Title: Joint wives.
Author: PrinceBrennonTudor
Summary: What would have happened if someone made it their mission to save Anne and told Henry just to have two wives? What would happen to England with two royal wives? Will there ever be an heir?
Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors. But the story idea is mine.
Author's note: Thank you to all who reviewed. I glad so many of you loved the last chapter and I hope you will like the many more to come. And for all of you my wonderful fans is chapter 12 of, Jointwives The royal births. P.S. Just in case I don't give enough details Mary is building a friendship with both Anne and Jane, but her friendship with Anne is just taking a little longer to develop.
Chapter 12
March 5, 1537
Whitehall palace
Lady Mary Tudor, or as she is now known as Princess Mary was happier then she had been in months. She was no longer a servant to her sister and was given her own household. The rooms that were allotted to her here at Whitehall were beautiful decorated in the French style thanks to Anne. And she was allowed twenty servants at court and she had six ladies-in-waiting. She was also given the manors of Hudson, Hadham and she also had apartments at Richmond Palace which she could us at any time she pleased. She knew of course all of this came with a price. She had to declare that her parents' marriage was unlawful and that she was a bastard. But in return her father allowed her to be once again titled princess but she came after any children Anne and Jane had in the succession. And while Mary would love to be placed in her rightful place as first in line till a son was born, she would rather be a bastard with her father's love then a princess without his love.
As Mary sat and thought about all she had been through one of her ladies reminded her that she was supposed to join the Lady of England's room's to help her organize the baby's layette. Mary rose from her seat and smoothed out the wrinkles from her gown, Mary than headed towards Jane's apartments followed by two ladies. When she arrived to Jane's rooms she was announced by one of Jane's ladies." Your Majesty, the Princess Mary is here to see you." Mary entered the room and made a deep curtsey to Jane.
"Your Majesty," said Mary.
Jane was standing at one of the tables in her room. The table was piled with little baby clothes. "You are most welcomed here Princess Mary," Said Jane very excitedly. She waddled over to Mary and took her by the hand over to the table. Mary took a look at Jane and saw that she looked exhausted. Jane had gotten a whole lot bigger in the last month; she had trouble walking sometimes and was forced to take extra naps during the day.
"How do you feel madam," Mary inquired?
"Oh I feel good most days Mary, but there are days like today when I wish the baby would hurry up and come."
Mary nodded sympathetically. Pregnancy must not be easy during the last months, just the other day when she helping Anne, she was told by Anne how during the last month it was almost impossible to get a goodnight's sleep. Jane and Mary started to organize the clothes into two piles. One pile was of clothes Jane and her ladies made the other pile was of gifts from courtiers who wished Jane well.
Lady Missleton entered the room and walked over to Jane and Mary and made a deep curtsey. "Your Majesty, Lady Lisle has written to me asking if you could take one of her two daughters into your household. I told her that I would mention it to you."
"Well, Lady Missleton did you warn Lady Lisle that life at court is full of Pride, envy, scorn and derision? Well if you have, tell her too send them to me and I shall choose one of them. And Lady Missleton please remind them, they must bring two sets of clothes, one of satin and the other of damask." Lady Ursula curtsied and turned to leave when Jane called out to her. "Lady Missleton, help me unlace my gown before you go. It seems to grow tighter by the hour." Lady Missleton started to help Jane with her gown, when Jane said "If anything were to happen to me, be a comfort to his majesty, and please put forth the interest of my child." Lady Missleton looked into Jane's pleading eyes and nodded.
After the gown was unlaced Jane wadded back over to the table. But before she could get there she felt this sudden wave of unbelievable pain. "Ah…," she cried out." And her ladies all came running to her.
"Your Majesty, what is it?" They all shouted.
It took Jane a minute to recover before she answered. "I believe my time has come. Go and get the midwives." One of the ladies ran out the room and Jane turned to Mary "Princess Mary, promise me you will not forsake me now."
"Of course Your Majesty I'm promise you." She promised. And Mary helped Jane to the bed, for what would be a long and brutal labor.
Queen's apartments
Same day
Queen Anne was spending the day resting on her bed, when she heard the sounds of heralds shouting. She opened her eyes and walked over to her window and moved the heavy tapestries out of the way. She looked down and saw heralds running all around the court yard trying to get onto horses and running out the main gates. What is going on she wondered? Anne walked out into her main chamber to ask her ladies. "Does anyone know what is going on outside," she demanded? But all of her ladies remained quiet and avoided meeting her eyes. "Answer me I command you!" She shrieked at her ladies.
"I know what's going on."
