Rome's plan to keep Mary Staffords' influence away from Elizabeth wasn't working. Elizabeth had more reason to dislike Rome more than ever with her Aunts' departure and she began to lose some respect for the King of France. It wasn't that Elizabeth was ungrateful for things' he provided her with. It was the fact he didn't have the courage to do what her father had done. On some reflection she began to respect what her father the King of England achieved in freeing England from the tyranny of Rome but it came at a great cost. His daughter the Lady Mary turned against him and his wife was executed due to the foul lies Rome spread about her. Elizabeths' childlike mind couldn't comprehend that her father would intentionally hurt her or her mother but judging by what she had witnessed it had to be Rome's doing. When Elizabeth heard that her father continued to fight the Pope for Englands' independence she was proud that her father had the courage and conviction to fight on.
However she couldn't express her support publically for fear word would reach the Pope and her family would be killed so Elizabeth had taken to prayer. She would pray for her fathers' good health and success. She would pray for Aunt Marys' health but also she would pray that her friend Catherine De Medici would give birth to a son.
A pregnant Catherine entered Elizabeths' rooms and noticed Elizabeth praying. She had told the girl to be careful how she prayed for fear that she would be suspected of being a reformer. Although Catherine was a catholic herself she could understand Elizabeths' reservations. The Catholic Church had given Elizabeth nothing for her to believe in. In Elizabeths' eyes this was a religion that murdered her mother and forced the King of France to send her dear Aunt away. As far as Elizabeth was concerned she had no reason to be loyal to the Catholic Church which gave the Kings' sister Margaret of Navarre no end of amusement but she kept her distance as her brother instructed.
Catherine was left to care for Elizabeth in Marys' absence but that would soon become more difficult once she was sent into confinement to give birth to her child though she wasn't the only one expecting. Word had reached the palace that the Countess of Boulogne was expecting the Kings' bastard. At first Catherine was horrified because despite the recent intimacy shared with her husband she had yet to conceive but a month after the news of Mary's condition Catherine herself began to show signs that she too was with child.
News of Catherine's own pregnancy quieted down the gossip of the Kings' mistress but she couldn't keep it from the children. Annie had been allowed to stay as a companion to Elizabeth but she didn't understand the significance of her siblings' birth. Elizabeth had some idea but was confused by the fact that she would receive more attention than her new cousin. They were both children of Kings and weren't considered legitimate so it stood to reason that they would be treated the same. Catherine explained to Elizabeth that her parents believed themselves to be married whilst there was no doubt to anyone that Mary and King Francis had never been married. There would be no possibility that this child would be considered as an heir whilst Elizabeth depending on Gods' will could be a Princess of England.
Catherine interrupted Elizabeths' prayers, "What are you praying for this time?"
Elizabeth turned to her friend and blushed, "I'm praying that your highness produces a boy for France."
"Who says I want a boy?" Catherine smiled at the girls' sweet words, "Maybe I want a charming little girl like you." Catherine had already decided to name her child Elizabeth if it was a girl.
Elizabeth smiled sadly, "When I was in Hatfield as Princess all I was ever told was to pray for a Prince. Maybe I didn't pray hard enough." Tears began to form in Elizabeths' eyes, "Perhaps if I did Mama would still be alive."
Catherine rushed over to Elizabeth and held the little girl close in comfort. "You mustn't blame yourself. I believe God was testing your father and unfortunately he failed that is why your Mama was taken away but I believe he is beginning to learn his lesson."
"How so?" Elizabeth looked up at her friend and mentor in curiosity.
"Your father has learned of his councillors' deception regarding your mothers' case and has punished them accordingly." Catherine explained, "He's also reinstated you as Princess of England but I suggest you don't use that title here."
"Because the Pope won't allow it." Elizabeth confirmed, "I suppose the Pope won't allow me to return home either?"
"No." Catherine answered sadly wondering if she had just made things worse by telling her that King Henry had reinstated Elizabeth as Princess but she had little choice. Francis Bryan was on his way over from England to serve as Elizabeths' protector, if Catherine hadn't told Elizabeth Sir Francis certainly would. "However King Francis has allowed you to write to your father and King Henry has sent someone over from England to protect you from your mothers' enemies."
