A/N: Okay first of all I'd like to say sorry for taking so long with this chapter. The Tudor bunch are a little bit more stubborn than I thought-they refused to be written. Anyway thanks for the patience and support. Enjoy!
Ch 5. Welcome to Court
"But why Momma?" Henry was never good about just accepting what I told him. There always needed to be some justification behind every order I gave; so naturally when I told them that we were going to court and would no longer live on the farm he needed an explanation. "I thought you hated court. You said we would live on the farm forever." Sighing I tried my best to ignore the pain that had started creeping into my heart. I remembered very well the conversation he was recalling. We had just finished moving all of their things from Hever and into their rooms on the farm. Stafford was there and had been the one who had calmed the children down so that they could understand their new situation. " 'Tis an adventure loves not a misfortune. Think of it. You'll not have to wait for the summers to see your mother. You'll learn to grow your own food and you'll get to play all the time. There won't be anyone to distract you from hunting down the sweetest fruit in the trees or stop you from exploring the best hiding places. There will be other children to join in your play and they'll teach you how to be naughty without being caught by your worrisome mother." The children had laughed at my indignation and that was the last protest I had heard about being on the farm instead of at the castle. God, what I wouldn't do to have some of his comforting words right now.
"My love we have to return to court to help your aunt."
"The Queen?"
"Yes dear. She is in need of help. That is why your uncle and mine came last week."
"But she is a Queen can't the King help her?"
His innocence was too much to bear at times. How could I tell him the king, his father and uncle, was the reason the queen was in trouble. Some things he did not need to know yet but he was a Boleyn, last name or no and he would be in danger if he was left too innocent too long. I had no idea how to explain it to him.
"The King can't help her because he's the one hurting her." Catherine's voice rang out honest and even above my inner speech. "But I don't understand why we're packing before you've received the letter."
"Because dear one, when we receive the letter we will need to leave right then. Your aunt will be expecting us to travel back with the messenger and escort she sends."
"Why?" Henry's voice interrupted us.
"I told you love we are needed back at court."
"No Momma I mean why is the king hurting the queen."
After a few beats of silence I heard Catherine's voice. "Maybe you're too young to remember the King from when we were younger and Momma doesn't want to explain but if you're going to come with us you have to understand some stuff but you can't talk about it to anyone who isn't a Boleyn."
My silence must have caused him some alarm as he looked back and forth between me and his sister. I felt it was my duty as his mother to be explain the truth to him but I couldn't. How could I be completely honest with him without breaking his spirit? Walking up to me Catherine put a hand on my shoulder, "I'll tell him Momma. I'll make him understand." Nodding I stood back and let her talk to her brother.
"You remember Mr. William don't you? You remember Annie's papa?"
"Of course I do. He's in heaven now."
Nodding she continued. "Yes he's with God now. Do you remember mama's husband before that? His name was William Carey."
Henry scrunched up his face and thought for a minute and finally shook his head in despair. "Was he our papa? His last name is the same as ours."
"No. He was mama's husband, but he was not our father." The implication of what she said must have hit her for she stopped and looked at me with an apologetic smile. She turned back to her brother and said, "Do you remember how you got your name?"
"Momma said she named me after the king…Just like she named you after Queen Katherine."
"Princess Dowager", we said at the same time.
"We're going back to court you can't call her Queen. She is Princess Katherine or the Princess Dowager or even the Infanta but not the Queen. Momma will be in a lot of trouble if you call her that." He nodded his head in understanding and she continued. "Why do you think Momma named you after the king?"
"To honor him?"
"Why? What difference would it make to the king if the daughter of one of his ambassadors named her baby after him?"
"I don't understand. Grandma Boleyn, and you, and momma all say the king liked momma. Of course she would name me after him."
"You're missing the point Henry. Why did the king favor momma? Why did he like her?" Her brother shrugged and she sighed. "King Henry liked Momma because of me."
"I don't understand."
"Momma gave King Henry a child, Henry. She gave him me. And then less than two years later she gave him you. Momma gave the king a son. A healthy son that lived, something only one other woman has ever been able to do. Henry you're the son of the king and I'm his daughter."
