A few weeks after Anne had given birth, Prince Richard was dispatched to Eltham Palace to share his brother Edward's nursery. Anne had begun to lose some of the weight she had gained from her pregnancy, but her hips had widened slightly. Henry said that he liked this change however, and Anne hardly cared at all. Why should she? She was untouchable now. And really, it did suit her. She had always been lithe and slim, but this new voluptuous body was a marvel that turned heads in the court. As soon as she was churched, Anne had sent immediately for her language tutors and had already began working on refining her Latin and learning Italian and Welsh. The King was completely devoted to her, and during the times when he took to his bed due to his leg injury, she presided over Privy Council meetings in his stead. As he had predicted, George was indeed made a Duke in his own right in addition to being the heir of their father's dukedom, and her Uncle Howard had been granted a new London house in The Strand. Lady Bryan had written frequently at Anne's behest to let her know how her infant son was faring.
Four months passed, and Prince Richard was still thriving and healthy. Anne went as often as time permitted her to visit her sons at Eltham Palace. She was glad that she would always be able to visit them so easily. Normally, Prince Edward would have had to be sent to Wales, the traditional seat of first-born English princes, to govern his principality as training for kingship. However, two years before, Henry had enacted a new law that essentially annexed Wales into England. Anne was relieved, for she did not entirely relish the idea of sending him to the old castle where Henry's brother Prince Arthur had died of illness. It was the same castle that Henry's mother, Queen Elizabeth's younger brother, Prince Edward, had been living in before he was captured on the road to London by his usurping uncle. Thankfully, Anne's own Prince Edward would serve his apprenticeship in other ways. But now there was another matter she needed to attend to.
Anne was walking in the garden, as she often did on spring afternoons. She walked ahead, arm-in-arm with her mother, and her ladies trailed behind them. Suddenly, and apparently quite unintentionally, her uncle the Duke of Norfolk came upon them from the opposite direction. "Oh!", said Anne, smiling pleasantly, loud enough for her ladies to hear her well. "What a surprise to see you Lord Uncle!". The Duke bowed deeply to her. "Your Majesty", he greeted her. Then dipped a quick, shallow bow to his sister. "And Your Grace, my dear sister". "Shall you walk with us, Your Grace?", Anne asked welcomingly. He inclined his head. "I should like that, Your Majesty". Anne disentangled herself from her mother so that her uncle could have one of them on either arm. "I thought you had been hunting with His Majesty", ventured Elizabeth Boleyn conversationally. "We've just returned", said the Duke easily. "But I like to take a brisk walk around the gardens after being in the saddle". "Well then, Lady Mother", said Anne sweetly, "we must hasten our pace so as to accommodate His Grace". "Indeed, Your Majesty", Elizabeth Boleyn laughed shortly. Anne motioned to her ladies. "Her Grace and I will walk ahead with His Grace of Norfolk". The ladies inclined their heads and fell back as Anne turned to walk with her mother and uncle.
"Well then", said the Duke. "It is such a lovely day, is it not? I pray you are well on such a fine day, Your Majesty". Anne regarded her uncle and his pleasant smile. It was a smile that did not reach his eyes, as per usual. "I am, thank you. Now let us dispense with the niceties. You know what I need taken care of". Her uncle nodded. "Yes. I suspected when I got your note to come upon you as if by chance during your afternoon walk. You certainly went through great lengths for such a simple thing". Anne took in her uncle's cold smile. She did not care much for him, but she knew he could be trusted with the interests of the family. "There is nothing simple about it", said Elizabeth Boleyn in a terse whisper. "Anne is watched day and night. She could never put something like this to paper, or risk someone overhearing her in her rooms. The very walls in palaces have ears. You can never tell who is listening". The Duke shrugged, as if he still felt she had made a fuss over something inconsequential. "You had only to command me to do as we discussed before. I shall go at once to arrange things"
Thomas Howard made to bow and take his leave, but Anne grabbed his arm. "I wanted to meet you so I could give you my instructions". Her uncle looked amused. "Indeed? You have a preference in the method of…execution?". Anne made a face. "Not at all. I'm sure that whatever you devise will be perfectly suitable". "Then I am in anxious suspense over what instructions you could have for me", said the Duke drily. Anne could feel her irritation with the man growing every second. "Just this Uncle; that I do not want anything long and drawn out. It should be quick, and clean". "I would not dream of doing this any other way", said the Duke smoothly, inclining his head. Anne scowled at him. "There is more. I shall require you to provide one of your smaller manor houses, as well as a decent income". Thomas Howard bared his teeth in a wolfish smile. "Is that so? You require me to part with one of my properties, and money from my own treasury. Is there anything else you require of me, dear niece?".
