A/N: Thank you for all your support I know I took forever with the last chapter. So I'm getting the feeling that people are wanting me to rush Mary and Henry and I get it lol. Though I will say nothing I've put up has just been filler everything is essential to this story going in the direction I want it to. If I don't do some things now then by the time I get to them it won't make as much sense as it should. So please bear with me I promise I'm taking the story forward. I've been finished with this for a few days but I couldn't post it because I felt like it was missing something so I had to fine tune it. Anyway I hope you enjoy!
I was nervous as we stood in the outer chamber. By now Mary and Catherine had removed their hoods and were flanking either side of me. My heart hammered in my chest and I could barely control my breathing. Despite that, I knew that my outward appearance was nothing but calm; the muscles in my face ached from me forcing them to stay in place and my lungs pained from my efforts. I was glad for the practice of it when the maid returned with another figure dressed all in black. The Lady Mary walked toward to me, bent her knees slightly in what was meant to be taken as a curtsy, and uttered a simple "Madam", much as she had done the first time I went to see Elizabeth. Behind me my sister curtsied and my niece quickly followed her example. Dismissing the maid I walked toward a seat and gestured for Mary to do the same. I noticed as she walked that she seemed skinnier and paler than I remembered. As a mother all I could think is if she were Elizabeth; I would be hurt beyond imagining that Henry would be so cruel to her simply for being loyal to me...and for being a girl.
"Lady Mary, as I said before, I am here in kindness. Please have a seat." She drug her eyes from the floor and looked at me, carefully avoiding my sister and niece's gazes.
"No thank you madam I'd rather stand." Part of me wanted to lash out at her but I knew that would get me nowhere. I turned to my sister who nodded at me and led her daughter to two chairs in the back of the rooms. I took my seat and sat there for a moment. Mary did not fidget or look around, her posture was stiff, and even standing still she held all the grace of a Princess of the blood. I took a deep breath and tried again.
"Lady Mary...Mary. I am not here to make you the same offer as I did before. I will not make you a promise to interfere with your father on the condition that you recognize me as Queen. I will however do it without your submission." Mary now looked at me straight in the eyes, her face paled even further, her lips parted slightly. After a few moments she looked to my sister and niece, who I was sure were watching, and then she sat down in the chair that was facing me.
"Surely I heard you wrong?" Her voice was skeptical and I didn't blame her. It hadn't been too long ago that I'd had her brought to me and arrogantly told her that the only way she'd have my help in securing her father's love was through her dishonoring her mother. "You would never interfere with my father. I have not accepted you as Queen and I will not. My mother is the Queen of England. My father has only been led astray but he will come back to my mother and restore us to our rightful place and when he does you'll go the way of all the others."
I listened to her talk and I could feel my heart beat pick up. Without realizing it she had voiced my worst fear. Contrary to what everyone thought, my worst fear was not Henry having a mistress or me being unable to have a son, though they were both close seconds. My biggest fear was that Henry would go back to Katherine, and that Elizabeth and I would just be a cast off bastard and whore. When she finished I took a deep breath to steady myself and tried again.
"Lady Mary, I am here to simply offer you help to get back into your father's good graces. Whether you desire the help or not is of no consequence to me for I will do it with or without your acceptance. With will just make it easier. I will do this both as your stepmother and for the good of the realm as it's Queen, whether you accept me as such or not."
"My conscience will never allow me to accept you as either."
"Again, that is of little consequence. Besides you said so yourself that you would be glad of my interference with His Majesty." She looked away from me at that and I took that moment to move things in the direction that I had intended for them to go. "Mary I ask nothing of you and your mother. I am not asking either of you to sign anything or to accept me as Queen. I know that as long as you love your mother you will never do that and she would never do anything to disinherit you. But the truth is your father has already done that. Without my help you will remain the bastard child of the Infanta of Spain-the illegitimate daughter of the Dowager Princess of Wales at best. There is nothing your mother, the Emperor, or the Pope can do. Whether you like the cards you've been dealt or not, the only way back to your father is through me. Do not be so stubborn as to squander this opportunity Mary. The truth is I can turn your father away from you further still...but I will not. Nor will I ask you to disinherit yourself or participate in what you believe to be heresy."
