The whole Court was in the mourning three months for their beloved Queen who gave her life to gift them a Prince. The King didn't leave his rooms for a month. The only people who were allowed to see him were his fool, Princess Mary, and Anne. Henry didn't even bother to see his infant son or to run his country. He spent most of his time drinking and self-pitying. After a month, Anne had enough.

"You have to leave your chambers, Henry!" She told him in a sharp voice.

"I can't Anne." He replied in barely audible tone. That wasn't the man she knew just a month ago. He looked very unity and like he hasn't shaved since his wife's death. His chambers were very dark and the most of the furniture was destroyed.

"And why you can't?"

"When she died, she took my heart with her." Anne wanted to roll her eyes at his respond. Everybody knew that he hadn't practically cared for Jane during her lifetime. He spent more time with his mistresses than with her, he even wanted Anne to be his mistress. Now when she died giving him his greatest desire she was the love of his life. That was so typically Henry.

"Do you think that she would be happy to see you like this? You are the King! People want to see their sovereign! Your son has grown and you didn't even saw him! Your eldest daughter is getting married in a two months! You must continue your life!"

"You don't understand it, Anne!" He barked.

"Because I never lost anyone?"She replied in mock tone and left him. Three days later the King has appeared at the Court.

/

"Mama!" Elizabeth rushed in her mother's chambers. They haven't seen each other for almost three months.

"My darling." Anne swept her daughter in her arms. Behind her Edward, who held their son in his arms, chuckled.

"Carefully Your Highness, you don't want to knock down your mother, do you?"

"Of course, I don't want, that would be a very wicked thing to do," Elizabeth replied in her sweet voice and hugged her stepfather. Both Edward and Anne noticed how much has she grown since their last meeting. Her once blonde hair gained reddish highlights.

"Hello, Ed." Elizabeth said and kissed her brother's head who gurgled happily at the sight of his sister.

"He is a lot bigger than the last time I saw him."

"Babies grow very fast my darling," Anne explained.

"I noticed, my other brother Edward has grown very much too, but he is a lot smaller than Ed. Mama, I think that it is very silly that the both of my brothers are named Edward."

"It is a little silly darling, but we call our Edward, Ed so that there is no confusion with your stepfather or your youngest brother."

"Perhaps we could call my nephew Ned? What do you think Princess?" Edward asked his stepdaughter

"That would be very nice. I am sure that he would like it very much," Elizabeth smiled

"I am a lucky woman to have so thoughtful husband." Anne teased

"Princess, do you remember when I told you to be careful not to knock down your mother?"Edward asked and Elizabeth nodded

"Well, you don't have to be careful next time. It would be very entertaining to see her knocked down."He told her with a smile and young girl gasped at his words.

"That would be the very rude thing to do and the Princesses can't be rude."

"Your stepfather is just jesting. Aren't you darling?"

"That depends if you continue to tease me, then the most centrally I am not joking."

"Mother teases you?" Young Princess asked

"Constantly Your Highness."

"That isn't nice. If you were younger, you would be sent to bed without a dinner," Elizabeth scolded her mother and Anne had to bite inside of her cheek to keep a straight face.

"I will try to be nice like you, my dear. Are you excited because of Mary's wedding?"

"I am a little sad because she is leaving; she tells me very nice stories."

"Every Princess has to marry one day, but that is very happy occasion."

"Will I marry too?"

"You will one day, but not for many years."

"And I will have the feast and the joust like Mary."

"Of course, and let me tell you a secret, you will have a much grander feast."

/

At the feast in the honor of her upcoming wedding, Princess Mary was dressed in a splendid red gown which was beautifully ornated. She also decided to wear her father's gift, a beautiful necklace with a three large flat-cut rubies set in brilliant-cut diamond clusters. Her hair was curled and bejeweled with a small ruby tiara. When people looked at her they saw the Queen she will be one day. Henry was very proud of his eldest daughter who was the credit to him in every way. During the years, they had their differences, but he couldn't deny that she was a perfect Princess and that he loved her very much. Everybody could see how happy was Mary when the King decided to share the first dance with her. She was a graceful dancer and it was a joy to dance with her. Many people whispered that all this happened thanks to the kindness of late Queen Jane.

Mary was very happy that she will finally become the wife and the mother. She spent many hours on her knees thanking God for this blessing. In three days she will sail toward her new home, France. Her mother always wanted a Spanish marriage for her, but at this point, Mary was grateful that she will have any match at all. She only hoped that her husband will treat her kindly.

Henry smiled at his daughter, but he grimaced slightly when he noticed Viscount and Viscountess Beauchamp dancing next to them. Anne looked beautiful in a deep green gown and she wore a necklace about which the whole Court buzzed for a weeks. Apparently it was a gift from her husband for their first anniversary. Henry had to admit that it as fit for a Queen. It was a magnificent necklace with the thick circular band of the necklace encrusted with diamond baguettes interspersed with round brilliant-cut diamonds. Seven floral motifs arise from the lower side of this band, which take the form of seven pendants. The largest of this floral pendant is situated along the median line of the necklace, and is encrusted with two large emeralds, a rectangular-shaped smaller emerald at the base, and an elongated oval or drop-shaped emerald in the center of the pendant, which is the largest emerald in the necklace. Both emeralds are surrounded by symmetrically placed leaf and floral motifs, encrusted with diamonds of different shapes.

This gift could rival gifts which he gave her during their marriage.

The more he looked at the happy couple the more he felt jealousy. He wanted Anne for himself, they belong together. His Council was pushing him to marry again and he knew that he will give in soon, but he promised to himself that Anne will become his mistress. She has to!

/

Henri, Dauphin of France lay in the bed with his longtime mistress Diane de Poitiers after they made love. He couldn't keep his eyes off her. She looked like a true goddess with her beautiful hair which looked like a gold, fair skin without any blemishes and crystal blue eyes. Many people disapproved their relationship because of her age, but she was the only woman he will ever love. He knew that his future wife will sail toward France in just a three short days, but he couldn't force himself to give up Diane. She was the only person who could understand him truly.

"What is on your thoughts my love?" Diane asked and snuggled closer

"I am thinking about my future wife." He explained and scowled at the word wife.

"I heard that she is a lovely girl and that she is very intelligent."

"I heard that too, but her legitimacy is bothering me."

"King Henry announced that she is legitimate because his marriage to her mother was in good faith."

"One moment she is illegitimate and the next she is not."

"Don't worry about that, my love."

"I wish I could marry you."

"But you can't. You must marry her and produce an heir the soonest you can."

AN: I want to thank you all for your reviews, they really motivate me. Next time we will see Mary's wedding and Henry will start to look for a bride. I hope that you liked this chapter. Review, please.