Anne turned to the direction of the voice. And there stood her sister-in-law, Jane Parker (A.K.A, Lady Rochford)
"Well tell me Jane what is it? Is the king hurt?"
"No, Your Majesty, It seems the Lady of England has gone into labor and the king ordered heralds to spread the news across the kingdom."
"What!" exclaimed Anne? Anne walked over to Jane and took her hands into hers and looked her in the eyes.
"Jane, are you sure?"
Jane stared straight back into Anne's eyes and nodded. "I'm sure Anne."
Anne dropped Jane's hands and turned away. "She has won," she muttered.
Anne walked back into her chamber and lay back down and cried.
One hour later…..
Anne woke with spouts of pain in lower back. She cried out and Nan who was sitting by her bed ran over to her and grabbed her hand. "What is it my lady!" She exclaimed the fear obvious in her eyes.
"Nan, get the midwives and the rest of the ladies. The baby is coming!" Anne gasped.
Nan jumped into action and ran out the room and set a servant girl for the midwives and her ladies were by her side in an instant. Mary Stafford turned to her daughter Catherine and ordered her to run and tell her grandfather Lord Wiltshire what was happening. Mary then took her place on one side of Anne and Nan took the other side. "Breath Anne, it's going to be a long day." Whispered Mary into Anne's ear, as Anne screamed out from another contraction.
The Earl of Hertford's apartments
His daughter was in labor. Hopefully soon she will present her husband with a son and heir. Then her place as his wife will be secured. John Seymour's sons were in his rooms too waiting for news about Jane. "So, what will happen to Anne if Jane has a boy," asked Thomas?
Lord Hertford thought for a moment before he answered. "Well if we are lucky, the king will annul his marriage to her and your sister will be crowned queen within two months. "
As the men discussed the possibility Henry leaving Anne, a manservant came in and bowed. "Forgive me, my lords but Lady Beauchamp insists of talking to all of you."
Well all the Seymour men, thinking it had something to do with Jane told the servant to let her in. Edward's wife, entered came in dropped a shallow curtsey to her husband, father and brother-in-laws. "Well what is it, has Jane had the baby?"
"Oh no my lord, the midwives think it will be awhile longer till she is ready to push."
"Then why have you come?" Thomas demanded for his sister-in-law.
"Oh I just thought you all wanted to know that Queen Anne has gone into labor." She then curtsied again and walked out of the room.
"Damn it," swore Edward.
"What do we have to worry about? Jane went into labor first, and it sounds like Anne's just started," said Thomas with a smug look on his face. Thomas then walked over to the window and poured himself a glass of wine.
"This isn't Anne's first child like it is Jane's. It is likely that Anne's labor will be much faster than Jane's," Said Lord Hertford.
"So what do we do," Thomas inquired frustrated not for the first time Brereton didn't finish her off?
"We pray." Answered Edward.
The Earl of Wiltshire's apartment
"Are you sure Catherine? Are you sure your aunt's in labor?" Thomas Boleyn repeatedly asked his granddaughter.
"Yes Grandfather, the Queen had her team of midwives called and they confirmed that she was in labor." Catherine stood in the corner cowering from being in the room with her cold hearted grandfather.
"Good, now go back to the Queen and do anything you can to help her."
Catherine made a quick curtsey and practically ran out the room. Thomas Boleyn sat down in front of his fire place. The girl better not mess this up. She had better give birth before that Seymour cow and it better be a boy or they will all be lost. And if it came down to it. He would severe his ties with his daughter and put as much space between them as possible. He would not go down if she does.
The Lady of England's apartments.
It hurt so badly. Jane didn't know how badly till now. She had never felt such pain before in her life. Her ladies were all about her, trying to ease her pain. Princess Mary was on one side of her, holding her hand and praying. Her sister Elizabeth was on the other side wiping Jane's forehead with a damp rag. She has been in labor for what felt like forever. But the midwives insist it's only been a few hours. How can any woman deal with this type of pain? It felt like her body was being torn in two. "Princess Mary, the box," Jane exclaimed! Nodding over to the small table near the bed. Mary opened it and took the cross necklace from inside. Mary handed the necklace to Jane." It use to belong to your mother," Jane stated.
Mary looked at the necklace up close and recognized it from her childhood. She took Jane's hand into hers and kissed it. "I believe she is here with you. I believe she will help you."
Jane nodded and returned to focusing on her breathing.
The Queen's apartments
"Breath, just breath." Lady Mary whispered into her sister's ears.