Elizabeth was smart enough to know that there were some people even in the French court who hated Elizabeths' mother and therefore disliked her as well. She was glad her father had sent someone to protect her but there were more important things she wished know. "Can I write to him now?"
"Of course Elizabeth but you must be careful in what you write." Catherine advised. Though she didn't want to frighten the girl, Elizabeth had to know that the French nobles wouldn't allow letters to be exchanged without the French Councillors reading it first. It was a sad state of affairs but it would make the little girl happy to have some form of contact with her father. Hopefully with Gods' help Elizabeth and King Henry would one day reconcile and all of this ugliness would be a distant memory.
Anne Seymour nee Stanhope was watching over her son Edward or Ned as she liked to call him. She had thought that after son was born past hurts would be healed with her husband especially after she named the child after his father but unfortunately her husband had doubts on whether the boy was his.
Anne hadn't meant to betray her husband, she actually loved him in the beginning but when his sister became Queen everything changed. Edward became so concerned with favour and titles that he barely noticed Anne was alive. However Anne was determined not to succumb to bitterness as the Lady Rochford who had her husband George killed out of spite. It was no surprise to Anne that no man at court wished to marry the vindictive woman. However Anne's solution to her loneliness didn't do her any favours either. Anne chose to have an affair with Sir Francis Bryan mainly because she didn't have to love him to get satisfaction but somehow her husband Edward found out and sent her back to Wolf Hall.
When Ned was born her husband searched the boys' features for any sign that the child was not his but Anne knew right from the start the child was her husbands'. A mother knew and she cherished him because of it. Little Ned had made her exile from court bearable and reminded her of how her husband used to be before titles got in the way.
That didn't mean Anne wasn't ambitious, even in her exile she heard rumours of Thomas Cromwells' downfall and why. Anne wasted no time in following the late Queens' vision to help the common people by introducing various charity projects. Whilst her sister in-law probably wanted to distance herself from anything to do with Anne Boleyn, Anne Seymour was wise enough to know that the King wanted to honour his late wife's memory and that's what Anne tried to do. It was a welcome distraction from the drudgery running her husbands' estates.
However that drudgery would soon come to an end when she received a surprise visit from her husband. Although she was happy to see him she would not show it. She would not show any weakness to him as he was the one who sent her away. "Husband what a pleasant surprise."
Edward ignored his wife's cool tone and turned his attention to his son. Edward had little doubt now that the child was his with his fair features but his eyes were all his mothers'. Hopefully he would have his parents' shrewdness. "How is my son?"
"So now you acknowledge that he is yours." Anne said scathingly.
"You didn't make this easy Anne." Edward argued, "You were the one who had the affair with that Bryan."
"It tends to happen when a wife feels lonely." Anne snapped and walked into another room not wanting to have this argument in front of her son.
"Is that the thanks I get for all the wealth and status I earned for you?" Edward seethed following her, "You always said that I was smart enough to rise higher at court and now that I have you move your attentions elsewhere."
"Like you've moved your attentions away from me. Maybe not to another woman but to another life away from me." Anne looked away from him not wanting to show weakness. "We were supposed to be partners and you deserted me."
"Well I need your help." Edward tried to ignore the sadness in his wife's voice. Mainly because he wasn't sure whether could trust this woman but he was going to give her the opportunity to help his family. "The King no longer shows any interest in my sister."
"I know I heard." Anne said dryly not liking the fact her husband had decided to change topic and focus on his nitwit of a sister. The stupid women couldn't even survive a day without Edward holding her hand, Anne thought bitterly. "I don't see what I could to do to help her."
"I know of you efforts to keep the late Queens' memory alive with these charity projects." Edward hadn't told his sister the Queen of his wife's projects but he soon worked out what his wife was up to.
"She was a supporter of the Reformation, something both you and I shared a belief in." Anne glared at husband. "It's shame your sister doesn't share that belief and wants to undo all her work."
