Edited 1/15

When news reached her that the King had remarried, Anne could not catch her breath for a moment. The letter from her brother did not go into much detail. All that was said was the King and Mistress Seymour had married, though she had not been crowned Queen yet. It seemed that Henry wanted a son from her before she officially became Queen. The wedding was a public affair with all of court attending and crowds on the streets, far from the rushed, secret union in a small chapel three years ago which only became knowledge through rumors and gossip.

Even though she had expected it, it was still a painful blow to Anne. He picked Jane Seymour, a girl who could barely write her own name, over she who had grown up in Austria and France, whose intelligence rivaled that of any man she had met, to be his Queen. If Henry had married a foreign Princess, at least she had been replaced by royal blood, somebody worthy.

But then any English maiden would have been better than Jane Seymour.

She could not bare to think of that woman as Elizabeth's stepmother. She would be content to never let her daughter lay eyes on the woman. The woman would no doubt support the Lady Mary and would take any opportunity presented to return the stubborn girl to favour. It was only at night that she allowed herself to think about the wretched woman taking her place. She had dreamed of what could have happened if she had been executed. The Lady Mary being reinstated, Jane Seymour giving birth to sons, Elizabeth calling that horrid woman Mother.

She seethed in rage and bitterness and for the first time in weeks cursed herself for letting this woman beat her. Not only had she taken her husband, she was to take her title!

And then her daughter came running to her in a fit of giggles and clutched at her skirts making Anne smile in delight and all thoughts of her former husband and his wench flew from her head. She may not be the Queen of England anymore, but now she was a mother, a title much more honourable than Queen.

It had been a simple task explaining to Elizabeth that she was no longer a Princess and that her mother was no longer the Queen. Her daughter was more intelligent than she could ever have imagined. She had constantly received reports from Lady Bryan when she lived in Hatfield telling her of her daughter's progress and her intelligence. Anne had always thought the woman was exaggerating in hope of more praise, but that had not been the case. Elizabeth was smarter than any child her age. But explaining to her daughter that her father had a new wife, a new Queen, was not as simple.

"But Mama, why is there a new Queen? Why can't you be Queen like before?" her daughter had asked, frowning in confusion.

Because your Papa was going to cut off my head to make his latest whore his wife in hope that the slut would give him a son. "I do not wish to be Queen any longer, sweetheart. Your Papa need's a son to become the next King when Papa goes to heaven. I couldn't give your Papa a son, my darling. Do you understand?"

The girl pouted but nodded her head gravely. "Yes Mama. But I don't like her. The Queen."

Anne had to repress a smile. Whilst she wanted to commend her daughter on her good judgement without even meeting the woman, she did not want to risk Henry's anger over his daughter insulting his new wife. He would think it was Anne whispering poisonous thoughts to their daughter in hopes of using her to get to him. She could not afford for Henry to think that Elizabeth was nothing but respectful to his wife. If Henry ever thought that Elizabeth hated the woman or their children, she hated to think what he would do to their daughter. "You do not have to like her Elizabeth, but do not tell anyone how you feel about her. You must respect her as she is now your Queen. Your Papa loves her very much and would be very angry to hear you speak ill of her. Do you understand?"

If Henry actually managed to get a son from the woman, which Anne thought was highly unlikely, he would not stand for anything said against the child. If for one moment Henry thought that Anne was encouraging their daughter to rebel against him and his new family, he would not hesitate to get rid of her regardless what the public thought. If Henry ever got the idea that Anne would try to usurp his son off the throne and place their daughter there in his stead, then Henry might even go as far to execute their daughter to protect the throne, no matter how much he loved her, he would not let anything threaten the succession. She would never let that happen, even if it meant encouraging her daughter to respect the woman who she despised.

Elizabeth nodded solemnly. "I understand Mama."

Compared to the life of a Queen, Anne's days were simple. Although she had her estates to manage, overseeing Elizabeth's education and was finalising her plans for the monasteries Henry gave her in the divorce, Anne found that she had much spare time during her day. Afternoons and dinner were spent with Elizabeth or with visitors or the occasional ride across her lands.

The monasteries that were bestowed upon her after the divorce were being transformed into schools for intelligent boys from poor families. Thousands of children were destined to the life of farming because they had no way to gain an education, and though she would not be able to help all of them, Anne hoped that the schools which were being prepared would give an education to some of them and a chance to be something more than a farmer when they were older.