"That's not true. Is it Momma?"
"Yes, Henry. You are the king's son-"
"I'm a bastard?!"
"Don't say that!" I usually never yelled at the children but I couldn't bear for him to call his self that. "You're not a bastard. You're my son."
"No! I'm a bastard and so is Catherine. Is Annie even Mr. Stafford's? Don't look so surprised mother because you know it is a reasonable question to ask of a whore." The slap I heard sounded as bad as the pain I felt in my chest. Catherine was now rubbing her hand as Henry was rubbing his face. I could hear Anne crying and I could feel the hot tears running down my face.
"You are my brother and I love you…But if you ever call my mother a whore again, I'll kill you." Catherine walked away from her brother and picked up her sister shushing her until she was calm. I had been frozen to the spot, Henry and I staring at each other.
"Momma I-"
"I'm going to finish packing up my things. Remember only pack your best clothes, your aunt will help me supply your wardrobe after we get to court." Unable to bear their gazes any longer I grabbed Anne from Catherine and went up to my room. We hadn't even left the country and court was already tearing this family apart. Henry was right after all, I was a whore. Everyone in Europe called me the great prostitute and it was for good reason. My son and daughter would never know true peace in their lives. Their father had abandoned them, their first step-father hated them, and their last step father, the only man who had loved them unconditionally, had died. How could I explain to them that the actions and fates of the men in their lives had nothing to do with them? Shaking my head I laid Annie down on the bed and started packing some of my things.
We didn't have too many clothes that would be appropriate at court but there were a few items I had kept from my younger years including a pair of velvet gloves with seed pearls. I kept them in the back of my drawer; they were a gift from the king. It seemed like a century ago the king and I were the center of the court; a time when I was the favorite Boleyn sister and the king didn't have a thought or affection for any other. A time when Katherine was Queen and I was the king's mistress. I was just a girl then and I was in love with the king, something Anne didn't manage to do until much later into their relationship, and he loved me…for a time. "What is love to do with the making of a Prince?" I must've heard that a thousand times from my sister. She was always so confident that all it took to make a healthy baby was a willing man and a woman he could stomach to bed. Carrying Henry VIII's child was no small feat. He wanted sons and he wasn't shy about his bed mate having that knowledge. I don't know what made her think one child would guarantee his love anyway. Look at Queen- Princess Katherine. It would be an easier transition to court if I stopped thinking of her as Queen. Look at Bessie Blount, look at me for God's sake; we had given him healthy sons who yet lived. That mattered not at all to this king. He wanted healthy sons from a wife like Katherine, one who would content herself with the proper affairs of women and not of the state. I wasn't sure whether or not Anne could be that woman but with God's mercy and interference hopefully I would be able to teach her to be.
I lay awake that night crying. I hadn't even received the summons to court and I was already a mess. My son hated me, my daughter hated him, and my baby was about to be thrust into a world that she was not born to. William's side of the bed was noticeably colder and I missed now more than ever. Like him, our family seemed dead, and I had no idea how to save it.
"Sir John, how is your wife fairing? The Duke and I our sorry for we did not mean to intrude but we were near and very tired." Suffolk and I had been received at Wolf Hall the prior night and were sitting at breakfast with John Seymour. I had yet to see Jane but I was sure my angel was in attendance upon her mother.
"There is no need to apologize Your Majesty. You and his Grace are welcome guests. My wife is doing as well as may be expected. Our sweet Jane is with her now so I'm sure she is as comfortable as is possible. The physicians think she shall recover but they are nervous."
"You have our sympathies and our prayers Sir John." We spoke of politics and wars and other inconsequential topics until we were finished eating. After the servants cleared everything away Sir John inquired as to whether or not we wanted to take a turn about the garden. Something in his voice made it sound like it was more than a suggestion and so I complied. We had only been touring the garden for a few moments when I heard the most beautiful sound in the world, Jane Seymour's voice.