Edward looked away in shame at Anne's words. Both he and Anne were pleased when King Henry had broken with Rome even if the rest the Seymour family weren't. They both prayed that one day they didn't have to worship in the shadows and practise their religion in the open but like Cromwell Edward saw that Anne Boleyn was becoming a liability. Even though his sister Jane followed the old ways Edward was confident that the King wouldn't reconcile with Rome even with Jane as his Queen. "That won't happen; the King misses his late wife and will welcome anyone who supports his efforts in preserving her memory. I want you to befriend him."
Anne knew her husband wanted her do more than befriend the King of England. "You want me to disgrace myself more by becoming the Kings' whore. Has our marriage fallen so far?"
"It isn't like I'm asking you to do something you haven't done already." Edward said coldly. The truth is he didn't like the idea of his wife being with anyone but him. However his pride wouldn't allow him to say it.
"If that is what you wish Edward." Anne never knew that there could be a man she could love and hate in equal measure. She wouldn't do this for Edward or her wretched sister in-law. She would do this to secure her sons' future and if the affair hurt her husband in any way so much the better.
King Francis observed the Lady Elizabeth walking through the gardens with her new protector Sir Francis Bryan. Sir Francis Bryan hadn't been there that long before the young lady bombarded him with questions about her father and England. It had never occurred to the King of France that Elizabeth would miss England so much. She always seemed so happy in the French court until recently when he had sent Mary Stafford away.
The news of Mary Staffords' condition came as a bit of a shock to Francis and the timing couldn't have been worse. He was trying to convince his nobles and Rome that Mary had no influence over his decisions. Some of his nobles including his Queen were convinced that Mary had seduced him on purpose to get herself with child so that she could stay at court. Francis knew Mary had no such ambition as she was the one who agreed to leave for Elizabeths' sake in the first place. The only time Mary went against a decision he made was when he had given her the title of Countess and when he made efforts to get Elizabeth reinstated as Princess through Rome. The rest of the time she chose to stay out of French politics.
Although some thought it was a calculated move by Mary to befriend Catherine De Medici it was far from the truth. Mary was grateful for the dauphine's kindness shown towards her niece and wanted to repay Catherine by helping the woman reconcile with her husband. It was a success as Catherine was also expecting a child soon securing France's future.
Margaret of Navarre found her brother staring out of the window watching Elizabeth. Margaret knew he missed Mary as he even began to spend time with little Annie Stafford who was very much like her mother in terms of spirit. Margaret was never a fan of Rome or the Pope and she disliked them more because they had made her brother so unhappy.
Margaret watched as the Lady Elizabeth laughed at whatever Sir Francis Bryan was saying. Although Margaret knew that Sir Francis wasn't the most pious man she knew he tended to favour the reformed faith and her brother knew that. "It's seems that Rome's efforts to turn Elizabeth into a good catholic was a roaring success."
"Don't start Margaret." Francis knew of his sisters' views on religion and tried to be tolerant but he was no mood to listen to her go on about the evils of Rome.
"It just surprises me that Gods' so called representative couldn't predict that by sending her aunt away they would be turning her against the so called true faith." Margaret said dryly.
"Catherine says that Elizabeth follows the traditions closely." Francis insisted.
"Francis you don't understand." Margaret began to explain, "Whilst it may be true that Elizabeth is wise beyond her years she is still a child. A child who knows that the Pope had conspired to kill her mother and who may one day try to not only kill her father but herself as well. It hardly inspires love for the Catholic Church."
"I suppose that pleases you." Francis commented.
"Not exactly," Margaret stated honestly, "if we want this alliance with England to succeed we need to have the childs' favour and in order to do that we need Mary Stafford back at court."
"Believe me sister no one wants Mary Stafford back at court more than I but it's not possible." Francis turned away from his sister and sat in front of the fire.
"Why?" Margaret asked mockingly. "Is it because the Bishop of Rome told you to?"
"It's because dear sister of this." King Francis handed his sister a note he received from Boulogne.
"Mary has given birth to a son named George." Margaret read thinking of Marys' lost siblings. She couldn't imagine losing her own family in such a terrible way. Then she thought of the Queen of France who had yet to have a child. "The Queen can't have been too pleased."
"I don't believe she was." Francis sighed leaning back in his chair. "I have reason to believe that she was the one to inform the Cardinal of your influence on Anne Boleyn and I also believe she may have spoken to the Cardinal of my relationship with Mary."