"Thomas, don't", said Elizabeth Boleyn firmly. "You know this is the right way to handle things". There is no right way to handle this, thought Anne miserably, as her mother went on. "You were just complaining to me about that old manor house in Norwich you've been wanting to sell, but no one wanted to buy". "Indeed, I wanted to sell it, Bess", replied the Duke in a hiss. "Not give it away for nothing!". "It will not be for nothing", said Elizabeth flatly. "Indeed, it will be a small price to pay". Thomas Howard checked at that, but then he grimaced. "Perhaps it is a small price. In that case, I cannot see how it should fall to a mere Duke, when we have a Marquess and Queen amongst us", he motioned towards Anne. "Surely the wealth in your own privy purse far surpasses my own". "Indeed it does", Anne replied tartly. "And every cent of my privy purse expenses is always subject to scrutiny by the King at any time. I cannot risk any questions arising". The Duke sighed, knowing he was bested. "Very well, very well".
"I am glad we understand each other", said Anne. "And I want your promise that you will be discrete in carrying this out". Her uncle gave her an indignant look. Elizabeth Boleyn stepped in before her brother could rage at his niece. "Now Anne, you know you don't have to warn him of discretion. My brother has survived the danger and intrigue of four reigns, even while married to a Princess of York! You could not possibly manage that without impeccable discretion. He has been discretion itself for all of his life". Anne smirked. "Discretion itself? Is that so? Perhaps I have had you all wrong Uncle. Tell me, shall you put the expenses that I require in your books as a payment to Bess Holland?". Thomas Howard scowled. Elizabeth Holland was his openly flaunted mistress. He and his wife, Elizabeth Stafford, had never been able to stomach one another, and Bess had once been her laundress. Now, his wife stayed at their country estates except for on state occasions, and Bess served in Anne's rooms.
The Duke made his face perfectly still and calm. "Fortunately for me, it matters not what I label my expenses", he replied smoothly. "There is no one to question my spending. I can be trusted to be discrete when it matters. I shall go at once". Anne held out her hand, and he bent to place a cold kiss on it in farewell. Anne stood with her mother watching her uncle leave the gardens to be about this bad business. Anne knew she would spend hours on her knees in prayer before and after the deed was done. But she knew what she ordered had to be done. Edmund Stafford, that handsome, strapping man who had lent her his seed, was now a liability. It was God's will that she had sons to secure the throne of England, and so it had to be God's will that she ensure that no one could ever cast doubt on her the paternity of her sons. She had done what she could to ensure that his widow and family would live comfortably for the rest of their lives in recompense. As Thomas Howard contemplated what he would soon order, he thought idly that much like Edmund Stafford, Mary's husband William Stafford, Baron Hunsdon, must also be a distant relation of his wife's family, the royal Buckingham Staffords.
The next day, Anne was once again taking her afternoon walk in the gardens accompanied by her mother, her cousin Mary Howard Duchess of Richmond, Catherine Brandon Duchess of Suffolk, Nan Parr, who was now married as Anne Herbert Baroness of Cardiff, and her sister-in-law Jane, Duchess of Rochford, when her brother came upon her. He bowed low to Anne and chivalrously kissed his wife's hand before turning back to his Queen. He offered his arm to her and Anne took it. He began to walk at a brisker pace so as to remove them from her ladies' hearing. "So, I have heard Uncle plans to do it tonight", he commented. "Yes", Anne replied shortly. She knew what her brother was talking about. It was unbelievable that once again, the two of them could speak of murdering an innocent as if they were speaking of nothing but the weather. "We both know it had to be done Nan", George reminded her. "It is still a sin", Anne pointed out reasonably. George shrugged. "We have done it for love and for the security of England's succession. God will forgive us, for it was done for a noble cause". Anne was about to respond when she noticed that Jane had come upon them. "I came to ask Your Grace if you would like to go to the bowling green to watch the tournament", she explained. Anne was unsure how much Jane had heard. Her face was quite unreadable. "Yes, Jane. I would like that. We can go now".
The King had decided that he and Anne a handful of chosen courtiers should go visit the Princes at Eltham Palace for a day. Everyone was excited, and Anne was always happy to visit her precious boys. It made her happier that Princess Elizabeth was also in attendance to visit her brothers, as was a recovered Princess Mary. Prince Edward was almost two and had just begun to speak. Prince Richard was still only an infant, but he was rosy cheeked and bonny. "His Highness my dear baby brother has grown so much!", Princess Mary exclaimed. Princess Elizabeth had snuck a small piece of melted marchpane to Prince Edward and the King had laughed boisterously at her barely concealed naughtiness. "Well and good Bessie!", he exclaimed. "I know that you mean to be kind to your brother, but next time perhaps you will ask Prince Edward's governess?". Elizabeth knew better than to reply that she had no intention of ever speaking to Lady Bryan again if she could help it. She felt deeply betrayed by the woman. In the haste that she had made to ready her things and depart for Eltham Palace, Elizabeth had realized that Lady Bryan had wanted to go. She had actually preferred to go to her little brother, and all because he was a Prince, and supposedly more important than her! "Of course, Sire. In future, I will ask, and I thank you for bearing the great love I have for my brother in mind".
