A/N So thanks for continuing to read my story. I don't know if anyone is confused with all the dates and people born, so I'm going to make a cheat sheet.
King Henry: 28 June 1491 (26 years old)
Queen Jane: 15 June 1497 (20 years old)
Edmund, Duke of York: 21 February 1499 (18 years old)
Renee, Duchess of York: 25 October 1500 (17 years old)
Mary, Dowager Queen of France: 18 March 1496 (21 years old)
Harry, Prince of Wales: 1 January 1511 (6 years old)
Princess Mary: 15 September 1514 (2 years old)
Lord Anthony Tudor: 28 July 1516
Lord Geoffrey Tudor: 28 July 1516
Lady Cecily Tudor: 1 August 1515 (1 year old)
Lady Anne Boleyn: 21 December 1500 (16 years old)
Charles Brandon: 5 January 1489 (28 years old)
William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire: 14 February 1493 (24 years old)
16 February 1517
Mary Tudor, Dowager Queen of France, was sitting in her receiving chambers when one of her ladies came in. "Your highness, the Lady Anne Boleyn." Mary put her sewing aside as her dear friend came in.
"Your majesty." Anne said as she curtsied to her former mistress. Anne was in France with her father and elder sister when Mary came from England to marry the late King. Her father who is the ambassador for England has secured his two daughter positions as ladies in waiting to the new Queen. Anne's sister, Mary, was dismissed from Mary's services after she became Louis's mistress and sired his children. Even though that happened, the Queen and Anne had become quick friends.
"Anne," Mary said as she stood up and hugged Anne. "I've missed you so much." Even though Mary came back in September, Anne stayed in France with her father until he was sent back to England. Anne and her sister accompanied him back to England but they were sent to Hever since Lady Elizabeth Boleyn passed.
"Your majesty, once you left, it was very lonely in France." Anne said as they sat down. Even though most people in England had gone back to referring Mary as 'your highness', Anne told herself to always call her 'your majesty'.
"Anne," Mary said to her old friend. "Please, call me Mary. You know I detest when my friends call me that. Especially in England. Anne, how are you nieces and nephew?" While spending several years in France and Mary being the King's mistress, she had 3 children by King Louis, but they were allowed to go to England with their mother.
"They are well. The eldest, Madeline will turn 4 in a few weeks, Marie is just a lively 2 year old and then baby Francis is the crankiest baby I have ever encountered. He keeps Mary on her feet." Mary and Anne laugh at the youngest boy. "What about Princess Renee? It is heard all throughout France that she delivered health twins."
"Yes, Lord Anthony and Lord Geoffrey are beautiful baby boys." Mary said thinking of her nephews. "They are 6 months old, and little Cecily just loves to play with them. The king is talking that when they are older, they would join Queen Jane's child if it is a prince."
"Is the King expecting a prince from her majesty?" Anne asked. She heard around the court that both the King and Queen didn't love each other and the only time they spent together was when they had to.
Mary just sat there and pondered that. She knew her brother was happy to have little Harry as his heir, and Mary was a good Princess for negotiations, but he wasn't all hell bent for Jane's son to be a Prince.
"I think Henry wants it to be a girl." Mary said to a confused Anne. "Henry still misses Katherine very much, and that was something special they had just between them, a Prince. It's very obvious that Henry doesn't love Jane anymore and I think he is happy with just Princesses from her."
Anne looked and saw that it was time to leave. She hadn't meant to stay that long, but she just got caught up talking to her old friend. "Mary, I must leave." Anne said as she stood up. "My father secured a position for me in the Queen's household, and I am going to be late if I don't leave now."
"Of course Anne, I don't want you to be late. Jane hates it when people are late." Mary said as she picked back up her sewing.
"Your majesty." Anne said as she curtsied and walked out of Mary's chambers. Anne started walking in the direction that she thought was the Queen's chambers. It didn't take long for her to get lost.
She just walked around trying to find her way until she heard someone behind her. "Madam, are you lost?" Anne turned around to see who it was when she recognized Edmund, Duke of York.
"Your grace." She said curtsying to the man who was 4th in line for the throne. "How can you tell?"
"Well, the way you are headed is to the royal nursery but it is empty since their highnesses are at Hatfield." Edmund said as he walked up next to Anne. Anne had heard many things about the youngest brother of the King. He was defiantly as handsome as everyone said and looked like he always wore a smile. "So where are you headed?"
"The Queen's chamber." Anne said smiling. "I'm Anne Boleyn. I'm a new lady for her Majesty." Edmund smiled at her and started walking in the other direction.
"Well, Lady Anne," Edmund said. "I hear that your father is an Ambassador to France." When Anne just nodded he continued. "So you came back from France with him?"
"Yes your grace." Anne said as they continued walking through the twisted hallways of the palace. "I was sent to France when I was just 7 years old and grew up in the French court. When Her Majesty, Mary, came to France to marry the late King, I was given a position in her household."
"Ah so you know my sister Mary then?" Edmund asked.
