Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing. Showtime and history take all the credit. I'm simply borrowing.
Chapter 24
A/N: Thank you readers, alerters, reviewers, and favoriters. Love you guys! Sorry about the super late update and I know the chapter is significantly shorter than normal, but this seemed like the only place to end the chapter that wouldn't seem weird. I hope you all don't mind too much since I promise a normal length chapter will be out very soon.
March 3, 1540
"Can it be done?" Cromwell glanced to the King before rereading the paper in front of him. "Well?"
"Your Majesty wishes to place your son, Henry, with Mistress Boleyn above your son, Edward, with Queen Jane." Cromwell paused and met the King's stare. "I'll look into the matter."
"You're dismissed." Henry waved his hand watching Cromwell bow and leave.
Henry laughed heartily as King Francis finished his story. They had not been walking in the gardens long when Henry saw the Duke of Suffolk.
"Your Grace." Henry called. Brandon froze and took a deep breath before walking over to the two Kings.
"Your Majesties." Brandon bowed.
"How are you, my friend?" Henry asked in a pleasant mood.
"Well." Brandon said hiding his impatience. "And yourself?"
"Well. Walk with us, won't you?" Brandon prepared to decline when Henry spoke again, "Anne." Brandon looked behind him as he saw his friend's mistress walking by herself. "Excuse me."
King Francis watched the English King as he left. "He loves her as before."
Brandon glanced at the King of France. "Indeed."
"She has done the impossible, no?" Both men watched on as Henry kissed Anne's hand before helping her up from her curtsy.
"How do you mean?" Brandon knew Anne had indeed done the impossible, but he wanted to hear what the King had to say.
"She is an untraditional beauty raised in the French Court. She's risen to the highest position, the Queen of England, only to fall from favor after three years of being Queen, and almost four years after what should have been her death she stands before us being lavished with the King of England's affection."
"Anne Boleyn is like no other." Brandon wondered for a moment what the rest of the world thought of her. Did they see a girl who destroyed a country and corrupted a King with her ambitions or a girl who used her wits, charm, and beauty to make a King fall in love with her?
"It would appear I will be spending the rest of my day with the King of England and Maistresse Boleyn." Brandon nodded his agreement and excused himself as Henry and Anne approached.
Jane blinked away a tear as she watched her husband laugh at something the harlot said. His whore had joined King Francis and him in the garden and the smile on Henry's face had not wavered since. Jane knew that Henry still harbored the uttermost resentment towards her for her mistake. She had tried speaking with him in private but he would deny her requests and when she spoke to him in public he would openly shun her.
"Oh, Janey." Jane ignored the voice and continued staring out the window. "Why do you torture yourself so?"
"He doesn't love her." Elizabeth Seymour's eyes were filled with pity for her younger sister. "Not like he loves me."
"I know." Elizabeth reached for her sister's hand and gave it a squeeze before saying, "A girl like she could never compare to my english rose sister." Jane looked over her shoulder and gave her sister a small smile before turning her head back to her husband.
Lady Anne Par looked up when she felt Lady Elizabeth Darrell nudge her. "What?" She hissed.
"What do you think of Queen Jane's sister?" Lady Darrell asked while slyly studying the sisters.
"My mind does not often wander to Elizabeth Seymour." Lady Par went back to her needle work. "Does yours?"
Lady Darrell looked to Lady Par with a smirk. "Only when ambition is involved."
March 5, 1540
Cromwell sighed as he attempted to think of any feasible way to place the King's bastard son above Prince Edward. There was no way. The people would never accept it and more importantly neither would the rest of the world. It had been hard enough to secure Mistress Anne's children's rights when she was Queen.
"Master Cromwell?"
"Hmm." Cromwell replied without looking to the door.
"You sent for me."
Cromwell shook his head clearing his thoughts and looked to the Duke of Suffolk. "Yes." Cromwell motioned for Brandon to sit. "The King has asked me to look into a…vital matter."
Brandon waited for Cromwell to explain why he had been requested. "That is not unusual."
Cromwell dismissed the people in to the room and waited for the door to softly close before explaining, "The King wishes to place Harry above Prince Edward in the line of succession."
"Harry. Anne's son." Brandon repeated in astonishment. "Anne?" Brandon lifted his eyes to meet Cromwell's.
