King Henry wanted to get an early start to the day. He would only be surrounded by guards. He chose not to tell Charles and Catherine because they kept her safety a secret from him, he was the King of England. He got on his mare and could barely contain his happiness that Andrea was just a ride away from him. Once his guard was assembled he left Greenwich and headed for the country estate of the Duke of Suffolk.
I woke up this morning to find Richard crying. I got up and held him in my arms as I paced in my room trying to get him to stop crying. When he did I sat down on a chair by the crib and started to feed him. His brown eyes just stared up at me and I felt so happy and it almost made me cry.
"You are deeply loved my dear sweet boy," I told him. He giggled and I finished feeding him. I changed his clothes. When I was finished with him I put him in his crib and started to get ready. I asked William where I could get water for a bath and he said he'd get it for me. When he came back with the water he told me that Charles would be back as soon as possible. I thanked him and took a bath keeping the door open so I could see Richard's crib. When I was finished I dressed in a dark blue gown and brushed my hair. When I was finished feeding myself and making sure no one else needed help it was almost midday from the looks of it. I took Richard out of his crib and laid him on the bed. I lay down beside him resting my head on my hand and running my hand across his stomach making him giggle. When I saw him smile I couldn't help but smile with him.
When King Henry reached the home of Charles Brandon he did not waste any time getting off of his horse. He walked/ran to the door. He knocked impatiently until someone answered. That someone happened to be Jane Seymour.
"Lady Seymour," King Henry said.
"Your majesty the duke and duchess along with Princess Mary are at court," Jane said.
"I know I am here to see my wife," King Henry replied.
"What would make you think she is here," Jane asked.
"Jane who is it," William Brandon asked coming to the door. When he saw the King his face hardened.
"Brandon please move aside I am here to bring my wife back to court," King Henry said.
"You will do no such thing," William Brandon replied.
"I am the King and you will move aside," King Henry said.
"Excuse but my loyalty to my sister is greater than mine to you," William Brandon said refusing to move.
"I am your sister's husband now move," King Henry said.
"She knows everything your majesty why do you think she did not return to you. She knows about Ursula Missledon and she knows about the Pilgrimage of Grace. I will not let you see my sister because she does not want to see you. Charles and I only confirmed what Thomas Boleyn told her about you and to see the look of hurt and betrayal on her face made me wish I had put an end to this marriage before it even began," William Brandon said. King Henry was about to reply when Jane Seymour stepped between the two.
"William maybe his majesty needs to talk with Andrea before anything rash happens. I know she is your sister but you know as well as I that he has a right to see her," Jane said. William looked into his fiancé's eyes and nodded.
"Very Well but if I find out that you made her cry anymore than she already has King or not I will be forced to do something drastic," William said before moving aside to let the King and his guard inside.
"Up the stairs fourth door on the right," Jane Seymour said. King Henry nodded and motioned his guard to stay downstairs while he went looking for his wife.
I kept softly tickling Richard's stomach and watched him laugh showing his toothless gums. I felt myself smile in spite of everything and felt happiness for the first time in weeks. I heard footsteps and my door being opened but I figured it was just William checking in on me as he usually did. When he did not say anything I thought it was strange so when I turned my head to look at him I almost screamed but I bit my tongue and looked away. I was definitely not ready to face him. I took a deep breath and picked up Richard and put him in his crib. I gave him a quick kiss on the forehead and hoped he would not make a noise. When I turned around to face my husband a man I felt betrayed me. His face went from shock to happiness. He walked towards but I shook my head.
"What is it sweetheart," Henry asked.
"Do not call me that," I asked him.
"Why ever not you are my wife," Henry said.
"You lied to me and betrayed me how can I believe I am your wife if your vows to me and your promises to me meant nothing. How could you take a mistress so shortly after we married? How could you keep her even after you hear I was kidnapped by the family of a woman who almost killed me? How could you," I asked him tears starting to well in my eyes. He tried to get closer to wrap his arms around me but I just moved away even more.
"Andrea I am sorry I need you, our sons need you," Henry said.
"How am I supposed to forget that you have betrayed and lied to me? I know that you had a reputation for many mistresses but I thought that you truly loved me to take your vows seriously and I was raised to believe that marriage was a sacred bond between two people not two plus one," I said. I walked over to the bedside table and grabbed the necklace and my wedding ring.
"Andrea I love you and I know I have wronged you but I need you. You are the purest being I have ever known and I cannot live my life without you. Before you I was the worst King but as our love grew I felt myself become the best I could be. You are the milk of human kindness and I cannot bring myself to live a life without you. While you were captured I felt as if my whole world was crashing down," Henry said.
"Henry I wish I could believe you but I can't," I told him taking his hand and putting the necklace and wedding ring in his palm. He stared at them but I didn't want to see his face. I went back over to Richard's crib and watched him as he stared up at me.
"Andrea I…," Henry started to say as he walked over to me but he stopped when his eyes landed on Richard.
"Not only did you betray me but you betrayed him," I said. Henry reached out his fingers to touch Richard who looked at Henry with big blue eyes.
"He's so small," Henry said.
"He was born early he was lucky to survive anyway it does not matter you can marry Lady Missledon and dismiss myself and our sons," I replied. Henry turned his head to look at me. He withdrew his finger and sat down beside me. We stared at Richard as he lay there watching us.
"I have no desire to marry Lady Missledon. I know I have wronged you and him but I know that if you give me the chance I can be the husband and you want," Henry said. I desperately wanted to believe him but I just could not erase from my mind all he had done.
"I really want to believe you but I can't bring myself to do so," I told him.
"Andrea I may be king but as a man who loves you and as your husband who needs you I cannot bring myself to force you to return with me or to me. I know that things between us will not return to normal between us but I want us to remain married. I want us to be a family with our sons and I want you to love me as strongly and as passionately as possible and I will promise to do the same," Henry said.
"Henry do not go making false promises you have my word that I will fade away quietly," I replied my tears starting to fall slowly but surely.
"I do not want you to fade away sweetheart. I want you to be by my side and to be my wife in everything. I want to be with you every waking hour and to never be away from your side. I love you more than Lancelot ever loved Guinevere," Henry said.
"Henry stop this," I told him.
"Andrea do you really want me to divorce you," Henry asked. I knew the answer was no but my mouth wouldn't form the words.
"Yes," I said through clenched teeth.
"You are lying I can see it in your eyes, your beautiful brown eyes betray your mind because they show your true emotions," Henry said.
"Henry I really want us to be together but…," I said as Henry interrupted me.
"Then we will be together this is a new beginning for us and there will be no mistresses and no secrets," Henry said. I looked into his eyes and saw nothing but truth and love.
"His name is Richard for Richard the lion heart," I told him. Henry glanced at our son before turning back to me.
"Does that mean you will come back," Henry asked. I leaned forward and pressed a kiss against his lips. When I pulled away he was smiling and slid my wedding ring back on my ring finger and put the necklace around my neck.
"There is one more thing I have to ask of you," I asked him.
"The world is yours sweetheart," Henry said.
"Your daughter Elizabeth should be brought to court for Christmas it would be the perfect thing. To be surrounded by our children and your children, my stepchildren for Christmas," I said to him.
"Andrea I'll bring her to court but I want you always in my sight at least until the threat of the Boleyns is eliminated, Richard's baptism will be held in the chapel at Greenwich palace and you must promise to tell me if something is wrong if you expect me to tell you everything then I expect the same," Henry said.
"Thank You Henry and despite everything I love you," I replied kissing him. Henry returned it with so much passion and love that it made my heart melt as well as everything inside. Our relationship was on the mend I just hope that nothing would break it.
