A/N: As promised, here is the new chapter. Thank you to princessElizabethtudor, Guest, OlicityxSkyeWard, suns and stars, the dark euphie, jamestudor, Frog1, BellalunaMcKenzie, QueenAnneTudor, and tricorvus for the review on the last chapter. I hope you all enjoy this new one.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors, Showtime does.

...

January 17th, 1541

Hatfield was a little smaller than she remembered.

As Elizabeth reached her younger brothers' residence, she looked around and tried to recall her own time there. She had vague memories of her mother walking and playing with her in the gardens, a part of her could even almost hear her mother's laughter, which her father had once likened to music.

The young princess absently clutched at the locket she still wore about her neck. Her father had commissioned the portrait within of her mother, along with two others for the 1twins. It wasn't the same as having her mother, but it certainly helped.

Of course, the most helpful of all had been her Uncle George and Aunt Mary's stories of Anne when she was a girl, with George more than once remarking that Elizabeth was very much like her when she was young. Mary had been the eldest, but Anne it seemed had been the most clever.

Elizabeth more often than not recounted these stories to her brothers.

The boys no longer blamed themselves for their mother's death, which was good as it had not even been their fault...

At eight years old, Elizabeth was a bit more aware of the stories and rumors surrounding her mother and father's relationship. She had heard whispers of the affairs her father had indulged in during the time her mother was carrying her and then later the boys. The latter had been none other than his current wife, Jane.

The fair-haired princess did not want to hate her stepmother, but she resented her, and her father as well, for hurting her mother the way that they did. She didn't want to think about the time that her younger brothers had nearly been lost.

At the same time, she did love little Edward and Margery.

Though Margery was not the scholar that Elizabeth was, the latter still proved to be a wonderful companion. Margery displayed not only a talent for sewing, of which Elizabeth herself was not overly fond, she also had recently proved to be a capable musician, a development welcomed by her elder sister.

Margery had not accompanied her today, though the younger princess had wanted to visit the twins, having not seen them since Christmas. But for some reason, her mother had forbidden it, though she wouldn't say why.

...

Mary sat next to the fireplace of the outer chamber of Jane's apartments, Margery sitting near her.

"Mary, your stitches are so much smaller than mine," Margery sighed, her tone laced with good-natured envy. "Yours are so fine and nearly impossible to see."

"I've just had more practice," Mary said with a smile as she placed a hand on her small sister's shoulder. "You're doing quite well, and you'll only improve as you practice it more."

Margery looked pleased at this as she picked her needle up once more and began sliding it through the fabric. She had only been at work for a few minutes when her face fell.

"I wish Mama had allowed me to go with Elizabeth to visit Hatfield," she sighed. "I miss Harry and Geoffrey. We write often, but it's not the same."

Mary nodded. She understood the feeling of wanting a letter just to have some means of communication with someone you loved, all the while knowing that it provided little comfort when your heart's desire was to physically see that person.

But unlike Mary, who had been denied both of these things in her mother's final days, Margery at least had been afforded the luxury of being able to write.

Though if Mary were being honest, she would not have objected to being able to spend even a little time with her younger brothers.

She had not wanted to love the boys who forever ended any chance of her father restoring her as a princess, but just like with Elizabeth, she found that she adored the twins and became very protective of them as a result. She even felt less like an elder half-sister and more like almost a mother to the boys.

Little Edward gurgled from the cradle where he would stay until his household at Windsor had been established.

Harry would soon be at an age to have a household established at Ludlow, the official residence of the heir to the throne. Meanwhile Geoffrey would either stay at Hatfield or go to one of the other properties of the crown.

If that were the case, little Edward would either be left at Windsor, or like Geoffrey, sent somewhere else as well.

Whatever the case, while Mary still somewhat resented her downgraded status, she was thankful that little Edward would never know the pain she had felt, and thanks to his survival this far, neither would Margery.

...

Jane sighed as she cradled her little son in her arms.

He still showed no obvious resemblance to his mother, with his light hair, and eyes so pale they were liable to stay that way.

He also seemed to become cold very easily and had to be kept wrapped up lest he catch a chill.

The third wife of Henry tried not to feel bitter about her son's delicate condition, but it was especially difficult when younger Harry and Geoffrey continued to flourish. The boys caught a small but of illness from time to time, but never for long.

