Chapter 2

Palace of Placentia

January 24, 1536

Anne had a hard time listening to the sermon Archbishop Cranmer prepared in such a short amount of time. She had so much to do and learn, Henry shared more of his burdens before their marriage than after so she will have to catch up on the state of the realm and the treasury. That's on top of planning Henry's funeral, her confinement, and the child's christening. All while fighting off ambitious nobles, and ensuring Lady Mary doesn't rise against her siblings. By the end of the ceremony, her head was spinning. She stood thanked everyone for joining and their prayers. Her ladies followed her back to her rooms where she changed into more comfortable clothes and dismissed everyone but for Madge and Nan Saville, once they were alone Anne made her way down the back corridors to the Kings bedchambers.

The next morning she awoke on his bed surrounded by paperwork, she gathered her notes and had the ladies that stayed with her for her protection escort her back to her chambers. Upon arriving her ladies wasted no time preparing their mistress for what they knew would be a long day, when she was about ready she summoned Jane Parker to help her finish.

"Have you heard from my brother?" She whispered.

"Yes your majesty, he told Lady Bryan you wished for a change of scenery for Elizabeth and for him to remain as a protector during these uncertain times. The child and Lady Mary have not been told and the servants have been threatened with imprisonment if they find out before you wish, " Jane handed her a letter, "he has written a report on how the princess fares."

"Thank you, Jane, and thank you for bringing me out of my despair yesterday. I fear all would've been lost without you, " Anne smiled at the sister in law she was never fond of.

"I am ever your loyal servant and your sister in law. I am glad to be of service, I know we have never been close for your brother and I are not a happy marriage."

"We will have to amend that, " Anne smiled as they finished preparing her before sending Jane to fetch Master Cromwell for her. While she waited she went to her presence chamber to confront her would be rival. "Lady Seymour, come here please."

Jane turned pale white in the corner she had trying to disappear in, but stood and walked over the Anne before curtsying. She had clearly been crying recently. Anne left her there for a moment and glared at the plain woman in front of her.

"You may rise, " once Jane stood Anne met her eyes, "I am dismissing you from my service. There is no longer any use for you at court."

"But-" Lady Seymour stopped when she saw the fury flare in Anne's eyes.

"You are dismissed, " Anne said cooly. Jane rushed from her rooms as Cromwell entered looking quite uncomfortable.

"Your majesty, " he bowed.

"Follow me, Jane please come as well, " she knew she would need to guard her reputation more fiercely than before. Henry was no longer here to protect her as he had originally. They followed her into her bedchambers.

"Strange times we find ourselves in Master Cromwell, do you agree?"

"Definitely unprecedented." He pursed his lips, last time he had talked to Anne she had threatened to make him a head shorter if he crossed her after fighting over religious reforms. Now she had the power to do so.

"I know you have always tried to do what is best for the realm and for the crown. I need to know your loyalty will not waver even though we are not on the best of terms as of late, " Anne said calmly. "I should not have threatened you the way I had."

"Your majesty, I will always serve England to the best of my abilities, " Cromwell said. He had sided with the Seymours and for an Imperial alliance. He had been working against Anne for some time now but that was before...but where do he and the woman before him begin to make amends? And did he have to? He could try to replace her as regent.

"We used to be quite the team before, working on his majesty's Great Matter. I was hoping we could do the same now to secure the realm. I could use a legal mind like yours to help me navigate the path in front for I have found the task to be quite daunting, " Anne said watching his reaction. She had no idea if she could trust him, for surely he would've tried to rid Henry of her for his ambitions.

"I understand, these matters are quite complicated for the female mind to understand." He nodded at her contemplating his options. If he tried to usurp her there would be no ensuring the reformation of his position. Anne was loyal to those loyal to her for all her faults and if he could secure her trust now, he would live comfortably for the minority with influence over the regent.

"No, it is just overwhelming to catch up on. I do not wish to speak ill of my late husband but he left me out of his government so I need to familiarize myself with his current projects and the overall status of England and the crown. I was re-looking over the Succession Act and it reaffirms my position as Regent but it wouldn't be the first time nobles tried to seize control after the death of a monarch, " Anne sighed knowing to reaffirm to everyone that being a woman did not make her unfit for her position was going to be exhausting.

