Anne Seymour was enjoying her little game at court. Most believed that she actually bedded the King but it was far from the truth. They chatted together played cards and went out hunting. Whilst they did spend the night together all they actually did was sleep. Anne held the King as he mourned the loss of his wife. It was a shame that Anne Seymour herself hadn't actually met the woman who consumed the King body and soul because she felt they would have been good friends. King Henry found Anne Seymours' company to be a comfort to him; she asked for nothing from him not even his love because she didn't want it which he found refreshing. They both found it humorous that most of court believed that more was going on between them then there actually was.

Queen Jane was furious and summoned her brother Edward to discuss this matter. What she didn't know was that Anne Seymour happened to be walking by and listened to their conversion. "How could you?" Anne was surprised at the anger shown in her sister in-laws' voice. Jane always seemed like a mouse to Anne. Jane continued to rave at her brother, "It's bad enough you humiliated our father with those lies about his affair with Catherine now you seek to humiliate me as well."

Anne scowled at the mention of Edwards' first wife. It was no surprise to Anne that Jane preferred Catherine as her brothers' wife as they were both alike weak and timid. Edward didn't want hear about his former wife either, "You're still never going to let that go are you?"

"No I'm not Edward." Jane snapped, "It was because of that little scandal my betrothal got cancelled."

"You should be thanking me for that little scandal sister," Edward snarled, "because if it never happened you would have had to marry some country squire and not be Queen of England as your are now." Anne couldn't help but smile at her husbands' comment it was so easy for Jane to forget that fun fact.

"At least then I might have been happy." Jane snapped, "At least then I wouldn't have to worry about my husband bedding that whore of a wife of yours!"

"Be careful Jane." Edward growled at his sister, "You maybe Queen but I will not tolerate you speaking of my wife in that way." Anne was shocked that her husband would defend her so.

Apparently Anne wasn't the only one shocked by this development. "You still love her." Jane was unable to believe it. "This woman has humiliated our family at every turn and you still love her."

"You can never understand Jane because you have never been in love." Edward said coldly and walked away. Fortunately Edward didn't see Anne hiding in the shadows still surprised at this new development. Anne had always assumed that her husband had stopped loving her but here he was arguing with the Queen of England. Anne wondered whether she should come clean with Edward about her relationship with the King but she was torn. King Henry had become a dear friend to her and she was worried that if she told the truth to Edward he would try to use her friendship to gain favour with the King. She knew King Henry didn't like to be used and she didn't want use him in that way. Perhaps if she spoke to the King on this matter maybe he could help her.

Catherine De Medici had just gone into labour. The royal family were awaiting news privately but for some reason Elizabeth was allowed to wait with them along with her protector Sir Francis Bryan. When he first got this assignment he didn't like it, he wasn't a governess like his mother but it had soon gotten better once his cousin returned to court. It wasn't that he didn't like Elizabeth for she was an intelligent child but he felt he would be more effective mingling in court looking for potential enemies.

Queen Eleanor was a possible threat, Elizabeth had told him of the time the girl had once requested to write to her sister in Spain however the Queen refused to help her. Thankfully the Queen had little power in France though Francis Bryan knew she had been sending secret letters to her brother herself. However they weren't as secret as the Queen thought as King Francis had read every single one before sending them onto his brother in-law the Emperor. Sir Francis thought it was no different from King Henry and Katherine of Aragons' relationship, Eleanor couldn't see anymore than her Aunt could at the time that their allegiance to Spain had a damaging effect on their marriages. Neither King Henry nor King Francis could trust a wife who put Spain first before their husband.

Another potential threat was Diane De Poitier the Dauphins' mistress. Sir Francis Bryan had her maids spy on her and what they reported wasn't good. She resented Elizabeths' close relationship with Catherine and she hated Mary for advising Catherine on how to get Prince Henrys' attention. However Diane was patient, she knew she wasn't well liked in court and was just waiting for the day her lover would be King so that she would be Queen in every way but name. It was for this reason the King had her watched but Sir Francis knew the King couldn't live forever. Should Prince Henry succeed his father that would be the end of Elizabeths' protection regardless of her close relationship to Catherine.

