Chapter 13
The twins were christened the following week. Although Mary despised Cranmer, she knew he was a friend of Thomas and Anne, so she did not complain when he poured the holy water on the babies' heads, who wept softly. Eleanor and Stephen Cromwell behaved remarkably well, not weeping nor crying, but instead looking curiously at their godparents, Mary and Gregory.
Anne squeezed Thomas's hand discreetly and rested her head on his shoulder. She said nothing, but everyone could tell her beaming happiness, her bright smile matched by his own. When Anne was casted aside and humiliated by Henry the VIII, her sadness was almost unbearable, not because of her annulment (actually, she welcomed the news of her demise and new title with the utmost relief), but due to the prospect of not having the opportunity to experience the joys of motherhood, something she had longed for with all her might. However, it looked like God had chosen to fill the void in her life by giving her a loving husband despite all the wrong he had done in his life, and most of all, by blessing her with two wonderful, healthy babies who would fill their home with laughter and happiness. As for Thomas… well, he didn't expect to be alive, for starters, let alone be a father again. He slightly kissed Anne's hair, thanking the Lord for his new life.
Meanwhile, in Hampton Court
- So the damn child is born and I am only informed a week after the event? A WEEK? – hissed Norfolk between gritted teeth, shaking his servant by the shoulders.
- I am sorry, sir – stuttered the young lad, trembling in fear. Norfolk let go of his shoulders and started pacing back and forth. – Our informer says it is a couple: a boy and a girl.
- A couple? – Norfolk could barely hide his surprise. – The King's mare gave birth to a healthy couple?
- Yes, Your Grace.
- Very well – said Norfolk, concealing his astonishment. – Send for Lady Rochford and Sir Francis Bryan to meet me. Now. – The boy bowed and left. Ten minutes later, both Jane Boleyn and Francis Bryan entered the room.
- It's a couple. A boy and a girl – the duke blurted out, not caring for formalities.
- So I have heard. A blonde, blue-eyed boy – nodded Bryan, while Lady Rochford couldn't hide a devilish smile.
Thomas Howard turned to face the eye-patched man in front of him.
- How do you know?
- I have my own informants too… and cheaper than yours – snorted Bryan with malice. Under normal circumstances, Norfolk would have demanded to know more. Bryan was supposed to do what he was told and nothing more. But he was too satisfied to care. God seemed to smile upon his plans.
- It's a blessing that both of them are healthy – commented Jane Boleyn acidly. – They were born long before the due time. Katherine still has a month of confinement ahead.
- Can't you pretend a premature birth? – asked Norfolk.
- Wouldn't it be too coincidental? – countered Jane. – Both the Queen and the Lady Anne's children are born before their time, only days apart, and one of them was kidnapped before the royal birth – she studied both men in each side of her chair with a cold look. Norfolk sighed and nodded.
- Unfortunately, you are right. How shall we proceed then? - silence was the only answer, until Bryan had an idea.
- What if I take him to one of our family estates, not very far away from here, until next month? He would be taken care of, well fed and everything. And when the time is right, the women will set up a deliverance and he will be presented as Henry's new son.
Thomas Howard nodded thoughtfully, with a small smirk playing on his lips.
- Sometimes having a scoundrel like you in the family comes in handy, Bryan. With all the due respect, of course – Bryan laughed wholeheartedly. He had been called much worse, so he ignored the insult.
- When will you do it? Tonight? – Jane Boleyn turned to Francis.
- No. According to my informant, it is better to do it during the day. The house is more unguarded – interrupted Norfolk, pacing back and forth.
- My informant concurs – said Bryan, deviously.
- How do you plan to sneak into the house during the day when everyone is awake and fully alert? – Jane insisted.
- According to my informant, Lady Anne and Lady Mary go to the chapel together to pray every single morning, and that usually lasts an hour. It gives me enough time to sneak in without being seen… all of their ladies join them in that occasion.
- A Protestant and a Catholic praying together? That's something I have never heard of – mused Norfolk.
- And the maids who are nursing the children? Surely they won't neglect them.
- My informant said she would distract them. How she will manage that it's not up to me to know.
- Ahhh, so it's a woman – mocked Norfolk. For someone with a deformed eye, your success with women is remarkable, Bryan.
- I have started to face my missing eye not as a deformity but instead as part of my charm – said Bryan, shrugging. Norfolk and Jane stifled a laugh.
- If you say so – Norfolk turned his back to them. – So tomorrow morning it will all begin – he said, repressing a shiver down his spine in anticipation.
- God helps us – muttered Jane.
- Amen – sighed Francis. The next day would be a busy one, that was for sure.
The next morning, as it had been planned, Sir Francis Bryan arrived earlier at Anne and Thomas's manor in Essex. The Lady Mary and Anne of Cleves had already gone for the chapel to say their daily prayers, followed by their ladies. Surprisingly, both of the children governesses followed them, which gave Francis the perfect excuse to sneak in the nursery, with the help of Thomas Wriothesley, one of Cromwell's men who was on Norfolk's pocket. Inside the nursery, a young blonde woman was already waiting, with a white bundle on her arms.
- Good morning, Herr Bryan – she said, in a thick German accent. – Here is the boy, as I promised you.
- Good morning, Gerte – he kissed her hand. - How did you manage to get rid of the ladies? – his eyes scanned the empty room.
- It was easy – she shrugged. – I offered myself to look after them. They grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Despite their adorableness, it gets boring to spend your days changing these two's smelly diapers.
Brandon peeked at the bundle, uncovering a tiny-faced, blue-eyed baby who looked at him with curiosity.
- He's just what we need – he muttered. – Shall we? – he led Gerte outside, covered by a hooded cloak which covered the bundle in her arms. Wriothesley followed them in silence, but couldn't hide his surprise when he saw Gerte getting up in the saddle with Bryan.
- Gerte, what are you doing?
- I will go with Sir Francis. He promised to reward me for my service. I don't want to live buried in the countryside anymore – she smiled lovingly at Bryan, who faked his kindest smile towards her, nodding towards Wriothesley, who understood the plan without a blink. He smiled too.
- I hope you have a good life, Gerte. Have a safe trip, Sir Bryan.
When Wriothesley got out of sight, Bryan started to ride along the river bend. The breeze was cooler, but pleasant, and Gerte smiled in delight, pulling off her hood and letting her blonde hair shine in the sunlight.
- I am so happy to be free from Essex, mein lieben – Bryan snorted inwardly at her naivety. He had bedded her enough times to convert her in his spy inside Cromwell's home, alluring her with promises of marriage and very good sex, of course. Women were so easy to manipulate, almost like living puppets. She had done her job perfectly, and now he had to find a way of getting rid of her. And the answer came to him in a second, while looking at the water running beside them. Pulling her closer, her back against his chest, he kissed her neck from behind, making her sigh contentedly. With only one hand, Bryan dug his fingers into her neck, until a cracking sound was heard and Gerte's lifeless body fell like a haystack in the cold water.
One less to go, thought Francis, while he contemplated her body sinking into the depths of the water. Then, he turned her back, with little Cromwell safely clinging to his chest, and rode south like his life depended on it.