A/N: I just wanted to say thank you so much for all the favorites, follows, and reviews. Honestly, I didn't think anyone would even like the concept of the story but it wouldn't get out of my head so I thought I'd try. So two things: One JessTheWitch asked me a few questions and I figured that meant I hadn't done a good enough job explaining things (sometimes I get ahead of myself) so I put more details on my page. If I still didn't explain everything please let me know. Two, I'm obsessed with Anne Boleyn but I've found it more difficult to write her story than the other two. It's hard to capture her so desperate, hurt, and scared when in my mind she's the epitome of confidence. So just thought I'd explain why this chapter may be a little rough. Please enjoy and don't hesitate to review!
Chapter 3. A Queen's Despair
"Your majesty...Your majesty?" I turned to the sound of my title being called and saw Nan staring with a worried face. With a reassuring smile I turned to her and asked her to repeat herself. "Your brother is here and requests an audience with your majesty." With a nod I went to my brother and greeted him.
"Your Majesty," he bowed low.
"Brother", I nodded. "Ladies you are dismissed, I wish to be alone with Lord Rochford." As one, my ladies, that Seymour wench included, stopped their chores, and left. Waiting until I was sure there were no eavesdroppers I confronted him, "You could've waited. You know that blonde simpleton will put herself in the way of the King."
With a patient smile he countered, "Well sister, she'll have a difficult time doing so with the King in council meetings all morning. And before you ask I've no idea what they're about, however I'm sure Uncle and Father will inform us." Nodding, I waited for him to get to the true reason behind his visit. "Before I begin I need to know an answer, Anne". Of course I knew what he was talking about; I'd never answered his question as to whether or not I could accept Mary back at court. I'd thought about it for almost a month now. In that time the King had gotten no warmer to me; but he also hadn't gotten any colder. But, if I was honest with myself I could see that all his favor went to the Seymours now. They went on hunts with him, they dined privately with him, they got the best cut of meat at dinner, they were all but royalty; and if I could have it my way they would never get their hands on my crown or throne.
"Yes. If Mary comes back to court to help me keep my crown then I will welcome her back; all past transgressions will be forgiven and it will be as if she never betrayed us."
George nodded and stood to poor two glasses of wine. "If you truly mean that Your Highness, then sit, drink, listen, and don't argue". I did as he said and waited for him to begin. "Our sister will come back to court to help us under a few conditions of her own. If we agree to her terms then she will do our bidding and be as she once was to our family. She will do what she is told to do, she will act as instructed and do nothing on her own…if you follow her terms". Eager to be a Queen beloved of her King again I nodded for him to continue. "One, our sister would have her own pension-the pension that would've been William Carey's. She would not like to trade her financial independence away in this deal. Two, she would have her eldest two children at court. Catherine will be eleven soon and little Henry is nine, she does not think it appropriate that they should attend upon an infant Princess; but she would agree to Annie sharing the nursery with her." Before he could continue his speech I had started crying. I had banished my sister out of a jealous temper that I could not control and yet she, God bless her, had still loved me enough to name her child after me. "What is it?" My brother's voice was beyond impatient. Shaking my head and drying my eyes I assured him all was well and bade him continue. "Three, she wants to keep her farm maintained while she is at court and she wants us all to pay for it. Four, you must listen to what she instructs you to do. If you cannot agree to her rules she will not return to court. She says our lives will only be spared if you can learn to take her instruction and in return you must instruct her on how to keep the king. Jane Seymour will use the king's love to destroy you; she will use it to save you. So before you have to say yes she wants the full agreement of the whole family-you, me, mother, father, and uncle. She will not bring her children to this viper's nest without reassurance that they will be safe and cared for."
Honestly, if I were her, I don't think I would have agreed to it at all. The demands she made were minor and would be very inexpensive for our family. Now that I was a mother I understood the burning desire to protect one's child and I saw no problems with her wanting to do that for her own. "I have no qualms with her demands. Uncle and Father will agree to it as long as it gets the King back and Mother will agree with it as long as it saves her neck. When will she be able to come to court?"
"As soon as we send the funds to allow her to hire someone to tend her farm she will be able to come. She did also ask that you not announce her arrival at court. Something to do with people being surprised-though if you ask me I think she means to unsettle the Seymours more than she means to surprise the King."
"Again, as long as her plans don't lead us astray, all of her demands will be met. When the council meetings are over send everyone to me so that we may discuss what weighs so heavily on the King's mind. In the meantime send Mark to me, I believe I'll have some music."
I watched with a skillful eye as my ladies danced about my rooms. The golden fabric swirled around creating a halo effect around all of them. I watched with an aloof smile as Mistress Seymour struggled to keep up. Unable to help myself, I leaned toward Nan, "Why would the king want to take an untamed horse to his bed?" I hadn't whispered and the flame on her cheeks told me that she had heard my comment. Not wanting her to scamper off to Henry I stood up and joined them. "This is the proper way to fall in love, the only way to truly capture a man; on your feet, not off them." After another hour of dancing and laughing I sent my ladies away to ready themselves for dinner so they could return to dress me.
