Mary knocked on the heavy door in front of her, and was greeted with a reply from a silken voice from inside.
"Come in."
Anne Boleyn sat by the fireplace, with a sleeping, red-headed baby swaddled in her arms.
"You wanted to see me?" Mary asked, rubbing her foot on the back of her opposite ankle.
"Yes. Come sit down." Anne patted the floor next to her. Mary cautiously did so, her shoulders tense and her eyes curiously watching her stepmother.
"I have a letter from your mother." Anne whispered, causing Mary's eyes to light up.
"You can't be serious."
Anne opened the book next to her and pulled out an envelope hidden in its pages. The flawless script denoting "Mary" on the front undeniably belonged to her mother.
Mary looked hesitantly between Anne and the letter she held out to her.
"What's the catch?"
"There's no catch, Mary. I'm trying to help you." Anne said, placing the envelope on Mary's lap. "I know your father has been harsh on you."
"No thanks to you." Mary responded bitterly. Anne sighed, but tried to remain patient.
"He listens to me about as well as he does to you, I promise."
"I don't know about that." Mary said, crossing her arms and leaning back.
"Father had so many mistresses, but only one he was willing to break from the Church for."
Anne bit her lip and considered the girl in front of her before responding.
"Maybe you're right. The point is, I want to help you. Maggie and I, we think we can get letters to and from your mother."
"Really?"
Anne nodded and passed the envelope back towards Mary, who finally accepted. As she went to open it, she looked back at Anne.
"Father won't know?"
"I swear."
Mary nodded, content, and tucked the letter under her arm. Suddenly, her eyes fell to the baby girl in Anne's arms.
Her stepmother looked up with the ghost of a smile.
"Do you want to hold her?"