even worse that the King listens to him more than he does to any of us nobles. It is time Wolsey is gone."

"I cannot do this."

"Yes you can! All men fall for womanly charms. If you claim to be a shrinking maiden, ask your sister for advice when it comes to the art of pleasuring men. I want George freed by tomorrow!"

"It will take time-"

"Time is not on our side! What if Wolsey convinces the King to execute him?!"

"I doubt that will happen, lord father. The King is a man of peace; beheading George will serve no purpose to him. However, George is my brother and I will speak to the Duke of Somerset. I will not resort to surrendering my virtue."

"You will if you have to."

Anne almost rolled her eyes at her father's stubbornness. "As you wish, lord father," she lied. She curtsied almost mockingly before she walked out of her father's rooms. She had not seen Edmund since the feast celebrating the arrival of Charlotte de Valois and the Duke of Orléans which was odd, as for some time, he would often seek her out for a lively discussion.

She made her way to Edmund's chambers and was surprised to see it guarded by two men.

"I wish to see the Duke of Somerset," Anne said steadily.

"His Highness does not wish to be disturbed," answered a guard stonily.

"Not even to see me?"

"Especially you, my lady. His Highness has no desire to see you. It will be in your best interest to leave. I am willing to carry messages to His Highness if you wish."

"You will?"

"On my honour, my lady."

Anne thought for a moment. What could she possibly say to convince Edmund to summon her? It must not sound treasonous, but it must be intriguing…

"Our dance is not over," she said promptly. "Tell His Highness that please."

"Our dance is not over," the guard repeated. "Very well, my lady."

Anne nodded and went to the gardens, wishing she was at Windsor Castle. Here at Hampton Court, all the gardens were tended by the most devoted of gardeners. When Hampton Court still belonged to Wolsey, he had refined the gardens into the beautiful Italian style, reflecting his fine taste of artistic culture. She personally had never hated the Cardinal as fervently as her father, but she never viewed him as a friend or ally. Wolsey had the gardens cared for meticulously and it remained so – or even more – now that it was a possession of the King.

At Windsor Castle, the gardens are looked after, yes, and beautifully created in purely English style, but over the years, the gardeners had grown lax and left one garden – a small one hidden away by wild vines and gnarled trees – untamed. Upon chance, Anne and Edmund had discovered it one day during their many walks in Windsor Castle and immediately thought of it as their secret spot. Here in Hampton Court, they have decided the most unvisited garden to be their special place.

Reaching it, Anne sat under the oak tree and stared into the horizon. The wind danced with her black hair as her thoughts swirled lazily in her mind.

By the afternoon, Edmund had not appeared.

Heaving a sigh, Anne stood up and began the walk back to the Queen's chambers, hoping she would not be reprimanded for neglecting her duties. A couple of giggling maids had often slipped away during Mass or in the late afternoons when the Queen would ask a lady-in-waiting (usually Lady Willoughby) to read holy text, but Queen Catherine had never scolded them as of yet.

As she leisurely entered the castle, she almost crashed into a sprinting Lady Norris.

Anne stared at her; Lady Norris never ran.

"Lady Anne!" Lady Norris gasped, catching her breath. "Where have you been?! Her Grace had been summoning you repeatedly all morning!"

"Her Grace…Lady Suffolk?"

"Yes! She wishes to see you in her rooms at once!"

"Do you know why, Lady Norris?"

"No! She only says it is of the utmost importance! The Queen is not her usual self either; if you happen to see her on your way, it will be best if you avoid her. Something has happened, Lady Anne, something great. The King has been in his chambers all day; the Queen is in a foul mood; the Duchess of Suffolk is in a frantic and furious state; the Dukes of York and Somerset have been bickering more than usual; oh Anne! There's been no sight of the Princess Katherine!"

Anne continued staring at her as she absorbed the news. "The Princess is missing?"

"No! Cardinal Wolsey assures us she is well, but we have not seen her all day! You are close to the Princess, are you not?" Lady Norris looked at her intently.

"I'm sorry…I do not know what is happening at all."

"Oh." She sounded disappointed. "In any case, the Duchess of Suffolk wishes to see you at once."

Anne nodded and sped to Duchess Mary's chambers, her heart pounding fast.

"Your Grace," she said with a quick curtsey once the doors shut behind her. "Lady Norris tells me you wish to see me?"

"Yes," answered the Duchess, breathing heavily as she reached for a goblet of wine. "It is unlike you to ignore my summons all morning."