Sir Francis observed as the Dauphin walked in with Diane at his side much to the disgust of his father. However it was Margaret of Navarre who spoke, "What is she doing here nephew?"

"I don't see the problem." Prince Henry waved off his Aunt arrogantly, "After all Fathers' mistress is in the birthing room." This comment caused Elizabeth to clench her fists in anger. She was beginning to understand the term mistress and whilst she wasn't happy that her Aunt Mary would be one it was her own choice. At least Aunt Mary tried to be discreet but Elizabeth saw how Diane enjoyed tormenting Catherine with the knowledge that she had Prince Henrys' love. Although Catherine managed to shrug off Diane's cruel comments with some sharp words of her own, in private when no one else was around she allowed her grief to show. Elizabeth accidently walked in on Catherine once during this time and learned a valuable lesson in showing your enemy no weakness.

Margaret answered coldly, "Mary Stafford is with Catherine because your wife requested it. However Catherine didn't request for Diane to be present when she risks her life giving birth to your first child."

Prince Henry was about to argue but King Francis interrupted him, "I may have had mistresses whilst your mother was carrying you and your siblings but I was never insensitive enough to invite one to accompany me whilst I awaited your births. Now dismiss Diane or I'll have my guards personally throw her out." King Francis glared angrily at his son.

"Did the Dauphine request his presence too?" Diane waved spitefully in Sir Francis Bryans' direction. "Everyone knows of his reputation and how he paid close attention to the Dauphine the last time he was in France."

"You better not be implying what I think you're implying because if you are I will not hesitate to have you arrested for treason." King Francis threatened.

"Plus what you're implying is highly improbable as I was out of the country during the happy event." Sir Francis Bryan commented slyly to Prince Henry, "Though I'm slightly surprised that you would allow your own mistress to insinuate that you're so incapable of producing a child of your own that she would accuse others of doing it for you."

Prince Henry growled at the comment and turned to Diane angrily. "Leave Diane."

Diane panicked, "Henry, I only meant…"

"I said leave!" Everyone was shocked no one had ever seen the Dauphin snap at his mistress like that.

As Diane left the room Elizabeth tugged on Sir Francis Bryans' sleeve and asked quietly, "What did you mean when you said to Prince Henry…"

"I tell you when you're older Princess." Sir Francis hushed urgently. If his cousin Mary heard anything about his comments to the Dauphin in front of Elizabeth she would kill him. It was very rare for Mary to lose her temper but when she did there would be hell to pay.

Anne Seymour was playing cards with the King. Henry noticed that Anne was distracted by something as it was the fifth hand she had lost in a row. "Is there something wrong?"

"My sister in-law is not very happy with me." Anne placed her cards on the table giving up on the game.

"It never bothered you before." Henry knew Anne wasn't very fond of the Queen for her own personal reasons and it had nothing to do with Jane's position in court. Anne Seymour tended to avoid talking about her for fear the King would assume that she was assisting the Seymour's in gaining more power.

"I overheard her saying vile things about me which normally wouldn't bother me except for some reason my husband decided to defend me." Anne was still confused by Edwards' actions as she always assumed his feelings for her died years ago.

"I thought you would have been pleased." Henry knew Anne still had feelings for her husband and never held it against her. "I'm kind of envious actually. You still have the opportunity to win back your love's heart whilst I know there is nothing on this earth that could bring my Anne back to me."

Anne reached over the table and squeezed the Kings' hand in comfort. "I'm sorry your majesty that was insensitive of me. Do you wish to talk about it?"

"No Lady Anne." Henry was grateful for her support and wished to return the favour. "You never told me of how you and your husband came to be married."

"It's kind of embarrassing really." Anne smiled staring down at her cards. "He divorced his first wife to be with me."

"I don't see how that's embarrassing." Henry knew divorce wasn't usually that common but knew he didn't have room to judge.

"You'll see why when I tell you the name of his first wife." Anne shuffled the cards distractedly then looked at the King of England. "Her name was Catherine."

Henry couldn't help but laugh at the coincidence. "What was she like?"

"Pious, timid and bored Edward to tears." Anne explained, "Edward and I were more suited on a intellectual level. Unfortunately the rest of his family didn't see it that way."