"Not those flowers they make my Lady Mother scratch herself but the ones next to them are very pretty." She was such an angelic soul. She had the love and devotion of the King of England but she had forgone all of it to return to the country to attend upon her ailing mother. That was the kind of purity I was missing from my life. Everyone around me had been corrupted by one sin or another; there were those who loved power, those who were lustful, greedy, proud, envious, the list went on and on. In my years I had never known a more innocent soul than that of Mistress Seymour.
"Jane", Sir John said getting her attention. When she saw me her eyes went wide, her face flushed and she immediately bowed.
"Your Majesty. Your Grace."
"Rise Lady Jane. We did not mean to impede on your great and charitable works."
"Your Majesty it is not a great work to attend upon my mother. It is my duty, honor, and pleasure."
"You, a young woman with her life ahead of her and at good standing at court, find pleasure in tending to your mother?"
"Yes Your Majesty. It is the duty of every child to attend their parents and every woman to do as she is bid."
Nodding I bade her continue and finished walking around the gardens. All I could think of was her as Brandon and Sir John spoke. I wondered what she would look like in these gardens in the night time; a crown of flowers on her head, naked from head to toe. I wanted to be the one to make this saint worldly. I wanted show her how a real man truly loved a woman. I wanted to fill her up with sons, princes! I wanted to coronate her with a crown of saints.
"Perhaps a hunt to end the dullness of this day", I heard Sir John suggest.
"Good game in these woods?" Charles seemed doubtful and I didn't blame him but I'd do anything to get the thoughts of Jane out of my head. She was pure and so was our friendship and there was no way I would be able to act on my feelings. At any rate I needed to save my stirrings for putting sons in my wife and Queen. I would keep Jane pure and put my efforts toward a son on a soul that had been corrupted long ago.
"What's wrong Charles? Afraid of losing the hunt?"
Surprisingly enough the game in Sir John's woods was about the same as it was at court. When we returned we were shocked to see Jane and her mother walking about the flowers. Sir John walked to them and kissed them both thanking God and Jane that his wife had been spared. I waved their curtsies away and we went on to dinner.
It was the most difficult dinner I had ever sat through. I was the King so naturally everyone relied on me for great conversation and to be the center of attention. All I wanted to do was sit back and watch Jane; her face was like the moon. It was bright and round, the only object in the sky I wanted to pay attention to. She was surrounded by stars and yet hers was the only face I dared to look at.
As I laid down that night sleep eluded me. The morning's hunt had left me tired but I could not sleep and of course my mind wandered back to Jane. I wondered what she would like walking naked in the forest at one of my country houses. I wondered how her bright eyes would twinkle in the moonlight against the dark sky. I wondered how her pale skin and hair would look illuminated in the moonlight. My eyes started to shut but before they could close all the way I heard a sound at my door. As I looked up I saw my angel standing there in a very light chemise. I could see the point of her breasts, the roundness of her stomach, the curve of her hips, everything.
"Your Majesty I did not mean to disturb you but I thought that since I was done attending my mother I could attend upon you."
Before I could respond to her she had her night gown over her head and was pulling back the covers of my bed. Her warm mouth was on mine and I moaned as I tasted her. She tasted like sunshine and country air. She was light as a feather as she lay on top of me. She broke the kiss long enough to get her hands between us and guide me inside of her. She gasped as I entered her and I froze. Taking deep breaths she slid all the way down and kept going though I could tell she was in pain. She leaned down and kissed me again as we made love. As she was getting close to finishing she leaned to my ear and started whispering.
"Your Majesty. Henry. I want you to do something for me. I want you to do me a favor. I want you to do something for me. I want a favor from you Henry. I want you to do something for me."
Moaning I replied to her, "Ask and it shall be yours sweetheart. Any and everything at my disposal will be yours."
For a moment all that could be heard was her moaning as she enjoyed our love making but suddenly she was speaking again- words I never thought I'd hear her say. "I want you to kill the Queen. She isn't worthy of you. Kill the Queen. Anne Boleyn is a whore and she will tear your country apart. Kill the Queen. She will never give you a son. Kill the Queen. I'll be your wife and give you a son. Kill the whore."