Whilst she had wanted the corrupt monasteries to be closed after being fully investigated by Cromwell, she did not agree that the land should be sold and the funding going to the crown, and no doubt in Cromwell's pocket as well. There had been no need to close some monasteries, but Cromwell had them shut down anyway to further his own greed. The Reformation was not welcome in England at this time, and closing down monasteries that actually helped their community was doing the Reformation more harm than good. Families were left worse off than they originally had been. Anne had tried to persuade Cromwell and even the King when she was in his favour to find a use for the monasteries to further help commoners and to show that they could still benefit from the dissolution of the monasteries, but it was to no avail.

But now she did not need Henry's permission. With the generous amount of money Henry had bestowed upon her and donations from noble families who remained friends to her or supported her cause, Anne had no problem funding her schools For the first time in her life, she was free to do as she desired.

The relationship she had formed with her daughter was stronger than she could ever imagine. When Elizabeth was a babe and Henry had told her that she could feed her child from her breast, Anne realised that she was only Elizabeth's mother in name. A Queen was not a mother, she bore the child until the babe was strong enough to survive alone, and then the child's attendants took over. She was not the one to feed her, to dress her, to bathe her. Anne only saw her daughter when she was dressed up, happy and ready to play the perfect Princess, she was naught but a visitor to her daughter. It was then that Anne pushed aside her burning desire to be a mother. She had done her father's bidding, and was now paying the price for it.

Now Anne had the chance to see her daughter everyday. She watched her daughter eat, fall asleep and have some very amusing tantrums. When her daughter did something naughty, it was to her mother she apologised to, not her governess. She read to her, played with her and dressed her. She was truly Elizabeth's mother now.

She loved her simple life in the country, but a secret part of her missed court life. Since she was a girl she had been mingled in court life, be it in Austria, France or England. She revelled in the drama, the gossip, the magnificent feasts and dances. She had always been a very social person after being raised in courts. She had thrown dances and parties when Henry was courting her, especially during the years there was no Queen residing at court and the early part of their marriage. Even those who hated her had tried to win her favor in those days.

She felt lonely in the country, and though she still had ladies fussing around her and servants at her beck and call, she longed to have a crowd around her as she once had as they watched her in admiration and jealousy. There was one thing that Anne could not deny. She loved to be the centre of attention.

When she lived in Hatfield, Elizabeth rarely got to see her Mama. She had lived with Lady Bryan, her old governess who was kind but very stern, and her ladies. As a Princess of England, Elizabeth had lived very grandly in her short life. She was different from other children because her Papa was the King of England, and her Mama the Queen. From since she could remember Lady Bryan had explained to her what was to be expected of her, how she should curtsy to her mother and father, how she was supposed to greet visitors, how one day she would marry a man of her father's choosing. She had the most expensive gowns and toys made for her and had lots of servants and ladies to look after her.

But everything was different now.

She lived with her Mama now in a grand house with beautiful gardens where she would play with her Mama. Elizabeth loved living with her Mama. She got to see her everyday and her Mama would play with her and read to her. Lady Bryan would not let her play all afternoon, but her Mama did. She would have her lessons in the morning while her Mama did grown up things, and then her Mama would spend the whole afternoon with her. When she had lived in Hatfield, Elizabeth missed her parents dearly, she was happy to be living with her Mama.

She was not a Princess anymore. Her Mama had explained to her that because she was no longer married to Papa, her mama was not Queen anymore and she was not a Princess. She was now the Duchess of Pembroke, and Elizabeth was now the Lady Elizabeth. She did not mind being the Lady Elizabeth, as long as she got to stay with her Mama she was happy.

She could live without being a Princess as long as she continued to have the best toys and the prettiest gowns. Elizabeth and her Mama were very happy living together, but she missed her Papa.

Elizabeth had not seen her Papa in a long time. When she was a Princess, Lady Bryan told her that because her Papa was the King, he was awfully busy and could not come to see her as much as he would like. He would always send her gifts though, but she had not received a gift from her father for months. The last time she was at court her Papa did not come and see her. He always came to see her. He would swing her up into his arms and greet her in front of all of his subjects. Had she been bad? She did not think she had, but what other reason did he have to not see her?

After months of speculation and waiting to hear from her father, Elizabeth finally asked her mother.

"Mama," Elizabeth said hesitantly. They were sitting outside in the warm August sun. It was just the two of them, her Mama had sent her attendants and her ladies away for the afternoon. Although she was only a little girl, she knew that her mother did not like to speak of her Papa very much. She always looked sad when she mentioned him, especially when they first arrived at their new home, but it had been a while since they had last spoken of him. When she was last at court, she knew her Mama was very sad, but she seemed happy living with her now. Elizabeth did not want to upset her Mama, but she missed her Papa so much. "Does Papa not love us anymore?"

