AN: AU Unrequited Bessie Blount/Henry with mentions of Henry/Mary Boleyn from Bessie's eyes. Set in 1522. Song is Adele's "Someone Like You."
I heard that you're settled down
That you found a girl and you're married now
I heard that your dreams came true
Guess she gave you things I didn't give to you
Bessie Blount, once King Henry's sweetheart, his Queen in all but name, but now just a mere Baroness, entered the room on her husbands arm. Despite themselves, the other courtiers in the room all turned to look as the herald announced, "Baron and Baroness Tailboys!"
Bessie stumbled, caught at Gilbert's arm.
"Head up. I've got you. Head up. Everyone wants to know how you'll react to his new Queen. You can't give them the satisfaction of seeing you weak. You can't."
Bessie nodded; schooled her face to remain unreadable. But she couldn't help the pain that flashed in her eyes as the herald announced, "Their Majesties King Henry, Queen Mary and Highness the Prince of Wales!"
Her former lover, her sovereign Lord walked past her, dandling his heir in his arms. The child was strong and lusty. He was crowing happily; roaring merrily like the lion he was named after. Henry's eyes, once so blue and sorrowful, were laughing as they watched the child before flicking up to scan the room. They were shining with pride. With love.
Bessie wanted to smile at the obvious love in his eyes, but one thing stopped her. It wasn't directed at her. The child in His Majesty's arms wasn't Bessie's Henry. Though it could have been, it wasn't. Instead, Mary Boleyn walked at Henry Tudor's side and it was her son, Lionel Tudor, in his strong, protective hold.
Old friend, why are you so shy
Ain't like you to hold back or hide from the light
Bessie curtsied silently as the Royal Family passed her, but as she rose, she found her eyes catching the King's. Unable to stop herself, she let her thoughts, "That could be me. It could be my Harry in your arms, Henry," flood on to her face.
I hate to turn up out of the blue, uninvited
But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it
I had hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded
That for me, it isn't over
He hesitated, froze there with the child in his arms. Scarcely daring to breathe, Bessie took a single step forward.
It seemed to her that time was standing still, that everyone was watching her with bated breath as they used to, waiting for her to do something. And so she stepped forward, stretching out a hand to the King.
But she'd done the wrong thing. As soon as she moved, the King shook himself. He glanced from Bessie to his son and back again. He tightened one arm around the child and then slipped his free hand around the Queen's waist. He drew her close and whispered something into her ear; something that made her laugh. He squeezed her gently and led her up to the thrones on the dais. He could not have turned his back on Bessie any more clearly.
Bessie stood there, cheeks flushing scarlet. How could she have been such a fool? How could she have let him bewitch her again? She knew his heart lay with Mary Boleyn now. She knew. Yet she'd still let him win her; let herself betray Gilbert with a single look.
Gilbert. Gilbert, who even now was coming up behind her. Gilbert, who was wrapping an arm around her, was trying his hardest to comfort her. Squeezing her eyes shut against the tears, she let him hold her; soothe her with his touch. He was so good to her. So very very good. Why couldn't she love him the way she loved the King? Why?
Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you, too
Don't forget me, I begged, I remember you said
Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead
Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead
"Lady Tailboys? Lady Tailboys?"
Oh God. The Queen was calling her. Pasting a shaky smile on her face, Bessie approached the dais on wobbly legs.
"Your Majesty?"
"Let's not beat about the bush. I know this must be difficult for you; seeing me at the King's side like this."
The Queen's voice was little more than a whisper. However, Bessie didn't trust hers at all. Nor did she know what to say. Thus, staying silent seemed to be the best course.
After a few moments, the Queen went on, "He does care for you, you know. His Majesty. More than anything, he cares for your son. His son. He knows how hard it is on a child to lose their mother at far too young an age. He would not make your Henry go through that pain. Not for the world. So he has asked me to offer your husband the position of steward in the Duke of Richmond's household and sees fit to ask you to accompany your husband. Do you accept, Lady Tailboys?
Bessie hesitated, struggling to contain the resentment that was flaring in her heart. None of this was truly Mary Boleyn's fault, she reminded herself. Mary had just been a pawn in her father's dynastic games. A pawn who'd fallen hopelessly head over heels in love with the King. Just as Bessie herself had been. It wasn't Mary's fault. Nor was it Mary's fault that she'd been lucky enough to have the King offer her marriage and then stand by her. Given how capricious the King could be, that was nothing more than sheer good fortune. Bessie couldn't begrudge her good fortune.
But given how capricious the King was, it could have so easily been Bessie in her place. Bessie could have been Elizabeth, Queen of England. Her little Harry could have been Prince of Wales. She could have been supervising her son's household as Queen of England, not merely as his steward's wife. And after everything; everything she'd done for Henry Tudor of England, that was what stung most of all.
