Two things I noticed while writing this chapter: firstly I threw in a bit more Isabella/Brandon because I quite like the idea of them as a pair but that won't ever really become a proper thing - this is about her and Henry. Secondly Isabella ain't the most loyal of girls - she's been in Catherine's service for years and then she kind of turns but then again her loyalty has always been to Henry above anyone else. Anyway hope you enjoy it :D

Isabella, as it happened, turned out to be right. Wolsey managed to take the matter of Henry and Catharine's divorce to court. Catherine walked out of the courtroom during the first day, making a mockery of the legal system in the eyes of Henry and a number of members of his court. After many days of calling witnesses (including the head chamberlain to his older brother who escorted the young Prince to Catharine's bed to consummate their marriage) it was eventually decided that as the Pope was not present or able to pass comment Henry would have to wait until October when the court could reconvene and a full judgement could be passed on the case.

During this time Anne grew ever more and more tired of waiting for Henry to become available for marriage. She told him that she was wasting her youth waiting for him and that Catherine was never going to let him go. To a certain extent she was right; Catherine was never going to allow the King to divorce her and would never make it easy for him to have a relationship with Anne if he succeeded.

At first Isabella felt for the Queen, having been in her service for a great many years, even before she had been taken into the service of the young Princess Mary. Catherine was hurt by the King's actions against her and was adamant that she had been a virgin when she had married Henry. After a while however though Isabella found her actions to be repetitive and selfish. All she was concerned about was proving her chastity before she had married Henry – she was not behaving as a queen should be. She had no decorum befitting someone of her station and she seemed to be potently trying to make things difficult for everyone involved.

Catharine's stubbornness was beginning to annoy Isabella but she held her tongue, as was her place. Henry could tell that Catharine's attitude towards him was beginning to irritate Isabella and he asked her if she would like to be removed as one of the Queen's ladies maids. Isabella jumped at the chance to leave Catharine's service, she had no desire to stay in her services for longer that she had too.

"But Your Majesty," she began after he had asked her and she had thought about it for a moment. "I have been in your services ever since I was eighteen. I have no family, no home and nowhere left to go; if I am to leave here I will have nothing." Henry smiled and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Isabella I would never turn you out onto the streets." he told her. "You have been a constant throughout my life and your presence would be sourly missed if you were not to reside in the Palace."

"Meaning?" she asked.

"Meaning that I would like to give you a permanent residency here in the Palace." he replied. Isabella stared at him in shock and amazement for a few moments.

"Your Majesty... I don't know what to say."

"Just say yes." he told her. "All of your things are already here; the only difference would be that you would have more freedom within the Palace. I will also appoint upon you the title of Lady Lockhart."

"Thank you Your Majesty, it is a very gracious and generous offer, especially in my situation," she curtseyed to him and kissed his hand softly. "but I will need some source of income to be able to continue to live here." she stated.

"That was another matter I wanted to ask you about." he stated. "How would you feel about becoming a ladies maid to the Lady Anne when I can finally take her as my wife... if it pleases you to do so of course." Isabella curtseyed again slightly.

"Whatever pleases your majesty pleases me." she replied even though she would have preferred if he had given her another task. "If you wish me to be a ladies maid to Lady Boleyn when the time comes for her to sit by your side as Queen of England then I will do as Your Majesty wishes." Henry kissed her cheek.

"Good, then it is settled." he concluded. "I sincerely hope that the matter of this divorce will be settled soon and that we can all continue on with our daily lives." He clapped her lightly on the shoulder and turned to leave the room. "I very much look forward to that day."

"As do I Your Majesty." she replied softly, almost to herself. "As do I."

Isabella moved into her new chambers. She was surprised that Henry had chosen them for her as they were truly befitting someone well above her station – they were fit for a Princess of the realm rather than a simple servant (as Isabella still insisted on classing herself). Since her presence in the Castle was permanently constant and she had a lot more time and room to herself Isabella often found herself becoming rather lonely.

One day she found herself in the company of the Duke of Suffolk and after a long conversation with the recent widower Charles Brandon she found that he was not actually as repugnant as she had first thought. Yes Brandon was a noted womaniser but the death of his wife had hit him hard (especially as he had been seeing one of his many mistresses when Margaret had died). Since her death the Duke of Suffolk had stopped trying to get into bed with anything in a skirt and Isabella found that once all of the bravado he carried around with him had been stripped away he was actually a nice person and he was very easy to converse with.

Brandon had always had a small infatuation for Isabella (partially because she was the only woman in the entirety of the court who would not sleep with him and he was desperate to break through that – her refusal had only made him more insistent) and he enjoyed being in her company. As with the King she was slowly becoming his confidant – which was a refreshing change for him as most of the women he spoke to were naked and had just finished screaming out his name in ecstatic pleasure.

The pair talked about all sorts...well it was often Brandon who did most of the talking, Isabella had always preferred to be the one doing the listening. He told her everything, even minor things, and all about his alliance with the Duke of Norfolk and Thomas Boleyn. It seemed as if Brandon did not particularly care for either of them but he cared even less for Cardinal Wolsey and that was the sole purpose of the alliance – for the three of them to take down Cardinal Wolsey. Their plan had worked, the three of them had managed to get the King to banish Wolsey to York but once they had Brandon soon found that Norfolk and Boleyn annoyed him.

"He just keeps repeating things I already know." he told Isabella one afternoon.

"Why do you still talk to him if he bothers you so?" she asked.

"I do not know." Brandon replied. "It is more that he finds me to converse with me as I try to avoid him."

"At least he won't look for you or find you here." she laughed softly. Brandon laughed too, he couldn't help but notice how beautiful Isabella was when she laughed. "At least he is taking over the running of the country for you." she stated.

"Ah yes," Brandon mused. "meeting with diplomats is incredibly tedious."

"How so, Your Grace?" she asked.

"They're all liars, hypocrites and middle aged men." he replied.

"Would you prefer it if they were beautiful women?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him and smirking.

"If they all looked like you, my Lady, then, I would find myself much more interested in what they have to say." he said, taking her hand and kissing it softly. Isabella blushed slightly.

"You are very sure of yourself are you not, Your Grace?"

"You say this as if it is a bad thing?" he smirked at her. Isabella smiled back her cheeks reddening sightly.

"A little assurance never hurt anyone." she stated. Brandon slipped one of his hands round the back of Isabella's neck to cup her head. She sighed as he massaged her scalp and leaned her head into his hand. He leaned close to her and brushed his lips against hers. Isabella moaned softly against his lips as he applied more pressure to the kiss.

"Go to bed with me." he said once they had broken apart. Isabella pulled back slightly and stared into Brandon's lust filled eyes.

"Your Grace..." she began.

"Isabella, I know that you have turned my advances down in the past but I promise you that I am a changed man now." he said earnestly. "I do not use women as I once did, I have grown up." Isabella moved her head out of his grasp.

"That may be true Your Grace but I cannot help but think that you are only asking me this because you have not been with a woman in many months and the stress of everything happening a court is begging you for a release." she stated. Brandon laughed softly.

"You are as wise as his Majesty always said you were." he told her.

"I am glad that you feel as if you can talk to me, Your Grace, but I feel if you still desire me it would be better for you to wait until after all this business with the Cardinal, Norfolk and Boleyn when your mind is clearer."

"You are right." he replied once she had finished." He kissed her cheek softly again. "Thank you My Lady."

"Not at all Your Grace." Isabella smiled. "Do you think His Majesty will allow the Cardinal back to Court." she asked after a few moments thought. Brandon chuckled, smirking slightly.

"When Satan fell from Heaven was he ever invited back?" he asked rhetorically.