"No not that red one, the other one", I instructed the blonde whore. Either dress would've been fine but I would not give her that kindness. "I want to look like a queen not a country fool." Nan was putting my ruby necklace on when there was a knock on the door.
Madge Shelton returned, flustered, and said, "The King is here Madam and requests to escort you to dinner".
The King? My husband? Here to escort me to dinner? Of course in any other court in Europe that would not seem suspicious but I was no fool. Ignoring the pain in my heart I stood up, gave a seductive glance to my reflection, and walked out to greet my king. "Your Majesty", I said curtseying with the same smile I had given the mirror.
"My Queen", he said bowing but staring behind me. "I have come to escort you to dinner."
As I took his outstretched hand I turned and looked behind me. "Are you sick Lady Jane? Your face is flushed as if you have a fever. Perhaps you should rest instead of attending dinner." I felt Henry's hand tighten around mine; not in anger, but as if he could not bear the thought of eating without her there.
Curtseying she said in her little squeak of a voice, "Thank you for your concern Your Grace but I am feeling well; and I would never think to put my own health above attending Your Majesties." Before I could retort Henry cut in. "Ah. There you have it. She is well and Lady Jane will keep us company at tonight's feast." His tone told me, in no uncertain terms, that it was not a suggestion and that I would have to deal with the Seymour wench's company at dinner.
"So? What did she say?" Back in my apartments my father was keen to know what my sister's answer was. "The King could not have been more distant from you at dinner if he were in France and you in Spain. He gives all his attention to that wretched Seymour family." He went on at some length about the king's lack of attention while George poured wine for everyone and I removed my jewelry. When my Uncle steered the conversation back toward Mary, George finally told them what he told me.
"Those are her demands. If we agree to meet them then she'll be here before the court goes on progress. If not, she will not come and we are on our own."
"I assume girl that you're not so foolish as to refuse your sister. Your relationship with the King is less than the one he has with this dogs", my mother's words would usually bother me but I simply stared into the fire and rolled my eyes.
"Of course I said yes Lady Mother. I'm not so ignorant as to think that I'm still in favor with the King. His attentions toward Mistress Seymour give us all cause for alarm. If George thinks that Mary can bring him back into the fold then so be it. But I tell you now I will support no plan that will make her Queen. Her bastard son is a constant threat to Elizabeth, as is Fitzroy and the Lady Mary. Any plot that makes my daughter a bastard will be dispensed with now. We decided long ago that if we went for the crown it would be my head it rested on, not Mary's." I took a drag of my wine to calm myself and my Uncle took it upon himself to calm the room.
"Tempers are running high in these most dangerous times but let us not forget to whom we speak. We are family. Anne no one is considering replacing you with Mary. But if it is the king's wish to make her is official mistress, we will not tolerate you interfering. Once you have a son you can deal with Mary and Jane and any other whore as you please, but never forget that Mary and that Blount girl have a son for the king. Something, for the moment, you cannot boast."
"Not to mention the Lady Mary has a strong, Catholic claim to the throne," my father interrupted.
My Uncle nodded and continued, "If it comes down to him choosing which bastard he wants on the throne we go for Mary's bastard. Not, dear niece, your precious Elizabeth. This country will never accept your daughter on the throne and we will not see it torn apart again because of you. So if the King is undecided on which son to put on the throne and you have not provided one, we will back Mary. Is that understood?"
I nodded to my uncle and took a deep breath. "If I cannot provide the King with a son then you will push forward with my nephew on the throne…with me as Queen Regent and George as Lord Protector….with Elizabeth as his heir until such a time as he provides one. I will not have all my hard work be for nothing." No one disagreed with my statement and I let out a breath I wasn't aware I had been holding.
As we concluded our family meeting George turned around, "Oh Anne. Mary requested that you invite Elizabeth to court with the Lady Mary. She said she would like for Annie to meet Elizabeth and go back with her when she returns to Hatfield. And she thinks it will soften the King toward all of us. As far as the Lady Mary goes…she told me she would only explain it to you. So you'll have to ask her yourself."
I closed the door behind them and Nan came and helped me out of my gown. All the while I was undressing all I could think was if Mary's interference would be enough to save us. I had only myself to blame for how far we had fallen but I would love to be able to thank her for raising us again. In the middle of my reverie there was a knock on the door. Thinking it was George I went to it myself and was surprised to see the king.
"My Lady", he said kissing my hand. "I've come to share your bed tonight."
A/N: This wound up way shorter than I intended; as I said this chapter was difficult to spit out. So on the upside I'm pretty much done with the next chapter so you'll have something to read soon. I wanted to put these out quickly because I go back to college soon so I won't have as much free time to do this. So I hope you enjoyed and since chapter four will be the shortest so far I'm uploading them both today!