Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors.
Face claim for Clarice de' Medici - Synnøve Karlsen.
Chapter Four: Allies Perhaps.
1st of May 1530 - The Palace of Placentia
"Your Grace," called a voice drawing Clarice's attention away from Isotta, the two had taken a walk in the gardens pleased to see more pleasant weather finally freeing them from being trapped inside the palace. It was rather lonesome here and most seemed to give Clarice a wide birth since they were unsure of what to make of here; none would dare risk upsetting their King or their Queen by being associated with her. They had once enjoyed walks such as these when they had been back in Italy, the gardens were beautiful and Clarice would not deny that she had not thought such things were possible here.
"Mistress Boleyn," Clarice greeted in reply, she eyed the younger woman surprised to see her approach and having not expected to be greeted by her; it seemed like everyone was determined to avoid her. Clarice recalled seeing Anne a few times when the other woman had been a lady-in-waiting to Queen Claude; it certainly would not have crossed her mind that this was how she would see Anne again.
"I am pleased to see you here at court," Anne stated knowing that for whatever reason that Clarice had come to court here in England that it would do her well to make the first move. No doubts in her mind that her relationship with Henry and his desire to be rid of Katherine would have reached the courts on the continent especially with his desire for a divorce.
"I am happy to be here, it is a nice change from the courts where I have spent my time," Clarice said with a smile, her words would be reported back to the King and she had no doubts about that. She was a guest at his court and while she might be welcomed right now, the last thing that she needed was to find herself on the outs with anyone here. Isotta took a step back and joined the ranks of the two ladies that had been accompanying Anne; this allowed Anne to step forward and linked arms with Clarice, the two of them continuing their walk in the gardens. The two of them being followed by their ladies at a polite distance, the warm spring sun beating down on them as they made their way through the hedgerows.
"I am sure you have heard much about the King's Great Matter," Anne said simply, she admired the flowers that they passed as she spoke; it would not do to beat around the bush here and she respected Clarice too much for that.
This might be her only chance to win the other woman around, Clarice would be a good ally if she were on Anne's side; she was a French Duchess and would clearly be against any alliance that might benefit the Emperor. There was also the possibility that when Anne became Henry's wife and Queen that she would need an ally, one that could offer her the support that the Emperor currently did for Katherine.
"I tend not to put much faith in rumours. However, the King's decision to annul his marriage to Queen Katherine did come as a surprise," Clarice said not giving too much away, she could not deny that she had heard about what was happening here in England. There was no way that she could not know and Anne would certainly be aware that the King's Great Matter would be the talk of Europe especially considering how the Emperor had sacked Rome.
Anne smiled at her diplomatic response, she should have known to expect nothing less from Clarice; the woman sent her time moving back and forth between France and Italy wherever she was summoned to by her relatives. The last thing that Clarice would want is to offend someone when she relied on both nations as her home; she was an Italian born and bred but she was a French noblewoman.
"The Queen has not officially welcomed you to court," Anne noted, she glanced behind her at their ladies knowing that her words would not be repeated as she trusted them so. Katherine held no love for her especially given the fact that Anne was the one that the King was set upon marrying; she doubted that Clarice had gotten a friendly welcome. France and Spain were known enemies and the fact that the Emperor had invaded Rome would not have helped matters; there was no way that she would have come here to offer support to a woman that had caused her so much grief and family trouble.
Making no comment on what Anne had said, Clarice was aware that the Queen's frosty reception of her arrival had not gone unnoticed; relations between their countries had never been smooth but she had at least expected some form of acknowledgement.
"Given our history, I would like to propose an alliance," Anne continued softly, she lowered her voice as she spoke not wanting her words to be repeated to anyone; she wanted to make an offering on her own. There was no doubt in her mind that her father and uncle would be displeased if they knew what she was doing; they were convinced that Clarice was here as a spy for the Pope. The man had delayed long enough in giving the King what he desired and Anne feared that this would continue wasting away the years in which she might give the King the son that he desired.
"We have enemies here at court. Those who would wish to see us both brought down," Anne continued taking note of the surprise on Clarice's face, her offer did seem like a strange one and she was sure that it wasn't what Clarice had been expecting. If Anne had truly wished it then she would have made an enemy out of the Medici woman, ignored her as Katherine had done and continued on with her life as if they were mere strangers. She had watched Clarice since she arrived and had noticed that no one had approached her since she arrived; she was all but ignored and even the normal ambassadors were welcomed better.
"An alliance?" Clarice questioned not sure what to make of such an idea, she had been sent to bring down Anne and put a stop to the King's divorce by putting herself in his way. It stuck with her that it was Anne offering to help her when it was Katherine that she had been sent to help by interfering with Anne's relationship with the King. Clarice had vowed that she would not act against her conscious; she was determined to keep that vow and she knew that allying herself with Anne might be a wise move.
There was no telling just how long she might be here, Clement would likely not recall her home anytime soon and given her reception so far; she doubted that it would get any better especially if things went south. Clarice was defenceless here if things did not go the way the King wanted with the King of France or the Pope; she was trapped in a situation that she could not escape like an ambassador could.
