Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors.
Face claim for Clarice de' Medici - Synnøve Karlsen.
Chapter Ninety-Nine: The King Lives.
23rd of February 1536 - Greenwich Palace
Storming into his private quarters, the Duke of Suffolk slammed the door behind him unable to believe the nerve of Wiltshire threatening him like that when he had done. That the man had the audacity to come to him with such accusations when he had been nothing but loyal to Henry for as long as he had known him.
The two of them had been childhood friends, with Charles being brought up at the court of Henry VII because his father had been the standard bear for the former King and had died during the Battle of Bosworth Field, where he had been killed by Richard III. There had never been anything that had truly come between them, not even when Charles had eloped with Henry's sister after the death of her french husband, although things had gotten a little rough between them.
Cursing loudly, Charles grabbed the nearest item and launched it at the wall across the room from him as he tried to wrap his head around what had happened. The sound of the vase breaking against the wall drew attention from the other chambers, the noise had been rather loud especially when the chamber had been so quiet, and Charles swore under his breath as he stared at the mess.
"Husband?" Catherine Brandon, the Duchess of Suffolk asked appearing from one for the other rooms, she held their son in her arms and Charles felt his stomach drop at the sight of her. Every plan in his mind about going back to Wiltshire and telling him to go take a long walk off a short pier, that he did not need his help and he was not going to be blackmailed into supporting the harlot.
"What is the matter?" Catherine asked approaching him, her eyes searching for the cause of the crashing that had disturbed her while she had been in the nursery with their son. The son that she knew her husband had longed for after the death of his son with Mary Tudor, one that would carry on his legacy when all he had were girls that would struggle to hold on to his legacy as she had done with her own father's. A part of her feared the news that the King had died, she wondered if she should have gone to the chapel and joined Queen Anne in prayer rather than retiring to her chambers to hold her boy.
"Thomas Boleyn," Charles snarled as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, he would not allow the man to take anything from him, he was a damn fool if he thought that he could threaten him in anyway. Even when he had not agreed on the path that Henry found himself on and had done his best to guide his friend during such troubled times. Staring at her husband, Catherine waited for him to continue knowing not what he meant by his anger towards the Queen's father, who would likely be busy with his role as Lord Privy Seal as they awaited news on the King's health.
"Boleyn confronted me in the corridor, he offered his silence on my actions and support with the King after the accident that I caused," Charles scoffed with a shake of his head. Anyone who knew him would surely know that he meant no harm to His Majesty during the tourney, he would never dare hurt Henry especially if it meant that the Boleyns would gain more power. Catherine was silent as she took in her husband's words, her lips pursing tightly as she stared at the man that she loved dearly and considered him.
"He insists that our son shall be married to one of his granddaughters by Bedford in exchange for my loyalty to his whore of a daughter," Charles continued with a shake of his head, he would never agree to marry his son into the family of the woman that had brought nothing but trouble to this country. Charles would never allow it, he refused to bend to the threats of someone so beneath him; he would make Boleyn pay for his actions, he could make things exceedingly difficult for the Boleyns if he so wished.
"What actions might he refer to?" Catherine questioned, she stepped closer to her husband as she searched his face for some sign of guilt that might suggest how bad this situation was. Only then might she try to talk some sense into her husband, she needed to know how badly he had made a mess of this without her even realising.
Seating himself at the table, Charles leaned back and stared at Catherine knowing that his wife would surely be pleased for his actions against the whore and the upset that putting Jane in Henry's bed would cause her. He knew that her mother had installed great loyalty to Queen Katherine in her and she had hated the Boleyns as much as he had when he had left court with Henry for war on the continent.
"I conspired with Carew to place Jane Seymour in the King's bed," Charles said reaching over to the bowl of fruit on the tale and helping himself to a red apple that was there. He took a big bite out of it while he watched Catherine closely, his wife furrowing her brow as she tried to place the name before it finally hit her who he was talking about.
Jane Seymour was rather plain to look at, an interesting contrast with the exotic looking Queen Anne who happened was Jane's cousin and had allowed the girl a place in her household. The Queen had surrounded herself with not just her Boleyn and Howard cousins but several extended family members who were more than grateful for the rise. If Catherine thought on it, she recalled it being mentioned that Jane had served in Katherine's household when she had been banished from court for her actions.
The oldest Seymour girl having shown on more than one occasion that she favoured the fallen Queen, her mother having said that she had heard Jane denounced her royal cousin as a harlot and her children as bastards when she thought herself surrounded by those who shared her opinions. Taking a steady breath, Catharine stared at her husband as raged filled her; she could not believe that he had been so foolish, and he did not seem to realise the danger that he had put their family in.