You know how the time flies
Only yesterday was the time of our lives
We were born and raised in a summer haze
Bound by the surprise of our glory days
After all, hadn't she been the one to pull him out of his gloom? Hadn't she been the one who'd persuaded him to truly throw off the shackles of mourning for Queen Katherine? Hadn't she been the one who'd persuaded him that life was worth living again?
Of course she had.
"Oh come on, Henry! Come in with me!" she begged him, flashing him his favourite half-smile as she waded into the shallows of the lake, lifting her skirts high to try to keep them somewhat dry.
"Katherine wouldn't like it. She'd say it was beneath me as a King and a widower."
Stifling a sigh, Bessie splashed out of the water and went around behind him. He needed careful handling when he got melancholy like this.
"Katherine loved you, Henry. And you loved her. I'm not denying that. But that doesn't mean you have to give up all fun forever. Part of loving someone is wanting them to be happy. Katherine would want you to be happy. So come on. Don't just be a King, be a man too. Be a man and play with your sweetheart. Please?"
"Are you my sweetheart, Bessie?" His voice sounded worryingly insecure. Bessie chuckled lowly and ruffled his hair.
"You know I am, Henry. You know I am. Now catch me."
Risking everything, she pulled away from him and raced back into the shallows. To her delight, he chased after her. Spinning around, she scooped up a handful of water and flicked it in his direction.
There was a moment of stunned silence and then she was rewarded with the sound of something she hadn't heard before. The great bellow of his laughter.
I hate to turn up out of the blue, uninvited
But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it
I had hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded
That for me, it isn't over yet
Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you, too
Don't forget me, I begged, I remember you said
Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead, yeah
Yes, Bessie told herself, she had most definitely brought the King back to life in a way that not even his sister and brother-in-law, the Duke and Duchess of Suffolk, had been able to do. In so doing, she had given England back her King.
And how had she been repaid?
By having every ambitious family in England flaunt their daughters, their sisters, under his nose. By having one of them, Mary Boleyn, pretty Mary Boleyn, push her aside and mount the vacant throne in her place.
The trouble was, Bessie mused, Mary was so sweet that one couldn't even hate her for it. Especially not when one saw how happy she'd made the King. But it wasn't just the King on her mind. She meant well for everyone. She'd brought Princess Mary back into the fold of the Royal Family. And getting the stewardship of Harry's household to be bestowed upon Gilbert so that Bessie could be close to her son. There was no doubt that that was her influence at work. But having to take the privilege of raising her son as a gift from her one-time rival still rankled. Couldn't the King at least have had the grace to tell her of the present himself? Surely, after everything she'd done – both for him and the country – he owed her that much? Surely?
"Lady Tailboys?"
To her horror, Bessie suddenly realised that the Queen was still waiting for her answer. Flushing an even deeper shade of beetroot than before, she stuttered out, "I – I – Thank – Thank You, Your Majesty. I am most – most grateful."
Thankfully, at that moment, the herald cried "Her Highness the Princess Mary!"
Nothing compares, no worries or cares
Regrets and mistakes, they're memories made
Who would have known how bittersweet this would taste?
She knew she shouldn't; knew it would be painful, but she still couldn't stop herself. She watched the six year old Princess Mary trot happily towards her parents. The little girl dropped into a curtsy as she reached the thrones, but, with her brother now safely ensconced on his mother's lap, she was soon swept up into her father's arms.
"Mary, my pearl."
"Papa!" Princess Mary wrapped her arms briefly around her father's neck, but was soon stretching for the woman she called her mother.
"Mama!"
Bessie couldn't take any more. With a strangled cry, she turned and forced her way out of the room. The tears started falling and nothing she did could hold them back.
"I should have brought Mary back to Court. I should have insisted he visited her. If I'd brought them back together, he couldn't have abandoned me! He couldn't have! I should have realised that he wasn't just joking when he first started talking of marriage. If I had, maybe I'd be Queen now! Maybe Harry would be his Prince! Maybe…If…"
"You couldn't have known. He was so mixed-up in himself. No one knew what he was going to do. You can't blame yourself."
Gilbert had come after her. He'd pulled her into his arms and was letting her sob into his shoulder. He was soothing her the way she had once soothed the King.
"Yes I can! Yes I can! I didn't fight for him! I was caught up in Harry; I didn't think of Mary, either of them. If I had, if I'd fought, maybe I'd have had a chance!"
"Aye, maybe. But then we'd never have met and that would be a real shame, because I love you, Elizabeth Blount. You're beautiful and kind and everything a man could want. I love you.
"You're so sweet, Gilbert," Bessie sniffed. She leaned back and caressed h/is cheek. She couldn't quite bring herself to return the sentiment, but at least touching his cheek, intimate gesture though it was, didn't feel unnatural. At least she could lean in and return his tender kiss without having to close her eyes and pretend he was the King.
It wasn't perfect. It was far from perfect.
But it was a start.
Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you
Don't forget me, I begged, I remember you said
Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead
Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you, too
Don't forget me, I begged, I remember you said
Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead
Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead