Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing. Showtime and history take all the credit. I'm simply borrowing.
Chapter 28
A/N: I think this is the longest I've ever taken to update this story, but life just got in the way. No matter how long between updates I still intended to finish this story, although I have no idea when that'll be. I think this chapter might have a weird tone to it, so if anyone else thinks something's off your probably right. It's just the mood I was in as I was trying to finish it, so I could finally post something for you guys. I wanted to make it longer, especially since this is shorter than it usually is, because you guys definitely deserve it, but I didn't want to keep writing when I felt like it wasn't right. Anyway thank you reviewers, alerters, favoriters, and readers.
April 6, 1540
The Court watched on as George Boleyn was welcomed back to Court. Although His Majesty and Mistress Anne excused themselves early in the night, it was clear to all that George was still in favor. The King had been merry the entire night and not one insult was made to either Boleyn. There was no mention of the Queen.
April 7, 1540
"Elizabeth, sit down for a moment." Edward glanced at his father, then sister curiously.
"Yes, Father?"
"Jane spoke to you last night, did she not?" Elizabeth nodded cautiously. A spy must have told them that Jane had dismissed her ladies.
"And what did you two speak of?" Edward walked more into the room as he wondered where his father was going with this.
Elizabeth didn't know what to say. She couldn't lie to her father, but she didn't dare betray her sister. "We spoke of many things. Most of it between sisters."
"Oh, but surely anything between sisters can be shared with the rest of the family." John motioned for Edward to join in.
"You can tell us anything, Lizzy." Edward said, using her childhood nickname.
"I-I," Elizabeth looked between the two, unsure of what to do, "I can't." Elizabeth fled before they could question her more.
April 13, 1540
Cromwell bowed as he glanced subtly around the chambers, relieved to see that Anne was not present. He had been avoiding her at all costs since the mobs no longer required attention. He was aware that Anne knew of his part in her downfall and he had done his best in the years following to not cross her path. He had succeeded until the scandal with the Queen and he hoped to be successful again. "Your Majesty."
"Master Cromwell, come in, " Henry greeted in good cheers. Spending the morning riding with Anne and George had done wonders to his mood.
"You wished to speak with me?"
"Yes, yes. I want you to resume your research concerning the line of succession." Henry placed his arm around Cromwell as he continued, "It is of vital importance." Henry's smiled turned into a scowl as he thought of Jane's isolation.
"As you wish, Your Majesty." Henry nodded once with a distracted smile before going back to his desk to finish signing the documents that had been piling up all week.
George paced back and forth in the dark, seductive atmosphere of the outer chambers as he waited for his sister. It was obvious to him that Anne had thought the King was to be joining her here for there were candles and the fire was roaring. Her ladies had been absent when he had arrived as well, though they were now rushing to make Anne presentable for the King. He had been waiting nearly fifteen minutes. He knew it was late and she had not been dressed properly to wander the gardens at this late hour, but surely she was taking too long. "Anne!"
"George, you'll have to be patient with me for it was you, and not I, that came to my chambers late in the evening, proclaiming I was to meet the King in the gardens, when not only had I not been dressed for such an occasion, but I was dozing while I read by the fire and my ladies were not with me." Her voice floated out to him from behind the heavy velvet curtains that were concealing her.
George sighed before settling for saying, "Just hurry."
"Stop pacing, dear Brother." Anne smirked at how anxious George was over nothing as she walked through the thick curtains. She turned to her lady that was offering her two different cloaks. Even in the poor lighting of the room she could tell the difference between the two, one was black and the other a deep purple. Anne knew she should pick the black one for she would be giving the wrong impression to wear so much of the royal color, but she was feeling daring. Besides George would be taking her though mostly unused passage ways and in the cover of night no one would be able to see the color for what it was.
"Are you ready?" George asked impatiently as he looked at his sister to find her ladies helping her put on her cloak.
"Yes." Anne smiled and followed him from her rooms.
"This way." Anne heard her brother's whisper. She was trying so very hard not to laugh at his behavior. He was acting as if Katherine was still alive and no one could know she was meeting the King so late at night for fear they think she was giving herself to him.
"I am familiar with these hallways, Brother," Anne gently reminded. In all her years with Henry she had only spent three of them as his queen and that was the only time she had not used these passages. If George responded she didn't hear and before she could question him they were in the gardens and walking towards Henry.
