Mary sat in her desolate chamber and fingered the edges of the papers in her hand. This was the first letter she had received that wasn't just a curt note from one of her fathers minions demanding that she submit and take the oath. Her hand involuntarily tightened at the thought of the vile oath and her fingers crinkled the pages. She immediately moved to smooth them, and she took a moment to re-read the first few lines.
Su Alzeta...la bruja ha perdido su poder...la reina Jane le ayudará...
Ambassador Chapuys' words uplifted her as they were the first kind words she had received in a long time. She knew that the ambassador had been a steadfast friend to her mother and she was unbelievably thankful to the new queen for allowing her to receive this letter. That witch, Anne, would never have approved of such a letter.
Mary had been livid when she had heard that Anne had managed to escape death-that her father had forgiven her. How on earth had her father fallen under her spell again? That whore had slept with half of the court, bewitched her father, and poisoned her mother! The whole country was raging against her and yet she had walked away unscathed. Mary grit her teeth thinking about the humiliations she had to face because Anne Boleyn had been born. The witch had ruined all their lives and Mary couldn't believe that God had allowed her to survive.
At least the bitch wasn't queen anymore. The only consolation Mary took when she got the news of Anne's release was that she wouldn't have to sign the oath and that she wouldn't have to pay her respects to little Elizabeth-not that she hated her little sister, but serving her was degrading. She was devastated when she heard that the marriage had not been annulled and that Elizabeth was to keep her title. Her heart broke when she realized that her father had abandoned her despite being free from Anne and still showered affection on her daughter. She had wept bitter tears that night and now those tears threatened to rise again.
She choked them down as she gripped the letter in her hands again. The physical sign that her station was improving. Her father had allowed the ambassador to write to her and it was due to the queens pressuring. The snake might still be at court, but her savior was also there, wielding influence. Although Mary was ecstatic to receive the letter that was filled with encouraging words, it still came bearing terrible news.
The emperor was no longer pushing for her restoration to the line of succession.
Chapuys had made it clear that with the king's new marriage and the ever-growing threat from France, her cousin could no longer afford to alienate England. The King's marriage to the Lady Jane had ended the insulting union to Anne and Charles was willing to reach out a hand in friendship. With Jane's encouragement, Henry had accepted but made it very clear that any negotiations involving Mary were unwelcome.
Her father's cruelty shocked her. Without the harlot's influence, she thought that he would soften towards her, bringing her to court and possibly restoring her rightful title as Princess. How hurt she was when she was proven incorrect. Her father was if anything, more insistent with his demands to take the oath. It was with this in mind that Chapuys advised her to comply. She couldn't believe that he was joining in the multitude that were bullying her to repudiate her mother and give up her rights.
Her strong mother had died declaring her title as the true Queen of England and Mary's true status as the only heir to the throne. Mary couldn't betray her memory by giving up, even if it would soften her father to her. Mary had to believe that her father still loved her and wanted her to be with him as she should be-his true born daughter. She knew her father would prefer for her to obey him, but she knew him well enough to know that he appreciated strength. Surely he would see her firm belief of her rights and admire her tenacity. Surely he would realize how much of a true Tudor she was. Surely he would see that until Jane gave him a son, a strong, willful daughter was better than whatever offspring Anne gave him. Surely he would see that. He had to.