"A hundred pardons, Your Grace. I have not been…myself."

"Yes, your brother has been arrested."

"I am aware of that, Your Grace. May I ask on what grounds?"

The Duchess snorted. "Trumped up charges invented by that butcher's son! Originally he arrested Lord Rochford for marrying a royal princess without the King's consent or knowledge – true enough – but then he began informing the King that Rochford is plotting treason!"

"What?! My brother will never-"

"He would've gotten away with a heavy fine and a pardon for marrying Katherine, but that Wolsey just had to poison the King's indecisive, feeble mind!"

"Your Grace!"

"It is the truth! For your own good, you must convince the rest of the court that you played no part in Katherine's wedding to Rochford. Presently, the court is unaware of their marriage, but it wouldn't be long before they hear of it. I have told the King that I was the sole witness to their wedding and I intend to keep it that way. Now I must ask you this: did you tell anyone about your brother's secret wedding ceremony with Katherine?" She looked at Anne seriously.

"No!" Ann exclaimed hotly. "Your Grace! I have not mentioned it to anyone!"

"As I thought. I did not wish to ask that mind you. It could not be my priest. I paid him more than he deserved to keep quiet about it."

"Could someone have followed us?"

"We were quite discreet about it…" She thought for a moment. "However, it is possible. Why inform the Cardinal though? If one desires reward, why not tell the King and Queen? And why did the Cardinal wait until the morning to arrest Rochford? If he was told whilst my priest was conducting the ceremony, doubt over the consummation would not be needed. Why would the Cardinal think Rochford seduced Katherine? He is not like my husband."

"George does not seduce women for fun," Anne agreed.

"Arthur will be as indecisive as ever. Catherine will urge for divorce – one thing Wolsey will agree on – while Henry and I will ask Arthur to be merciful and acknowledge the match for the sake of love. Edmund…I don't know what he will do."

"Why wouldn't he support Katherine?"

"Edmund…I fear he can be more like our father than anyone thinks. Henry has most definitely inherited traits from King Edward IV; Arthur is more of both our father and Edward IV. He is ever so merciful, yet serious. As for Edmund, I do not know. He is clearly not interested in sleeping with women like my husband and Henry, yet he is not a miser."

"Would he support Katherine?"

Duchess Mary shrugged. "I guess we will wait and see. I pray the Staffords never hear of this or there will be a rebellion on our doorstep."

"Your Grace…they will find out about it eventually."

"I hope after Buckingham's heir marries."

"Will George be executed?"

Duchess Mary considered it. "Buckingham will insist upon it – if he hears of it that is – but there will be some of us who will beg for clemency. Wolsey must dislike you Boleyns more than Charles, otherwise he wouldn't have arrested Rochford."

"Perhaps Wolsey thought it would be better to aid you and Lord Suffolk due to Lord Suffolk being a good friend of His Highness of York?"

"Possibly. Then again, Wolsey never liked your father."

"My father loathes Wolsey too."

Duchess Mary laughed. "Not many courtiers admire Wolsey. I admit, apart from his low birth and arrogance, he is a man of good taste. The gardens here are proof of his artistic mind, as is the architecture of the castle. If only he could redesign the Tower of London! It would then be a much cosier place to dwell in. Apart from that, Wolsey is loyal to the King…too loyal."

"What will happen if Katherine's marriage to George is annulled?"

"You have always been quite intelligent. You tell me."

Anne thought for a minute before saying slowly, "Princess Katherine will be married off to a prince quickly and George too…unless he is executed. The Queen will insist on Katherine wedding one of her relatives and tired of argument, the King will agree. After that, Katherine will be shipped off to either Spain, Portugal or Austria and her marriage with George will be forgotten. Hopefully."

"Very good Anne. Though of course, that is what everyone will think of. Either Catherine will insist upon it or send Katherine into a nunnery. The Queen is a pious woman and may think a royal princess taking the veil will bring God closer to England."

"The common folk will approve."

"Yes, but they also love wedding festivities."

"Please Your Grace…George is my only brother. I cannot bear it if he is executed."

"Katherine is my sister too. For now, there is not much you can do. You are a Boleyn and the Queen and the Cardinal finally found common ground; hatred towards your family. Remember, you are not supposed to be aware of this. I will try my best to convince the King to recognise Rochford and Katherine's marriage, I promise. However, if the results are not in our favour, there is nothing we can do."

Anne nodded. "I understand."

