The Cardinal will freely admit he is not fond of the new queens family - particularly her father who seems to be gaining more influence on the privy council by the day. And though they have interests in common at this moment it could change. And he has heard whispers that the Boleyns are something more than simply reformists of the church - that they are believers in the Lutheran Heresy. And that, that is a dangerous thing indeed.
As well the Cardinal looks and sees a Queen and is determined she will not surpass him in power and in influence with the King. That she will remain out of politics - her and her wretched father both.
So the Cardinal talks with Thomas More about a strengthening of the laws against reformist priests and their sermons and the smuggling in of certain books and they bring this proposal to the King, certain of their victory.
It is defeated. A defeat spearheaded by Thomas Boleyn in all his capable diplomacy. It is then that the Cardinal makes a vow to destroy him and Thomas More vows to see him burn - for is that not what must be done to heretics after all. And he will see it done.
Anne finds a way to keep the sabbath as best she can even if only by keeping it within her own head. Being alone as queen is essentially impossible but she can keep a few trusted friends about her sometimes and it is there that she finds her strength.
Her father wears his appointment to the privy council with ease, though Anne hears of his opposition to policies of the Cardinals and worries. But she is proud of him - truly and deeply proud - it has not been an easy road he has walked these past years and yet he has always had time for his children, more than many would.
Thomas Boleyn sends her a Torah, hidden in the cover of a prayer book - the Torah she was given as a child and Anne traces her childish handwriting in the fly leaf and tears come to her eyes and she is warmed enough to get through the day of going to Church. She must go more than she wishes now as the King wishes to pray for the safe delivery of the child Anne is now carrying and he dances attendance on her more than ever.
Anne can only feel suffocated and terrified but she tries, oh she tries not to show it. This man, this man would destroy her people and her entire family and all her friends if he knew her blood and indeed, he has written of the need to do such things. She cannot love him, not knowing this. But she will be a good Queen, she has vowed. And she will teach her children where they hail from and who they are.
The Cardinal has watched all he has slowly slide away. Yes, he had gotten rid of Queen Katherine (he had never liked her, particularly for her influence over the King) but he had thought to find a pliable French Princess to be the Kings wife and to have gotten himself made pope by now. But he has not - the old pope has hung on to life when he was not expected to and so he must wait. And while he waits he does not want to give up any of what he has gained.
Particularly to lose it to a man like Boleyn, talented diplomat though he is. Boleyn has never respected him and it has shown - firstly there was the matter of the laws and now? Now it is the matter of Boleyn's refusal to bow to the Cardinal as papal legate, will not kiss his ring or respect his sermons.
"I worship only the Lord, not idols or men" is what Boleyn says, carefully leaving out that it is not the Christian deity he believes in (there are things he must do to survive but he cannot and will not do this). And of course because the wretched mans daughter is beloved of and pregnant by the King there is not much that Wolsey can do. Not now. Not yet.
But he has a plan. He will find a woman (or women, he amends) to be the mistress of the King and to influence Henry back towards his old trusted advisor and then? Then he will destroy Thomas Boleyn, hopefully teaching the Queen to keep to her place and to not meddle in such things as policy.
After all Cardinal Wolsey has already engineered the downfall of one Queen - why not another?
Anne's sons are born near the beginning of summer, after a relatively short labour with no complications. She looks down at them and her heart sings with joy, despite everything because these are her babies. She and her husband have decided on names (Edward and Henry) but Anne will give them her own names too. Her children will like her, have three names.
Edward. Ardashir. Aaron.
Henry. Kaveh. Joshua.
And the blessings she gives them are not in English but in the two languages of their other names. She looks at them and thinks perhaps, just perhaps she can raise princes who will make a safe place for the people they share a faith with. She can do nothing less than try though, Anne thinks as she watches her delighted husband almost run into her rooms and kiss her again and again in thanks and joy. Perhaps it will be well after all.