"They were against the match?" Henry asked curiously.

"Why your majesty the Seymour's were a good catholic family." Anne smirked. "Of course they were against the match but after your own annulment to Katherine of Aragon we finally had the courage to act on our own feelings. Edward divorced his wife on grounds that she had been having the affair with her father in-law and sent her to a convent much to the family's horror."

"And did she?" Henry was surprised that this scandal had never been mentioned to him when he was courting Jane though it didn't surprise him. Back then he would never have heard anything bad said about his sweet Jane. Henry couldn't help but berate himself for his foolishness. At least with Anne Boleyn he had six years to get to know her before their marriage whilst with Jane he had hardly had anytime at all and what he did find later there wasn't much worth knowing as far as he was concerned.

"Honestly I don't know." It didn't matter to Anne whether Catherine did or didn't as long Anne and Edward were together. "Though Edwards' father did leave her something in his will which I know Edward disputed against. I know Jane never believed it and blamed me for everything but that's hardly surprising since any marriage prospects she once had were soon ended after that scandal."

"Until she met me." Henry never questioned it at the time on how Jane was still unmarried. She wasn't that much younger than his Anne at the time but he was so blinded by infatuation for her that he missed certain details. "Jane should be thanking you both for that incident."

"That's what Edward said when he was defending me." Anne sighed, thinking of her husband. Henry then knew he had to make it right for his friend as it was clear that she missed her husband. However he wasn't going to do it by throwing money and titles at him as it was those very things that tore the couple apart in the first place. Henry decided to talk to Edward directly and learn more about this man and see if he was worthy of his favour.

Catherine tried to hold back a scream in pain. Mary Stafford placed a damp cloth on the Dauphines forehead to sooth her but she didn't want to be soothed Catherine wanted this child out of her. "I don't know why I wanted one of these so much. If I knew it was going to be like this I would cut off Henrys'… Ahhh!" She screamed out in agony.

Some of the ladies who hadn't had child before were shocked at Catherine's outburst regarding her husband but others like Mary who knew what it was like weren't so shocked. Anyone who was there for George Staffords' birth would assume Mary was plotting treason with all the vile things she said about Francis at the time but then she remembered what it was like shortly after George was born. "Trust me Catherine you'll forget all about it once the child is in your arms. Now push!"

Catherine tried then fell back exhausted, "I can't take much more of this. Can't you do it for me?"

"Oh no Catherine." Mary teased dabbing a wet cloth on her friends' face. "I've already had mine and no one pushed for me. Now it's your turn."

"The child's almost here your highness." The midwife encouraged. "Just one more."

"You said that the last time!" Catherine screamed.

"Come one Catherine." Mary encouraged, "You're a Medici and Medici's don't give up." Catherine gave one final push and a few moments let out a sigh in relief as a child let out an almighty wail. The midwife and the doctor checked over the infant who handed the child over to Mary who then carried the baby to the mothers' waiting arms. "It's a healthy boy your Grace."

Catherine looked at the lovely boy in her arms and wept tears of joy. Mary was right she had completely forgotten about the pain and her attention was solely focused on her newborn son. She barely noticed her husband and the King enter the room."You've done well daughter in-law." King Francis smiled at his new grandson. "The whole of France is proud of you."

For so long Catherine awaited those words but there were nothing compared to what she had felt when he husband approached her in awe. "May I hold him?" Catherine nodded and placed the baby into his fathers' arms. Henry looked at his son in pride. "A most handsome boy indeed."

"Like his father." Catherine said quietly not realising that she said it out loud but Henry noticed and smiled at his wife.

"What will you call him?" Elizabeth asked standing next to her Aunt Mary gazing at the new Prince fondly.

Catherine honestly didn't know. She knew that if she had a daughter she was going to name her Elizabeth but a son Catherine knew her husband and father in-law would decide. Catherine awaited her husbands' decision and Henry finally answered looking towards the King for approval, "Francis after his grandfather."

King Francis smiled at his son pleased with his choice. "A fine choice for a fine Prince." For the first time in a long time there was peace in the Valois family and it was all thanks to the little Prince's arrival. No one knew how long it was going to last but they were going to enjoy it for as long as possible.