Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors.

Face claim for Clarice de' Medici - Synnøve Karlsen.

Chapter One Hundred & Nine: The Duke of York.

12th of March 1537 - Hampton Court Palace

"Send our heartfelt congratulations to Their Majesties on the birth of their daughter," Henry instructed the French ambassador, upon hearing the news that Queen Elisabeth of France had been safely delivered of a daughter only a month earlier. It would surely be a blow to the French King but a healthy child was better than none, especially in light of the recent marriage of his eldest daughter to the Scottish King.

The birth of Princess Yolande was a welcome one by all accounts, Henry heard that his French counterpart had gifted his Queen a villa in the south of the country upon the birth of their second child together. King Henry was in a very good mood in deed this day, for word had spread that early that morning Queen Anne had begun to labour and there was signs that the Queen would be delivered of her child before noon that day.

There was much for the King to celebrate these days, word having come from Florence where his daughter was currently expecting her third child any day now as well. The child should it be a boy would come to England, where he would be given the English titles belonging to Ippolito to secure the Medici succession there while his older brother would inherit the Italian ones.

The Boleyns were out in force at court, The Duke of Wiltshire having arrived just that morning with his wife from their country estates in preparation for the newest royal birth. The Countess of Buckingham had been with the Queen since New Year, having arrived to support her sister in her delivery and confinement while the Duchess of Bedford remained at her own estates.

Clarice was entering her own confinement for her fourth child, the baby not due for another month or so with her husband coming to court, where he was often seen with the King and the Seymour brothers. The Duke of Suffolk was missing from court due to the recent birth of his second son with his Duchess, the boy taking his father's name from birth and from letters Henry received was rather a healthy boy.

King Henry was contented with how everything at his court was playing out, even Viscount Bryan had returned to court after the birth of his first child with the Viscountess who remained hidden away. Though everyone of note knew the truth, that the Viscount's first child was truly the illegitimate daughter of King Henry who he would not acknowledge.

There was a sudden commotion in the hallway, a man dressed in the Queen's livery rushing into the room almost falling to the floor as the King's guards stopped him from getting any closer. His shouts had been heard from the halls and many turned to look at the man as if he had lost his mind, that he would act such a way.

"What is it?" King Henry asked sitting forward on his throne, his eyes staring down at the man who was trying to catch his breath while attempting to break free from the guards that stopped him. Everyone stared at the man as he tried to catch his breath, there wasn't a word spoken and the hall seemed to hold their collective breath as they waited to see what he had to say.

"A son. Her Majesty has been delivered of a healthy son," the man announced, whispers following his announcement with many turning to see the king's reaction as he sat in silence upon his throne. The words echoed in his mind, they had their Duke of York, a second son to secure the Tudor rule over England and nothing could stand in their way and he would see his father's work continue.

Thomas Boleyn couldn't stop the smile forming on his face, no one could deny that Anne was secure now; she had given the King, two healthy sons and secured the Tudor succession for years to come. Henry didn't say a word before hurrying out of the audience chamber, whispers following in his wake as he raced to Anne's chambers to see his new son.

"The bells should be rung! The people need to be informed that their Duke of York has arrived," the Duke of Norfolk ordered knowing that they could not delay, there could be no reason to doubt that Anne had succeeded. A healthy Duke of York had come, it was news that people would celebrate and there would be grand celebrations indeed for the birth of the King Henry's second son with Queen Anne.

Reaching the chamber were Anne had delivered their second son, Henry came to a halt as he entered the room; her ladies bowing to the King as he entered but his eyes were focused on the woman seated in bed. Anne had bathed and was comfortable in bed, her eyes cast down as she stared in awe of their youngest son; a soft smile on her lips as she admired the babe in her arms unable to believe that he was finally here.

"My love," Henry breathed slowly making his way over to Anne, he didn't think there was a more beautiful sight in the world than her holding their children in her arms. Anne looked up at Henry, a sweet smile on her face as he approached her before she looked down at their son as he came to sit beside her on the bed.

Taking in his son for the first time, Henry was surprised to see that unlike his older siblings he favoured the Boleyn side of his family. Alexander and Elizabeth were clearly their father's children, Beatrice had favoured her paternal grandmother in looks but this one was all Anne; the dark hair that covered the top of his head, left no doubt.

"He is a Boleyn," Henry mused not even minding in the slightest, no doubt the boy would grow out of it when he grew up and the strong Tudor blood would come into play. Anne nodded her head, she had been worried that he might be displeased with the fact that this son wasn't his copy like Alexander was clearly turning out; her elder boy was the image of his father as a child.

"He must have a Boleyn name... Thomas.. George... William... Geoffrey..." Henry listed off, insistent that his new son would honour the Boleyn side of the family; a strong name was needed one that stood out as much as Alexander did. There were plenty of Thomas, George and William around the court but the name of Anne's great grandfather caught on Henry's tongue as he stared down at his son.

"Prince Geoffrey, the Duke of York," Henry declared after a moments thought, the fact that he had a second son eased any worries that the Tudor line would come to a sudden end. With the birth of Geoffrey, there was no need to worry now and if he was anything like Alexander then they truly had nothing to worry about; he would be a strong boy and live his life, he would be a great support to his older brother who would be king.