"Are you out of your mind?" Catherine hissed restraining herself from smacking him silly, she had to remind herself that her son was in her arms and that she needed to stay calm. Her words made Charles' smile fall from his face, the confidence that had filled him slowly slipped away as he stared at his wife in awe that she seemed rather upset with him. Surely, she understood better than anyone why he had done so, they had talked in length many times since they had wed about their dislike for Henry and what he had done to rid himself of Katherine who had been a much-loved Queen until the Medici had arrived at court.
"Queen Anne is beloved in this county, her son will one day be our King. Her actions when Katherine died have only won more people to her side and no one can deny, especially us that she treated Katherine with the respect she deserved as an anointed Queen in her final hours," Catherine stated with a shake of her head as she tried to process what he had done. Her mother had been in awe of Queen Anne, her actions fitting the station that she now held yet she had not come to Katherine as a Queen of England but as a mother who knew that in her final hours that Katherine would wish to hear from her daughter and her grandchildren.
"By embarrassing Queen Anne by putting the simpleton in the King's bed, all you have done is embarrass the crown something that the King shall not stand for nor shall he forgive such a thing as she is the mother of his son and he will not have anything said against her," Catherine said, her voice growing louder with every word as she tried to make him understand what he had done. If the King died then they would be faced with a Boleyn run court, one that would not tolerate to see Charles removed from his positions at court and banished never to be heard of again on pain of death.
"Have you even considered what would happen to your children, to me, if you are tried for treason against the crown?" Catherine asked him, she held her son closer knowing that the King would have reason to be kind to them if Charles was arrested for treason with his hands and titles would be forfeit to the crown. Anne and Mary had been married off around the time that King Henry had taken an interest in Anne and lived away from court something that would spare them the shame of their father's actions if they were lucky.
Frances and Eleanor may be spared if Charles were attainted as a traitor for, they were the daughters of the King's beloved late sister but their positions in the line of succession would be brought into question. Then there was Henry, her precious little Hal who was everything to Catherine as her only son and she would do anything to keep him safe.
Charles' eyes focused on his son, his six-month-old son who had barely gotten to live and he thought of his four daughters who had their own lives that would be ruined if he were condemned as a traitor to the crown. Henry could be many things but just in the face of humiliation and betrayal was not one of them, he would have no mercy and would leave his family with nothing.
"You will go to the Duke of Wiltshire and accept the match for our son and his granddaughter, you shall be helpful to the Queen at this time, and you shall avoid this Carew as if your life depends on it because it does, or so help me God, Henry will be our only child!" Catherine demanded holding her head high. If she guessed right, it would be the older Boleyn girl that their son would marry, and she would be a fine match; better than any that Charles could hope to attract considering the poor matches he had made for his daughters.
Two Barons, a Marquess and a possible Earl were the matches that he had made for his daughters so far although the match with the Earl was not yet set in stone and Henry Clifford was dragging the entire thing out as far as Catherine was concerned. There were many at court that would happily see Brandon stripped of all that King Henry had granted him, he was no better than the Boleyns in many people's eyes, at least the Boleyns could claim some royal heritage compared to Charles. The Queen was descended from King Edward I and could be linked to King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, the royal blood coming from both sides of her family tree and there might be some that considered her to be a better pedigree than the King himself.
"I shall write to the Duchess of Bedford to suggest a meeting between Hal and her daughter once all this trouble has passed with the King," Catherine stated ignoring the sour look on her husband's face as she turned away from him and headed for her chambers. She would hear no more on such matters, they would do what was needed to survive in a world where the Boleyns were on top and where likely to see Anne's son crowned as King one day.
"It is a fine match," Clarice agreed resting her hand on George's shoulder as he sat by the fire and gave it a squeeze of comfort as they watched their girls play. Thomas had come to them first with his plan to put a stop to Charles' plotting against Anne to inquire their thoughts on a marriage alliance between them and the Duke of Suffolk.
Contessina would be a Duchess one day, her future secure unless Brandon did something to screw it all up and lost his entire fortune that he owed to the King's grace and favor. It was a finer match than Clarice had hoped for at her daughter's age, she had been unmatched for many years before she had come to England and Ippolito had arranged for her to marry into the Boleyn family.
Thomas had explained his plans carefully to them, wanting their input and suggestions on how to proceed especially with his plans for a French match for their younger daughter. Thomas reasoned that who better than Filiberta to link the two nations of France and England over the lands of Calais when the time came; just as King Henry and King Francis had planned under the Auld Alliance agreement.