"Sweetheart." Henry exclaimed as he wrapped her in his arms. "George, thank you." He nodded at the man before turning back to the girl in his arms.
"What is all this?" Anne asked, pulling away from him to look around. There was lanterns placed around the garden to light their way.
"I thought we might go for a stroll." Anne's following laugh caused Henry's face to glow with joy.
"I can see that, my love, but what are we doing?" Anne grasped his hand and brought it to her mouth for a lingering kiss. "You have never allowed me to come into the gardens at night."
"Yes, well, " Henry paused as he searched to rationalize what he was doing, but found himself rambling, "there are lights now and you are not alone. Do you not wish to be here?"
Anne shook her head slightly. "Oh, no, Henry. It is beautiful." Henry nodded satisfied and wrapped his arm around her as they started walking. Anne waited for Henry to speak, but he never did. Finally Anne asked, "What troubles you, my love?" after they had gone through the gardens twice.
"The Queen," Henry spat, "cowers in her chambers with no word to anyone." He tried to never speak of how Jane was angering him, but sometimes he only wished to confide in her. For her to tell him all would be well and that she loved him.
Anne swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. "I see."
Henry looked into her eyes and felt guilt rush through him. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I didn't wish to distress you."
"Don't apologize." Anne gave him a reassuring smile and kiss before urging him to continue. Anne allowed him to rant for quite a while and work himself into a frenzy, before she started to calm him. She refused to defend his harlot of a 'wife', but she didn't wish for him to be upset when they ended their night and most of all she didn't want him thinking of Jane when he fell asleep.
Anne tugged on Henry's hand so he would turn to look at her as she stopped. "Henry," Anne interrupted, her voice soft and soothing. His breath was uneven and he had an angry glint in his eyes. "Everything is beautiful." Henry looked around them as Anne continued, "The stars sparkle, roses scent the air, and the moon lights our way." When Henry looked back to Anne his eyes shown of love, but his breathing was still slightly uneven. "Everything is beautiful, don't you think so?"
Henry kissed Anne's fingers lightly, but his eyes stayed locked with hers. "Everything is beautiful."
April 15, 1540
"Father and Brother asked about you again." Jane looked sharply over to her sister as she lowered her needlework to her lap. Her ladies had left only a few minutes before so they could join Court for the evening meal. Jane felt badly for keeping them with her all day and she had started dismissing them so they could dine with Court.
"You didn't tell them, did you?" Panic laced Jane's voice. Elizabeth shook her head and Jane relaxed. "They'll never understand."
Elizabeth looked at her needlework before saying, "They're quite angry with me." Elizabeth knew that her father and brother only got angrier as the days went by and now they were blaming Elizabeth for not telling them what her sister said.
Jane reached over and covered her sister's hand. "Don't worry. I'll protect you." Although Elizabeth could see that Jane was sincere she couldn't help but wonder if her sister had that power anymore. The promise certainly sounded empty to her ears.
April 19, 1540
The palace hallways were fairly empty for this time of day. Anne was sure people would be dallying around hoping to speak to the King as they always were, but they had been fairly undisturbed as they wandered the palace.
Anne nodded as Henry went on about the affairs of the kingdom. He was unsure of a French or Imperial alliance, but he wasn't asking her advice about it yet, so Anne kept her opinions to herself. He caught Anne's attention when he told her that he had asked Cromwell to continue looking into placing Harry about Edward in the succession.
"Did he find anything?"
Henry shook his head. "Nothing yet, but I'm sure he'll find something." Henry smile was encouraging and his eye's were pleading with her to agree with him, so she did.
"I'm sure he will." She echoed.
"I was thinking next week we could visit the children or perhaps we could have them come to Court." Henry suggested after noticing her distracted tone. Just as he had hoped her face lit up at the mention of spending time with their children. Their three beautiful children never failed to make Anne come to life. "I did make you a promise we would see them soon."
"Are you sure you'll be able to go? I know how busy you are. Maybe we should wait." Despite Anne's accommodating words her face fell even as she spoke the thought of waiting longer.
"Will it make you happy?" Sometimes Henry thought that her happiness was all that mattered to him.
"The most happy."
