Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors.
Face claim for Clarice de' Medici - Synnøve Karlsen.
Chapter Ninety-Eight: The Waiting Game.
23rd of February 1536 - Greenwich Palace
Storming into her family chambers, Mistress Jane Seymour tried stop her hands from shaking as she tried to get the image of the fallen Henry out of her mind. The sight of Henry being crushed by his own horse was a sight that Jane was certain would never leave her, she had waited outside of his chambers for news for as long as she could before being chased away. Not even the Duke of Suffolk had words to comfort her as she waited for news of her beloved Henry, he had barely paid her any attention since the King had been unseated.
"Jane? Should you not be with the Queen in prayer?" Lady Seymour asked her eldest daughter, it was rather late at night and she had not expected to see her daughter at this time. The news of the King's jousting accident had spread quickly, there was no one in the palace that had not heard and Lady Seymour very much doubted that she'd see any of her children at court this evening.
"Damn her," Jane sobbed unable to stop herself, a hand moving to cover her mouth as the tears started to fall and she cursed Anne for what she had done to the King. If Henry had been wearing her favour, then Jane was most certain that he would be well right now, he wouldn't be dying in his chambers and her heart would not ache in her chest. But alas he had been wearing Anne's favour, she had cursed him with her evilness so that her son could become King and now he was fighting for his life while Anne plotted the succession of her son.
Jane had heard it from Anne herself, she had heard Anne task Edward and the Duke of Norfolk with ensuring that her son was protected and kept here at court while they awaited news of his 'father's' death. If the King lived then Jane vowed that she would prove to him that Anne was nothing more than a witch that had bewitched him to put her spawn on the throne.
Lady Seymour stared at her eldest daughter, dread filling her at the look on Jane's face and she had a feeling that her delusions of grandeur were only going to get her into trouble.
"My Lord Suffolk," Thomas Boleyn greeted walking towards the other man, he had been hoping to catch him alone as they had much to discuss that was better done away from prying eyes and those that might think ill of his topics. The late hour certainly aided him in his task, with everyone busy worrying for the King who had yet to regain consciousness at this time and the fear of what this might mean for the young Prince of Wales.
"Wiltshire," Suffolk greeted disdainfully, he moved to turn his back on Thomas Boleyn and continue his conversation with Carew and another man. There was much that would need to be done if Henry Tudor was to die this night, they would have to act quickly to prevent the harlot in becoming regent of the young prince.
"Perhaps it is best if we spoke in private my lord, there is much we have to discuss and I am sure what I have to say you would rather remain private," Thomas pressed with a calm expression on his face knowing that he had all the evidence that he required to bring down the man before him. It had been rather easy to plant a spy and gather the intel that he required before he had made his approach of the Duke of Suffolk. Suffolk raised an eyebrow at the older man, a frown tight on his face before he turned amused and whispered something to his conspirators that made them laugh before they made their leave.
Watching the two men leave, Thomas Boleyn made note of them for a second before he turned to look at Suffolk who almost seemed amused by his presence now. There was no doubt in Thomas' mind that Charles Brandon assumed that he had come here to beg him to support Anne as regent, a position that Charles would likely hope to see someone like himself in the position as regent. Someone like him that would make Henry's death as panful as possible for Anne and take her children from her just as Margaret Tudor had suffered in Scotland.
"I believe that we have much to discuss my lord," Thomas Boleyn stated when he was sure that they were alone, he squared his shoulders as he stared at Charles knowing that he had him right where he wanted him. There was no way that Charles would see what he had planned coming and he was determined to strike now while he had the chance to do so; he didn't want Suffolk or his followers to have the chance to make the first move against his family.
"I highly doubt we have anything to discuss Boleyn," Suffolk dismissed with a shake of his head, he eyed the man knowing that he was nothing more than a social climber that had lucked out when his daughter had seduced the King away from his true wife. Whatever Katherine had done it had been for the good of the realm, she had been well loved by the people and she had been a worthy Queen to Henry who had served him well.
"I believe that we have much to discuss especially when His Majesty learns that you were conspiring against him," Thomas said calmly, his eyes searching for any sign of emotion on Suffolk's face at his accusation. Surely the man must have known that someone would come to confront him sooner or later, his actions were hard to ignore especially as they now waited to see if the King would live.
It was hard not to consider what would happen if this was the night that the King died, there was much to be done and Thomas knew that he was just one part of it all. Norfolk was guarding the nursery, instructed to do so by Queen Anne so that no one could steal away Prince Alexander and proclaim themselves as regent in the event of the King's sudden death.
"I did no such thing," Suffolk snapped stepping towards the older man, he would not have the man question his loyalty to his friend when he had done nothing but support Henry as his King. Yes, there had been times that he didn't agree with what Henry was doing especially when he had married Anne but he would always support his friend in any way that he could as they would always be brothers.
"You deny that you conspired with Carew to place Jane Seymour in the King's bed to embarrass the Queen," Thomas accused him, it had been a good plan but there was no doubt that Henry would not be pleased with such knowledge. To embarrass Anne was to embarrass the crown, something that Henry would not stand for when he prided himself on the strength of his crown.
