Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors.
Chapter Sixty-Two: Leaving for War.
25th of November 1534 - Hampton Court Palace
The soft calling of her name slowly stirred Clarice from her sleep, a hand gently shaking her from her slumber and she scrunched her eyes tightly closed wishing to drift back off to sleep; however, the person persisted until she opened her eyes. The room was nearly in darkness and Clarice could not imagine what she had been woken at such an hour; she turned to face her husband wondering what the meaning of this was.
A frown formed on her face upon seeing him, he was dressed as if he were to go riding and Clarice did not believe that His Majesty would be going hunting at such a time. It was far too early and the weather had been terrible the past few days, it was certainly not the weather to go chasing stags or the like through the woods; she sat up a little more when she saw the look on his face.
"I am sorry, my love," George whispered, he wished that he did not have to wake her but he had no other options and he wanted to speak to her before he had to go. The news had come straight from the King and he doubted even his sister had known what was being planned before he had been awoken that morning to a messenger; it was time and they had not time to delay. Bewilderment coloured her face, Clarice pushed back the covers on her bed so that she might climb from her bed; her mind raced while she tried to work out what was going on.
"We are to leave for France this night," George told her, he had done what he could to prepare for this moment and as much as he might detest the idea, his father would be on hand to help with the running of their estate. Not that for a moment did George think that Clarice would not be able to handle their affairs while he was away; but she was to remain with his sister until he returned and she was heavily pregnant.
"And from there, we shall make for Italy," George murmured, his eyes lowered down at the thought of what was to come and he prayed God would give him the strength to see it through. That he would serve his King and country as was his right would be enough for him, he just hoped that he would be able to return home to his family.
Staring at George, Clarice almost willed herself to be imagining what he had just told her and she had never imagined that this would happen; she had perhaps thought they would have more time than what they had been given. Resting her hand on her swelling stomach, Clarice did not know how she would endure the months without him; war could be a costly thing and she did not want it to cost her, her husband.
"You are to leave for war?" Clarice asked, her voice no more than a whisper almost unsure if she had heard her right, a part of her had been convinced that she had heard they would not leave for another few months. The very idea that George was not just traveling for the wedding of the Duchess of Calais but then would make his way across France for Italy had never crossed her mind not when she had a child in her belly.
"It is not what I expected but the council agreed that we must use the element of surprise that we have now or we shall lose it, the Emperor grows suspicious and the marriage of the Duchess of Calais shall only add to that," George explained, he would not cower away nor would he change his mind. It was his duty to his country that he served the King in any way that he could, he would fight with his peers to ensure victory against the Emperor and secure Florence for the Medici. Not only would they strike back against a Monarch who had attempted to meddle in English affairs but setting the Duchess of Hertford up in Florence would secure the Prince of Wales throne.
"I shall bring honour to my family name and put your family back on the throne in Florence, my wife shall be the sister to the Duke of Florence," George continued, he had high hopes and he would make sure that no one would think he had married down. Both the Medici and the Boleyns had been considered upstarts who had come from little and now held such power; they would prove to the world that they were just as good as they had become now.
Climbing from their bed, Clarice tried to steady herself knowing that crying would only make this worse; there was nothing that she could say or do that would change this and Clarice did not want their last moments together to be fighting. Moving towards George, Clarice cupped his face with her hands allowing her thumbs to brush against his cheeks; her eyes searching his face wanting to take in every detail while she had the chance.
"What should I name our child if you do not return in time?" Clarice questioned, they had not discussed names for their baby yet; she had thought that they would have plenty of time for that and now he was leaving for who knows how long. A lump formed in her throat and Clarice blinked away the tears that threatened to fall, she would not spend their last moments together weeping; she would not have him leave with that memory of her.
"She shall be Clarice for her mother," George stated, he could think of no better name for a third daughter than to name the child for his wife; another daughter would be just as welcome as the first two. Contessina and Filiberta were wonderful, he would do anything for them and he had always dreamed of a large family; he and his sisters had always been so close and he recalled playing in the gardens of Hever Castle for hours when they were children.
"And if it is a son?" Clarice dared to ask, she had come to accept that he did not care but she did not wish to be caught in a situation where they had a son and his father would expect it to be named for himself. It would be a cold day in hell before she would ever name a son of hers after Thomas Boleyn, she would much sooner name their son after her father if possible or someone else from George's side of the family.
"William for my grandfather," George stated, his hands moving to rest on her bump that had slowly made itself known; he was in awe of her like this and the idea that it was his baby in there. The miracle of life was an amazing thing and he loved watching her belly swell with his children, each one of them seemed different in their own way; he stared down at the bump wishing that he would be back in time. Whether it be a Clarice or a William in there, George could not help but pray that everything went as easily as it had when she had delivered their daughters.
"You shall remain at court with my sister. Anne shall need all the help that she can get especially as Regent while the King is away," George told her knowing that it would be safer here for her, he had no ideas what England would be like while he was away. It would be his sister that ran England in the King's absence and George knew that this would-be Anne's first chance to show England what type of Queen that she would be. His sister could very well need someone to support her through this, especially when she was expected to deliver in the coming months and they did not know if the King would be back by then.
"Though it is expected that my father and the Duke of Norfolk shall govern should she enter her confinement and until she has been churched," George stated with a shake of his head, if his father and uncle were going to run the country then he feared what sort of trouble they would cause. They would like expect Anne to defer to them and allow them to rule through her while the King was away, it would not go down well with everyone else if control of the country was rested upon the two of them.
Moving towards his bags, George could not imagine just when he would be back here; he had never been on a campaign like this before. The last had been in 1513 with the battles of Flodden and Spurs, he had been a child and unable to fight; this would be his chance to make a name for himself as more than a gentleman of the court.
"You have to promise me that you shall be careful," Clarice insisted, she moved to take his hands and smiled at him; war was not something to be trifled with and George was a fine swordsman. Though Clarice could not imagine that he would have ever had the need to take someone's life, a war was different and those fighting on the other side would have no reason to halt in their attack or stop from killing him.
"Have no fear, my love. I shall return to you and our girls," George reassured her, he ducked down to kiss Clarice and held her for a moment. Every second that they had together was everything and he would cherish such memories in the days to come, he had a feeling that he would need them especially when the fighting started.
Highly recommend Athenais Penelope Clemence's story, Chained by Love and War as well as the short prequel An Enchanting Dance in Calais by Countess of Sherwood. I also recommend For Even as Love Crowns You by wizardfantasy and Sanctuary by Cattyfan.
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