Henry would not do as his father had done and plan for his younger son to enter the church, he would make sure that unlike the York brothers that Geoffrey knew the role he had to play.

"A wonderful name," Anne agreed, she saw a lot of herself in the son that she had just born more so than his siblings when they had been born; they favoured their father's side of the family in their looks. Alexander and Elizabeth were Tudors to the core, no doubt in their future roles they would be great allies; Alexander as the King of England while Elizabeth would be Queen of Sweden. Beatrice took after her York grandmother would be Duchess of Anjou and a match would now need to be found for Geoffrey in the future perhaps one a bit closer to home.

"That it is," Henry said as the bells were rung in celebration, no doubt there would be fireworks this evening to celebrate the birth of his second son. The news would be spread around Europe that the Tudor dynasty was strong, there would be no doubt about who would be ruling England for years to come; he had not failed his own father in securing the Tudor rule. It would live on past him, it would continue on through his sons and daughters; that the Tudor line would spread beyond England and establish itself across the known world.

"Geoffrey," Anne whispered in awe of her son, she had been so relieved when the midwife had announced the birth of her son; a healthy son that would be Duke of York like his father had once been. There was no denying that Geoffrey's birth was a blessing, no doubt Henry would have been furious at the birth of another daughter; there was no distance between them this time to save Anne from his disappointment.

Even if Henry could never rid himself of Anne, there were other ways that he could show his displeasure especially knowing that Jane had birthed his daughter only five months earlier. Margery was tucked away at Wallingford Castle where she would remain before being entered into the royal nursery to be raised alongside her royal siblings so that she could not be turned against them.

Henry would not allow any of his bastards to raise against his children with Anne, every move he made since he had wed her had been to secure the rule of his children with her above all others.

18th of March 1537 - Florence, Duchy of Florence

"What news?" Ippolito asked reading through the recent correspondence from his cousin who was now situated at the court of the King of Navarre as part of his plans to entice a marriage for the young princess to his cousin. Cosimo had been set to the court as part of a deal with the King and the plans were slowly falling into place especially with King Henry eager to attach himself in some way to the growing Medici coalition in Italy. Ippolito was the son-in-law of King Henry of England, his children had royal blood in their veins and linked themselves not only with Italy and with England but with Spain through their royal grandmother.

"Cosimo is settled at court with the King eager to make an alliance with Your Grace through marriage if necessary," the man said making Ippolito nod his head, his eldest daughter was already promised to a relative of the Pope's and he had high expectations for a bride for his son. Ippolito was currently in talks with Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand to tie his son in marriage to one of his daughter's who was a similar age to the boy and would serve Giuliano well as a bride. Ippolito was no fool, if his family was to maintain their hold on Florence then they needed to strengthen their ties to those around them; he would not be unseated like his uncle had been in the past.

"Then we shall hope that King Henry is impressed with my cousin enough to propose a marriage between Cosimo and Jeanne," Ippolito stated knowing that if his cousin wanted something to happen then it was on him to impress the King and prove that he was a good match for the princess. The Medici were not dependent on Cosimo making such a match, Ippolito had his own plans for his own children to rise; he would not rest until the Medici were secure in their position.

"Another son Your Grace," one of his wife's ladies announced stepping into his office, the Duchess had spent the morning labouring to bring her third child into the world. Mary had definitely made her make since arriving in Florence, this child marking the second of the couple that had been born in the city since they had arrived two years ago. Both Ippolito and Mary had set about restoring the city to it's former Medici glory, there would be no forgetting who ruled the city this time nor would they be forced out.

Ippolito paused in his work, he looked to the maid feeling relieved that all was well and he had feared the worst because of how ill this pregnancy had made Mary. His dear wife had refused to complain, throwing herself into her work and praying daily that this child would be healthy and strong. This son would one day be the Duke of Hertford, he would be set to England in a few years' time to be raised by Clarice and George as part of the plan to secure a Medici in England. The boy would no doubt be welcomed at the court of his uncle one day, with plans already being discussed that he might join the royal nursery to be raised with his aunts and uncles.

"He shall be Henri for my father-in-law," Ippolito announced knowing that his own father had been honoured and now it was Mary's turn, no doubt the name would please the King especially since by now Queen Anne should have been delivered of her child. They could only hope that Anne had been successful in delivering a Duke of York, that perhaps the child that she had been carrying would be the much desired second son that Henry wanted. There was no way that Henry could rid himself of Anne, she was the mother of his heir but he could make her life miserable and look less favourably on the Medici to punish the Queen's allies for her failure.

"Is there any news from England?" Ippolito asked knowing that it could be many more weeks before they heard if Anne has succeeded or not; he needed to be able to plan his next moves without fearing that he was at a disadvantage. If he had a second son then he could start planning for the future, one that would link his family in marriage to another to ensure they could not be unseated. Ippolito would not be a fool as his own father had been and waste the chance that he currently had by marrying a women from a strongly linked political family and not using those connections correctly.

"Nothing my Lord, the letters have slowed because of the storm across the channel," the servant said knowing that the storm had slowed things down and there was nothing that any of them here could do about the weather.

Merry Christmas.

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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