Her daughter absolutely adored the twins and often spent the entirety of their visits with them, at least as much as she could anyway.

Jane's sisters had constantly warned her of keeping her children away from the 'Boleyn Bastards' as they now referred to them in private. Even her elder brother, and her son's namesake, Edward, had warned her that any favor or gain for the twins could be her son and daughter's loss. And of course she did not want that.

But what could she do?

"Majesty," Lady Rochford curstied as she came to Jane's side.

"What is it, Lady Rochford?" Jane asked with a disgruntled sigh, annoyed at her time with her infant son being interrupted.

"Lady Misseldon is here," Lady Rochford answered with a strained smile.

Jane's pale eyes darkened slightly. She did not want to have to speak to the woman who had seduced her husband while she carried his children. How dare she presume to have the right? Well, now that Jane had a son Henry was able to begrudge her nothing. So when she had requested Lady Misseldon's dismissal, he had been surprised but nonetheless indulged his dear wife and yielded to her wishes.

A part of her couldn't help but think of Lady Misseldon's similarities to another woman. The dark hair, the blue eyes, the less than conventional way of conducting herself...

That was it! That was why Henry had wanted her and pursued her; Ursula Misseldon was a reminder of Anne Boleyn! Why hadn't Jane noticed it before?

As much as the realization stung, Jane stil felt a twinge of satisfaction. She had voiced her displeasure, and clearly Henry had said Ursula had to go.

"Send her in," Jane sniffed slightly, still holding her son.

Moments later, the dark-haired vision arrived, clothed in a gown of peach-colored satin and a white petticoat.

Ever since her coronation, Jane had forbidden the gaudy, frivolous French fashions that Anne had fancied in favor of a more traditional, wholesome English look; traditional hoods and coifs and muted colors with a few simple embellishments here and there.

"Your Majesty," Lady Misseldon curtsied. "His Majesty the king wishes for me to retire from your household, with Your Majesty's blessing of course."

"Very well, then you have it," Jane answered in a haughty tone. "Shall we expect you to remain at court?"

"Whenever permitted, my lady," Ursula answered with a hint of a smile, not a nervous or contrite smile, but an expression of a woman pleased with herself. "His Majesty has found a husband for me, as my previous betrothal was broken not long ago."

"Yes, as I recall it, Sir Tavistock was displeased when he learned that his wife to be would not be coming to the marital bed a virtuous maiden," Elizabeth Seymour sneered.

Jane saw that this earned no reaction from Ursula. The woman did not flinch or look hurt, nor was there any sign of shame or remorse in her expression nor her eyes.

"I believe His Majesty believed I would be more fortunate with another man rather than Tavistock," she replied coolly. "But I shan't continue to intrude, Your Majesty. You have given your blessing, so if you permit me, I shall be on my way."

"You may go," Jane waved at the woman dismissively.

It was only when the words were hardly spoken that Ursula had curtsied and began to back out of the room. Jane suspected, judging from the woman's attitude, had she not been aware of the consequences she might have left sooner.

Nevertheless, it greatly put Jane's mind and heart at ease that her husband's mistress was now gone.

...

"This is madness!" Ursula hissed softly as a man emerged from behind one of the tapestries on the wall and firmly pressed his frame against hers and his lips upon his cheek and then her lips.

"I like madness," came the reply. "And speaking of madness, how did our dear queen respond to your 'sudden' dismissal?"

Ursula smiled at the man who would soon be her husband.

"I do believe she was rather displeased. Her sister certainly knew enough of Tavistock to know he broke our pledge due to my...'indiscretions' with His Majesty."

The man behind the tapestry snickered as he wrapped an arm around Ursula's waist, not caring in the slightest if someone should happen upon the pair. After all, they were to be married anyway, why not at least begin getting to know one another a little better before completely sealing the pledge?

"The king does as the king wishes," he said. "And he set his sights on you. Why do you think I withdrew my attentions when he showed an interest?"

Ursula smirked.

"My assumption was that you tired of pursuing a conquest you could never hope to reach. After all, I never gave you an answer before."

"Well, I have it now, do I not?" The man's gloves hand rested on Ursula's fair cheek as he pressed his lips to hers.

"You had it the night you declared yourself the Black Pope," Ursula replied. "Now tell me, Francis...what is George's plan?"

...

...

I hope you all enjoyed this new little chapter. And the next one will be out on Monday, January 28th. Until then, everyone.