Queen Anne Boleyn sighed as she walked out of her chambers, tonight a grand feast was to take place. She knew she should be happier but it always felt weird when she was there...the King's Most Beloved Sister, as the King called her. Anne was dressed in a beautiful dark green gown, her hair falling neatly down her back. The babe in her belly stirring, kicking her as she walked down the long hallway. Her sister and cousins flanking her as she traversed her way to the Grand Hall. Her son Prince Edward was to be presented to court today on his 1st birthday. Anne was only 17 years old when she caught the King's eye, they wed six months after the death of the King's wife and mother to little Princess Katherine. She died from child-bed fever only a year into her reign as Queen.
"Her Majesty, Queen Anne." The herald cried as Anne took her place next to Henry.
"Her Grace, Princess Katherine, Duchess of Lancaster". Katherine of Aragon, ever so regal still could capture the room's attention. Katherine, the King's first wife, who graciously acknowledged their marriage was not blessed by God. She was given titles and land, and a handsome yearly income. She was known throughout court, as the King's sister. He cared deeply for her, but they came to an understanding that in God's eyes she was still forever his brother's wife. It was the only reason they could fathom that prevented them from having a healthy child of any gender. She missed her life as Queen, but she was ever so grateful for her life at court. She took her place next to Queen Anne before quietly taking a sip of her wine.
"Katherine, do you have desire to marry again." Lady Mary Brandon nee Boleyn asked casually as she watched as her husband danced with their cousin, Lady Jane Seymour. Jane was only 14 but had recently been given a place in the Queen's household, and as Mary was also with child she did not wish to dance.
"I do not believe I shall marry again, Lady Suffolk." She lamented, Katherine had believed she was cursed to be alone. Her first husband taken so soon from her, and her second she loved dearly but the marriage failed to produce any living children. She took her torment as a sign of God, that she was not meant to be a wife and a mother. Anne overhearing the conversation sighed inwardly, she could just hear the sadness in the older woman's voice. At one point, it was widely believed Katherine would marry Charles Brandon but he surprised everyone with his marriage to Anne's sister after returning from France to escort Princess Mary and her ladies before her wedding to the heir to the French throne, Francis.
Anne retired for the night, as her pregnancy made her extremely tired. She rested her hand on her stomach and sang to her baby. She was positive this was going to be a beautiful little sister for Edward, even though she knew Henry longed for only boys in the Royal nursery.
"Your Majesty, The Duchess of Suffolk." Jane announced before running off to do something. Jane exhausted Anne at times, she was so timid it was often hard to get her to even speak. But it was quite clear she had developed somewhat of a crush on Charles.
"Mary, sister." Anne hugged her, their pregnant bellies touching.
"I am worried about Lady Lancaster, she seems ever so lonely." It was odd to refer to her as anything but Her Majesty for Mary, even though Katherine was only Queen for five years.
"You can see the pain in her eyes, she loves little Katherine like a daughter. I am still amazed that she asked to be her governess, but I know she wishes for a child of her own." Mary and Anne both felt sorry for the "King's Sister" but they knew nobody could force her into marriage, she would be miserable. Even the Spanish Ambassador was at a loss on how to help his master's aunt.
"I shall speak with Henry, maybe we can arrange a chance meeting with someone who Katherine may find compatible." Henry was curious to his wife's appeal, but he could never say no to her when she was with child. With little Edward, she could have commanded him to execute his entire court and he would have done so without a question. Henry had been the same way with Katherine and Elizabeth Blount during their time as his Queen.
"Your majesty." Henry Stafford was the younger brother of the Duke of Buckingham, less arrogant then Edward Stafford. He was also much more handsome, he had not been granted lands and wealth but he was intelligent and from what Anne had heard very caring. She had requested he be given a place in her household.
"Lord Wiltshire, I am pleased to have you part of my household. I do not ask for much of you, but I know what it is like to be the forgotten child at times." Anne alluding to the treatment she had heard he received from his brother, and how she had felt when she was younger being the "not as pretty" daughter. Anne loved her sister, but it was how father would treat them that often made her lock herself in her room for hours. Henry was a fixture of the Queen's household, and as such often would cross paths with Katherine. As Katherine was so fond of spending time with Princess Katherine who resided at Hatfield with Princes Edward and Arthur. Anne would always insist on Lord Wiltshire to travel with her to see her sons after her churching was over after the birth of her second child. When Katherine confided in Anne that she was scared that she was developing feelings for Lord Wiltshire, Anne was ecstatic. She told Katherine that she felt Lord Wiltshire was a kind and loving man, it was those qualities that she saw in him when she insisted he be a part of her household. Katherine finally relented her heart, and the two married in the Summer of 1522. It was the love of Katherine that spared him his brother's fate for treasonous acts, he was granted the title of Duke of Buckingham upon his marriage to the Katherine. All of England celebrated the birth of the Lady Mary Stafford in 1523, she was a beautiful surprise as Katherine had given up hope she would one day hold a child of her own. Mary was her mother's miracle baby, but she still would visit Princess Katherine as often as she could. Of course the Hatfield had grown once more with the birth the Princess Elizabeth.
In 1547 upon King Henry's death, Katherine watched proudly as her daughter as crowned Queen of England along side her husband King Edward VI. It was only a few years later that Queen Anne Boleyn died, she was buried next to her husband in Westminster Abbey. Katherine was like a second mother to the young King, and she witnessed the birth of her first grandchild, the Princess Anne, in 1551. Upon Katherine's death in 1553 she was buried next to her husband who had died in the Spring of 1536, at their family home. Her daughters Mary and Anne Stafford mourned their mother for years to come.
A/N : I don't know much about Henry Stafford, but as this is an AU I have decided it doesn't really matter too much :)
Elizabeth and Henry's children : Katherine
Anne and Henry's children : Edward, Arthur, Elizabeth, George & Cecily
Katherine and Henry Stafford's children : Mary, Anne and Henry
Mary Boleyn and Charles Brandon's children : Anne, Mary, Katherine and Charles
Queen Mary Stafford and King Edward Tudor's children : Anne, Elizabeth, Edmund & Charles
