Authors note: Hi everyone, just a bit of a warning. Sorry if there are any mistakes in the Spanish in this chapter, I have not spoken or written Spanish in a long time and am sorely using google translate to translate from English to Spanish with translations footnoted.
The Queen's apartments were dark even when the sun rose in the sky. Anne had dressed in her lady-in-waiting uniform with her favourite family necklace on. A simple B charm with drop pearls on a silver chain. It had been a birthday gift given to her by her father on her tenth birthday. She walked into the queen's chambers and smiled at the other ladies working she noticed Katherine sat by the fire and deeply curtsied.
"Lady Anne Boleyn, madam," Anne Clifford loudly whispered to Katherine. Katherine stood and smiled seeing the lady.
"Raise Lady Anne," Anne rose. "Come, Lady Anne, sit with me," Katherine motion for a smaller chair to be put by the fire. Anne sat down after Katherine. "I wanted to thank you for helping my husband."
"Your Majesty, I was just doing what everyone would do to help his majesty," Anne said.
"I know how he looks at you Lady Anne. But, for now, I will look past that," Katherine said her accent harden. "I understand that you speak many languages."
"Yes, your majesty, English, French, German, Spanish and Latin," Katherine nodded not showing that she was surprised.
"Tengo miedo de que mi esposo el Rey intente divorciarse de mí. Hemos estado casados por mucho tiempo. He tenido siete embarazos pero solo he sobrevivido una hija. Tuvimos un principito que nació y duró cincuenta y dos días.(1)" Katherine rushed out in a few breathes.
"Su Majestad. No es raro que los embarazos salgan mal. Tengo varias teorías. Uno es el momento, otro es el tratamiento y la salud de la madre. Pero también la salud del padre. Un embarazo perfectamente normal puede verse amenazado debido al estrés o sentimientos fuertes. Y no es culpa de la madre," (2) Anne replied in Spanish.
"Su Majestad me culpa por la pérdida de nuestros hijos. Y ahora solo tendremos una hija. Amo a Mary con todo mi corazón pero temo por su salud,"(3) Katherine did not notice her slip up.
"Estoy seguro de que puedes tener otro hijo," (4) Anne whispered.
"Para eso mi esposo tendría que visitar mi cama." (5) Katherine sadly stated. Anne was stocked. "Me temo que incluso si lo hiciera ya no..." (6)
"¿Has hablado con un médico? O su majestad?" (7) Anne asked.
"No aún no. Wolsey, lo vería como una forma de eliminarme," (8) Katherine stook her head. Turning away to look into the flames.
"Estoy seguro de que hay lejos,"(9) Anne said. She smiled and switched back to English. "Why not play them at their own game? When I was younger my grandmother would say that you need to play the game. My family is very good at the game of playing court. But, Grandmother did not mean just that. My sister for example, can play men. She has had two Kings," Anne quickly added. "Sorry about that."
Katherine waved away any notion of Mary Boleyn.
"I know that you have studied the King and the people around him. What do you think the King will do?" Anne asked.
"He will ask the Pope for a divorce or annulment," Katherine replied.
"But, the Pope is never going to give him a divorce due to the Emperor," Anne said matter of factly.
"Yes," Katherine looked up at Anne. "What are you thinking?"
"We all play the game," Anne simply put. "Put yourself and your daughter the princess first," Anne paused and thought. "First I would go and speak with a doctor then the King."
Katherine nodded. "I have a lot to think about Lady Anne and it is time to go to mass."
(1) I am fearful that my husband the King is going to try and divorce me. We have been married for a long time. I have had seven pregnancies but have only a daughter that survived. We had a little prince that was born and lasted fifty-two days.
(2) Your majesty. It is not uncommon for pregnancies to go wrong. I have a number of theories. One is timing, another is the treatment and health of the mother. But also the health of the father. A perfectly normal pregnancy might be threatened due to stress or strong feelings. And no fault of the mother.
(3) His Majesty blames me for the loss of our children. And now we will only have a daughter. I love Mary with all my heart but I fear for her health.
(4) I am sure that you can have another child.
(5) For that my husband would have to visit my bed.
(6) I fear that even if he did I no longer...
(7) Have you spoken to a doctor? Or His Majesty?
(8) No, not yet. Wolsey would see it as a way to remove me.
(9) I am sure that there is away.