The son of the Duke and Duchess of Calais was required by the agreement to marry an English lady, one of high breeding if Thomas had his way and he was certain that the second daughter of George and Clarice would meet the requirements. The Duchess of Calais was expecting in the spring and there were high hopes that her first child was the longed-for heir that they desired to secure the agreement between the two countries.
"I am sure of that although I dread to think of them growing up," George confessed looking away from his daughters to admire his wife of nearly five years unable to believe how blessed he was. Clarice laughed softly, she knew what he meant but the years seemed to flyby before her eyes and before she knew it; Contessina was 4, Filiberta was 2 and William was about to turn 1 in a couple of months' times.
"I think I'd like another," George said not caring if it was a boy or a girl, he wanted as big a family as Clarice was willing to give him and he longed for his children have a childhood like he had done with his sisters. Clarice kissed the top of his head and smiled, she loved the idea and there was plenty of time for them to have more children especially with their little ones growing so fast.
His head pounded as King Henry slowly regained consciousness, his entire body ached, and he groaned as he slowly reached up to touch his head, his slow cautious movement catching the attention of those in the room. A thick white bandage was wrapped around his head, a sharp pain making his swear as he touched the top of his head while trying to remember where he was. The last thing that Henry remembered clearly was charging towards Charles on his horse, his lance tight in his hand as he matched his horse forward with Anne's favour attached to his lance.
"Your Majesty," Dr Linacre said his loud voice making Henry flinch, his eyes flickering open only to close when the light of the room hit him; he groaned louder than before and cursed as he slumped back on his pillows. The events of the day before slowly started to creep back to him, his horse falling backwards on top of him when he had been knocked from his horse by Charles Brandon as the screams of horror filled his ears and the darkness consumed him.
"Anne," Henry whispered as he reached to the side of his bed where he had been laid to rest once the doctors where sure it was safe to move him, his voice rough and he could not imagine the fear that Anne had felt when he had fallen. It was her favor that had saved him, it Gad brought him good luck and protected him from certain death and he vowed to cherish her more than he had done since his return from war, and he knew just where to start.
"Fetch Her Majesty from the chapel at once," Dr. Linacre ordered knowing that the Queen would want to be informed that her husband had awoken before the rest of the court had been informed. Dr. Linacre moved to examine his patient as he pondered informing King Henry about his impatient visitor who had come to the doors of his chambers demanding to be allowed entry so that she might sit with the King.
Of course, none of them had dared allow Mistress Jane entry to the chambers in fear of angering the Queen should she visit and find her there; luckily, they had been spared having to deal with her and the noise that she was making by her brothers quickly taking her back to the family chambers and scolding her. Once the King was comfortable and Dr. Linacre was satisfied in his recovery from his accident, the doors were opened to allow Queen Anne entry with some of her loyal ladies although the good doctor took note that Mistress Jane was not amongst them.
"My love," Henry rasped holding out his hand for Anne to take, he paid no mind to the ladies behind her as he stared at his saving grace; he did not know what he would have done without his beloved Anne to take care of things. England was surely in safe hands if something where to happen to him, she would guide their son well during his early reign and Henry knew that when he was well again that there was much to be done.
Anne moved across the room, her eyes taking in every inch of her husband as she thanked the lord above for not placing the weight of the crown upon her son at this time. Once Anne was in reach, Henry took her hand and pressed his chapped lips to the soft skin; his beautiful Queen was like a goddess come to bless him just by coming to see him.
Jane stood beside her sisters, rage boiling beneath her skin that Henry acted in such a way with Anne; surely he would not fall back under the witch's spell now when he had sworn to love her. She had given herself to him, she had done all he asked of her and yet now he dared not look at her in fear of upsetting Anne; surely there could be no other reason why he ignored her now.
Watching the scene before her, Jane swallowed the lump in her throat and she prayed to God that she would be able to show the King that her love for him was true; she would give him a son and he would love her even more for it. He had rewarded Bessie Blount for her son Fitzroy making him a Duke twice over, her boy would be grander than any before him even the brat that Anne had birthed him.
No it was her destiny to give the King a true Catholic heir, one that would make England stronger than ever before and Jane would ensure that no one would ever remember the brats that Anne had given the King who were no more legitimate in her mind than Fitzroy was. She would bring about a golden age, one that all history would remember and Henry would cast aside the false Queen when he realised that he would have no more male heirs from Anne and no one saw his marriage to her as a true one.
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.
Please Review, Favourite and Follow x