"I have found you a midwife" Edward told Jane.
Jane looked up at her brother in surprise. "A midwife? I have not missed my courses, Edward. What good would a midwife do me until I am pregnant?"
Edward gripped Jane's arm and pulled her roughly to the other end of the room so that there was no chance of her ladies eavesdropping. "How can we be sure you are not doing something wrong?!" He hissed into her ear, his fingers tightening painfully. "Or that there's not something wrong with you?" Jane flinched at his words. "I should have had you examined before your marriage, but it's too late now. You will be monitored by Mistress Sharpe and she will remain in your household until you give Henry a nursery full of sons!"
"Won't the addition cause rumors that I'm already pregnant?" Jane countered. "If word gets back to Henry and he finds out its not true, he'll be furious! I can already tell he's disappointed I haven't conceived yet - that disappointment will turn to anger if we call attention to the fact that it's taking so long."
"Don't you think I've already considered that?" Edward sneered and Jane lowered her eyes, her confidence leaving her. "Mistress Sharpe will pose as just another lady in waiting to YOUR HIGHNESS. She is well paid for her discretion, but you must listen to her, Jane! You giving birth to a prince is the most important thing! How long will the king keep you if you prove barren? You will be cast aside just like Anne. Only you won't be the mother to a princess, just a discarded whore."
As Edward left, Jane glared after him. Her brother's ambition had only gotten worse as her time as queen went on. The way he spoke to her was insulting and disrespectful. Jane could remember her calm, quiet brother who had always reprimanded Thomas when he had pulled her hair. Where was that gentle boy? How had he turned into such a cruel man?
But his words were not wrong. Jane could feel Henry slipping away from her with each day that she didn't announce a pregnancy. After they had dealt with the 'Anne' issue together, Henry had begun treating her with more respect. He had never been cruel to her, but Jane could tell that before that time he didn't think her capable of critically thinking through problems. He had asked her opinions and had truly listened to her for a while. She had even convinced him to allow the ambassador Chapuys to reach out to Princess Mary!
Now she could tell he didn't want to hear her anymore. She was back to being a pretty face sitting next to him at banquets. Without an heir in her belly, Jane was not in Henry's thoughts. She knew it was only a matter of time before he took a mistress, if he hadn't already. She had seen the way his eyes had followed Anne this morning at their mid-day meal and she prayed with all she had that he would not seek her out to be in his bed again.
Things had settled between the women. There was a sense of peace in her rooms and if Henry managed to stir up old feelings for Anne it would ruin everything.