"Of course, we women must always watch each other's backs," Anne explained with a smile, she knew that she had very few people that she trusted. Since her rise in court people had flocked to her side and Anne knew that they would just as easily turn on her should this fall apart and she found herself casted aside in favour of Katherine.
The woman was a thorn in her side and her refusal to simply retire to a convent was making the situation even more difficult than it needed to be; she could make this so much easier on everyone and herself if she just did as the King commanded of her. The Emperor would continue to defend his aunt and his sack on Rome provided that he would do anything that he could to make sure that one of his relatives stayed on the English throne.
Anne doubted that he was not planning to use the Princess Mary as a puppet, she heard that the young girl was more Spanish than she was English and Katherine favoured a Spanish match for her daughter. It had not been too many years back that there had been an engagement between Princess Mary and the Emperor that Katherine had most desired.
It had been a slap in the face when he had turned around and married Isabella of Portugal instead, although who could blame him when he would have had to wait years to marry and have children with Princess Mary. No one could also deny that she had been rather sour over the fact that Princess Mary had been engaged to the Dauphin of France. Anne remembered that meeting well, it was the very first time that she had truly crossed paths with King Henry after spending so much time in France. It had been there that her sister, Mary, had captured his attention for a short time before Anne had been recalled to the court to serve Katherine in preparation for her engagement to an Irish cousin.
"What did you have in mind?" Clarice asked curious to what Anne might have planned, it was not what she had expected from meeting the woman that everyone was talking about and she was not sure what to make of such an offer. It was something that she would have to consider, the last thing that she needed was to spend her time alone while she was at court with the exception of her ladies.
"I shall welcome you into my inner circle," Anne started carefully, she glanced at Clarice knowing that if things had been different than the other woman would not have glanced her way. If she were not in need of a power ally then Anne would have happily done as Katherine had but the enemy of my enemy is my friend and she saw that she could use this to her advantage. And she was certain that there would be no such alliance between Katherine or Clarice; the Queen was far too stubborn for her own good and would cut off her nose to spite herself if it suited her.
"You then shall, of course, be formally introduced to the King," Anne continued to explain, her originally meeting had been before the court and an official one. It would be different if Anne did the introducing, Henry would be more welcoming to her and suspect her less as being someone that the Pope had sent to spy on him.
"And what is it you desire in return?" Clarice asked wondering what she could possibly have to offer Anne in return, she had no sway in Rome nor did she think that she would give the King what he wanted from Clement. She could only imagine what her cousin would say should she dare ask him to grant the King of England what he desired most; she was sure Clement would find a way to punish her for disobeying him.
"Your friendship," Anne stated simply, she could not say that she had many friends nor would she truly count Clarice as one but she was certain that the other woman understood where she came from in this regard. The path that she was taking was a lonely one at best, everyone wanted something from her and she found herself at times with no one to trust and turn to; she needed someone that she could share her concerns and worries with.
"And when the time should come perhaps you might convince others that I am worthy of my place as Queen," Anne continued trying to build her confidence, she slowly came to a stop and looked at Clarice. The other woman's face was unreadable but there was no denying just what Anne was asking of Clarice; she wanted the other woman to champion her cause when she became Queen.
"I know why you are here, Your Grace. Just as I, you have been asked to play a role by a man that does not understand the cost," Anne whispered so only Clarice could hear. Her eyes sweeping over to their ladies that had stopped not far from them, she knew without a doubt if her suspicions on Clarice were reported to the King then it would not end well.
Clarice tried to keep her face blank of all emotion, she opened her mouth to deny what Anne had said only for the woman to raise her hand and stop her. Anne did not have to guess that her words had frightened Clarice, she would be the same if someone confronted her in such a way about her actions that could lead to trouble.
"I shall not tell the King of your purpose here. I only ask that you consider me your friend here at court," Anne continued, she wasn't entirely sure that was why Clarice had been sent to England. But the woman had exotic looks not much different from her own, they stood out at court because they were not considered to be as beautiful as the other woman around them. It would not take a genius to work out why Clement had chosen to send Clarice, she was exactly what Henry seemed to like; it would have been almost perfect if Anne actually thought that Clarice could do it.
In the days since Clarice had arrived in court, Anne had watched Clarice out of curiosity to see what she would do; she was not the only one who had taken an interest in what she was doing. Her father and uncle had also gone out of their way to spy on Clarice, they had both wished to make sure that Clarice's arrival would not harm their families ambitions. Clarice was silent, her eyes searching Anne's face for any sign of deception; her heart pounded in her chest not sure what would happen to her should this reach the King.
The idea of being imprisoned did not appeal to her and Clarice doubted that anything would be done to save her should that happen to her; it wasn't like she had family here in England that could come to her aid. She had been sent to deceive and trick the King, she did not think that would go down well with a man like him; she had seen his reaction when he had lost the wrestling match to Francis.
"Then I am happy to accept," Clarice said linking arms with Anne once more, she was going to have to be more careful and she prayed that she had not just signed her own death warrant by siding with Anne Boleyn.
I recommend Bed of Deceit by BellalunaMcKenzie, For Even as Love Crowns You by wizardfantasy and Sanctuary by Cattyfan. Also check out My Lord Husband,The Enemy by Esme24, That Subtle Wreath by EvilFluffyBiteyThing and its sequel, A Progress in Kent.
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