Anne, and her brother and sisters went to sit in the nursery with Prince Richard. The wet nurse handed him over to Mary, who bounced him lightly and then nuzzled his face. The baby Prince cooed and giggled. "Oh Anne, he is so beautiful. Every time I see him, I think: what a perfect little boy! And I know it must be nice to have one baby without that flaming red Tudor hair!", she laughed. Anne and George laughed too. Mary handed Prince Richard to George. He cradled him close and rocked him gently. "Hello there, little mite! It's your Uncle George!". Jane eyed George and the Prince almost covetously, and Anne took notice. But she could understand it. Jane yearned for a child as any woman would, and George did not frequent her bed. "Anne", began Mary, "I am so surprised that Mother and father don't feel utter wonder when they visit Prince Richard! He looks just the way George did when he was a babe! He could be his twin". Jane's eyes shot up at that. She glanced quickly at George and then at Anne. George laughed. "Does he?". He looked down at the baby who was beginning to doze off in his arms. "Well why not? He is a true Boleyn-Howard boy!". "For shame, Sir George", Jane reproved. "He is a Tudor". George shook his head. "No, look at him Jane! He is all Boleyn!". Jane nodded silently.
"Forgive me Your Grace", said the wet nurse, returning to Anne. "It is time I put the Prince down to sleep". Anne nodded. "Go and set everything to rights", she commanded. "I'll come and put the Prince to sleep myself". The nurse curtsied and went off to fix the bed linens in the gilded cradle. A few minutes later she came back to lead Anne and her siblings to his sleeping chamber. There was a chair set up next to the cradle along with a few stools. George handed the Prince back to Anne after she took her seat. Anne started to rock him and sing a French lullaby she had learned as a child. George sat next to her on a stool and sang with her. When they finished the wet nurse clapped silently. "Bravo, Your Majesty, Your Grace. That was very beautiful. And see! The Prince has gone right to sleep!". Anne smiled and gently handed her sleeping baby to the wet nurse and she laid him gently in his cradle. "If I may say so, Your Majesty and Your Grace have such lovely voices. They blend so well". Anne inclined her head in thanks and George made an elaborate flourish that made the wet nurse blush a little. Jane's eyes narrowed. Flustered the wet nurse turned to Anne. "With Your Majesty's leave, I will go and see to the Prince's laundry". "Of course", said Anne.
That night, after the court had returned to Whitehall, Mary had requested to see Anne. The King had claimed fatigue, and he was not coming to her bed in any case. When Mary was announced in her privy chamber, Anne beckoned her to her bed chamber. She had been sitting in front of her looking glass, readying for bed. Mary took up Anne's hair brush absentmindedly and began to make long strokes through Anne's long, dark tresses. "What is it Mary? Your lady maid said you seemed distressed". "Do you think that Jane has been acting strange lately?". "Jane Parker?", Anne asked. Mary nodded. "Well, I cannot say that I have ever found her to be wholly normal". Mary smiled briefly, but still seemed anxious. "She said something strange to me today", Mary began slowly. "She asked if I found it odd that Prince Richard favored George so much". Anne arched an eyebrow. Mary shook her head. "I don't know. It was a strange question; do you not think so? I cannot imagine what she could mean by it". Anne felt a small flutter of anxiety in her stomach. She hadn't felt anxiety for so long, it felt unnatural.
"Well, now that I think of it, last year she had behaved strangely on the day when I told you all I was with child". Mary tilted her head inquisitively and held off on the brushing. "What did she do?". Anne shrugged. "After I sent her with you to get a tincture, she came back because she had left the letter she was carrying". Mary nodded. "Yes, I remember that. She said she would come back to me anon, she just had to retrieve it". "Well", said Anne, "when she came back, George and I were laying on my bed talking. He was telling me why he avoids her bed, and while I understand, I told him he will have to do his duty". Mary nodded again. "And what happened?". "She came back, and she said that she was wondering where we had gone. She heard voices in my bedchamber and came to check on me and saw us. But then it was almost as if she fled from my rooms after that". Mary's faced scrunched up with confusion. Anne put her palms up, an utterly French gesture. "I know. I cannot understand it either". "Well, what did George say about why he abstains from her bed?", Mary asked. Anne paused. "It…it was not very nice. He said that she was so vile that he hardly even dared to get her with child for fear the child could inherit her vileness".
Mary whistled. "Well that was quite harsh George!", she murmured. "Is it possible that she might have overheard?". Anne shook her head. "I don't know. I hope not. But I suppose George is right. She is a viper". "She is", Mary agreed easily. "But vipers are dangerous. She will think the two of you have been gossiping about her". Anne sighed. "I'll tell him to do something nice for her again. That should keep her quiet". Mary looked uncertain. "What?", asked Anne almost impatiently. "Well Anne, Jane is not getting any younger. She is a married woman of over ten years with no heirs to show, and her husband is a well-known flirt. Jewels and lavish gowns are no real compensation for a woman who craves sons". "She has been made a Countess and now a Duchess by her marriage to George!", Anne pointed out. "She has a fortune because of him!". Mary shrugged. "What should that mean to her if there is no one to pass on a title and fortune to?". Anne was struck. It was bad when Mary was the one making all the sense. "You're right, Mary. George will have to go to her bed more often and attempt to be enthusiastic".