Having taken care of her husband, and sending him to bed for a lie-down, Mary readied herself. She took her golden cape and draped it around her taut shoulders, fixed her jewelry, and exited the apartments in quiet strength. Sir William and only a few of her guards had been selected for this mission. On the way out to the carriage, Sir William whispered "Let it be known I do not like this. I do not like this one bit and when the Duke finds out, which you know he will, he will not like it either."
Smoothing her skirt, the Grand Duchess told him "I know you don't like it. I'm not asking you to. What I am asking is for you to go with me. If you cannot do that, then you can stay here with the others."
Grumbling, William Compton obliged the request. He would be a fool not to because then he'd run the risk of his friend's ire, for not guarding his Lady Wife as is his sworn duty. So once the Duchess was put into the carriage, he rode beside it on his horse.
On the way to the secret location, Mary cannot help but wonder if she's doing the right thing. She knows Sir William is right. Once Charles finds out he'll be fit to be tied, though she must do this. Even if she's rebuffed and spat on, this act of kindness matters to her. It won't be wasted. Trying not to think anymore about it, she stared out the window. In her mind, she went over everything she wanted to say.
As the short ride ended, Mary composed herself and disembarked. Looking around the despicable place, she said silent prayers for all the equally contemptible souls who are lodged there. And also for those who have been condemned that are entirely innocent. All in all, The Tower gives her the chills.
The guards surrounded her on the walk to the entrance. They went in front and behind her, as she walked up the stairs to the royal apartments, where the disgraced Queen resides. Sir William accompanied her into the spartan quarters.
No curtsies were given, only cold stares— the looks of adversaries. Lady Anne broke the suspense and spoke first. "Have you come to gloat Lady Mary or should I say, Princess?" She is devoid of any extravagance, looking rather bland instead. Her face is pale and worn. If one looks close enough her eyes give away that she has been crying.
Mary almost feels sorry for the woman, almost. But the hours she, herself, has spent crying over her husband's ambush, her mother's removal of title and divorce, her own bastardization and banishment make any remorse disappear. Rather she is here for one purpose. "I am not here to take pleasure in your censure and conviction. My motivation is of a different nature, one of a mother."
There is no language that encompasses all others like that of motherhood. A mother's love for her child is like nothing else. It knows no law, no pity, no bounds. It hopes all things and crushes everything that stands in its way. It is a force of nature and a blessing. It turns enemies into allies.
Mary stood with her back straight, ever-perfect posture, and eyes sharp (along with her mind). "The only reason I am here is on behalf of my sister. As a small mercy, I am here to speak to you mother to mother. I wanted you to know Elizabeth has been entrusted into the care of Charles and me." It was then she heard Anne's gasping sob leave her mouth. Her Ladyship thinks this is a good sign, although one can never be too sure with this woman. She may altogether hate the arrangement and weeps because of it.
She boldly continued to speak. "I wanted you to know that my sister will be treated as a member of our family. She will have all the benefits as our own children and be raised as such. When she is older Charles and I will tell her the truth. I know there is no love lost between the two of us, but even so, she is innocent in all of this. I only care for you to know so that hopefully it gives you a small measure of peace before meeting your fate." Mary's eyes took in the overwrought woman who had collapsed to the floor in tears.
Trying to collect herself, Anne reached a hand out to the Duchess. With apprehension, and William at her side, Mary went forward and took the proffered hand. The unthinkable happened. Her icy evil stepmonster placed a kiss on the top of her hand, her hand. With a shaky voice, the lady spoke. "Thank you. Thank you. She has a chance now, a chance to live without shame or the poison my family brings. I know she's been declared a bastard, as you once were. I realize I've done horrible things to you, and yours, but would you grant me this small request." She stood on quivering legs and walked to a small writing desk, where she took up a letter.
On her return, she held the letter like one holds a baby. "I wrote it this morning before my brother... well I wrote this earlier. It's a letter for Elizabeth, for when she is older. It tells her all the things I wish I could tell her but won't be able to, like how much I love her. If you don't believe then read it for yourself. In fact, I beg you to. It's the most honest thing I've ever done." Tears ran down her face at the thoughts of her daughter. She held the note out to Mary who took it.
Clutching the letter and her own skirt, Mary wants to know "Do you regret it? Anything you have done?"
Anne looked at the floor then back up at the Duchess. "I regret parts of it. I think in different circumstances you and I would have gotten along. All I can say now is thank you for caring about your sister. I know it means nothing to you but I prayed she wouldn't end up with my uncle or parents or be left to fend for herself, as you did in a castle somewhere. So yes, I can have peace with this at least." She bowed her head and cried.