"Yes, I was coming from her chambers to the Queen's." Anne said as they arrived to a place where she believed was Jane's chambers. There were guards stationed outside and a pageboy for announcing.
"Well Lady Anne," Edmund said as he gave her a short bow. "You have arrived. I hope sometime you can come see my wife, Renee, I'm sure she's dying to hear about what is all going on in France." Anne curtsied to Edmund as he walked away.
Edmund was shocked by Anne, he had heard many things about her sister, Mary, and expected Anne to be somewhat like her. Surprisingly she seemed like a very well grounded girl. Edmund didn't have anywhere to be so he went back to his apartments.
When he got there he found Renee on the floor playing with their children. After she had the first miscarriage, he was devastated, not only because he lost his child, but also after seeing her reaction, he thought he lost her. It wasn't long after the miscarriage that she got pregnant again and they had Cecily. Edmund loved his little girl and will hate to see the day when she goes and joins Princess Mary at her household. Then about 6 months ago, Renee gave birth to twin boys. Anthony and Geoffrey were the sons a man could want.
Now he stood there in the door watching his wife and Cecily play with the twins. When Cecily saw her papa, she smiled. "Papa." Edmund smiled and walked over to his daughter and picked her up after he bent down and kissed Renee.
"Her majesty has a new lady." Edmund said after he kissed his daughters cheek. "Lady Anne Boleyn has arrived from France."
"Yes I know her." Renee said to Edmund as she stood up and her son's governess took them for their nap. "She is a sweet girl, her sister though was the Great Prostitute"
"Renee," Edmund said. "What is in the past is in the past." Renee gave him a sharp look then sulked away. Edmund knew that she loved her parents very much and things like mistresses hurt her. That was why he was determined never to have one.
3 March 1517
"Your majesty," Anne said as she walked over to Jane. "His grace, Lord William, requests an audience." Anne had been in the Queen's household for a few weeks and was already tired of it. The English Queen was nothing compared to the French Queen. Jane was very strict and was a devote Catholic. Anne though favored the new religion, as did Queen Dowager. They had spent many days talking over their thoughts with the Duchess of York. Anne knew of Lord William Cavendish and heard from her brother that he frequently went to the secret meetings where many people went to talk about Martin Luther and the new religion.
Jane ran her hands over her belly. She was about 7 months along and was about to start her confinement soon. Henry was still very pleased that Jane had become with child. So was the entire Seymour family. Edward Seymour hoped that with hopefully another Prince for the King, the King would fall back in love with Jane. Jane though, she was worried about the child that she had in her womb. If she was right, the child would be William's, not Henry's.
"Send him in Mistress Anne." Jane wasn't fond of her new lady. She couldn't put her finger on it but Jane thought there was something about Anne that made her uneasy. Anne nodded and left to go receive William. When Jane saw William she had everyone dismissed but her sister Dorothy. "Dorothy, please get William some wine." Dorothy just dipped a curtsey and just left. "Will, please sit."
"How are you feeling?" He asked Jane as Dorothy handed him a goblet of wine. He thanked her and Dorothy went to go stand in a corner. William had a very good feeling that the child Jane was carrying was his. He was one of the first people to know.
"I'm well. Thank you for asking." Jane said, feeling a little uncomfortable. Ever since she found out that she was with child, both Will and Jane were trying to cover up their relationship. "The child gives me no rest. Ever since I first felt him quicken, he is always moving. When I was pregnant with Mary, she wasn't this active."
William couldn't help but smile at her when she talked. He always regretted the fact that he hadn't met her earlier. Part of him felt that if he did, they would be married having their own children and playing with them at his estate in Devonshire.
"You think you are having a boy?" William asked. Jane just simply nodded. She loved Mary very much, but she really wanted a son. "Have you thought of any names yet?"
Jane didn't really get to pick at all. "Henry wants to name him Edward. So Prince Edward he shall be." Jane smiled because at the sound of his name, her son kicked inside of her.
"And if it is a girl?" William could tell that by the look on her face, she never even considered it to be a girl. Jane just simply shook her head. "If I ever had a daughter," William said. "I think I would name her Eleanor Rose. In honor of my mother and sister."
Jane looked up at him unexpectedly. "Will, I think that this baby is yours. I know that you think that too." William just nodded at her. "When I give birth, people will know that it isn't Henry's. They will know I committed adultery and…" She couldn't even finish the sentence. Most likely she would be executed, leaving her two children motherless. "It won't take long for them to figure out that you are the father."
"Sweetheart," William said kneeling in front of her when she started to cry. "I don't care if they execute me. I just want to make sure I can see my child before that happens." He got up and lightly kissed Jane on her lips before pulling back. "I promise you that I will create a will stating that whatever children I have, legitament or not, my dukedom shall pass to them. Our child will be a duke or duchess. My sister's will take good care of it for us." Part of him wished that no one would find out about this affair and that he could see his child grow up.
"William, you have the money to go anywhere you want. If something shall happen to me during childbirth," Jane started to say before she was cut off.
"Jane, nothing will happen." William said not wanting to hear her talk about her death even more. "You went through one successful childbirth before and you shall do it again."
