A/N: I'm baaaaaack! First off, I am so, so, sorry that I have been absent for so long. Been dealing with a lot of IRL stress, issues, life changes, a laptop that needed fixing, and a load of other things I'm not gonna bore you lovely readers with. Thank you to everyone who has supported this story up to this point, you have no idea how much your support of this story means to me. And thank you to

SaikoGoyangi, Vwchick, Diamond Girl 11304, hateme101, CrystalKaouri, Guest, Relent1ess, ProngsandI, Cyberbook, Guest, SunRise19, IWantColouredRain, Mari Wollsch, tricorvus, Guest, Anonymous, and Sakura for all the reviews on the previous chapter. Also, one more additional thank you to mickeyian2011 for the additional review on Chapter 32. Now, this chapter is longer than it was going to be, and hopefully that will make up my long absence. Onto the story, lovely readers!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors or any of the characters, aside from a few additions here and there, ShowTime does. And so does history.

…

"Rise. Sir William Stafford."

William could still scarcely believe what was happening.

When his brother-in-law George Boleyn had informed him of the king's intention to make him a knight following his efforts to save Prince Harry, William had been taken aback.

"The king could think of no man in all of England better suited to the title," George had said, allowing one of those boyish smiles he seldom showed these days. "And nor can I."

Much as he knew Mary did not resent the decline in her status following their marriage, William himself regretted that he had been unable to give her more. But just a few years ago, he had been a mere foot soldier.

And yet now, here he stood, a member of Prince Geoffrey's royal household and a knight.

He saw his daughter Annie in the crowd, smiling proudly. Though she looked little like her mother, in that moment he could almost see his beloved Mary through their daughter's eyes.

Also, in the crowd stood his niece, Princess Elizabeth, and his nephew, Prince Geoffrey. Both were also applauding politely but proudly, particularly Geoffrey.

The now eldest son of the king made no secret of his fondness for the uncle that had served his brother so diligently and tried twice to save the former heir, even if he only succeeded the one time.

Pushing that last unpleasant thought from his mind, Sir William decided he would no longer dwell upon the past. No, he would instead look to the future and strive to be worthy of his new title, but more than that; he would be the finest father and uncle that England had ever seen.

…

"Are you enjoying your time at court, Katherine?" George asked kindly.

"Oh, yes!" Katherine exclaimed before composing herself. "I-I mean yes. Very much, Cousin."

"I am glad to hear that," George smiled. "As you are still quite young and, as of yet unmarried, I had thought it prudent to have you given a place in Princess Elizabeth's household. You see, she will be bound for France before much more time passes, and I believe that it could be to your advantage to journey to the French court with her."

Katherine said nothing, but her merry blue-green eyes seemed to twinkle with delight as the words seemed to sink in.

"I would be…one of the princess's ladies," she spoke in an awestruck whisper. "And I could go…to France with her?"

"I see no issue with it," George said, pleased to see that Katherine appeared amenable. "After all, it would grant you great opportunities when the time for marriage arrives, and Elizabeth has expressed a desire to get to know one of her mother's cousins a bit more closely."

In truth, Elizabeth did think Katherine a bit dull-witted, but amiable. Perhaps the two could at least be some good company to each other.

"I would like that very much, Cousin George," Katherine's smiled widened as she curtsied. "But what would Uncle-"

"Our uncle does not have as much good standing with the king as I do," George winked. "I will speak with His Majesty on the matter, and we'll see if we can't find a place for you before too long."

"Thank you, George!" Katherine seemed to forget her attempts at maintaining decorum and threw her arms about her cousin's shoulders in an embrace. "Oh, thank you!"

George couldn't suppress a light chuckle. Katherine may be in her late teens, but she still behaved very much like a child.

Of course, this only inclined him even more to protect his younger cousin.

'I'll not allow Uncle Norfolk to use you to further his own interests as he and Father did with Mary and Anne,' George promised her inwardly.

…

Mary could feel excitement coursing through her entire body as her servants finished packing the things she would need for the journey to England.

She could scarcely wait to see her brothers and sister again.

She had written them, apologizing for not answering them sooner and explaining why. She had shed tears upon learning of the deaths of poor Margery and Harry, but it mended her broken heart when she learned they bore no grudge and were delighted for her that she finally became a mother as she had yearned to be for so long.

She knew Elizabeth would marry soon and would depart for France not long after that. Then of course, Geoffrey would someday inherit their father's throne and rule England.

While she was realistic enough to know that it would not guarantee eternal peace, Mary was at least optimistic that her marriage to Phillip, Elizabeth's marriage to the Duke of Angouleme, and Geoffrey becoming the King of England, all might create at least a temporary peace among the three nations, something that would be desperately needed given the tentative peace with Emperor Charles.

"Mary."

The Duchess of Bavaria turned to see her cousin-by-marriage and great friend Anne of Cleves and smiled.

Anne was a Protestant and while Mary was certain she would remain a Catholic until she died, she found that this did little to impede her friendship with the German princess.

Anne visited frequently and had insisted on staying before the journey to England. After all, she would be going as well, as per King Henry's wishes when his messengers extended the invitation.

"Hello, Anne," Mary turned to the Protestant princess with a kind smile.

"I trust everything is ready for the departure to England?" Anne questioned.

"It is," Mary nodded. "I can scarcely believe just a few short years ago, I was back in England, thinking I was doomed to spend the rest of my life as the disgraced Lady Mary and fully reliant on the charity of my father. And now…I have a life that feels as though I've died and gone to Heaven."