"Your majesty, no one will seize the throne as long as we are smart about our situation and honest with one another. I am beginning to think I may have underestimated you and probably will on more than one occasion but I look forward to being proven wrong. Now shall we go give the rest of the council a run for their money." He stood and offered her his hand.

She took his hand and stood, "thank you, Cromwell, but you go on before me I shall catch up in a moment. I shall hope you will accept the position as my secretary and that you will serve me as diligently as you served my husband."

Cromwell bowed and left, she waited a few minutes and followed, but instead of going into the council room she stepped into the room next door which Henry VII had specially made for spying on his council when they believed he was out of earshot.

"This is insanity, the realm cannot be held by a woman! Especially one of no proper education in the matters of state, " she heard her Uncle Norfolk exasperated.

"Actually through my connections, she had the education of a princess. Most of whom act as regents for their children. She also has a large family and allies abroad to watch out for her interest, " Thomas Boleyn beamed proudly of being able to educate his intelligent daughter properly.

"King Francis denied her marriage was lawful, I doubt he is truly an ally, " Suffolk countered.

"It does not matter his majesty's will, along with the ratified act of succession, as well as being an anointed Queen the regency is hers by right and law." Cromwell stated plainly.

"Shove it low born, what do you know of ruling a kingdom?" Norfolk snarled.

"About as much as you do, " Lord Audley, the Lord Chancellor, defended Cromwell, "if not for Anne you wouldn't be near the throne despite your rank. If rank meant everything you'd be in my position now. Besides that he is right, Cromwell knows these matters better than most considering he delegated the majority of the paperwork. Anne is regent, any other objectification to it will be considered treason. As well as trying to force her to choose a Lord Protector if she does not wish as is her right as regent. I do not like it either but if we want to avoid civil war we will have to accept it."

Anne smiled and decided now was time to make her entrance. She went back into the hallway and walked to the front of the table where her husband used to sit, "This chair in right belongs to my child, I shall sit here though until they are of age to attend the meetings with my supervision. Any objections?"

Silence. She smiled. 'Good.' She thought as she sat down. "Now I know I left many of you shocked last night and let me assure you it is not so I can seize power for my own. I, as their mother, am the most natural protector they need. Many of you may think women are weak and timid, but we can also agree that we are fierce when it comes to our children's wellbeing and interest. I will ensure they are always protected, happy, and properly educated. I do plan to rely heavily on each one of you. Now we have business to attend to. The first piece of business shall we discuss Master Cromwell?"

"I feel we should address the funeral of the King your majesty, " he replied.

"I do agree, in accordance with his will he will be buried in Westminster Abbey, I feel we should give the country time to mourn him so he will be interred in lead and placed on an altar in the abbey for the people to be able to pay their respects to their beloved King. His funeral will take place at the end of February, any objections?" Anne looked around.

They all shook their heads. "I feel we should discuss your confinement and what should happen in case of your death in childbirth your majesty, " Lord Norfolk said.

Anne smiled at him but if her eyes were a different story, "of course, these were matters I pondered late into the night last night. I have decided that I will go into semi confinement three months before the baby is born to help me combat the added stress of my role. I will not be confined to my bed until the usual one month though. During those two months, I will only be confined to my quarters and allowed any guest. When I am placed on bed rest my father, Earl of Wiltshire will act as a temporary Lord Protector while I shall entrust you, Lord Audley, to keep the council in check." Her smile reached her eyes as she looked at the two men who defended her.

"I am honored by your majesty, but I must ask what will happen in the case of your death?" Wiltshire asked timidly, not liking the idea of his daughter's death but it had to be addressed. Childbirth was a messy, dangerous thing.

"I believe that is something I cannot discuss just yet, I must relate myself more with my husband's notes for the realm as well as make decisions regarding my children's safety. This is unprecedented and we will move forward with caution, but I assure you we will have all the answers before I go into confinement. I plan to outline a government for my child with the help of Cromwell and you all and discuss the occupants for it after," Anne sighed, " speaking of which I shall be moving into my late husband's rooms. I need many of the resources found in it and it will be easier to move me to his rooms than his things to be crammed into mine. It will also serve as a statement to our ambassadors that England is strong and stable. Now, what else?"

The meeting lasted four hours, but by the end, she was much more informed on the state of the crown, which was in a much more fragile state than she thought but there were positives such as the English people's loyalty to Henry even if they hated her, and no one wanted civil war.