Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors.

Chapter Fourteen: Marriage Talks.

25th of January 1531 - London, England

"What do you think?" Anne asked showing off the designs for her wedding dress, a smile on her face pleased with it and knowing that this would be the wedding of the year; she had heard that Henry was sparing no expense on their wedding. He wanted it to be the day that marked a new age in England, she would be his Queen and everything would be perfect; they would usher in a new era for England together.

"It looks beautiful," Clarice told her, she had never seen anything like it before and she was sure that Anne would look like a Queen on her wedding day; the designs were grand and she would be a vision. No one would be able to doubt that she was Henry's Queen, he had chosen her and there was nothing that anyone could say that would change his mind on the fact.

"How is your brother?" Anne questioned having not seen Clarice's brother around, she couldn't quite recall when she'd last seen especially given his new position on Henry's council. He had been rewarded rather well for his actions and turning on the Pope, it was sure to have annoyed many especially since Ippolito had been naught but a bastard even if he bore his father's noble name.

"He's gone to Ragley Hall to get settled," Clarice replied doubting that her brother would remain there for long, he was like their father and she could not see him staying away from his new duties. He was determined to leave the Medici mark on England and do great things, she wouldn't have been surprised if her hand in marriage hadn't been something that had already been courted.

"He talks about making our family great again. Making roots here that will see the Medici apart of England like they are in Florence. He wishes to be a great man like our Grandfather," Clarice told Anne, she rolled her eyes recalling the exchange that she and her brother had shared before he had went away. His thoughts had moved forward to the next step, marriages for the both of them to secure them to England and to protect their interests; it was no secret that their every move was being watched.

Right now, they held the King's favour and that was a good start but it would not sustain their weak house against all attacks; it was time to link themselves in marriage for the sake of their family. They would need good matches to old English families like their families had always done, their father had married the younger daughter of the former Duke of Savoy; many men in their family had married women from higher ranking families.

"He sounds ambitious. It might serve him well here at court," Anne mused knowing that her family had risen high because of ambitious; never had she imagined that she might one day be Queen of England. When this had all first started, it had been to denounce Wolsey and remove him from power; she might have made a good mistress but she had found herself slowly falling for Henry.

"Perhaps. He means well but I fear just who he might decide to marry me off too," Clarice whispered moving towards the window, she had no idea who her brother might decide upon for her hand. It would be an adventurous match and Clarice had no doubts that it would cement their family to England; she imagined that it would be some rich Duke that she was married to.

Setting down the design for her wedding dress, Anne walked over to Clarice and stared at her for a moment; her eyes searching her face for a moment not saying a word. There was not much that Anne could do about Ippolito's decision to marry his sister off, he would make the decisions that he deemed necessary and would ensure that she was married off into the comfortable life with a notable title.

"I have a gift for you," Anne mused with a smile moving over to the book that she had wrapped for Clarice, she hesitated for a moment before she turned back to Clarice. Holding out the book, Anne prayed that her decision to pass such work onto the other woman would not backfire; if this went wrong then it would backfire greatly on her cause.

Taking the gift that Anne offered her, Clarice couldn't help but feel like there was something more important being passed into her hands.

"Your Grace. Welcome back to court. I trust everything is well at Ragley Hall?" Norfolk mused approaching Ippolito when he returned, he had been waiting to catch the other man since there was much for them to discuss. The situation at hand was not an easy one and Norfolk knew for his plan to succeed then he would need Ippolito's blessing; there was no escaping the fact that there was still much to be done to secure Anne's place on the throne.

"What can I do for you, Your Grace?" Ippolito asked walking alongside Norfolk, he couldn't imagine why the man would seek him out and make small talk. He had no doubts that a man such as the Duke of Norfolk had much interest in small talk, he had come for a reason and there was no need for them to beat around the bush on this.

"I had heard that you were in the market for a groom for your sister?" Norfolk noted not revealing his source, he had been most surprised when Anne had mentioned that Ippolito was in the market for a match for Clarice. Of course, Wiltshire had not realised the potential of such a match and talked about marrying his son off to some relation or another that might benefit them in some small way.

Ippolito paused turning to face Norfolk, he had to admit that he was rather surprised to be approached so quickly; he had thought that it might take longer for such an approach to be made. His own search had turned up few possibilities the Duke of Huntingdon and Marquess of Northampton being two of the options that Ippolito had considered; he had not thought that a change would appear to him like this.

"What did you have in mind?" Ippolito questioned curious to what he might have in mind, there were many Howards that Clarice might find a good husband with. However, not many had titles and even less were of a suitable age to marry; Ippolito had to admit that his father would be most honoured with the fact that his daughter would be further related to royalty.

"I am sure that you are aware that Viscount Rochford had his marriage annulled. He will be the Queen's brother rather soon," Norfolk explained knowing that it would be a fine match for Clarice. There could be no better match in Norfolk's mind than that of the brother of the Queen of England, he would be the most wanted bachelor at court once the crown was on Anne's head and she had a son to secure her throne.

"You wish to unite our families," Ippolito stated, the two of them starting to walk while he considered what such a match might mean; he could imagine that it would be quite a comfortable move for his sister. From what he had seen, she had become quite a player at court on the Boleyn's behalf; she was a loyal lady-in-waiting to Anne and she seemed contented with the role at court now.

"Of course. Anne shall need all the support that she can get once she is Queen. Not many have shown such loyalty like your sister has," Norfolk told him, he was certain that this match would not only secure Anne but provide her with much needed protection. Katherine had the Emperor and Anne would have the Medici, a family so intertwined with the nobility and royalty of the continent that there would be no dismissing her should Henry grew tired of her.

"And what of their different ranks?" Ippolito asked knowing that his sister was a Countess in her own right, it was not a title that would be shared with her new husband. There would be a difference in their stations and Ippolito was no fool, there would be no way to even that out while Rochford was only a Viscount; he had to ensure that whatever happened that Clarice would be kept comfortable.

"I shall speak with the King, see to it that my nephew becomes an Earl," Norfolk stated doubting that the King would say no especially when it was explained to him why. Already he was working to make Boleyn a Duke, a title which would one day pass to his son meaning that Clarice would one day be a Duchess like the title that the King of France had been stripped from her.

"I shall see how I can be of help there. Only then will I consider the Viscount a match for my sister," Ippolito told Norfolk, he would not allow his sister to be a token to be used and he wanted to see her comfortable. She would have been married by now to a fine match if their father was alive and now it fell to Ippolito to make sure that she was married to a man that could provide for her.

And we have a winner. Clarice will marry... George Boleyn.

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