As quickly as I could I flipped her over and stood up. "What?! Jane what is the matter with you? This isn't like you. Have you gone mad?"
"Me darling? Mad? No. I have only your best interests at heart. If you finish lying with me we will conceive and we will have a boy. Isn't that what you want most? A prince for you kingdom. Does it matter how he comes about so long as he comes? Kill your Boleyn whore and we will have a son."
My eyes snapped open and the first thing I noticed was the sun in my room. There was no Jane, no chemise on the ground, nothing. I was sweating and the area of the chemise closest to my privates was sticky. I called for a bucket of water and when I received it I rubbed water all over my face, neck, and back. It was just a dream, I kept thinking over and over. Dream or abomination there was something haunting about last night. Everything seemed so real; I could feel Jane, I could feel inside of her. Everything about her was exactly how I imagined it. I could still her voice whispering, "Kill the Queen." My Jane would never even consider something so violent and she would never think to actually say it to me of all people.
Breakfast was very quiet as I contemplated my dream. I could hardly stand to be in the same room as Jane and I certainly could not look at her. It wasn't until I heard her voice that I mentally joined the rest of them.
"Are you well Your Majesty, you've hardly touched your food? If it is not to your liking the cooks will bring you something else."
Glancing at her and then back to my plate I answered her, "It is fine Mistress Seymour. I'm just eager to get back to the palace. I have been away from my Queen and duties for too long. Not to mention the Princess will be there when we return." She looked sadder than I had ever seen her but she said nothing else and ate her food.
As we bade the Seymours farewell and trotted back toward court it seemed now that all I could think of were Anne and Elizabeth. All we were missing was a boy to add to our family and we would be perfect. The sooner I got back to court the sooner my wife and I could fix that.
"What's her name George Boleyn and don't you lie to me?!" I hated the sound of my wife's voice. I hated her face; it was round with a pointy chin, eyes that were too close together, and a nose that befitted a witch. I hated her hair; it was blonde but it looked as though it had been dragged through pig's mud. I hated her figure; it lacked any true definition-no curves, no plump breasts. I hated her sense of entitlement; I didn't have to tell her where I was or who I was with. If it pleased me to spend all night with my sister, the Queen, then I will do it. If it is my desire to spend my time at brothels all over the country then I'll service any whore I see fit to. Why she thought she was any better than any of the rest of the wives in England was beyond my understanding. If anything she was beneath all of them- her husband hated her and she had no children. Children. My father had made it very clear that he was anticipating children to come from our union. I had married the harpy, bedded her and put my seed in her. It wasn't my fault she didn't conceive. If only I could have Mark everywhere I went. The way a man loved another man was so powerful. I'd lay down my life for him.
"George Boleyn!" My wife's voice cut through the room again. "Are you listening to me? What's the whore's name?"
"I've been trying to ignore you since the day after our wedding ceremony. God woman you're insufferable. All you do is nag and complain. Try sewing or embroidering or whatever the devil it is women do. Or how about this, why don't you try being a mother!"
"Do you think me to be the Virgin Mary? You never lie with me. I would give you a son and a daughter if you would not forsake my bed for others."
Rolling my eyes, I stood up from my chair and poured myself a glass of wine and downed it. I poured another as she continued to rant behind my back. If I could get enough courage from this glass to put a child in her belly then maybe I could be more at peace. I wouldn't have to come to my chambers and get more pressure. Dealing with Anne's situation was troubling enough without adding the extra weight of my wife. After my third glass I walked up to her and kissed her in the mouth.
"What are you doing?" Before she could start resisting I had already started undoing the strings of her dress and my breeches. Imagine Mark I told myself over and over again. Whether it was the alcohol or the speech in my head soon enough her muddy blonde hair turned black and curly and she had become Smeaton before my eyes. My love. I kissed him as passionately as I ever had and moved us toward the bed. Our love making was always passionate and fiery but this seemed to consume us. I lay on top of him as we had removed all of our clothes. It didn't take me long to flip him on his stomach and have my way with him- I was never a very patient lover. It was awhile before I spilled my seed into him and it was way more than I had ever released before. As I finished I rolled over on my side and tried to get my breathing in order. I could hear whimpering noises next to me but my headed was too clouded to make out the images next to me; the candles had gone out awhile ago and it was dark in my chambers. Besides, I was falling asleep and I could see Mark swimming in a lake…naked.
