Chapter six

Sorry for the delay in posting this. Travelling to a family funeral (not that close and elderly, but someone loved) and a promise to help my parents renovate took time off writing. Hopefully it'll make up for the wait.

Please review, I'm addicted to them! Thank you to all of you who review, you make my day!

Last but definitely not least I ask you to think of the horrible tragedy in Norway and everybody affected and remember the horrible things fanaticism of every kind can cause.

November 14 1523

Lady Rochford, or Mary Boleyn, looked a bit absent while the King and she shared a quiet evening. They had retried from the court some hours ago and Mary had been summoned to his Majesty. Mary knew the King well, but she was not used to the man talking about politics with her. Currently he was discussing taxes and Mary had trouble keeping up with the subject.

"Mary dear am I boring you?" the King asked smiling. Mary knew that he would still be insulted by her lack of attention, no matter how happy he seemed. She quickly smiled at him and shook her head.

"No your Majesty, merely confusing me. I fear I have little insight in the problematic of taxes. I hope I do not disappoint you on this." He squeezed her hand and smiled at her.

"I understand my dear. I do hope however that you might still listen to me complain about the council. And my name is Henry." Mary smiled and him and squeezed his hand back.

"As it is Henry I do have something to tell you. I have suspected it but it was not until this morning that it was confirmed. I am with child." Mary fearfully kept her breath as the King rose and hugged her close to him. He swung her around.

"It is a blessing that pleases me greatly." He said and kissed her forehead. The King held her and thought of his other illegitimate son a small child that died only two months ago. He had been inconsolable and only the presence of his two remaining children had comforted him. Knowing that he would have another child showed him that god had not forsaken him. The loss of the child of Bessie Blount while the gift of a new child from Mary further showed him that his relationship with her was good and even blessed in the eyes of God.

The King's ecstasy showed in his dealings the upcoming days as his remaining son Edward, Lord Wiltshire was made Duke of Richmond. No one really knew aside from the Queen and Lady Rochford the reason behind his joy. Therefore speculations ran wild. Some thought that the King had fallen in love with another Lady, but they seemed unable to guess why he would then promote his illegitimate son of another Lady. Some thought that the Queen was pregnant. Some thought he had simply rewarded the little boy for something. One speculation was that he was just happy that one of his male children was alive. Some did think that it was because the little boy's mother was with child again.

One of the people listening with great interest was young Mr Seymour. He still was at the periphery at court due to the stench of recent banishment on him. The man was tired of waiting and recently he had managed to bribe his sister into the Queen's household. He was sure that if the King's mistress disappeared from the picture his sister would be able to attract the King now that he had become more serious and devoted to his duties and religion.

The Queen smiled at Mary as they played their cards. A series of card games without the element of gambling had become a common ritual for them on the nights the King could not be with any of them for various reasons.

"Your win again, Mary. It seems to be your night tonight." Mary smiled at her impishly.

"I am only lucky, your Majesty. Another night you will win it all back again. How is the Princess Mary? I heard that her Latin is flawless now. She is so clever." The Queen smiled at her and was on her way to reply when her newest lady in waiting, Mistress Jane Seymour, spilled wine on the Queen's companion in a manner that suggested to the Queen that it was not accidental. The young woman did not apologise to Mary and instead she turned to the Queen.

"I apologise your Majesty." The Queen looked at the girl in distaste. She had no right to pass judgement over another human and certainly not a woman she did not know. Foolish and quite rude the Queen thought her to be.

"Since your lack of care was inflicted on the Lady Rochford, Mistress Seymour it is not me you should ask forgiveness of." The girl's face became sullen but she turned and apologised in an ungrateful tone while she neither curtsying nor inclined her head.

"I do not appreciate that form of behaviour in my household Mistress Seymour. Not only is the Lady Rochford a peer in her own right she is also my friend. I expect you to treat her with the respect she is due. You may leave us." The girl looked furious as the Queen dismissed her and her loud retreat from the rooms reminded the Queen more of a spoiled child than a Lady.

"I am alright your Majesty. The colour of my dress is almost the same as the wine. It might be salvaged. Besides I do not care of the girl's judgement. She is young and I am more worried about God than a young woman who seems to dislike half of the court on different reasons." The Queen smiled at her. She knew as well as Mary that the stain would not come out and that it would be noticeable. She appreciated Mary's kind nature, but she disliked the attitude young Mistress Seymour showed. It appeared to her that she considered herself to be a most worthy young woman who was more devoted to the Queen than any of her ladies, no matter how long they had been with her. Still she obviously thought more of her own judgement than the Queen since this was not the first time she had not served one of her guest with the respect they deserved.

Later that evening when Mary had retired to her own rooms, since this evening the King would be spending his time with the Queen, Mary was approached by her cousin Margaret.

"My Lady, one of the maids told me this was delivered from the kitchen." Mary looked up from her embroidery to the apples. She was very fond of apples and so it seemed her child was as she had been eating a vast number of apples these past days. These apples she however had not ordered. Her cousin smiled at her looking a bit love struck.

"It must have been the King who ordered them. He has been so delighted that you have a preference for food he can deliver." Mary laughed a bit and silently agreed with her. It was the kind of thing the King would do. She took one of the apples.

"My goodness, they are very sour! I am quite fond of sour apples however." Mary took another bite and slowly ate her apple while she felt her eyelids begin to drop.

"My Lady, perhaps you should retire early this evening. You did tell you to remind you to rest if your body told you to." Mary smiled at her cousin and smiled. She knew that she had ordered her cousin to tell her that she should take care as she would be afraid to do it otherwise.

"You are right cousin. Thank you for reminding me. Please remember that you can call me Mary in private, since you are my very dear cousin. I think I will leave this apple even if it is a waste. It is far too sour for even me." She laid the apple on the plate and with the help of her cousin she did retire. During the nights the king was not with her Margaret slept on a pallet beside Mary's bed.

When one of the maids the next morning woke up the Lady Margaret she caught sight of the Lady Rochford's pale, damp skin and short breath. With a trembling hand she touched the skin of her mistress and retracted as if she was burned since the Countess' skin was burning with fever.