Queen Jane took a moment to inspect her ladies. They were all meticulously dressed and glimmering in jewels. She could tell that each lady had dressed in her best for this day, Jane herself certainly had. When she became queen her wardrobe had expanded exponentially and she had chosen a lovely pale lavender gown for today's festivities. She wanted to remind everyone present that she was royalty. Today was the day that her husband was welcoming his Princess Royal to court to meet his new Queen. Jane was excited to meet her little step-daughter, but less excited for the other new addition to court.
When Anne had signed the papers agreeing to an amicable divorce, Henry had allowed her to take some time to collect herself at her estate in Pembroke. Henry had also given permission for Elizabeth to travel from {} to Pembroke to spend some time with her mother away from court. Jane was glad Anne was able to spend time with her daughter after her ordeal in the tower. She was sure the woman was grateful to have escaped death and was able to hold her daughter close to her again. But today they would both be traveling to court, Elizabeth as a princess and Anne as a new lady in waiting.
Jane wondered how Anne would be received in her apartments. She had made it very clear to her sisters that Anne should be treated with the utmost respect and that she would not tolerate anyone making any trouble. She had written Anne to instruct her on what was needed and Anne had written back very cordially. The tone of her letter gave Jane hope that things would go smoothly in her household. She doubted there would ever be any warmth between them, but she would be grateful if there wasn't open hostility.
Her usher interrupted her thoughts announcing that her husband was entering the queens apartments. Jane rose gracefully from her vanity and turned to greet him. He strode in, greeting her ladies before his eyes fixed on her. She smiled brightly and sank into a curtsy, greeting her husband formally. He crossed to her and held his hand out, raising her and placing a kiss on her fingers muttering "My Queen". Ever since their moment deciding what to do after they had found out Anne's innocence, he had treated her with a new found respect. He had always liked having her on his arm, but ever since that day he had come to her for advice and had actually listened to her. If Jane had questioned her feelings for him before, this treatment made her realize her love for him. In the back of her mind she heard her brother's cutting voice telling her not to over reach herself.
"Do not mistake, Jane. You are on the throne for one purpose. You better conceive soon" Edward had spoken through gritted teeth the other night at dinner.
Thomas had nodded and had taken her hand more gently. "Have you had any signs that you might be carrying a son?" he had asked hopefully.
Jane had shaken her head and seen both of them look at her with disappointment. She and Henry had been trying, but after 3 months of marriage there was still no sign of an heir. She tried not to let this worry her. She and Henry were young and children would come with time. She knew that Henry was anxious to hear that she was carrying, but she couldn't make it happen before God's will.
Until that time she would encourage him to pay attention to the children that he already had. It was easy to convince him to send for Elizabeth, but the true challenge was Mary. Henry had stubbornly insisted that he would not welcome her to court until she renounced her mother and declared the marriage invalid. Jane had tried to make him see reason, but it lead to the first time he had spoken sharply to her.
The memory made her look sideways at him as he directed her through the corridors to the hall where they would welcome their guests. She knew that this man whom she had married could be very dangerous. She knew that she would have to be tactful when it came to trying to influence him. She had done well so far, but all she had to do was look at Anne to see that it was a very slippery slope back down. Bringing him back to his daughter though was worth the risk. She would just have to be patient and when the time was right, she was sure she could manage to bring them together.
She was snapped out of her thoughts when the entered the presence chamber and the whole of court sunk into bows. Henry led her up to the dais and set her into her throne. Jane looked out over her court and took a deep breath.
"HER HIGHNESS, THE PRINCESS ROYAL, PRINCESS ELIZABETH" The herald announced. The court sank again into their bows and revealed the toddler to Jane. She was a pretty little thing, done up in the Tudor colors of green and white. Her bright red hair stood out proclaiming to all that the lies that had been thrown against Anne accusing her of passing off a bastard as a princess were false.
The little girl made her way solemnly to the dais before stopping in front of her father and curtsying as gracefully as a grown woman. The girl was a picture of Anne and when she raised her face to Jane, she raised an eyebrow and it was like the former queen was looking straight into her. Ridiculously, Jane squirmed slightly under the toddlers gaze before the girl looked up at the king and broke into a grin. Henry smiled down at his daughter before sweeping her up into his arms, making her giggle.
"My darling, darling Elizabeth! Look at how beautiful you've become!" He exclaimed loudly before his court, breaking the formal ceremony to dote on his little daughter. The girl relished in the attention, and Jane was pleased to see that her mother hadn't poisoned her against Henry.
"Come," Henry whispered loudly into Elizabeth's ear. "I would like to introduce you to someone". He set her back on her feet and took her hand, facing her towards the dais and towards Jane. "Elizabeth, this is my wife, Queen Jane".
Elizabeth dutifully sank into a curtsy and paid her respects to her. "Your Majesty" the girl said quietly.
"You are very welcome to court, your highness" Jane responded, infusing her voice with as much warmth as possible. "I hope you enjoy your time spent with us." Elizabeth nodded and then glanced at her father for approval. Henry clapped a few times and gestured to the courtiers.
The room erupted into applause immediately and Jane was relieved that such a controversial meeting went through so easily. She took a deep breath and prepared herself for the hardest part of the day.