"You will not require me to submit to you...or your faith and yet you will recommend me to my father? Why? There would be no benefit to you or your family. I love Elizabeth for she is my sister and God commands us to love everyone...even our enemies." She looked at me pointedly but I did not let it bother me. "But I will never accept you as anything more than my father's mistress; and I would never accept Elizabeth as anything more than my bastard sister. I do not argue that his Majesty cannot ennoble whom he desires so you are the Marquess of Pembroke...but nothing more. Why would you seek to help me? Is His Majesty's desire of you waning already?" I could hear the taunt in her voice but again I did not let it get to me, at least not outwardly. I was a Boleyn and a Howard-I would never show weakness in front of an enemy. Especially one as formidable as the Lady Mary.
"His Majesty's interest waxes and wanes as the moon. He blows hot, he blows cold; one never knows which way the winds blow. He may not be as much in love with me as he once was but he will never give me up while he still has hope of a son. He said so himself-he and I are both young and boys will follow Elizabeth. Your mother has no hope of becoming Queen again, Mary. And you have no hope of becoming a Princess again...without my help. I will not ask you to renounce your faith or to call me Queen. I will however ask you to make no public denunciations of me, my family, or Elizabeth. This is all I ask of you Mary. Whether or not you accept I will still speak to your father on your behalf. All I ask is that you consider it and give me your answer in one week's time. I will permit you to write one letter to your mother about this and seek her guidance. She may respond to your letter and neither of you will have any consequences. But this will be done privately by a trusted member of court."
"Your brother I assume."
"You have someone else in mind?"
"If I agree to do this I would have it done by Suffolk. Not a Boleyn or Howard or any other who have your interests at heart." At this I simply nodded and for the first time in this conversation I felt a twinge hope. "What would be the rules for writing to the Queen?"
"If you want to write to your mother about how she's fairing then that will be allowed but you must include the offer I have extended. I'm sure I don't need to say this but your letter must be clear of treason and yes it will be read to make sure of that." She didn't seem too surprised at this but she looked less than pleased to hear it. "So write your letter, today; in the meantime while we await your mother's reply, I will send the seamstresses to you to refurbish your wardrobe."
"A new wardrobe? I will not have to wear servants clothes?"
"No I intend for you to be clothed as would be befitting your station."
"You truly intend to intercede to make me a Princess again?" I nodded to her and she looked away saying nothing. I could see a thousand thoughts brewing behind her eyes but I did not say anything. This girl and I were enemies but the bitter truth was we needed each other to secure the King's affections.
"Also, because she needs to be hidden until I present them back to court, my niece will attend upon you." I motioned for Catherine to step up and meet her new mistress.
"You send a spy?"
"She's not to spy on you Mary. There aren't many things you can get into shut away from court. No. She can't stay in my apartments all the time for I have too many ladies in waiting, which is why I think it best for the time being that my sister will wait on you as well. Besides I'm sure the two of you have more in common than you think. As for now I will take my leave of you and have the seamstresses sent here to help all three of you. Send one of your maids to me when your letter is written and I will dispatch the Duke immediately." I stood up and walked toward the door. "Mary I sincerely hope you will consider my proposal carefully. I would have you back at court into your father's graces. Just think about it." I walked out the door towards my parent's chambers. I sent Madge to put the baby back in the nursery and to fetch the seamstress. Nan I sent to fetch Brandon. It was time he and I had a chat.
The Lady Mary looked almost disgusted to have me and my daughter attend her. "I suppose you'll be reporting everything I do and say back to the Lady Anne. Good. It will please me to know that it will be those closest to her that have to report that the daughter of Katherine of Aragon holds no respect for her as Queen and never will." She held her head with a touch of arrogance that I had seen in my eldest children and it caused me to smile.
"Mary...My Lady. We are not here to spy on you. Until my sister said so on her leave I did not know I would be staying in the chambers with you. We are here simply to be your ladies in waiting, no more."
"Then you're dismissed I do not require your services."
"If we had anywhere else to go I would take my daughter and myself from your presence and go there immediately. These are the only chambers we can stay in, My Lady. And the Queen commanded us to stay."
"Ladies in waiting don't tell their mistress what they will and will not do. The Queen did not command you to stay, the Marquess of Pembroke did. And now the Princess of Wales commands you to go but you are as haughty as the King's mistress I see." She paused for a moment, looking me over. "You attended upon my mother too did you not?"
"I did, My Lady."
"And you were the King's whore at some point too?"
"I was the King's Mistress for years as you well know, My Lady."
"How did it feel being usurped by your very own sister? Knowing that my father's affection turned from you to her, as they once turned from my mother to you?"