When I woke Jane was laying next to me, unmoving. As I sat up I rubbed my head; that's the last time I order that wine. I had been told that German wine was strong but I didn't think that it would be that potent. I stood up, naked, to pour a glass of water but before I could the room started spinning and my stomach lurked. I retched all over the floor until my stomach was empty. I heard Jane walk around to me and she handed me a glass of water; my eyes were closed as I drank it but I could smell something strange. It smelled like old metal and rain or…blood. When I finally opened my eyes Jane was on her knees wide eyed and staring at me. She said nothing but her eyes showed concern. I looked down and I could see traces of blood on her nightgown.
"Are you alright? I think you're starting your courses." She looked confused and shook her head.
"I'm not starting my courses My Lord. This blood is a product of you."
I got up from the floor trying to remember last night. I remembered her nagging voice and making love to Mark. How did I end up in my bed and why does my wife think I caused her to bleed?
"Don't you remember husband? After a few glasses of wine last night you promptly turned me on my stomach and ravaged me. Even when I cried and asked you to stop you still kept going. All the while moaning and mumbling your lover's name. All this time I knew you took others to your bed but I never would have guessed that you would participate in such an abomination."
"Jane", I said in a warning tone.
"No! I have given everything to you. I've been a good wife though you didn't deserve it. I have maintained my dignity even when you withheld the funds for me to do so. I have never embarrassed you publicly nor caused a scandal. I even embraced your sisters though they are both whores and one a false queen-"
Before Jane could finish her rant I grabbed her around her neck and slammed her on the bed, pinning her to it. I wasn't feeling well and I'd had enough of her for one hung over morning. All I wanted to do was go back to bed but that was just too much to ask.
"Listen to me wife. You better pay attention to what I am about to say for I will only say this to you once." As I spoke I rolled up her night gown, forced her legs apart, and moved in between them. "You are not at liberty to lecture me. What I do and who I do it with is my concern not yours. If you have a problem with that then you may retire from court and our marriage and I will send you to a nunnery. Do not seek to control me or our marriage ever again." I thrust myself inside her and she cried out. "You will learn your place in this marriage and this life. You will learn to speak to me with nothing but kindness. You will be meek and quiet and you will cease this aggravation." My every other word was punctuated with a thrust. She had tried to push me off of her at first but now her legs were tight around my waist, her face was flushed, and her eyes were alight with pleasure. Her moans were that of protested pleasure as I pounded away at her flesh. "And you will say nothing against my bedmates or my sisters again. You will learn to accept that they are the two most important women in my life not you. They are your sisters through marriage and Anne is your rightful Queen. If you suggest anything other than that ever again I will have you arrested for treason." I could feel that she was close to her climax but I spilled my seed in her before she could achieve it.
"I wasn't finished!"
"Too bad woman. You'll learn to accept whatever I give you. Now call in the servants to draw me a bath. I need to start my day."
As I finished getting dressed I stared at myself in the mirror. I was young and fit but I was exhausted and stressed completely out. It was time for Mary to come back and save this family once and for all.
"How is she Lady Bryan? Does she feed well?" Elizabeth had been at court for a few hours but she had just gotten into my arms. She was beautiful; her curly red hair and blue eyes signaled to the world that she was a true born Tudor. The only area she was wanting in was her sex. I so desired to give her a little brother and I intended to do so soon.
"She is perfect in every way Your Majesty. She is adored by all and she will surely make a great queen in her time."