Jane glared at him. "Do not interrupt me William." William just nodded before she continued. "If anything shall happen to me, please take our child and flee. Go to Italy where your family first came from. If I can't be there for my child's life, I want you to be there. Mary will be here with her father and any other wife he choses to take. Promise me." Jane by then was bawling her eyes out.
"I promise my love." William got up and kissed Jane like he never kissed her before. " I must go now. Sorry love. My eldest sister is to arrive today." He got up, bowed to Jane and left. Dorothy went over to her sister to help her calm down.
"Come Jane." Dorothy said as she got Jane up and led her to her bedchambers. She took her hair out of the elaborate up do it was put up into earlier and led her to the bed. "You need to rest. Think of the child."
….
Mary, Dowager Queen, was sitting in her receiving rooms waiting for her stepdaughter to arrive. She sent a message to her saying that she wished for her to take a stroll around the gardens with her. It was slowly starting to warm up in England, and it wasn't raining.
"Your highness," one her ladies said. "Her grace has arrived with the Lady Cecily and Lord Anthony and Geoffrey." Mary nodded glad to see them. Renee walked in carrying Anthony with their governess carrying Geoffrey. When Cecily saw Mary, she ran to her. Mary picked her up and twirled her around. Since Renee was Mary's stepdaughter, her children were technically Mary's grandchildren. Mary though didn't want to be known as a grandmother so young, so she had them call her aunt since their father was her brother.
"My Cecily," Mary said as she placed the young girl on her hip. "You seem to get bigger and prettier every time I see you." Mary kissed the young girl on her head. She then placed the young girl down and took Geoffrey from the governess. Geoffrey smiled big and started to babble. "Your Grace," Mary said turning to Renee. "You ready for our walk?"
Renee laughed at the use of titles. The two almost never used titles unless they were joking around or in public. The two women started laughing as they begin their walk. Cecily mostly ran ahead playing with anything and everything.
"Renee," Mary said. "What do you think about the Boleyn's being back to court?" The Boleyn's were in France when Mary had arrived to marry her late husband, and they quickly followed her back to England. Renee, Mary, and Anne would usually stay up late after banquets to talk about the new religion that they all supported.
"I cannot stand the Boleyn's." Renee said honestly. "Only Anne. She is one of my closest companions now. I will never forgive her sister for her sins. Thomas Boleyn is too ambitious. I feel like he will be the ruin for that family."
Mary just nodded. "I agree. Thomas Boleyn is far too ambitious. He was willing to throw his daughter's virtue everywhere if it meant titles and money for him. I pray that his ambition will ruin Anne." Anne was becoming a dear friend to both Renee and Mary, even with her social standing. "Mary though, I have forgiven her for her sins."
"How?" Renee said starting to get frustrated. "She's just a big whore who messed with my father."
"With the help of God." Mary said plainly. "Besides, she has been married off. I heard her husband didn't mind that she already had three young children. What's done is done." Renee just nodded still annoyed with the fact that Mary was okay with Mary Carey nee Boleyn. She vowed that she would never smile or like the Great Prostitute. Ever.
"Mama!" Renee looked up to see her daughter running back to her at full speed. Wondering what might have frightened her daughter, she looked around until her eyes fell on Charles Brandon.
Charles came up to them and bowed to the ladies. "Your grace, your highness." Renee curtsied back to him as well. "Your highness, his Majesty is in need of you." Mary just nodded.
"Of course." She said to Charles. Mary then turned to Renee. "Would you like to do this tomorrow, weather permitting of course."
""I would love you." Mary then handed Geoffrey to his governess and then walked away with Charles.
"Do you know what my brother needs your Grace?" Mary was curious as to why Henry needed her. They spent some time together since she returned, but he has mostly spent governing.
"Not a clue your highness." Charles knew that before she left for France, they had gotten very close. He even felt like he could be falling in love with her.
"Charles, how many times do I have to tell you? It's Mary to you." Mary absolutely hated it when people she really knows calls her by her formal title. Besides, part of her is deeply attracted to Charles. She defiantly didn't feel that way about her late husband. He was an old hag, one that she wasn't too sad to see the death of. Charles though, was a very handsome man who excited her very much.
"Just once more your highness." Charles said looking at her from the side smiling. She gave him an exasperated look that made his heart just melt. To him, she was one of the most beautiful women he has ever seen in his entire life. When he is able to make her smile, it brings him such joy.
Mary didn't say anything reply to him as they walked to entered into the palace. She didn't want to say anything that would either embarrass her or give him something to tease her about. When they got to Henry's chambers, they let a page announce them before walking in. Henry was just standing there by himself looking into a fire. Both Mary and Charles bowed to him.
"Charles, leave us. I wish to speak to my sister alone." Henry ordered not even looking up. Charles just nodded, gave Mary a sympathetic look before leaving. "Mistress Blount is with child. My child." Mary was expecting a lot of things, but that.
Thank you all for reading! PLEASE REVIEW! Give me your insight!