"Welcome back to court, Princess Mary", said Anne as she sat on her throne on the dais in the King's presence chamber. She stood to raise Mary up from her curtsey and kissed her warmly on both cheeks. "I trust your journey was not a difficult one?". "There was some bad flooding because of the melting ice, but we managed well enough", said Mary. "And are you well, daughter?", Henry asked jovially, as he also rose from the dais to kiss her in greeting. "Very well, Sire", said Mary smiling at him. "And trusting that Your Majesties are the same". The door from the King's privy chamber opened and Lady Bryan appeared, holding the hand of Princess Elizabeth. Anne turned to her daughter and smiled. "Ah, Elizabeth. Come and greet your sister". Elizabeth wiped her eyes and beamed. She had just been awoken from the nap she had been allowed to take in the King's own bed. She hurried over and dipped Mary a curtsey. "Good day, sister!", she chirped brightly. "Was your journey as long as mine was?". Anne, Henry, Mary, and the assembled courtiers laughed. "I am sure it was", said Mary, still chuckling at the precociousness of her little sister.
The Princesses had returned to court for the Easter celebrations and would remain at court until the May Day festivities. Easter at court was almost as merry as Christmastide had been. Anne, Princess Mary, and Princess Elizabeth wore matching gowns of bright green damask and cloth of silver, courtesy of the Queen. Anne's sister Mary had returned to court after being churched and had played Mary Mother of God in a masque that depicted Jesus being raised up from the dead. There was dancing and celebration, and savory foods, and the best wine. Anne danced with her daughter and stepdaughter as the King watched and clapped his hands to the beat of the music. Archbishop Cranmer had preached a wonderful sermon on Easter Sunday, that stirred everyone…everyone with the exception of Princess Mary perhaps, as she disapproved of the removal of the Mass, and the English service and prayers instead of the Latin. Anne had enjoyed a spirited debate with Princess Mary in her rooms later about the English service and English Bible. Anne had won the round using the logic that if Jesus himself chose fishermen to be his apostles, surely the fishermen on the Thames deserved to understand the scriptures as well.
The night after Easter the King had come to Anne's bed. As much as Anne had reveled in his love and esteem of her, she hated that she still had to resort to slut's tricks to even cause so much as a stir in his manhood. Yet somehow, he believed he was still young and lusty! It was sad that her life had come to this. Elizabeth had been conceived in a sweaty, searing passion only five years before. Then, Henry had inspired such desire in her during their love making. Now, after his leg injury and all of the weight he gained, Anne knew she would never again feel her body stir like that. So, once again, she had to rear above him and work him like a whore in a bawdy house. Once again, she had to sigh and moan as if she was in the throes of ecstasy, rather than in a contemptuous determination. Once again, her efforts were under rewarded with a small spattering of his seed that would surely never take root in her womb. And, once again, she felt a bit of a draft in her rooms and ordered "more wood to be brought to her fires". Every week at least once, the King would come to her bed. Every week, at least once, she ordered Edmund Stafford to her, to spill his seed into the vial, which she would immediately insert into her private parts, hoping to become with child. She missed her course in the end of April and then again towards the end of May.
Anne smiled to herself in her privy closet as she knelt in prayer. Thank God it is so, she prayed. Thank God I am once again with child. She sent one of her maid servants to fetch her sister Mary. Mary came at once. "What is it Nan?", she asked. "Is everything alright?". Anne could barely contain her triumphant smile. It tickled on the side of her mouth, threatening to overcome her. "Everything is more than alright", said Anne calmly. "I have missed my course again. I am with child". Mary made a delighted squeal and hugged her. "Oh Nan! Is it really so? God be praised!". Anne could contain her smile no longer. "Have you told the King yet?", asked Mary. Anne shook her head. "No, not yet. I will tell him when he is finished with the Privy Council meeting". "And you must tell George, and our father, and our mother. And I suppose Uncle Howard will want to know. They will all be so pleased!", Mary added, excited. Anne clapped her hand to her head. "I should have called George to me to tell the both of you together!". "Come, let us go and find him", said Mary, taking Anne by the hand.
The two women left Anne's privy chamber to enter the presence chamber where some musicians were playing, and ladies were singing and chattering. They all stood to curtsey as Anne entered. She nodded to them and gestured that they could carry on as they were. She crooked her finger at one of her page boys who immediately came to her and bowed. "Your Grace". "I need you to find out where my brother George is and tell him to come attend me at once". He bowed and was off. Several minutes later, George and his wife Jane were announced and appeared in the doorway. Anne beckoned them over at once. She noticed that Jane was trying, and failing, to cover up a scowl. She was also holding a folded-up piece of parchment. The two of them executed their respective deferential bow and curtsey. "Your Majesty", they greeted her in unison. Anne gestured that they should follow her back to her privy chamber. Once inside she turned and smiled at them. "I have some news", she began. "What is it Anne?", asked Jane rudely. "George and I were quite busy just now". Anne arched an eyebrow at her insolence. "Anne may be your sister-in-law, but she is also your Queen", said Mary reprovingly. "You must show the proper respect!".