"I suppose she is worried about following the same footsteps as her beloved Aunt." Margaret speculated sitting across from her brother.
"I would never do that." Francis insisted. "I may have thought about it on more than one occasion but I wouldn't risk my people's safety and security by discarding my wife."
"Does she know that?" Margaret asked. "You're not exactly close to your wife. It's no wonder she fears Mary so much and now with George born she has more reason to worry."
"What will you have me do Margaret?" Francis huffed in frustration. "Like you said I need Mary back at court to appease Elizabeth but I can't risk Eleanors' anger in case she'll go to her brother or to Rome regarding her fears."
"You'll try to reconcile with your wife." Margaret advised, "Then in time I'll go to Mary Stafford and invite her to court to assist Princess Catherine during the birth of her child. Eleanor will just assume I'm working against her by inviting Mary to distract you."
"It's an interesting plan but it doesn't give me a lot of time." Francis speculated, "Catherine has little over month before her own child is born."
"Then I suggest dear brother that you work fast in seducing your Queen." Margaret teased her brother playfully, "Don't you have the stomach for it?"
Francis chuckled at his sisters' comment. "It's not the case of having the stomach for it sweet sister but more of the case of having the heart to do it." Francis was beginning to realise it was more than simple lust that brought him to Mary. Francis believed that he was in love with her but he could never show it for fear that Mary would be quickly brought down as her sister before her.
King Henry was walking through the gardens reading a letter sent to him by his daughter Elizabeth. He didn't expect to receive a letter so soon and also suspected it to be a fake. However scanning through the letter he noticed an entire paragraph was crossed out. It was a sign that someone else had been reading Elizabeths' letter and crossed out the certain parts France didn't want the King of England to know therefore Henry believed the letter to be genuine. However he was surprised at the level of maturity Elizabeth displayed in her writing. She certainly had her mothers' way with words Henry thought with a smile.
He was so engrossed in what he was reading he barely noticed Anne Seymour approach him. "Your majesty?"
Henry looked up from his letter and quickly folded it placing the letter into his pocket. "What can I do for you Lady Hertford?"
"Nothing your majesty." Anne smiled kindly, "I was just wondering what has the King of England so engrossed that he is unable to take in the beauty around him."
Already Henry was suspicious of the womans' game but he decided to play along. "If you must know Lady Hertford I received a letter from my daughter the Princess Elizabeth."
"Really?" Anne tried to seem interested, "How is she enjoying France?"
"She likes it well enough madam." Henry said formally. "Though she misses England and she requests permission to write to her brother the Prince of Wales."
"I'm sure the little Prince will be thrilled." Anne smiled knowing that her husband and the Queen would be furious at the thought of Elizabeth writing to Edward. "The boy does get lonely sometimes."
"Do you visit him Lady Hertford?" For some reason Henry couldn't bring himself to use her name.
"I wanted the boy to meet his cousin. The Prince enjoys being around someone his own age." Anne remembered how they laughed together and she also remembered how the young Prince was almost reduced to tears when it was time for Ned to go home.
"Perhaps your son could be a companion to mine whilst you're away at court." Henry suggested thinking that would appease her enough to leave. "I'm surprised your husband hasn't suggested it himself."
"His attention gets drawn to other things." Anne said sadly.
Henry was beginning to lose his patience with this woman. "What is it do you actually want from me madam?"
"For starters your majesty I would preferred it if you called me by my Christian name." Anne noticed that since speaking to her King Henry had been unable to use it.
"I'm afraid I can't do that madam." He knew what she was trying to do and he would not insult his late wife's memory by allowing her to use her name to seduce him.
"You really do miss her don't you?" Anne could see the sadness in the King and doubted whether it was a good idea to seduce him in this way.
"I doubt you would understand." Henry had enough and intended to walk away.
However Anne had stopped him, "But I do." Remembering her early days with her husband, "Edward was my great love until the trappings court life turned him away from me and in my rage I hurt him. I don't think he loves me the same way as he did before for if he did he would have never asked me to seduce you." Anne had suddenly lost her composure and began to cry but suddenly remembered where she was and who she was speaking to. "I'm sorry your majesty, I didn't know what I was thinking. I'll leave you to your solitude."
