Anne and Henry sat in her chambers and they couldn't help keeping their eyes off each other.
"I missed you so much my love." Henry said as pulled Anne on to his lap.
"I missed you too." Anne responded before she gently kissed him.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted to enjoy it a little bit first. You know how things will be once court found out."
"You know that I will protect you from them."
"But Henry, you can't protect me from their malicious gazes and ugly words."
"I wish that I could. But you will come to court now? I can't spend another day without my love."
"I will. Now tell me what the news is?"
"Well Mary and Katherine are refusing to sign the Oath, so I had to punish them."
"What did you do?"
"I sent Mary to Hatfield as one of Alice's maids."
"How could you?" Anne jumped from Henry's lap.
"Calm down my love .I is her father and she disobeyed me."
"You send her to wait upon Alice. She is the daughter and granddaughter to great kings and queens. She is your daughter for God's sake. How do you think she is feeling now?" Anne yelled angrily.
"All she need is to sign Oath." Henry said in calm voice but his face was red and in his eyes Anne could see that he is furious.
"And declare herself as a bastard?"
"She is just a bastard Anne." Henry yelled back.
"So you won't love our child, just because it is bastard?" When she said this Anne started to sob. Henry quickly hugged her.
"My love, you know that I didn't mean it like that." He kissed her temple "Of course that I will love our child. "
"But it will be bastard."
"That doesn't matter .I will love it. I promise you Anne. How can I not love something that is part of you? Believe my dear I already love our child." He said and put hand on her rounded belly.
"Then I want to ask favor from you?" Anne said in quiet voice
"Ask my love."
"Can you allow Mary to come to live here in Pembroke hall? Maybe she will adjust to new situation better."
"But Anne she needs to be punished for disobeying me."
"And she will be. This is her punishment. Please Henry. People will like it. They will see how kind you are; treating your daughter kindly even if she displeased you."
"But you will be responsible for her behavior."
"Oh, thank you my love." Anne said and kissed him with passion.
/
Mary was holding her little sister Alice. She knew that she should hate this child, after all this child took everything from her. But Mary couldn't hate Alice; after all it wasn't child's fault that her mother was harlot. But sometimes Mary found it hard to look upon her sister; she looked great deal like that pale cow. How Mary wished that Alice was her full sister. She always wanted little sibling, but never she imagined it to be like this. How could she, true Princess, to wait upon little bastard?
"Lady Mary." She heard that someone was calling her. Mary sighs because person who was calling her used the wrong title. She gently put Alice back in her cradle.
"Yes?"
"You have a letter my Lady." One of maids appeared carrying a letter. Mary took it and left to her chambers. There she opened it. It was from Anne.
'My dearest Princess,
I heard about your punishment. I can't express how sorry I am that I didn't help you earlier, but I wasn't at Court.
I know that this isn't much but I managed to get you from Lady Alice's service. His Majesty allowed you to come to live in Pembroke Hall. You will continue your education there. I hope that you will become good friend with my ward and cousin, little Catherine Howard, girl of seven years.
I am very disappointed to say that I can't welcome you to my humble home, but His Majesty is insisting that I must return to Court. I almost forgot I found you a companion. Lady Catherine Parr will be at your service. She is young widow of eighteen years. I hope that you will get well along.
There is also one news that I don't know how well will you take. You are to become big sister again because I'm with child. I hope that with time you will learn to love your new sibling.
Your loyal friend Anne Marques of Pembroke
Mary felt tears gathering at corners of her eyes. She doesn't need to serve her sister anymore. Anne kept her promise. True it wasn't much, but Mary knew that this was best that she could get now.
And the other news, well if she could love Alice who took everything from her why couldn't she love her unborn sibling? She knew that she will love it. Mary decided to pray for Anne's and baby's health. And if Anne bore a boy surely that his father will see that his so called marriage with Jane isn't blessed by God.
/
Carriage finally stopped in the front of Hampton Court. Henry helped Anne out of carriage.
"Are you ready my love?" Henry asked as he took Anne's hand in his.
"As ready as I can be. So let the show begin."
"I am by your side my love." Henry said and gently kissed Anne's hand.
As they walked through the halls of Hampton Anne could feel people's eyes on her and especially on her rounded belly. When they passed the Seymour brothers Anne wanted to run. In their eyes she could see pure hatred mixed with fear. Henry purposely stopped in front of them. They bowed to him.
"My Lords, I believe that you know Marquis." Henry said.
"Yes, of course that we know of her. Everybody at Court knows her." Edward Seymour said.
"Good. Marquis is very dear to me so I'm counting on you to stop ugly rumors about us."
"We will try our best." Thomas said
"I hope so, for your sake." As Henry said that he turned from them and led Anne to her chambers.
"So that was interesting." Anne said once that they sat down.
"Very interesting. "
"I am little worried."
"Don't worry my love. Everything will be fine." Henry said and pulled her in his lap.
"Now kiss me my love." She whispered in his ear.
"Your wish is my command. " He responded and gently put his lips over hers. At first the kiss was soft and gentle, but before they knew they were kissing hard and passionate .Anne moaned as he cupped her breasts.
"We can't." Anne whispered
"I will be gentle, I promise." Henry said and carried her to the bed.