The Duchess knew she meant it. Before she left Anne gave her the famous B necklace and a brooch to give to Elizabeth later in life. She clutched the jewelry pouch along with the letter. With a last glance at her once adversary, Mary spoke the words "Ut pax aprehendet vows nocte". Anne a learned woman herself whispered "You too" in response.
Even in the midst of a storm, there can be peace. That is what Mary prayed for as she left The Tower. She prayed for her baby sister. She prayed for her father, that he would find the peace he is looking for. She prayed for her family, that they would grow in grace and peace. She prayed for Lady Anne with mercy for her soul. She even prayed for the executioner, that he would know peace from the punishments he enacts.
Steadying her heart, she clasped the pouch of jewelry and the letter. On return to the palace, her guards escorted her back to her quarters where she was met with an irate husband. She started to speak to him, but he only raised his hand. It was then she realized the trouble she was in for.
He began pacing back and forth until he stopped a short distance in front of her. "Where have you been? I woke up and my wife was nowhere to be found. I asked for you and guess what? No one knew where you were. Thank God you took your guards, even though the rest of them refused to say where you had gone. Now I ask, where were you? Judging by the look on your face I'm not going to like this answer."
Stealing herself for his displeasure, she shared with him "I listened to my heart and followed it. Now I have peace. I went somewhere you will not be happy with, but I needed to do it." His eyebrow raised as if saying at what cost. She trudged ahead informing him "I went to visit Lady Anne at The Tower."
His hands went straight to his hair as he sank into an armchair. "Do you mind saying that again? I think I hallucinated because surely my wife, the Grand Duchess of Wales and Suffolk, did not say she went to The Tower."
"I did. I went to visit Lady Anne," she admitted. It was then she saw him close his eyes and she squeezed the two items in her hands all the more. "I had to Charles."
At that, his eyes snapped open. "You had to. You had to visit the woman who took your mother's place? You had to visit the woman who plotted against you and ambushed me? You had to visit the woman who hates you so? Do I need to go on? What would possess you to do such a thing! Tell me!" He nearly shouted the last part.
Swallowing thickly, she confessed, "As a mother, I had to speak to her." She couldn't talk anymore because Charles was standing.
"I cannot stay here and listen to more of this. I am too upset right now and I'm likely to say something I may regret." He stalked past her out the door.
As Mary took the jewelry pouch and letter to her personal trunk and packed it away, tears streamed down her own face. Her husband is upset with her and she hates it.
With the lateness of the day, Charles realized he couldn't go riding. He didn't want to talk to Henry, so he went to the tennis court. It was there he took off his doublet and rolled up his sleeves. Grabbing a ball and racket, he bounced it and then smashed it against the back wall. Feeling soothed, he took another ball and did the same thing. He did this over and over, and by the time he felt well and truly relieved he was hot and sweaty. Now he's ready to hear her side of things.
On his way back to the rooms, he was met by Edward Seymour. They gave nods to each other. That man grates on his nerves. Entering his rooms was met with silence. He called for a bath and went to change. His wife had fallen asleep on the bed with a handkerchief in her hand. She had cried herself to sleep.
The servant let him know the bath was ready. He stripped and went to wash. After which he crawled on top of the bed and placed a kiss on Mary's temple. He attempted to wake her up with a tickle to the sides and it worked. She stirred awake. "Hey I'm sorry I raised my voice to you, but I'm not sorry for what I said. It was dangerous and untoward visiting that place."
With a sniffle, she said "I know. I know. I didn't think. I just knew I had to do it for Elizabeth's sake. And I'm glad I did. She gave me a letter, which I packed and then unpacked to read. It's just a letter from a mother to her daughter and she gave me some jewelry to give her when she's older as well. She thanked us for taking Elizabeth in. I promise that's all I did. Please don't be angry with me anymore. I can't bear it. I'm sorry I hurt you." Her sniffles worsened with tears.
He pulled her near and let her know "I'm not angry as I was. A little upset, yes, but only because I'm your husband and I love you very much. I hate when you carelessly put yourself in harm's way. So yes I was upset. But hearing you fully, I may not approve but I understand. Please tell me you at least had your father's approval to do such a thing."
She nodded her head and he finished speaking. "That's reassuring at least. Now before I have to go face another death tomorrow, please promise me you will not do something like that again. I only ask that you tell me before you get any notions."
"Charles, I'm stubborn I know. But I had to as a mother to a mother. That's all," she declared.
Knowing she's worried, he put those worries to rest. "Mary, you don't have to keep justifying it. What's done is done. I still love you. And unlike your father, given to mad whims, I'm not setting you aside either. Let's not speak of this anymore, until Elizabeth is much older and we tell her the truth." She nodded again and they held each other before they took dinner. True to both their words they let this subject die.