"Thank you Lady Bryan. You may leave us. Cousin Madge, read aloud from the Bible. It's never too early to educate the Princess." Madge read aloud as my ladies sewed and stared at my daughter. Aside from when her wet nurse fed her she was in my apartments all day. I should have been at peace and very relaxed but I couldn't help thinking of the Lady Mary. I had ordered her presence at court to be kept a secret but I was nervous about anyone finding out, especially Henry. He would kill me if he found out on his own, or from some Seymour spy, that his eldest child was at court without his permission or knowledge. My sister had better know what she's doing. Sighing, I looked up to see why Madge had stopped reading and I saw Henry staring at me and Elizabeth.
"Your Majesty", I said trying to stand up but he waved his hand for me to stay seated. I nodded for Madge to continue reading as Henry sat down next to me. For awhile there was only the sound of my cousin's voice and the sound of needle going through fabric. All I could think of was whether or not he and Madge had kept their relationship. I was no longer with child so there was no reason for him to have a mistress but that had never been a deterrent for my husband. Unable to take the silence between us anymore I turned to him and began chatting.
"I didn't know you had returned, I would have had something to dine on."
"It's fine Anne, I wanted to surprise you. I wanted to see Elizabeth." He picked her up and rocked her. She had long been asleep but she was so perfect it was hard not to stare at her whether she was awake or not. It warmed my heart to see Henry showing affection towards his daughter even though I would still give him a son.
"How was your trip?"
"It was fine sweetheart, thank you. Brandon and I had a good expedition."
"I'm glad Your Majesty had a good outing. Did you sleep well away from the palace?"
"I did. The Seymours were gracious enough to open Wolf Hall to us. Sir John's wife was unwell and Lady Jane attended her whilst we hunted. She will be back at court to serve you soon enough."
"If her mother is ailing then perhaps it's best she stays in the country."
"I said she will return to court. Do not argue with me Anne. Sir John has been a loyal subject to us and having his daughter serve my Queen is a great reward, one I will not take back."
I said nothing as he lectured me. I hated that Seymour wench. Even away from court she still sparked the most intense arguments between me and my husband. I hated everything about her and Henry knew it. I didn't want her at my court and one day I would have the power to send her away, and I would use it.
"Your Majesty I only mean to suggest that if she is such a good nurse to her mother then she should stay in the country. Keeping her mother in good health is more important than serving me. I have plenty of loyal ladies at court to wait on me. Her absence will not disappoint me too greatly."
"Her mother was well enough when we left so I suspect Lady Jane and Sir John will join us at court again shortly. The Seymour brothers are still here and I'm sure it would please them to be a family again. You are with your family here at court I'm sure Lady Jane would like the same peace." I could see that his temper was flaring and he was making me nervous. He had never been shy about throwing things and right now he was holding my most coveted treasure. In an effort to calm him I said nothing and focused on my breathing. He wanted that blonde whore serving me? Was he a fool or did he think me to be so stupid that I wouldn't understand? When he wanted Mary she was brought to court to attend Katherine just like I was. I wasn't fool enough to mistake the reason for her presence. Besides, Jane and I had waited on the old queen together. We had both been ladies from noble families of England trying to find our way in the world. I knew better than Henry how innocent Jane wasn't. She was nice enough, kind, quiet, meek, but she was ambitious. She was just as ruthless as any other member of the Seymour clan and they all knew it. Everyone knew it except Henry. Jane was as conniving and grasping as any member of court and one day I would prove it to him. A knock at my chamber door disrupted my thoughts.
"Your Majesties forgive me but the Princess's wet nurse is here to feed her again", Nan called from the archway.
"Of course. We want her to maintain her schedule after all. What kind of parents would we be if we put our desires before our child's?" Smiling, Henry handed our daughter to her wet nurse and stood up. "I will take my leave of you darling, I must take care of a few more matters of state before I prepare myself for the feast. It would please me greatly if you, as well as our daughter, were to wear gold tonight. Madam." He kissed my hand and walked out as my ladies curtsied. I sent one of my ladies to send the message to Lady B ryan about Elizabeth's clothes and went to take a brief rest before tonight's festivities.