"I imagine you know the feeling very well Mary. I would assume it felt the same way as knowing that your father calls yourlittle sister Princess and you bastard." It was not my intent to hurt her feelings but I could see that I had. Her eyes looked haunted and I immediately regretted what I said. "I know that you are hurt Mary, I do not blame you. It was cruel of Anne and your father to stamp on your head on their climb to reach higher places. Whether you're a bastard or a Princess you are the daughter of the king and it was his duty as well as Anne's to make sure you were treated as such. They were wrong. I only ask you to understand that though ambitious, selfish, and temperamental, my sister is only allowed the power that your father affords her. She can do nothing without his approval."
"You would have me forgive her would you not? She has bewitched my father and usurped my mother with her witchcraft, yet you would have me honor her with the title of Queen."
"I would love for you to accept my sister as Queen because it make her place on the throne more secure. I would love for you to be reconciled with your father and Anne and be welcomed back at court as a Princess-Princess of Wales until such a time as a son is born. But I know that those are shallow dreams filled with promises already broken. The King, your father, is a proud man and he will not admit to his wrong treatment of you. Anne does not ask him to do so and he loves her for it. He will not give her up until all hopes of a son have vanished; but even then as long as your mother lives he cannot give her up. Understand Mary that Henry of England will never take back Katherine of Aragon. Her chances of having a son have vanished and with them the King's love. And I am sorry for you and your mother, for she was the best woman I've ever known... but she will never be Queen again. Consider my sister's proposal Mary. That is my advice to you." With that I stood and went to talk to the maid that was attending upon her and asked what Mary's schedule was. While we were here it would be good to get back into a habit of attending upon someone for I would have to do it for Anne again soon. I watched out of the corner of my eye as my daughter stood with her head high and eyes downcast waiting for Mary to instruct her.
"And you? Are you going to council me to listen to your aunt as well? Or will you just stand there staring at the rug all day?" Mary's voice was light but I could hear the sorrow in her tone.
"If you command me to stay like this all day I will Madam", her accompanying curtsy was sincere and graceful; she was so much like Anne.
"If I command you to leave my chambers will you do that?"
"Yes My Lady, but I would beg you not to do so."
"Afraid of displeasing your aunt?"
"I desire to please my aunt as she is in charge of my destiny and she is the Queen. But I would rather you did not send me away for your own sake as well as hers."
"She is not the Queen my mother is. And what is this to do with me?"
"If I am caught and have to explain my identity then that will lead the King to you; and if his Majesty found you at court without his permission his anger would know no bounds and you would bare the front of it...if not all of it. Would you not?"
"You think your aunt would be held blameless?"
"If she's half the witch you think she is, don't you think she could make the king forgive her?"
Mary said nothing to her for a moment and I was nervous. These two daughters of the King had more in common than most sisters, yet Mary had already set herself up against my daughter.
"You were named after my mother were you not?"
"I was Madam. My mother wanted to thank her for always being a good mistress to her. She was sorry she could not return the same steadfast loyalty your mother gave her."
"And will you serve me as your mother served mine? Will you give me the unyielding devotion she denied my mother?"
"I will."
"You lie! You are a Howard and worst than that you are a Boleyn. The most ambitious blood ever to exist runs in your veins. It is in your make up to betray me."
"My Lady is right. I am a Howard and more than that I am a Howard-Boleyn. The most ambitious blood does run in my veins because more than either of those things I am Tudor. I am one of three children in all the world who can stake a claim in having that much ambition in their veins. I have more nobility in my blood that most of the nobles in Europe and yet I am merely a bastard. And so I will serve you as my mother did yours. I will do this because I am your sister and I love you as much as I love little Anne, my mother's other daughter. If you send me away I will love you. If you strike me I will love you-If you hate me I will love you. All I request of you is what I demanded of our brother: do not call my mother a whore. Refrain from doing this and you will find in me a true and loyal sister. When all others abandon you I will remain. When we disagree I will still be your faithful sister. The King has five children and all of us are called bastards throughout the land. Henry, Richmond, and I are bastards to everyone; you are a bastard to half of the country and Elizabeth is a bastard to the other half. Truly, it matters not because of his five children the King will only acknowledge Fitzroy and Princess Elizabeth. Despite that, I love them anyway, just as I love you. I pray for all of you and will continue to do so whether you accept me as not." Mary had been quiet as Catherine spoke and I was worried as I stared on at the two sisters. "I will leave you now and begin my chores until the seamstresses come, but my advice to you is to consider my aunt's proposal. Not just for her sake and England's, but for yours too. I was too young to remember what it meant to have the King's favor and then to lose it. But from looking at you sister, I can tell that it is a great gift to have His Majesty's love, and a great burden to have his displeasure." Catherine walked toward me then she turned around and addressed Mary again. "If I were you I would make sure to get a dress of blue. You would look very pretty in a blue dress." She turned back towards me, as Mary watched her, and waited to be told what to do.