The next day saw both Duke and Duchess up together. They broke their fast and knelt to pray for the coming events and for Elizabeth. She helped him dress in a smart outfit. As she helped him with his gold chain necklace, she was reminded of how blessed she truly is. Her husband is a blessing, not all men are like him. Had she been married to someone else, she very well could be black and blue right now (for her foolish decision). She hugged him and kissed him a little bit tighter.
Once he was ready the two broke their fast together. Then he, with much reluctance, left for The Evil Queen's execution. As he rode to Tower Hill he thought about how people become evil. It starts somewhere and most of the time it begins in the home. He thought about Thomas Boleyn's last words to him. If that's the example George and Anne had to follow, then they truly had no chance in life.
All it did was serve to make him more resolved in his own fatherhood. Any man can be a father, but it takes special qualities to be a true Dad. That's what he wants for his children, to be not just a father but a Dad. It's a responsibility with challenges, bitter and sweet. But it's worth it.
When the carriage stopped he got out and noticed the size of the crowd. It is massive compared to the crowd yesterday. Clearly, the citizens are bloodthirsty and want to see Lady Anne suffer for her misdeeds. Which is sad if you think about it. His eyes scanned the gathering and found Knivert and Seymour. He took his place by them again. No words were exchanged as none were needed.
Just before eight, the lady was brought out by her jailer. Her handmaidens followed behind, weeping. She took her place on the scaffold and then gave a speech to the crowd. Charles could see the tremble in her hands, but other than that she looked composed. More composed than he would have been.
As the woman spoke, her words hushed the crowd. It was her words "God save the King and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never: and to me, he was ever a good, a gentle and sovereign lord" that made Charles pause. Bluster, pure bluster. Perhaps the lady was hoping for a last-minute reprieve. For she, better than anyone, knows the King is neither merciful nor gentle. He's vain, selfish, and calculating to his enemies.
Once she was blindfolded and kneeling, Lady Anne could be heard saying repeatedly "To Jesus Christ, I commend my soul. Lord Jesus receive my soul. To God, I commend my soul." Then with a blow, it was over. He had to look away. A lady who was once the Queen was beheaded. It's gruesome. Off to the side, Thomas Wyatt was openly mourning.
And just like the day before, he rode back to the palace and wretched into the chamber pot. After which Mary took care of him. It was when she began tucking a blanket about his legs, that he questioned her "You're not going to leave me and run off on some quest I know nothing about?"
She hit his arm in a playful manner. "You're hilarious. No. I'm not. What we are going to do is spend the day together. I thought you could promenade with me in the maze and wander the palace where we might kiss in some hidden alcove behind a well-placed tapestry. Then we've been invited to dine with the King tonight."
All Charles heard was kissing in an alcove and strolling through the maze. "The maze you say?" He gave her a saucy look, as he sat remembering the last time they were in a maze together.
With the roll of the eyes and a flick of the wrist, the Duchess told him "I know what you're thinking. You're thinking of repeating that time in Cardigan, but we're not. There are too many eyes for that sort of thing here. However, if you're a very good Duke we can get up to some afternoon fun in our chambers." She kissed his neck and his eyes heated.
"If you keep kissing my neck, I'm not responsible for what transpires afterward. However, I will be the best Duke in the whole palace." He pulled her around to perch in his lap, where he put his arms about her. They sat there in the quiet. He needs this comfort after the week he's had so far. She quiets him with her kisses and comforts him with her love.
Later that afternoon, before they dressed for dinner, and after their palace wandering, they let their passion run wild. With the kind of kisses that make both their hearts melt. They needed that. Both washed and changed for what was sure to be an interesting dinner. Having dressed in her silky, silvery beaded gown, Mary asked "Do you think we should bring Elizabeth? Would he throw us out if we did? She is a part of our family, you know."
Charles, not caring about the King's opinion, smirked. "I say we bring her. He needs to see his child, and she would feel slighted if we didn't."
So with all three children dressed, the Brandons walked to dine with the King. Charles held the twins and Mary held her sister, who refuses to part with the lilac bunny. The guards stood to the side and let them in. Upon arrival, the King, who was seated, stood up and welcomed them. Along with him was Lady Jane Seymour.
His ex-wife was not even a day in the grave and the King is planning another wedding. It made Mary's stomach turn, as did Charles's. To top it off they're to dine on the meat of a swan. A swan! Everyone knows it's gauche and rich to eat swan, which is why it's saved for special occasions. This is too calculating. A new wife, roasted swan, and her title restored. It's disturbing and her head began to ache. What kind of man is her father really? Is he good and just, or a complete lunatic? A shiver ran through her body and Charles sidled up closer. Then she threw up.
Ut pax aprehendet vows nocte Latin for "may peace find you tonight".