"I am glad to hear that," Anne smiled, embracing her cousin-in-law. "I have known Phillip for a long time, but I have never seen him so happy. Ever since you married him, he has been like a new man. To say nothing of when little Katherine arrived."

"She truly is a blessing," Mary agreed.

Inwardly, a part of Mary was thankful that her child had been a daughter. Even though she held no desire to be Queen of England anymore, much less wrestle the throne from her brother Geoffrey, she knew her father would never truly believe that. And had her child been a son, the king might worry that when the boy grew up, he might believe his mother, and as a result he himself, might have a claim to the English throne. And even if he didn't, Henry would never take a threat, real or imagined, lightly. And even if the child was his own grandson, the king would see that his beloved son's claim was secure.

But Mary would not worry herself over a situation that would now never be. Her daughter was by all accounts healthy and she was eager to let her brothers and sister meet their new little niece.

It did sadden her that Harry and Margery would never meet her in this world, but God willing, they would all be reunited in Heaven.

'Maybe Mother will be able to meet her as well then.'

Mary smiled at this thought.

"Mary?"

The Duchess gasped softly, realizing she had become so wrapped up in her thoughts that she had forgotten that she was speaking with Anne.

"I'm sorry, Anne," she apologized. "I was thinking."

"I understand," Anne smiled kindly. "I was only asking if you will help me learn a bit more about English customs? I did not know much when Phillip and I went to England the first time. And if we are to continue our alliance, my brother Wilhelm says I would do well to know how to conduct myself among the English."

Mary fought to keep her expression calm at the mention of Duke Wilhelm.

She had only met him twice, but she had already decided that she did not like him in the least. Wilhelm was quite stern and unrelenting toward his sister. After meeting the Protestant duke, Mary was not surprised that Anne had such a soft-spoken and meek nature.

"Of course I will help you, Cousin," Mary took Anne's hand reassuringly.

"Thank you...Cousin," Anne squeezed Mary's hand back.

…

Elizabeth sighed and set down her book. It had been a gift from her father, but despite her eagerness to read it, she found that no matter what she did, she could not focus.

She could not get the memory of Geoffrey's words out of her mind.

He had made his peace with Edward before regarding the actions of his mother and her family, but this time he seemed determined to remain bitter and angry; even after Edward's household had arrived at court, Geoffrey had not greeted his brother.

Elizabeth could not forget the heartbroken look on Edward's face when he realized Geoffrey would not see him.

None of this was Edward's fault at all, but Elizabeth knew that did not matter to Geoffrey. He truly had inherited not only their father's stubbornness, but their mother's as well.

The princess stood and walked over to the fireplace, where Kat Ashley was sitting on a cushion and embroidering.

As Elizabeth was soon to be married, Kat was no longer her governess, but the princess had insisted on keeping her as a member of her household, relying on her for companionship.

"Kat?"

"Yes, Princess?" Kat asked in that placid tone she sometimes employed, sitting aside her fabric.

"I am concerned for my brothers," Elizabeth admitted. "They have had their quarrels before, but this time I'm beginning to worry that Geoffrey will never reconcile with Edward."

"It would appear so, Madam," Kat agreed sadly. She had seen the tension between the princes as well. And she was certainly many courtiers had as well. People had eyes and ears after all.

"But it is not Edward's fault," Elizabeth insisted. "It's all because of that wicked mother of his. Why should he be punished for her offenses."

"Do try to see it from his perspective, Princess," Kat sighed. "Prince Harry was his twin brother. And twins are believed to be more closely bonded than other siblings. And the loss is sure to feel greater than the loss of another sibling. He is in pain, and I'm afraid that grief may never truly fade from him."

Elizabeth nodded defeatedly. She knew Kat was right, Geoffrey would never be able to fully accept Harry's death. She had hoped and prayed someday he would find peace. But now it seemed like that would not happen. At least not in this life.

…

"Your Majesty."

Thomas Cromwell entered the king's chamber, bearing two letters.

"Letters from the Princess Anne of Cleves and the Duchess of Bavaria."

King Henry actually smiled as he took the letters.

As he opened the letter from his daughter, he was pleased to see that Mary was indeed going to be accompanying her husband and cousin-by-marriage to England. And she would bring her new baby daughter for her family to meet her.

Before, when he had envisioned becoming a grandfather, he had believed it would be Mary's child from a marriage to a prince or a king of another country with her husband's heir in tow. Or perhaps if she had been a boy, he would be meeting the son who would be the future King of England. Then when he had learned she was a bastard, he worried she would never marry, nor give him a grandchild.

And yet now she was a duchess, and she was bringing him a granddaughter.

Life certainly had a way of altering course without warning.

With that in mind…

He thought of the wife he no longer loved, now languishing in the Tower of London. It was no less than what she deserved after her actions as of late.

She would of course need to be dealt with, but there would be a few finer details that would need to be attended to in the process.

For one thing, he found that there was another woman who had taken his fancy. She was charming, she was unique, and she had a certain unconventional beauty to her…

Not unlike his true queen…

"Master Cromwell," he called to the Lord Privy Seal, all while glancing out the window of the chamber.

"Your Majesty?"

"I believe…with all my heart…That I shall take a new wife."

…

…

And that's the end of the new chapter. There will only be a few more chapters until the end of this story. But not to worry, my dear readers, I will be continuing A Prince at Last, and I am working on some ideas for two future Tudor stories as well. I do hope you will show those stories the same support and fondness that you've so kindly shown this one.

I'll be publishing and updating on Mondays, Fridays, and/or Saturdays for the foreseeable future, but of course if that changes, I'll let you lot know.

Until the next chapter, everyone.