Anne didn't remember her labor with Elizabeth being so painful. But then again she forgot the pain after holding her daughter in her arms. She did remember feeling so disappointed in herself when she didn't give birth to the much wanted boy, but instead to a useless girl. But that feeling didn't last for long. As soon as Elizabeth was placed in her arms, her heart melted. She fell in love with her daughter immediately. Henry wasn't as happy about his new daughter. After Elisabeth was born, he came in and said that boys will follow and then he left. Leaving Anne feeing despaired.
But Anne couldn't think of that right now something was happening her contractions were coming faster and harder.
Good thing Henry hired to teams of midwives or else things could have gone badly. Because the head midwife checked Anne and exclaimed. "The heading is crowning, Your Majesty!" She signaled for another one of the midwives to bring over a cloth to out under Anne. One it was spread under Anne's legs the midwife started to give orders. "Ok, Your Majesty must start pushing now."
Anne took a deep breath and tucked her chin into her chest and pushed like she never had pushed before. She squeezed her sister and Nan's hands so hard she was sure that they wouldn't be able to use them properly again.
"Give me one more big push Your Majesty."
Anne pushed one last time and expelled the baby into the world. The midwife picked up the baby and delivered a quick slap to it bottom. She then handed it over to another midwife to clean. The midwife brought the baby over wrapped in purple satin and handed it to Mary.
The room was quiet again, except for the cry of a baby. Like it was when Elizabeth was born. "What is it? Is it a boy or girl?"
Like with Elizabeth, Mary Answered this. "You have given birth to a healthy baby girl."
Anne felt the familiar feeling of disappointment, and even though she was happy she gave birth to a healthy child she started to cry. She cried so hard she didn't notice the return of painful cramps in her stomach. When she did feel them she cried out. "Mary! I think I'm dying." And she rolled over to her side and held her stomach. This was it she thought, I'm bleeding out and I'm going to die. Leaving Elizabeth and my new baby alone at the mercy of the Seymour's.
The midwife came running over and ordered Anne to lie on her back. When Anne finally complied the midwife exam her. "Oh my God, there's another baby." She ordered her assistants to get her another sheet and laid it under Anne. "Ok, Your Majesty I need you to push again."
Once again Anne tucked her chin into her chest and pushed as hard as she can. She expelled another baby into the world. This time Anne forced herself into sitting position. "What is it," she demanded to know. "What is it?" The midwife came over with the second baby wrapped in cloth of gold. "You madam, are the mother to the Prince of Wales."
Anne broke down in tears of joy. She held out her hands and the midwife placed the prince into her arms. He was beautiful. He looked exactly like his father, but he had her hair and eyes. Anne looked over to Mary who held her daughter. Anne took a look at her. She would be an unconventional beauty like her mother and sister. She had Henry's eyes and hair. And Anne was sure her daughter processed her father's temper.
"Oh, Anne I'm so proud of you." Said her sister Mary. "His eyes are that of a wise person."
"They are wise eyes. I think he's going too to be a great king."
King Henry's POV
He held his son in his arms and he couldn't believe how perfect he was. He was strong and he would a ladies man when he's older. He turned to Anne and smiled. She was holding their daughter letting the baby sick on her finger. Elizabeth was also present on Henry's other side staring at her new brother with awe. "What are their names," She asked? Henry was thoughtful for a moment. "The girl will be named Eleanor and the boy will be named….."
"Arthur." Said Anne, the tone in her voice said her decision was final. "I believe it's good to honor you brother the late prince."
"Very well his name will be Arthur." Henry then handed Arthur to Madge and took Elizabeth by the hand. "Come Elizabeth let's let your mother rest. And let's go visit your step-mother."
The Lady of England's apartments.
Jane held her baby girl in her arms, tears streaking down her cheeks. She had failed. Now what will become of her? Would the king desert her? Or would he stay and continue to love her and give her a chance to give him a Duke of York. One of her ladies came in and announced the king. Jane wiped her eyes and bowed her head to the king. When she looked up she could see he wasn't alone. He had Princess Elizabeth with him. "My lord, I am so sorry."
Henry came up and took the baby out of Jane's arms. The whined in protest, but soon settled into her father's arms. "For what sweetheart, you gave me this beautiful daughter?"
"But not a son," whimpered Jane.
"But Anne has so the succession is secured. Besides both you and I are young and sons will follow."
Jane just nodded and held out her arms for her baby. She had her mother's blonde hair and eyes. She was a classic English beauty.
"I want to name her Cecelia." Said Jane.
" Very well she shall be named Cecelia. And don't fear Jane, I will never leave you. I really do love Jane. But you must understand that I love Anne too."
A/N: And there you guys go, Anne had twins! To let you guys know that decision happened at the last minute. And I was original just going to have her boy. So I hope you guys liked this chapter and next chapter will be the christening and we will have some news from Spain.
T.B.C