I was very proud of my daughter as I instructed her on what to do. She was very much the child of Henry but I was glad she had some good qualities as well. Not to mention she had inadvertently helped her aunt. All this time I had been so caught up in her helping Mary I forgot about Henry's other child. Anne would need to make friends with Bessie Blount's bastard as well. I only hoped Anne would be receptive to the idea.
"The Duke of Suffolk Your Majesty", Nan announced. I was standing when he entered my chamber and bowed only slightly deeper than Mary's curtsy.
"Madam."
"Your Grace." I gave a small yet graceful curtsy. "Have a seat please. My reasoning for summoning you will be difficult to explain." He sat down and I tried my best to explain to him my plan. I left out how my sister and her children were at court attending upon Mary and that this was a plan to help secure myself and Elizabeth. Though, he was smart enough to figure that part out on his own.
"I don't understand. You want my help in deceiving Henry? Why so you can blame everything on me? A child could see that I would be implicated in this matter more so than anyone."
I chuckled a bit, "I don't blame you for being skeptical. It's no secret that you and I are not friends. You will forever see me and my family as nothing more than ambitious and grasping usurpers; I will always say you as an enemy that whispers poison into Henry's ear...Honestly, I don't care, for this is nothing to do with it makes you feel better do not think of it as a favor to me. Think of it as a favor to every Catholic in England, including Mary and Catherine. Though I would consider it a favor to myself as well and I would most assuredly owe you one in return."
He seemed to think on that for a moment. "Why do you demand Mary's answer so quickly? Why not give the girl more time to decide for herself?"
"I would love to but I cannot wait too much longer. I have something else that needs to be brought to Henry's attention soon, and I would prefer to show him myself before it finds it's way to him from court gossip. Not to mention Knivert and Compton will be coming back to court soon and I want to present her on that same day. So in the meantime I need Catherine's reply so that I know what Mary's answer is."
"If it doesn't matter either way then why do you want Catherine's reply so badly?"
"Because it will make this whole thing easier. You know Mary, she will do nothing that goes against her mother or her conscience, which are truly one in the same. If I try to present her to Henry without Catherine's approval then what do you think her behavior will be like? If she embarrasses Henry in front of his court on a day that is meant to be celebratory do you think he will forgive me or her for that? No. She needs Catherine's support in this."
"And you would like for me to help get it?"
"If you can. Not just for my sake-"
"Yes, yes for Mary's too." He sighed and rubbed his head. "Do you think I can just go missing from court without the King's noticing?"
"I have planned for that too. I intend to tell him that you're indisposed and to keep him busy; failing that myself I'll use our daughter or Mistress Seymour if I can." He seemed shocked that I would throw Jane's name out so casually but he nodded.
"If I may ask what do you intend to do with Mary? Make her an attendant to you as Henry has made her one to your daughter?"
"No. I hope to find her a way back into the succession. If nothing else then she should be at liberty to see her mother and have her own household. I never wanted her to wait on Elizabeth. I do not say that I did not want her to understand her new position, for I did...but not as a lady in waiting to Elizabeth."
He was quiet for a moment but in the end he simply nodded and stood up. "A trip like that will take me only two days to accomplish. When you have Mary's response I will leave the palace toward Catherine."
"Thank you, Your Grace. I am truly in your debt."
"You are", he bowed slightly deeper than before and went out my chambers.
"Nan go to my sister and tell her that his grace has agreed and that Mary's letter will be expected as soon as possible."
When I was alone I let out a deep breath. This was so much harder than I expected and Mary wasn't even Henry's mistress yet. I could only hope that after all this was said and done I would have a golden Prince for my husband's throne.
A/N: When I actually focused this came out rather quickly-imagine that lol. So I hope you enjoyed it and I'm already working on the next chapter. So please rate and review and if you'd like to know where I am as far as the story goes or if you'd like a sneak peak you can message me and I'll see what I can do. Also I'm TRYING to make the next chapter 10,000 words which means about 2.5 times this one. So it'll definitely take me a while to get to but I've already started on it. So wish me luck lol. See you soon!