Edited 06/02/2018
Henry was in one of the worst moods that he had ever been in. Anne was not talking to him and was only smiling because of the children that she was spending most of her time with. It had been two weeks from the date that her father had died in her rooms. At nights Henry comforted Anne though her nightmares so he was not getting the amount of sleep that he needed in this job. Anne was not seen in public but was keeping a few friends and sister around her at all times in her chambers. Well-wishers had come and gone. Henry was a seat at his desk working at his countries business.
"Mr Cromwell, what news have you on the great matter?" Henry asked.
"Well your majesty I have some new news on the matter," Cromwell walked closer to his King.
"Well, what is it?"
"I have on excellent grounds that the person behind the plot against your wife her majesty was one Mr Breton and Mistress Seymour," Cromwell said.
"I want the Seymour family arrested and sent to the tower," Henry said pushing the final piece of paper away from him. "I also want the arrests of those two commoners."
"Of course your majesty," Cromwell bowed his head towards his King.
"Cromwell make sure that they talk," Henry walked to the door which was opened Cromwell followed him.
"I will, of course, your majesty," Cromwell was a man who could get them to talk.
"Cromwell, do you know where my wife is?" Henry suddenly asked his servant. Turning around to face him as he said this.
"Your majesty I believe that her majesty is in the gardens with their highness," said Cromwell.
"I will see you later Cromwell make sure that they talk," Henry said this he walked away looking over his shoulder. He stepped out of the palace into the gardens. He heard his youngest daughter before he saw them. He was cheering up at this he was happy that Elizabeth was trying to make her mother happy. He was also sad that he had nearly taken that away from them.
"Mama, play with me," said Elizabeth jumping up and down holding Anne's hand.
"Of course sweetheart what do you want to play?" Anne asked smiling down at her little daughter.
"I that I want to play by the lakes," said Elizabeth pulling her mother down to where she wanted to go.
"Elizabeth, slow down. Nan thank you for looking after the Princes you are a true friend," Anne kissed her friend on the cheek before letting herself be pulled along by her daughter.
"Come on Mama we're nearly there," Elizabeth giggled as they got to the lake.
"Sweetheart we are here come and sit down with me," Anne sat down on the grass at the water's edge taking off her satin silk shoes. Elizabeth seat down next to her mother hugging her. "Elizabeth, are you ok?"
"Yes mama I am fine," Elizabeth said in a small voice.
"Elizabeth sweetheart," Anne kisses Elizabeth's golden red hair running her hands through the ringlets. "Elizabeth I know you. What is it?"
"Why do you go away?" Elizabeth was a very blight for a three-year-old. "I know that you had to go because of my new brothers but why did Father send you could have had them here with me."
"Elizabeth I had to go away some people said some very hurtful things about me. They said that I did some horrible things."
"But mama you would never do that," Elizabeth said hugging her mother.
"I know I would never do anything like that," Anne said hugging her close to her.
"But why was Papa so angry," Elizabeth said.
"He believed them," Anne said heartbreaking has she said this.
"But you're his wife, and he believed them?" Elizabeth asked. Anne wanted to laugh at this it had been a question that she had asked herself for the time that she was in the tower all seven months of it.
"I know, but he now believes me," Anne said kissing her daughter's forehead hugging her close.
"Mama I missed you so much," Elizabeth cried quietly. Henry heard this from where he was hiding, and he felt his heartbreak at the sound. Anne was an excellent mother he had seen this before but mostly here. This was another thing that the hated and lies had nearly stopped this.
"I missed you too my little princess," Anne was crying too now hugging her daughter close to her. "But I am here right now. What happened in the past is the past Elizabeth you must remember that."
"OK mama I will," Elizabeth hugged her mother around her neck. "Mama, what is a bastard?" Elizabeth asked.
"Where did you hear that word?" Anne asked.
"Lady Jane said it to one of your ladies her cousin before you returned," Elizabeth said. "I do not like her mama. She was mean to me. But she was always with father whenever I asked about you."
"A bastard is a very nasty way of saying that a person as parents that are not married," Anne said.
"But you and father are married," Elizabeth said in a small voice.
"I know your father, and I are married, and you are our daughter," Anne said with a small smile. "That woman had no right to call you that word, and I will not have you using that word do I make myself clear?"
"Of course mama I promise," Elizabeth kissing her mother on the cheek.
"My little princess," said Henry stepping around from his hiding place. "That woman will never say anything against you or your mother or your brothers."
"Thank you, papa," running up to her father and hugging him as he picked her up.
"Sweetheart, don't you have some lessons today?" Henry said.
"Papa I don't want to go," Elizabeth said.
"Elizabeth, listen to your father," Anne said in a small voice behind them. "I know that you are the smartest little princess in the world, but you still need to learn. I want you to be the best and clever than your husband who he is to be. I know that you want to be with me I will go into your lessons in a while."
"OK, mama. I am sorry papa I will go to my lessons," holding her father's hand pulling him with her back to the others.
"Sweetheart, are you coming?"
"I am there for a minute I just want to walk around part of the lake on my own," Anne said.
"Are you sure?" kissing her on the lips after she nodded her head. "OK, my sweet show me the way."
They turned and started to walk away when they heard a squash of the water and a scream from a woman.