A/N: Hello, everyone and here is the new chapter as promised. Thank you to ladyinwaiting2005, QueenAnneTudor, Cyberbook, tricorvus, Child of Dreams, Vwchick, and Ophaeliia for all the reviews on the previous chapter. That's said, here we go!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors or any of the characters, Showtimes does.
...
George Boleyn had never been more pleased to have a plan come to fruition than he was now.
"My word, George," Jane gasped when her husband had finished explaining to her why he had lied to the privy council, with the king's express permission of course. "You are certain of this?"
"I am certain that neither of the Seymour brothers are to be trusted," George frowned. "There is a chance they are not involved in the poisonings, but they, and the queen herself, stand to gain agreat deal if all three of Anne's children were to be eliminated; after all, now that Harry..."
The Duke of Wiltshire paused for a moment to compose himself. He was more in control of his emotions than he had been in the past, but it still grieved him to speak of his departed nephew, whose loss was still so recent and the wounds still fresh.
"Geoffrey is the king's only male heir excepting Edward," Jane finished for him.
"And Elizabeth is still held to a higher degree than Margery was," George added. "Of course that no doubt enraged the queen to see that."
Privately, Jane herself did feel some measure of pity for the poor princess; she had forever been overshadowed not only by her brothers, but her elder half-sister as well. It had been no secret that while Henry treasured his sons, especially his 'little miracles', he also doted upon young Elizabeth. He often spoke of how like her mother she was, which of course was certain to have excited his wife's jealousy further. He also had betrothed her to a prince of France. Meanwhile no such pledges had been offered to Margery. And now of course there would be no pledge for the youngest Tudor princess.
But there was nothing for it; what had been done could not be undone. But at least there could be the chance to prevent further damage.
"I know Francis will allow no harm to come to Geoffrey," George smiled in spite of himself, which Jane returned in kind.
"Of course not," she said. "He knows that he will have to deal with the fury of the king, you, and of course his wife."
"Pity the man to excite the temper of his wife," her husband chuckled. "And pity the assassin who falls for the trap."
...
"Your Majesty?" Dorothy Seymour looked concerned. "Sister?"
Queen Jane gave no response as she stared into the flames of the fireplace, her grey eyes devoid of any cheer.
But Dorothy dared not say anything else lest she anger her sister and find herself receiving an assault like the one Jane bestowed upon Elizabeth.
When she had first heard what had happened, she couldn't believe it. Then, when she had seen the physical evidence left on both women, she feared her sister had gone mad.
"I want Elizabeth punished," Jane spoke softly, but her tone dripped with malice as she clenched her teeth and narrowed her eyes. In Dorothy's mind, her sister looked more like a hungry animal than a lady let alone a queen. "I want her to pay with her life just as Margery paid with hers."
"But, sister-" Dorothy tried, only for Jane to round on her.
"I am the queen!" Jane declared ruthlessly. "Margery was my daughter, my only daughter! And Elizabeth took her from me. She took something precious from me, and now I will have something precious taken from her."
As Dorothy looked into her sister's eyes, she saw that there was nothing but rage and sorrow. No sense of mercy or pity…
Elizabeth was doomed.
…
"Has she named any other accomplices?" Henry's tone was growing more and more angry by the minute.
Cromwell shook his head.
"I am afraid not, Your Majesty. Lady Catherine has insisted she would not say another word."
"Then she shall die with her final words in her throat," Henry growled. "What of Elizabeth?"
"Lady Seymour wished to speak to a confessor, or so Master Kingston told me," Cromwell answered, before his frown deepened and he averted his gaze.
Henry straightened in his seat.
"What?"
"Your Majesty-"
"What did she have to say?"
"I must warn you, Your Majesty-"
"And I warn you, Master Cromwell," Henry hissed as his eyes narrowed. "Tell me what she had to say now."
…
Phillip let out a quiet sob as he closed the letter with shaking hands.
"Phillip," Anne was immediately concerned. "What is it, dear cousin?"
"Prince Harry and Princess Margery..." Phillip said when he was finally able to find his voice. "They...have been murdered."
Anne's hands flew immediately to her mouth as she gasped in horror and tears began to fill her eyes.
"Oh, poor Geoffrey, Elizabeth, and Edward," she murmured as she and Phillip wrapped their arms around one another. "They must be so devastated."
"Poor Mary..." Phillip whispered. "She will be heartbroken...and our child..."
The Duke of Bavaria became silent and immediately straightened himself, wiping away his tears.
"She cannot know," he said softly. "She will be further distressed if something happened to our child."
"You cannot keep this from her," Anne protested. "They are her siblings, you cannot-"
"I must!" Phillip insisted. "She will fall into despair, which will harm our child, and I will not have her blaming herself for it, and you know she will."
Anne sighed. She knew her cousin was right; were any harm to befall her unborn son or daughter, Mary would immediately place the blame upon her own shoulders. And Phillip would never allow such a thing to happen to his dear wife.
"I will tell her in good time," Phillip said. "I promise. But for now, let her look forward to becoming a mother. She has always wanted to be one, and she has suffered enough.
Anne nodded, but it went without saying that no matter how Lady Mary had suffered thus far, her pain would continue whether she deserved it or not.
...
Edward Seymour was confused at first when he saw Charles Brandon making his way through the corridors of the palace. Particularly when he noticed the duke was accompanied by a host of the king's guards.
But as he realized the direction in which they were headed, he immediately became alarmed...
They were heading for the queen's royal apartments!
...
Jane's pale eyebrows raised in confusion as she glanced up from her needlework to see Charles Brandon, along with a number of guards.
"My Lord Suffolk," she fought to keep the hesitancy from her voice. "This is certainly a surprise. Why have you come?"
Suffolk's face was grim as he displayed a roll of parchment.
"This is the warrant for your arrest," he spoke slowly and coldly. "You are charged with committing treason and murder along with your sisters Elizabeth and Dorothy Seymour. We have come at the king's command to conduct you to the Tower. There to abide during His Majesty's pleasure."
"What nonsense is this?" Jane stood, looking indignant. "You dare to accuse me of such things? Elizabeth is the murderess and she is no longer any sister of mine. You will leave my chambers at once, Lord Suffolk. And rest assured, the king will hear of this."
"It is the king who sent me here, my lady," Charles glared as fiercely as he dared, for the woman before him was still queen. "You will come with us as befits your status, or we shall be obliged to employ force."
"You wouldn't dare lay your hands on His Majesty's wife," Jane sneered.
...
"Let me go! How dare you treat me this way!"
Jane's screams echoed off the walls and throughout the halls as she was all but dragged from her apartments.
"I am your queen!" she shouted. "I shall have your head rotting on a spike right next to that spiteful wife of yours!"
Charles said nothing, but privately believed Jane did not think Catherine so spiteful when she employed her to murder a princess. A child.
"We must move quickly," he instructed the guards. "For we do not want to miss the tide."
The guards nodded and continued to keep hold on the queen, who in turn continued to scream, threaten, and demand to be released.
...
...
There you are, folks. And the next chapter will be out on Monday, September 28th. Until then, everyone.