I had been bathed and was sitting in my under clothes when there was a knock on the door. I paid little attention to it until Nan whispered in my ear, "She's back, and your father and brother are here." I rolled my eyes and had her fetch me a robe as I prepared myself for both encounters. Hopefully George would give me the strength to get through it all. When I walked in the room I was greeted with a chorus of Your Majesties. Ignoring the whore I walked up to my father and brother, kissing them on the cheek in greeting.
"Papa. George. What can I do for you?"
"If it pleases Your Majesty our affairs would be better said in private", my father said. Nodding I signaled for all my ladies to leave me. Jane left with them, red faced as always, I would tend to her after dinner.
When my rooms were empty of everyone save my family my father turned to me, "It isn't wise to provoke our enemies Anne. A simple gesture of acknowledgement would not have killed you. The Seymours grow to be a bigger threat everyday that you go without a son and with every evil action you commit towards her."
"I did not commit an evil action. I have no desire to see her at my court and no patience to pretend otherwise. What is it that you wanted to speak to me about George? Surely you two did not come all this way to lecture me about my behavior towards my adversary."
"No, we came to tell you that Mary and her children should arrive at court sometime tomorrow…and to ask you how wise it is to have the Lady Mary at court." George looked nervous and glanced back and forth between me and my father.
"It isn't wise at all to have her here. If the King finds out that you summoned his bastard to court without his permission he will not take kindly to it. Your punishment-" Before my father could continue I cut him off.
"If you did not think it wise to have her hear then you should have given your council when George said it in the first place. We do this on Mary's bidding, not mine. I don't want her anywhere near the court or her father. So my punishment will be nothing compared to what Mary's will be if this comes back to haunt us."
"As you wish Anne. Finish readying yourself and call your ladies back…all your ladies."
"Papa I intend to deal with her after dinner not before."
"You will do no such thing. If she is at liberty during dinner then she will surely attract more attention from the King. She will be around her family and those wretched brothers of hers are geniuses when it comes to putting her under the King's nose. Acknowledge her Anne and welcome her back into your household." My father's tone stung but I nodded as he and George took their leave. I would do as he said considering the sense in his words. Besides, I might as well get used to taking orders seeing as Mary would be giving them as soon as the family was alone. And if I wanted to keep my crown and my husband's love I would take those orders down to the very last detail.
As my ladies returned I greeted the whore. "Lady Jane. I see you have returned to court. His Majesty told me your mother was unwell and that was why you left court so abruptly."
Curtseying she said, "Yes Your Majesty. She is well now and the physicians hope that she will make a complete recovery very soon."
"We shall pray for it to be so. Though I can't imagine why you would leave her in her time of need. Surely the King and I could have spared you a few more days if you desired it. But you are here now so we will make use of you." The offended look on her face pleased me but the fact that there was nothing for her to run and tell Henry or anyone else about pleased me even more.
Dinner was uneventful until Henry called for Elizabeth to be brought into the dining hall. The dancers parted ways and bowed as Lady Bryan presented our child to us. There was cheering and clapping and toasts to her health as Henry announced their heir apparent. And for a moment, for a brief moment, we looked like a golden family. We looked like we were on the edge of a golden world. But of course I only held her for a few moments before Lady Bryan came and returned her to the nursery. As soon as she was gone Jane was the center of Henry's attention again and for the rest of the night.
The next day was very quiet and simple. Jane was her normal, irritating self but I managed quite well. I dined privately in my chambers that night and as soon as I finished there was a knock at my door. When I saw hooded figures standing behind George I dismissed my ladies for the night and invited my visitors in. When we were alone their hoods came down and I saw the face of my sister, my nephew, and my nieces.
"Your Majesty", they bowed as one. Their posture needed work but it was something we would be able to fix quickly.
"Rise, we are family. There is no need for formalities in private. Are you all well?"
"We are all very well Your Majesty, thank you." Mary's voice seemed very tired.
George took this time to cut in and get things moving. "Anne the children I'm sure are tired so I will show them to their rooms if it pleases you."
"Well I thought that Mary could share my bed for the night and that all the children could share the nursery until I make a proper space for them."