Henry had every intention of letting her go but as he saw her wipe her face and put on her mask of indifference he was suddenly reminded of his Anne. The Anne he knew who used to walk around court as though she was indestructible even though her heart was breaking. "Lady Anne wait." Henry called out to Anne Seymour as she was walking away, "Whilst I can't promise you anything I can offer you my friendship. It's all I'm willing to give."
"If it's all the same to you your majesty I would prefer it." Anne Seymour shifted nervously, "I'm not used to making a fool I myself like this. I'm usually better than this but I guess my time away from court has left me out of practise."
"It's probably for the best Lady Anne." Henry said sincerely offering her his arm, "I'm tired of masks aren't you?"
"Yes your majesty," Anne took his arm and began to walk with him, "I really am." The truth was they both tired of the lies they told others. Whilst they knew they would never love each other as their great loves in the past but they would be content to be each others' friend.
Mary cradled her baby son George Stafford in her arms. She had no other choice for a name other than her deceased brother. She already named a daughter after Anne it was only fair that her brother should be remembered too. Deciding on a last name would prove to be difficult but she had already decided on Stafford mainly because she didn't like the names given to bastards as she thought it was cruel to single them out by adding Fitz to their names. Whilst everyone knew George was a bastard she would not subject him to that humiliation and she knew her deceased husband William wouldn't have minded as he never judged his wife for her past.
It was thinking of William that reminded her of how foolish she had been. Mary would have thought she would have learnt lessons from her past relationships but it was obvious that she was mistaken. She wondered what future awaited her son and she wondered what awaited her girls once news arrived at court of George's birth.
She didn't have to wait long as Brigitte announced the arrival of Margaret of Navarre. "Hello Lady Countess," Margaret smiled graciously at Mary and the baby, "I came to meet my nephew. May I hold him?" Mary was reluctant to hand her son over but she did so with great hesitance. Margaret observed the child in her arms with fondness, "He looks much like his father."
"Did his majesty send you?" Mary asked hopefully, "Does he acknowledge him?"
"I don't think my brother has a choice since you've displayed no interest in any man at court but him." Margaret continued to coo at the child.
"I never intended for this to happen my lady." Mary urgently made it clear that she didn't do this on purpose like most of court would believe. "Please believe me."
"Of course I believe you." Margaret eased Marys' worry. "You love Francis and this little one but convincing the court will be a different matter."
"I was under the impression that I wasn't allowed to return to court." Mary left court to protect Elizabeths' interests. "Has something happened to Elizabeth?"
"No, nothing's happened really." Margaret answered handing over George to his mother. "King Henry has sent your cousin Sir Francis Bryan to protect Elizabeth during her stay in France. Father and daughter even exchange letters."
"It's good that they are trying to reconcile." Although Mary didn't like King Henry particularly after he signed her siblings' death warrants she was glad for Elizabeths' sake that he was trying to make amends. Whether it was for political reasons or because he genuinely wanted to know his daughter only time would tell.
"There is however a worry amongst the French court that Elizabeths' loyalty could be divided between the French and the English." Margaret explained.
"You wish me to help?" Mary wasn't sure if she liked the idea. Mary wanted Elizabeth to have her own mind, not the Kings' and certainly not the Bishop of Rome's.
"My brother can't invite you to court publicly as it puts him at odds with Rome." Margaret didn't like the idea of Rome dictating the way in which Francis ruled his kingdom but getting Francis to agree with her always proved to be difficult. "However my brother needs you to secure this alliance between France and England. That's why I've issued the invitation for you to come to court myself. The Pope will just assume that I was the one to undermine his authority."
"It could place Elizabeth in more danger." Mary speculated.
"What's Sir Francis Bryan here for?" Margaret commented, "You do trust him to protect your niece don't you?"
"I do." Mary answered honestly. She believed King Henry made a great choice in selecting her cousin for Sir Francis Bryan was shrewd. Although Mary didn't like leaving her son behind with Brigitte she didn't have a choice. George was relatively safe in Boulogne whilst her girls were a different story. Mary didn't know what was going on at court during her absence but she was going to find out.