"We were not so busy anyway", said George dismissively. "What news have you, Anne?". "I have missed my course twice", she beamed triumphantly. "I am with child". "Oh Anne!", George exclaimed. He pulled her to him and kissed her full on the lips. "You will be the most revered matron of the Tudor Dynasty! Even more than My Lady the King's Grandmother, Margaret Beaufort was in her day!". Jane eyed Anne jealously, but no one seemed to really notice. After all, it was normal for siblings to kiss in greeting or upon the telling of good news. "Is it not the best news?!", Mary exclaimed, sharing George's joy. "The best", he agreed. "Have you told the King yet?". Anne shook her head. "I will go to him once I have had word that the Privy Council meeting has finished". He nodded. "Anne, if you have another son, you will be invincible. You will cement our family's power". "I know", said Anne seriously. "But for once, I do not think the King will mind much if I have a girl. I have already given him a legitimate Prince". "We will still pray for a Prince", George decided. "Of course", Anne agreed easily. He hugged her to him again and then noticed his wife's sour face.
"Why do you look as if you've been sucking on lemons?", he demanded. Jane put her parchment down on the nearby table and clasped her hands in front of her skirts. "I have no idea what you mean", she answered tersely. "Are you not happy that Anne is with child? We go onward and upward because of her, and if she bears a son, I've no doubt I will be made a Duke, making you a Duchess. Yet, you look as if you've eaten meat that has gone off". "It is my time of the month, Sir George", she retorted. "I am having pains". He nodded. "Mayhap you should go and lie down. Have one of your ladies make you a draft so you can rest". "I would almost take that as husbandly concern if I did not know that you just want me away!", Jane barked. George threw up his hands in frustration. "Madam, I know not what you would have from me! One moment you say that I never see to your care, and then when I express concern, you tell me it is to rid myself of you!". Anne had no intention of hearing any marital quarrels to dampen her mood. She put a hand up to silence the angry response that was no doubt about to erupt from her sister-in-law. "Jane, don't", said Anne authoritatively. "Mary knows someone who can make you a tincture for the pain. Why don't you show her Mary?". A command disguised as a question. Mary restrained a sigh and bade Jane to follow her back to her rooms.
George shook his head once he and Anne were alone. "I don't know what's wrong with that woman", he sighed. Anne shook her head too. In truth, she had no idea either. But she was almost certain she was lying about the feminine pains. She had the slightest memory of speaking with Jane just two weeks prior and she had complained about her courses. "Come on", Anne instructed, holding her hand out to him. He took it and followed her to her bedchamber where she sat on her big bed of state and motioned for him to do the same. George came and sprawled himself across the silken sheets as if he would sleep. "What were the two of you up to before I sent for you anyway?", Anne asked. "Jane made it seem as if I interrupted something important". For a moment, only a moment, George glanced away furtively. "Oh, it was nothing. We were discussing something of minor import. You did not disturb us". Anne smirked. She lay back on the bed on her side and turned him to her. She looked directly into the dark eyes that were so like hers. "George, I'll not have you lying to me. What was it, really?". He looked uncomfortable. "She…she wanted to talk about having a child".
Anne nodded. George and his wife had been married for more than ten years and had had no children. George shrugged. "She says I never come to her bed. I cannot argue. It's true. I can hardly bear to go to her bed". He laughed. "I can hardly even bear the scent of her terrible perfume! Whenever I scent it in the air I think of her and lose my appetite". Anne sighed and lay on her back. Of course, George would have no idea whether Jane was really having her courses or not. He abstained from her bed whether or not she had her courses anyway. "George, I know she's vile. But she is your wife. You have to do your duty. And you are our father's only heir. You must have a son". "You have a son and so does Mary", George pointed out. "Father could easily have them as heirs". "George!", Anne exclaimed, aghast. "They are not Boleyns! My son is a Tudor Prince, and Mary's is a…Carey". The paternity of Mary's son Henry was always debatable, as he was born towards the end of her affair with the King. Certainly, he had the golden curls and blue grey eyes of the Plantagenets; nothing like the dark eyes and dusty brown hair of William Carey, Mary's first husband. George looked at Anne seriously. "Nan, believe me, I would love to have a son of my own, or a daughter. I just…I can't imagine having a child with Jane". Anne noted the anguish on his face. "She's like a Devil, Anne. I really think she's quite evil. What if our child looked like her? Or inherited her vileness? I really don't dare to get her with child".
Anne reached out and gently touched her brother's cheek, sympathy written all over her face. "Oh George". He closed his eyes at her touch. He knew that she understood what it was like to be married to someone who disgusted you more often than not. But unlike him, Anne did her duty, even if she had to degrade herself to do it. Anne hated having to do all the things she had to do to get the King to reach his pleasure. She was right. He should take her example and do his duty to his wife and his family. Despite his aversion, it wouldn't kill him to visit his wife's bed at least once a week. Suddenly, the door to Anne's bedchamber opened. They turned their surprised heads to see Jane standing in the doorway. She was looking at them in a way Anne had never seen before. It was as if she had caught them doing something wrong. "I came back to retrieve the letter from my surveyor", said Jane without any inflection. "I didn't see the two of you and then I heard voices from the Queen's bedchamber. I wanted to make sure that you were okay, Your Grace. And I see that you are more than okay". She sketched the briefest of curtsies and turned to walk away. Anne and George exchanged glances. "What was that all about?", Anne asked once she had gone. "Why did she look at us like that?". George shrugged. "I am sure your guess is as good as mine".