I had been planning for days. I had the gone over it a million times in my head. Jane Rochford was a stupid girl who kept the keys to my prison around her neck. I knew she never thought I saw it because she always tried to quickly cover it up. I looked down at my stomach. Boy or Girl I would be happy. I would raise he or she right.
"Hang on in there, we'll be out of here soon I promise," I said I felt a kick and smiled. I heard footsteps and looked towards the door. I stood up and waited. The key was inserted in the lock and I heard it turn. I saw Jane Rochford enter and barely concealed my smile. So far everything was going according to plan.
"Jane could you come here please," I asked her. She held my food as she eyed me warily but walked closer.
"What do you want," Jane asked as she was barely an inch in front of me. I moved my foot in position to trip her.
"Oh nothing just wondering don't you think you would get a better reward if you are the one who rescues me," I said. The split second she looked as if considering my words I tripped her. I bent down quickly to retrieve the key from her neck. I quickly put it in the locks keeping my ankles and arms chained to the wall. Once I was free she was getting up.
"You are not going anywhere," Jane said.
"The Boleyns will never get what they want, I will make sure of it now Jane you have two options either you help my escape or you try to fight me. I might be pregnant but not defenseless," I said grabbing a small but not too small rock from the floor.
"That rock will do nothing to me," Jane said. I threw the rock hoping to hit her in the head thank god it did. I walked over to her just as she was about to lose consciousness and was debating on helping her or not but decided against it and locked her inside. I felt pains coming from my stomach. I reached under my dress and felt a liquid touch my hands. I looked at my hands and saw water. This was going to make everything more difficult. I walked as quickly as I could out of there but when I got outside I saw a horse and rider coming towards me. I walked faster to the stables hoping to find something instead of riding.
"Andrea," a voice said. I turned around to see Jane Seymour standing there.
"Jane," I hugged my friend tightly.
"Andrea how did you escape I was coming to free you," Jane said.
"I will explain later but right now this baby is coming early," I told her.
"Are you having a miscarriage," Jane asked. I shook my head. She started to look around and found a hay cart. I helped her hook it up to her horse.
"Lay down in the cart and breathe deeply I will get you to your brother the Duke's house as quickly as I can," Jane said before taking the reins and urging the horse forward. I kept deep breathing like she told me. I was finally free of that prison. It felt nice to be out in the open even though it was December almost Christmas. I felt pains ripping through me and I tried not to scream.
"Jane I hate to complain but how much longer," I asked her.
"Not much your majesty," Jane said urging the horse even faster. I felt the pains come closer together and more intense with each minute it took us. I gripped the sides of the cart hoping to ease the pain. I sat up in the cart for a minute and saw my brother's house coming into view. I praised god and went back to lying down.
"I can see the house your majesty," Jane said. As the house got closer and closer I knew that I would barely have any time to get to a bed. This baby was coming and fast. When we stopped Jane got off the cart quickly and helped me out. When we got to the door I was barely standing up and Jane knocked furiously. I felt on the verge of fainting. When the door opened it was Catherine.
"Andrea you're safe Charles and William will be so pleased," Catherine said.
"Your majesty Jane rescued you," Mary said coming running down the stairs.
"Yes she did but we need to get me to a bed this baby is coming now," I said.
"Jane go summon the midwife," Catherine said.
"Catherine you're the midwife now," I said. She looked at me before looking to Mary and Jane.
"Lady Mary please get me some hot water and Jane get me some cloths you know where. We will be up in the room next to Charles and I Hurry," Catherine said as she led me up the stairs despite my protests to just sit down and have the baby in a sitting position.
"Keep breathing Andrea," Catherine said as we reached the top of the steps. I felt relief that the steps were done but I allowed her to lead me to the room she told Mary and Jane about. When I saw that bed I thanked god once more for getting me here.
"I still have one of your old night gowns here go behind the dressing wall and get out of those clothes I will bring it to you," Catherine said.
"I do not think we have the time," I told her.
"Just do as I say," Catherine said. I felt another pain rip through me.
"Hurry," I told her as I walked behind the dressing wall. I got myself out of the horrid dress I had been in for four months given that I was pregnant three months before the kidnapping. When Catherine returned she helped me get the nightgown on and got me on the bed just as Jane and Mary came in.
"Can I push now," I asked her wanting this pain over with. Jane and Mary put the supplies near Catherine then they each took one of my hands.
"Yes Andrea push," Catherine said. I pushed hard.
"Good now another push the head is right here," Catherine said.
"Come on your majesty," Jane said.
"Don't give up," Mary said. I kept pushing until I felt no pain. A cry was heard as I relaxed into the bed.
"Another boy," Catherine said going to clean him off and wrapping him in clean white cloths. He was so tiny. When he was placed in my arms I cried.
"What is his name your majesty," Mary asked coming to sit beside me to see her half brother.
"His name will be Richard after Richard the Lion Heart. This boy was strong enough to survive captivity with me the name in my mind suits him," I said.
"It does," Jane said.
"Richard Arthur Tudor, you are my little soldier," I told him. He wiggled in my arms but settled down when I held him closer to my heart.
"What is going on in here," an angered voice said from the doorway. All of us turned to see William and Charles standing there looking at me shocked.
"Andrea, you're here," William said in disbelief.
"You have your future wife to thank for that," I told him. William looked to Jane and gave her a deep kiss that when they broke apart she was blushing so hard she rivaled a tomato.
"It was not all me Catherine and Mary helped," Jane said. Mary was given hugs and kisses on the cheek same for Catherine except Charles gave her a long and passionate kiss on the lips. Seeing those two couples together made me think of Henry.
"Charles may I ask you a few things me," I asked him.
"Anything sister," Charles replied.
"How long has Ursula Missledon been Henry's mistress and answer truthfully," I asked him. Jane looked shocked as did my brothers and Catherine even Mary looked shocked.
"How did you know," Charles asked.
"I had suspicions when I saw Jane glaring at Ursula then when I was in captivity Thomas Boleyn confirmed it," I replied.
"Sister she became his mistress shortly after you and Henry were wed," William said. My already broken heart I felt was now burning in pain. He had lied to me King or not and he had broken his marriage vows.
"If he lied about being faithful then tell me the truth about the rebellion," I asked them.
"Your majesty my father wanted to avoid worrying you by asking your brother the duke to lie to you," Mary said. I looked at Charles who nodded.
"I want to know what actually happened," I replied. Charles and William sighed before telling me everything that Henry had kept me in the dark about. I let tears fall at the secrets Henry had kept from me. The Henry they had described to me was not the one I knew, that Henry was a complete stranger. I looked down at my wedding ring and felt the burden it carried.
"No one is to know I am here," I said.
"But your majesty my father must know," Mary said. I took Mary's hand.
"Mary if you care for me as your stepmother and as your queen you will keep my secret at least for now. I do not know if I want to return to a life where I have been constantly lied to," I said. She reluctantly nodded.
"Thank you Mary," I said kissing her forehead.
"Let us get an old cradle for him. I think there is one in one of the old rooms," William said indicating Charles to come with him. Jane, Mary and Catherine stayed with me well after the cradle was brought back. I put Richard in there and hoped that my life would seem better tomorrow.