As soon as the words were out of her young daughter's mouth, Anne's whole body filled with dread. She put the book she had been reading aside and looked at her daughter carefully. She had grown quite a bit in the months they had been living together. Her lovely blond hair was starting to show signs of turning auburn. Anne could not believe that her daughter was soon to be turning three years old. She was growing too fast. She knew that her daughter was intelligent, Lady Bryan was always delighted to tell her how clever the little girl was, but living under the same roof as her had shown Anne just how bright she truly was.

Anne had spent the past months trying to convince her daughter that everything was fine. Everything really was fine, she was alive and lived with her daughter in a beautiful estate and had more money than they could possibly ever need. But Henry's absence in their lives had left an impact. She tried to distract Elizabeth from her father's absence, but looking down into her daughter's round face, she knew that she had not succeeded.

"Why would you say such a thing sweetheart?" Anne pulled Elizabeth onto her lap and rocked her gently. While she knew without a doubt that Henry no longer loved her, she knew that he still loved his daughter. Even if he had deluded himself into thinking that she may not have been his when they had last met, he would never be able to deny that he loved her. Even after everything the Lady Mary had done, he still loved her. Elizabeth was his jewel and easily charmed anyone who came into her path, especially her father.

"He does not come to see me anymore, Mama," Elizabeth whispered.

"Oh sweetheart. Of course your Papa still loves you. You know he is very busy, Elizabeth and we no longer live close to the palace anymore, it would be quite a ride for him to come would it not? He would visit you all the time if he could."

"Does he not come to visit me because I am not a Princess anymore, Mama?"

"No. Your Papa loves you as much as he always has. It does not matter if you are a Princess or a Lady, sweetheart, we will always love you. Elizabeth, there are things you are too young to understand, but when you are older I promise I will tell you everything. You have done nothing wrong, my sweet girl. Do you understand?"

"Yes Mama." She was silent for a while seeming to mull over her mother's words.

"Do you think he will send me presents for my birthday?"

"Of course he will," Anne replied. She hoped that it was not a lie. Although she hoped that Henry had gotten over most of his anger towards her, she could not be sure that this was not the case. If he was still angry at her defiance, she could only hope that he would not punish their daughter anymore than he already had by ignoring her birthday.

"Do you think he will come and see me, mama?" Elizabeth asked a little more hopefully. Anne's heart sank a little. She could not see Henry wanting to spend time with their daughter if he knew that she were to be there.

"Maybe, but it is very unlikely Elizabeth," Anne said gently, not wanting to get the little girl's hopes up. Elizabeth smiled and seemed pacified for now, but Anne knew the girl would be asking questions again soon if the King didn't acknowledge his daughter. Losing the King's love was a painful experience, and it was one that Anne prayed that her daughter never had to live through. Anne could only pray that Henry opened up his black heart a little for their daughter.

That night Nan went to her Lady's quarters to help prepare her for bed. She found her sitting by a roaring fire staring at an unopened letter. "It is a letter from court, but I do not think it is from my brother. I think it maybe from Master Cromwell, it looks too important to be from my friends or family does it not? I cannot help but be apprehensive, considering all that has happened." Her voice was naught but a murmur and her eyes never left the letter. Nan wondered if her mistress realised her presence, but Anne's eyes flicked up to hers and she smiled grimly. "But when have I ever been a coward? Master Cromwell and his King can not hurt me any longer." She tore the letter open. A frown happened upon her face and grew deeper and deeper with each word. Anne let out a pained sound and the letter she had been reading fluttered to the floor.

"What is it, my Lady?" Nan asked. Her mistress looked at her, and for a second

Nan saw her horrified eyes before all emotion was wiped from her face.

By looking at her, not many would know that something was troubling her. Ten years of being the subject of stares and scornful whispers had taught her mistress to wear an emotionless mask in front of her courtiers. If any of their cruel whispers bothered her, she would not let anybody know it. There was always somebody who looked for a weakness in Anne Boleyn, but they would never find one. It was a mask that Nan hadn't seen in months, and was one that she hadn't wanted to see again. She had been by Anne's side throughout the King's courtship, when he loved her like no other man could love another, she had held her friend's hand when she gave birth to her daughter, she had comforted her friend when the King grew tired of her and took mistresses, and she had been with her when all hope was lost when her baby left her body. Anne had become a dear friend to Nan over the years, and she hated to see her in any kind of pain. She thought that everything was over now, and her friend could finally live in peace without her manipulative Father and her cruel husband. But the emotionless face that stared at her made her realise that it was not over, it had never been over, and her Lady's life was about to be disrupted once again.

"Elizabeth and I have been summoned to court."