"Very well I will escort all three children to their rooms and I will see you two in the morning."
Mary kissed her children goodnight and reluctantly handed little Anne over to our brother. When they were gone I poured us glasses of wine. "Well Mary, are you truly prepared to be back at court?"
"I hope so. I have risked my children's life to save this family so I intend to be taken seriously, Anne."
"I know. You will be kept a secret for at least one more day and you will be reintroduced to the court and King as soon as the time is appropriate. There is one thing I need to ask. Something that cannot be put off since court has no secrets. Why is the Lady Mary here?"
My sister took a big gulp of the wine and deep breath of air. "She's here because you are going to welcome her back to court. You are going to be the one who reunites the former Princess with the King."
"Are you mad?! Henry, not to mention father and uncle, would never allow this. She is a bastard and she must accept her place. As long as she refuses to sign the oath she must not be allowed back at court."
"And as long as she remains away from Henry and the court she is a constant threat. If I were Jane I would use Mary against you in any and every way I knew how."
"If I reconcile Henry to Mary or vice versa without her signature then Henry's wrath will come down on me!"
"Yes! And yes and your other thought is right too! He will turn to Mistress Seymour and her grasping family! Yes he will turn to her. And what will she say?"
For a moment I hesitated and stood gaping like a fish, my mouth agape. Before long she was talking again.
"She will say one of three things Anne. Either she will agree with you in which case Henry will be mad at her and you and he will turn to me. And he will turn to me because we will make me the third woman in his life. We will very quickly make it a competition between the Boleyn girls and the Seymour whore. If she disagrees with you that Mary should be returned to court then Henry may agree with her for a day but inevitably his anger will turn on her and he will adore you for trying to bring his family together; and in that case Jane will no longer be a candidate, it will be me and you and inevitably it will be you. The last thing is she will say nothing and Henry will lean into his own interpretation."
"What if he does not? What if he does not end up mad at her Mary?! What will we do then? I thought I could control or understand Henry but I just don't know anymore."
"Anne calm down. If by chance Henry does not get mad at Jane I am here. This is why my presence at court is required. I am going to use every court and country practice at my disposal to get him back to this family. You need to focus on Mary. Now I am tired and we have a long journey ahead of us. It's time for bed Anne."
Agreeing with her, we helped each other prepare for bed like we used to do when we were ladies in waiting. It didn't take long for me to fall asleep. My dreams were very vivid. I saw Henry, me, Elizabeth as a child. We were running in the gardens at Hever castle. We were giggling and happy until I looked up and saw Mary standing underneath a tree. She looked so sad dressed all in black staring at us with haunted eyes. I tried to walk toward her but I felt a hand on my arm and when I turned to tell Henry to let me go it was Jane. I ordered her to let me go but she refused and grabbed me by the shoulders with an iron grip that I could not escape. She turned me around and the scene I saw broke my heart; I saw Mary and Elizabeth weeping over the headless corpse of their father as Edward and Thomas Seymour sharpened axes. As soon as his was sharp Thomas grabbed Mary and promptly removed her head while staring into my eyes. I tried my best to reach her but Jane's grip was too tight. My heart sank into my stomach when Edward grabbed Elizabeth. I battled and screamed until my skin bled and my throat was rough. When the ax came down on my Princess's neck I startled awake and immediately threw up. I was sweating and panting as I woke up. I vowed then and there I would make my best effort to help Mary. I didn't like her or her mother, especially since their lives meant that mine Elizabeth's could not be safe. But I knew a sign when I saw one. If for nothing but the sake of securing my crown, I would reconcile Mary to Henry and secure this family.
A/N: Omg! I didn't think that this chapter would ever get finished but it finally complied with me. Anyway I hope you enjoy and my head is full of ideas for the next chapter so read and review and I will have the next chapter up very soon!
Okay so I re-uploaded this with, hopefully, considerably less errors. I was so excited to finish this chapter and have it up that I didn't do as good a job on my editing practice. So I went through it again and got irritated with the errors so I spruced it up so I hope you enjoy the newer, better version of this.