"I kept you here long enough," Duchess Mary decided. "You better run along to Catherine's chambers and be prepared for a scolding. Her mood had not improved after her noon prayers."

As the Duchess warned, Catherine greeted Anne with a cold, stoic glare as Anne entered her rooms and mumbled an apology for her unexplained absence. After she settled down with her embroidery, she noticed something amiss. Her Shelton and Howard cousins were nowhere in sight and her sister Mary also seemed to be missing.

Anne edged towards the mousy Jane Seymour and asked, "What has happened?"

Jane blinked. "The Queen has decided to rearrange her household." Her watery blue eyes widened as she remembered something. "You are to pack and leave by tomorrow morning."

"What?"

"Lady Anne!" Catherine called as she beckoned her to her side.

"Your Majesty," said Anne cautiously, immediately noticing Lady Willoughby's smug smile.

"You have served me well for almost a year," the Queen said almost pleasantly, her blue eyes colder than ever. "Her Grace of Suffolk had spoken the truth about you and I must admit, you are one of my most trustworthy and hardworking ladies. However, the time has come for me to bid you farewell. It will be in your best interest to return to Hever until Easter when I may summon you to return."

"I am not with child nor incapacitated, Your Majesty. I am still able to serve."

The Queen laughed harshly. "You have a wedding to prepare for, do you not?"

"A…a wedding, Your Majesty?"

"Why so surprised, Lady Anne? You are most certainly of age to be wed."

"Will it be Sir James Butler, Your Majesty?"

The Queen laughed again. "Oh no, Lady Anne! Sir James Butler is now betrothed to Lady Joan Fitzgerald – with the full consent of James Butler's father."

"Pray inform me, Your Majesty. Who am I to wed?" She desperately attempted to keep calm; the Queen clearly bore no love for her anymore and if she had a hand in selecting a husband for her, Anne would not be surprised if he came from a family that loathed her own family.

The Queen's cold smile only widened. "And ruin the surprise, Lady Anne? Oh no. You will be courted and married within a few months I hope. Your suitor (or suitors) will ride to Hever and court you. Isn't that what every highborn lady wants?"

"Oh yes, Your Majesty," chirped a Grey lady. "Lady Anne is so fortunate she will be courted by her suitors in such a chivalrous manner!"

"Is my lord father aware of it?" said Anne, ignoring her.

"He will be," said Lady Willoughby smoothly. "I hope you have a pleasant journey to Hever, Lady Anne. I heard it is a place of serenity and tranquillity. Perfect for you to dedicate yourself to prayers."

"Indeed, Lady Willoughby," said Anne sarcastically. "Indeed."

She resisted from snapping further at the smug Spanish lady and stalked out. As she went into her own apartments and stared out the window, she felt her future drift away from her. How would she find a good husband all the way from Hever? Oh wait, the Queen had already selected one for her. How would she be remembered by generations to come when she is banished from court?

"Unlike you to give in so easily, Lady Anne."

The Queen's skirts rustled as she slowed herself at the door. She eyed Anne with interest. "I see you have not packed yet."

"Please Your Majesty, I would like some time alone," muttered Anne.

"You already did Lady Anne. This morning."

"Is this some sort of punishment for me just because I bear the name Boleyn?"

"Do you think it is punishment?"

"Well, Your Majesty, George is in the Tower on the grounds of trumped up charges, everyone thinks my sister is a harlot, my cousins have disappeared from your service, and you openly dismissed me and banished me to Hever. Yes, my queen, I think it is punishment."

"How…interesting." The Queen glanced at Anne's pristinely clean vanity table and then her bookshelf filled with thick volumes. "I heard fascinating news from the Duke of Somerset this morning."

Anne's heart skipped a beat. "How does that affect me, Your Majesty?"

"He confessed he was quite fond of you."

"No…you must be mistaken, Your Majesty. The Duke of Somerset and I-"

"I find it amusing two Boleyns managed to ensnare the hearts of a Tudor prince and princess. Don't you find it amusing, Lady Anne? No? Edmund admitted he was hurt when he overheard Lord Henry Percy proclaim his love for you and desire to take you as his wife. He further confessed to following you last night and unintentionally became a witness to Katherine and Lord Rochford's secret wedding ceremony. Out of spite, he informed Wolsey. However, when the Duchess of Suffolk declared herself the sole witness and the Duke of York vowed to support Katherine through this matter, Edmund professed his confession to me and could not bear speaking to you about it."

"What?"

"You broke Edmund's heart, Lady Anne."