"You deny that you were conspiring to displace Her Majesty as regent in the event of His Majesty's death," Thomas pushed forward without hesitant, his eyes gleaming as he saw the look of confusion on Suffolk's face at just how much he knew about what he had been plotting. It had taken a lot of work to gain the support that they now enjoyed, from Anne's work with the common folk to his own in ensuring that the family had support of greater families than their own for when this time came.
"You deny that this is the second time that you have gravely injured His Majesty in a joust, Thomas said putting the final nail in the coffin, surely this would have been noticed by others who would point fingers if the King died because of the accident that had been caused yet again by Suffolk. No one would have forgotten the last jousting accident that the Duke had caused when his lance had barely blinded the king when it had hit him in the face and knocked him off his horse.
"I am sure no one would believe that Your Grace acted in such a way when his own daughters are in the line of succession behind the King's own children," Thomas mused as he watched the colour started to drain from the Duke's face as he realised just what he was implying. The only person who now stood to gain anything if anything happened to Henry and his children with Anne were removed in some way from the succession was Charles himself.
His daughters by Mary Tudor Frances and Eleanor both of whom had marriages set for them and were seated comfortably behind Henry's children at the orders of Henry himself who had excluded Margaret Tudor's children from the English succession. Frances had married Henry Grey a couple of years earlier while Eleanor was set to marry Henry Clifford in the coming months.
It would not be long before they had children of their own, who would be further contenders for the English throne and if Henry's son followed in the Tudor traditions as his father and grandfather had done then it could all end badly for his own legacy. Afterall securing the succession was all that had ever mattered to Henry and his father in favour of the Tudors.
"What is it that you want?" Charles asked staring n defeat at Thomas Boleyn unable t believe that the man had managed to trap him in such a way, his actions laid out before him did little to boast his confidence that anyone would believe he had not intended all of this. His priority had always been his family, he loved all of his children and would do anything to see them safe and secure in their lives before God called hm away.
"I am not an unfair man Lord Suffolk," Thomas stated calmly, his evidence was all prepared but it did please him it hear that the Duke was willing to talk with him rather than dismiss him. When Henry woke up this conversation would be a thing of the past, he would have succussed in bringing his daughters biggest detractor to heel and Anne would be further secured int her position.
"The Earl of Lincoln shall be wed to Lady Contessina, in exchange for your loyalty to Queen Anne and I shall never speak to the King on the matters of which we have discussed," Thomas stated as if discussing the weather, not the marriage arrangement of the Duke of Bedford's eldest daughter to Brandon's son. He had plotted such things carefully and he was sure that Clarice and George would be thrilled with the news that their eldest daughter was to be the Duchess of Suffolk one day. Charles was silent as he took in the offer that had been laid out for him, his heart pounded in his chest as he realised if he did not accept then his entire family were in danger.
"I shall give you time to discuss such matters with the Duchess, I hope to hear your response soon," Thomas mused calmly, he patted Charles on the shoulder as he passed him with a smile on his face. This was just the beginning of his plans, both Contessina and Filiberta had their parts to play in his plans and it would take a lot of work but he was far from finished. Contessina was destined to be an English duchess while he planned to make Filiberta a French one, they would spread the Boleyn influence further than before and play their own parts in the legacy he was trying to build.
Watching Thomas walk away, Charles swallowed the lump in his throat as he realised that Catherine was going to be far from pleased when he told her that they would have to agree to the offer.
Clasping her hands in front of her, Queen Anne bowed her head before the alter as she prayed for her husband as she awaited news of his recovery, her thoughts lay on her beloved son who was only four years old. It was far too soon for him to become King of England, he was but a child and Anne feared those who might use her boy to gain power for themselves.
The Duchess of Bedford was seated at her side, her head also bowed in prayer for the King; soft whispers of latin flowing from her lips as she prayed. Neither of them had spoken a word since Henry had fallen from his horse, the mighty beast crushing him with its weight before being pulled off the King and Henry had been rushed away to the royal physicians.
The doors to the private royal chapel opened with the Duke of Bedford stepping inside, he eyed the ladies that were in Anne's service and took note of who certainly was no longer in his sister's attendance. He would have to speak with Edward Seymour about Jane's behaviour in light of what had happened, surely, she realised that her actions were attracting some unwanted attention.
"What news of the King?" Anne asked turning from the alter, her eyes filled with fear for what news could be brought to her at any moment; she might not love her husband but she did not wish him dead. If her brother had come to her at this late hour then Anne was certain that he had news, he would seek to distress his favourite sister at a time like this.
"Dr Linacre assures me that the King will recover, the time of danger has passed," George reassured Anne, afterall this was far from the first time that the King had been injured when jousting but it would certainly be the last. The King had suffered many concussions from his pervious bouts in the tiltyard, but this was his worst yet and George dared not say that the physicians had been considered that he might not wake.
However, as the sun begun to rise on this day, they were more certain that the King would recover just fine and had dispatched George to break the news to his sister that all would be well. Although they could not say when the King would awaken and what state he might be in when he did he wake up.
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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