Disclaimer: the Prince/King, Higgins and the children belong to me, everything else is history.

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Chapter XVI

Everything for the coronation was ready. Our robes were done and the streets of London were preparing for the big day, but inside the palace things were not going well. The Ambassador for the Duke of Cleaves had arrived but would not explain why he was only here for the Coronation. Anne and I were wondering what we had done to upset him. I was sitting in my chamber sorting some papers when Anne came in, she was down cast.

"Anne, what is it?" I asked concerned.

"I have just had a visit from my brother's Ambassador. He had been instructed to give me this letter." Anne replied holding out the letter.

I took and opened the letter.

"Sister,

I am sure you will remember what I said to you before you left for England, but what I didn't say was the consequences of marrying a Catholic. Now you must face those consequences, I will no longer have an Ambassador at your husband's court and will no longer contact you in any way shape or form. I am also asking for the jewels to be returned and your ladies are to be recalled to serve your sister.

When you converted to Protestantism, you made a vow never to return to the old faith. You have broken that promise. I have made a deal with other protestant lords and have created the protestant league. The Ambassador will only stay for the Coronation but will not be there for the mass.

I am guessing that you will have taken this letter to your husband so I have enclosed a message for him."

Anne held another letter which I took and opened. It read.

"Your country is changing, the new religion will sweep across you're land and the Catholic faith will be exterminated. Defend my sister well, you will need to."

I looked up at Anne speechless. The letters fell from my hand and dropped onto the table. After a minute I asked. "Anne this needs to be answered, will you allow me to show these letters to someone?"

"Yes." Anne replied. "Shall I go?"

"No please stay." I replied.

Anne nodded and sat down. I went to the door and called to the nearest page to send for Sir Thomas More.

Sir Thomas arrived and I showed him the letters and waited for his opinion.

"Now we know his agenda. Please forgive me Your Majesty but I have been looking into the Duke's Ambassador and I have heard of this protestant league, it is gaining new members every week. I have been disturbed on the events in Germany, this new form of religion is a disgrace and I for one would like to see it eradicated."

"But what do we do with the Duke and his Ambassador; he is basically declaring war on the world of Christendom and on his own sister." I said.

"As you know I have an abhorrence of war and would like to find a peaceful way around this but I can see no way to resolve it." Sir Thomas replied.

"Can the Pope not grant the people permission to worship this new faith without persecution as long as they do not try to force it on others?" Anne asked.

"That is a big ask Anne and the Pope would not sanction it willingly." I replied.

"But would he consider it?" Anne asked.

"Thomas?" I asked.

"I cannot say. No one can command the Pope to do anything but if someone were to go and ask him it might work." Sir Thomas replied.

"Well we can't send anyone now, the Coronation is in two weeks and everyone has a role to play and it would take at least two weeks to get to Rome even with a message." I said.

"But we cannot just sit here and do nothing." Anne exclaimed.

"I know, I know, but what can we do?" I replied.

"I fear we can do nothing at this point. After the Coronation we will see what can be done." Sir Thomas said.

"It's all my fault, it's my fault." Anne said as a flood of tears fell from her face.

"Anne, what do you mean?" I replied rushing to Anne's side.

"My brother made me swear to a promise before I came." Anne said.

"What promise?" I asked.

"That I would turn you to Protestantism, but I've failed and now he will destroy us." Anne replied.

I was shocked; her brother had blackmailed his own sister. Anne was in floods of tears and Sir Thomas stood there with a stunned look on his face.

"Sir Thomas could you give us some time." I asked.

"Of course Your Majesty." Sir Thomas replied bowing.

"And please repeat this to no one." I quickly said.

"I will be silent." Sir Thomas replied and left.

I turned back to Anne, the tears were still flowing but I needed information.

"Anne, what happened?" I asked.

"My brother is a fierce protestant and made sure that all of us followed with him. When our marriage was arranged he knew that I was going to be useful so before the agreement was signed he made me promise that I would make you convert to Protestantism. I had no choice; if I didn't then he would have never agreed to the marriage. When I got to England and I met you I knew that my mission was impossible, you would never convert. If your father had found out I would have been shipped back to Germany in disgrace. When my brother's Ambassador arrived I hoped he wouldn't remind me of my promise but he came to me and said that my brother had told him everything and that he was here to see that I completed my mission. I held him off saying that it wasn't the right time and then your father died. I didn't know what to do, the Ambassador said it was the right time but I said no, I couldn't do it I loved you too much. He must have been sending letters to my brother and when he was recalled I thought it was over but now all of this has happened and it's all my fault." Anne replied and a fresh flood of tears came.

I was so stunned by what Anne had said that I was unable to talk for some time. Anne must have known she was being blackmailed but her brother gave her no choice.

"Can you ever forgive me Henry?" I heard Anne say in a very quiet voice.

"Anne you have done nothing wrong. Your brother blackmailed you and you have freed yourself by saying no, I will protect you, nothing can harm you now." I replied pulling her into a hug.

Anne said nothing and carried on crying. After some time the tears ebbed away but Anne had exhausted herself. So I picked her up and carried her to my bedchamber and laid her down on the bed. I stayed until she had fallen asleep and then left. I left a message with the page outside my chambers and went to find Sir Thomas, I needed his help.

Later that night there was a feast and dancing in the great hall, I had told Anne that she didn't have to attend I would say that she was feeling unwell. I had spoken with Sir Thomas and we had concocted a plan and Sir Thomas was waiting for a nod from me. My father had a temper that could make even the most high born Lords quake in their shoes, I also had that temper and I intended to use it.

The Cleaves Ambassador was talking to the French and Spanish ambassador's and Sir Thomas was a few groups away with the Duke of Suffolk and the Earl of Shrewsbury. I wanted to wait until after the Coronation but Sir Thomas said we should act now. I wanted to protect Anne but I wasn't ready I was going to wait, and besides, the Coronation was to be a spectacle and I was nervous.

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