"His Majesty said nothing of Mistress Anne." Cromwell had been waiting for years now to hear the King tell him that Anne was to be declared his lawful wife. Cromwell could only guess why Anne was not Queen.
"She doesn't wish to be Queen." Brandon muttered. This is what Henry had meant when he said Jane would be punished. Henry could not make Anne Queen, so he was going to make their son Prince of Wales.
"What?" Cromwell questioned in shock. Anne Boleyn had yearned to be Queen for many years. He could not believe she would refuse to be Queen once again.
"Henry will not make her Queen because she does not wish it."
"And he will do anything to make her happy." Cromwell could only hope that Anne's wishes did not cost him his position, or worse his head.
"Is it possible?" Cromwell shook his head; afraid he would not be able to take it back if he said the answer aloud. "His Majesty will not be pleased." Brandon said grimacing at thought of Henry's anger.
"Will Mistress Anne be?" Cromwell asked, knowing that if Anne knew and was distressed by the answer than the King's anger would be tenfold. Brandon didn't answer for he had no idea if Anne knew of Henry's request.
Edward tuned out his Father's worries as he schemed. "Father." John turned to look at his son startled by his loud voice. Edward ignored his father now that he was quiet and turned his attention to the young boy in front of him. "Are you sure Cromwell is seeking for a reason to disinherit Prince Edward?"
"N-no, sir." The boy fidgeted a little as he tried to explain what he had overheard. "Master Cromwell told the Duke of Suffolk that the King wished to place his bastard son above the Prince."
"You are certain?" John asked coming to stand next to his son. The boy shakily nodded. "On pain of death?"
"Yes, sir." Edward dismissed the boy after making sure the boy understood he was to act as though he never knew.
"We have to tell Jane." John said.
"She cannot do anything." Edward didn't see the point in telling her for she held no influence over the King. If she did they would not be in this position.
"Neither can we at the moment." John met his son's eyes in a challenge. Eventually Edward sighed and looked away.
Edward followed his father as they made their way to the Queen's chambers. John nodded to the lady-in-waiting that opened the door as he walked past her, not allowing her to announce who was at the door.
"Papa." Jane said softly surprised. "Brother."
"We must speak to you." John said hoping Jane would take the hint. Edward glanced pointedly at her ladies.
Jane nodded hesitantly. "Leave us."
Edward watched as every young maiden left, the last closing the door. "Prince Edward is to be removed from the line of succession.." Jane gasped at her brother's words.
"Not removed." John corrected. "The King is looking to place his bastard with the whore above the true prince, your son."
Jane shook her head in denial, unwilling to believe that Henry would do such a thing to their son. He loved Edward. "No, no. She must be making him."
"She may be. She may be not." Edward walked around her rooms. He saw that there were very few books, although that did not surprise him for his sister could not read. He wondered what her ladies read though for most were well educated.
"It's her. It has to be her. He would never." Jane ignored her family as she convinced herself it was the whore.
Lady Darrell held her breath as she listened to the Queen's family. Was it possible for the King to do such a thing? Had the King told Mistress Anne? Mistress Anne deserved to know this considering it concerned her son. Lady Darrell left her place outside the Queen's door in search of Mistress Anne. It would be best to tell her for she may not know.
Anne looked at her surroundings. The ground still had puddles from the rain the night before and the sky was dark with clouds. She should not have been out in this type of weather, but she had needed some fresh air. The flowers in the garden always smelled so much better after it rained. She was thinking of sending her brother another letter asking him when he would be back at Court and then pleading with him to hurry when he responded telling her he was unsure. She loathed being a lady-in-waiting to Jane. Anne had almost respected Katherine for some time before she was Queen but she held no respect for the mousy girl. Jane had not even captured the King herself. She had seen what Anne had done and copied it. Jane had no risk when she rose to Queen of England. Anne had taken all the risk and the wrath of the people.
"Mistress Anne!" Anne turned and saw Lady Darrell rushing towards her. The girl gasping in front of her, Anne tried her best to calm her. "The King is planning to place," Lady Darrell took a deep breath, "your son above the Queen's." Anne shook her head, overwhelmed. "The Queen knows. Her family just told her."