"I did not expect Lord Henry Percy to declare his intentions towards me so openly nor so soon, Your Majesty. I did not even know the Duke of Somerset loves me."

"You are indeed a strange woman, Lady Anne. Other women would've noticed love in seconds. You apparently are still not aware of it."

"You plan to send me to Hever as punishment for breaking Lord Somerset's heart?"

"No…I want you to mend my brother-in-law's heart."

Anne stared at her, shocked. "Your Majesty?"

"One matter you must know: I will never agree with Cardinal Wolsey. He supports a French alliance, and I will always urge England to side with Spain. I must admit, I was astonished when I heard of Katherine's marriage to Lord Rochford, but after His Eminence urged for his execution, I decided I'd rather have Rochford alive and with his head in place."

"You will help my brother to provoke His Eminence even further?"

A hint of a smile appeared on the Queen's face. "You could think it that way. I believe Her Grace of Suffolk insists that I am finally in agreement with Wolsey?"

Anne nodded dumbly.

"That is no surprise," the Queen remarked. "Of course Mary will skip to that thought. During a private meal with my family, I had openly announced my disgust for your family and your dismissal to Hever. Lady Carey would've joined you, but the Duke of York insisted for her to remain in court. Again, not a surprise as she is his mistress. Her Grace called me heartless, but I dismissed it; I told her she was overly fond of you and blinded by your family's icy ambition. Edmund was silent, but I wager he will ride straight to Hever in a few days' time and beg for your forgiveness. I hope by Easter, the two of you will ask for the King's consent to wed." Her smile grew warmer as she continued, "I trust you will follow the law and marry with our blessing, unlike your brother? His Eminence will be horrified; a Boleyn girl playing mistress to the Duke of York, the Boleyn heir married to a Tudor princess and the other Boleyn girl wedded to the King's youngest brother, the Duke of Somerset."

"Your Majesty…" Anne said carefully. "Am I part of your plan to humiliate the Cardinal?"

The Queen only laughed. "You better start packing, Lady Anne. I will not see you at supper. It will be best for you to have it in your room."

As she turned to leave, Anne called, "Why, Your Majesty? Why me?"

The Queen paused. "Convenience, Lady Anne? I always expected a nobleman to come along and sweep Katherine off her feet one day. Wolsey urges for her to be married off politically, the King wants her to stay in England but he also desires her to be a queen or duchess. Of course I would've preferred Katherine married to one of royal blood, but I have always thought of her as a younger sister or even a daughter. After her mother Elizabeth died, Lady Margaret Beaufort took her into her care. I deplored it. The first thing I did when I was crowned queen was removing Katherine from Lady Margaret's custody. She was only a girl of seven, but she seemed happier with me than with her formidable grandmother. Did you know there were rumours back then that Lady Margaret will persuade the King – whether it was King Henry VII or my husband, I don't know – to send Katherine to a nunnery?"

"I was a child at that time, Your Majesty."

The Queen ignored her. "I wanted Katherine to have a happy childhood and she did. Then came the marriage proposals…none of us could agree on a suitable husband for Katherine. Henry was easy; he is the King's brother and handsome. Finding a princess for him was simple. Margaret was already married to the King of Scots, and the King needed a new ally, which secured Elizabeth's marriage to the Duke of Cleves. Mary had always been difficult. She should've been honoured at the prospect of being Queen of France, but clearly she thought it was punishment. If her husband had lived longer, she would've had a son and would be the Queen Mother of France presently, or even the regent. King Francis would've had to remain Duke of Brittany by the right of his wife."

"Your Majesty…are you angry at Katherine wedding my brother or not?"

"Blunt, aren't you?" the Queen gave her a mysterious look and with a swish of her skirts, she exited, leaving Anne without a clear answer.

With a sigh, Anne began packing her clothes and books into a chest, wondering if she would ever return to court again. God, her father would be furious.

George in the Tower, herself exiled to Hever…

If Mary was not the Duke of York's mistress, she would be banished from court too.

Anne took a deep breath and began sorting her jewellery into a smaller box. She stopped as she glanced at a simple ring wrought of a silver band and tiny rubies. "I will be back," she told herself as her heart swelled with determination. Her mind began whirling and her eyes grew brighter. "I will be back," she repeated more confidently.

Oh yes, she will return; not as her father's pawn, the Queen's pawn or anyone's pawn. She will leave court a defeated checker, but will return – as a player.

Next chapter there will be a small time jump (probably a few months) :)