The Italian Rose

Fourty-Two

Pleased be advised that this chapter mentions child loss and stillbirth, if you are affected or have issues with this, please ignore until the next chapter.

Thank you,
Miss_Tupps
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"How fairs the Duchess of Calais?" Henry asked Isabella, Mary might be a French Duchess but she was an English princess first, he wished to know how Mary was considering this was her first pregnancy, if Mary were to birth a son then ge would be the next Duke of Calais but if she births a daughter, the child will receive no title but he knew that Mary would love them both the same.

"Our dear Mary has begun her confinement," Isabella replies, glancing up from the letter she had received from France. "Queen Eleanor of Austria also writes that her highness, Catherine of Aragon is ill, the Dowager Princess of Wales had came down with a cough late in the night and awoken with a mysterious ailment."

Henry froze as he listened to Isabella speak. His marriage with Catherine may have died, but he still cared for the woman who was his queen and mother of his daughter. Henry prayed that Catherine recovered quickly to see the birth of her first grandchild. It was here that one of the Boleyn's maids was escorted by Cromwell. They both bowed towards Henry and Isabella.

"What is it?"
Isabella rose to her feet, hands gripping the letter tightly as the maid began to speak.
"The Lady Anne has begun her labours. She has been moved to the birthing chamber."

Isabella quickly ran from Henry's private quarters with her loyal ladies following quickly to keep up with their Mistress, Henry knew that Anne was present at birth of all his children with Isabella, so naturally, Isabella would do the same in return.

It was also here that Henry noticed Cromwell was still there, looking as if he was pondering what to say next.
"Yes, my Lord Cromwell?" Henry spoke, groaning a little as he sat. The ulcer in his leg still bothered him, but Moses Amon and Sir William were happy that it was healing nicely.

"Your majesty, Sir John Seymour and Viscount Beauchamp, are outside as they wish to speak with you about something important."

Henry scoffed. They probably were here to beg for the pathetic life of their traitorous son and brother -...

"It has to do with the Lady Jane."

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Anne was struggling to bring her child into the world, she cursed the midwives and physicians twice already as they were beginning to annoy her, she had wished that her sister, Mary were here to help her but Mary had returned home to her husband and children.

Anxiety settled in as Anne thought this were to be her deathbed, Elizabeth would grow up without her, and mayhaps the child would as well, her thoughts then shifted to Henry... Would he be kind to their daughter since she was no longer alive? Would Isabella?
The brunette was immediately pulled out of her paranoid thoughts as Isabella, the Queen of England, had burst into the room to those present; Isabella seemed calm and collected but to a train eye... They could see the worry and panic within her eyes as the babe had not been born yet.

"The babe is crowning, you must push, my Lady!"

"What the fuck do you think I have been doing?!"
Anne ignored the gasps from the women, but Isabella did not gasp but laugh at Anne's words, the blonde Queen took hold of Anne's hand, interlocking their fingers.