The Dowager Queen came to see Emperor Henry. "Tonight you must grace one of the consorts. Who shall I send to you?"

"Bessie," he replied.

"Bessie?" She nodded her approval. "Bessie it is then."

Henry paced his rooms. By far Bessie Blount and Mary Boleyn were the most beautiful of the concubines. They also had hips perfect for bearing sons. And he needed a son.

"Your Majesty. Her Grace, the Lady Bessie Blount."

"Come in," he called.

Bessie curtsied. "Your Majesty."

He smiled. "Will you not come closer?"

She did and wrapped her arms around his torso.

"Hmm." He lightly kissed her lips. She gasped and he chuckled.

He kissed her again and lifted her up before setting her on the bed. I shall enjoy myself immensely, he thought to himself.

The next morning the all the consorts came to pay their respects to the Empress. Katherine studied them much the same way yesterday. Except today, one of them were missing.

"Where is Lady Bessie?" she asked.

Anne, Mary, and Eleanor smiled to themselves. Jane looked at them and felt confused. Eleanor spoke and you could hear laughter in her voice. "I believe His Majesty has granted his imperial favors on Her Grace, the Lady Bessie."

Katherine's eyes widened ad she gripped her throne. Why didn't Isabella or Sir Thomas tell her? How was she supposed to make her daughter the Crown Princess if they get pregnant?

Katherine said nothing but then someone entered the room. She curtsied and Katherine stood. "How dare you?! You're late."

"I'm sorry. I overslept," Bessie replied.

"None of your excuses!" Lady Isabella said.

Katherine straightened. "Now would be a good time for your lessons. The lesson is how to curtsy properly," she said while glancing at Jane, who only bowed her head and turn away.

"But before that posture is everything. A lady must stand tall, walk with grace, and curtsy with dignity. None of you did that yesterday so I must teach you."

She nodded to Lady Isabella who instructed some other ladies to get bowls. A line was placed in the middle of the floor.

Isabella spoke, "You will all walk forward and back one time while balancing a bowl on top of your head."

"What if it falls?" Anne asked.

She smirked. "Then you will try again. Once I deem that you pass then you may leave."

The concubines looked at each other and then everyone else turned to Jane. She was the weakest link of them all. Though she came from nobility it was a lower grade than everyone else and with multiple children in the family, and limited funds, it was hard for the girls to be educated beyond the basics.

"Lady Isabella is in charge. I have things to do. I trust you can handle it?"

She bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty."

When Katherine was gone Lady Isabella smiled wickedly at them. "Strip to your chemises," she said before turning and nodding to another lady. The woman went behind the throne and returned with a thin black object. "If one bowl falls then you're going to be whipped."

XXXXXXXXX

Katherine sat at a table in her room and felt her blood boil so high.

"Sir Thomas More."

He bowed. "Your Majesty."

Katherine stood and paced. "I've heard things, Sir Thomas. Whispers and plans to stop my little girl from being the Crown Princess."

He stared at her in shock. "That's impossible, Your Majesty."

"Oh? Then tell me why I wasn't informed that His Majesty granted one of those tramps his imperial favors last night."

Sir Thomas bowed his head. "Your Majesty, I had no idea. I'm sorry."

"Sorry doesn't change the fact that she might be pregnant!" she hissed.

She sighed. "Have you spoken to the ministers?"

"Yes. We're going to bring up the subject of Princess Mary being the Crown Princess."

"I can count on their support?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

She dismissed him and prayed to the Saints that Bessie Blount wasn't pregnant.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Jane was the last to go since she had the lowest ranks of them all. The sharp slap against Jane's pale legs rang throughout the room and each time the concubines winced in sympathy.

They all had stayed to show their support but after Jane dropped the seventh bowl Mary and Eleanor had felt restless and decided to leave.

Anne felt bad seeing Jane cry and she noticed bruises forming on her calfs. "You should stop," she said to Isabella.

"Excuse me?" She turned to Anne.

"She's hurt," Anne reasoned. "Let her try again tomorrow."

"Fine. I'll send a doctor to you. Take her to her rooms."

Anne nodded. She and Bessie helped Jane dress and they all left.

"I'll stay here with you and when the doctor leaves then I'll go, okay?" Anne said to Jane. The pale girl nodded mutely and curled in a ball.

Bessie took hold of Anne's hand. "I must tell you something."

Anne nodded. "Go on."

"I think I'm pregnant."

Anne smiled. "That's great Bessie."

"But I'm scared. What if I don't bear a son?"

"I'm sure His Majesty wouldn't care. As long as the child is healthy."

Bessie nodded. "You're right. I shoul-" She stopped suddenly and covered her mouth. Anne became alarmed.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

Bessie nodded. "Just morning sickness. I'll be fine."

XXXXXXXXX

The Dowager stared at her cousin, the Countess of Salisbury, and smiled. "Are you certain?"

She nodded. "Yes. Quite so."

"Finally, the line shall be secure. Send a doctor to check her healthy and to confirm if it's a boy. We can't take any chances."