Everyone knows the story of Henry VIII and his first wife: Catherine of Aragon! But...what if he secretly loved another after they wedded on June 11th 1509?
Émilie Mallory Spinner, eldest daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Birmingham, her mother di...
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"So, are you ready, Madam?" Madge asked, tying some of Anne's hair into a binding braid. "You've waited for this day all year round now."
"Madge, I understand your troubles," Anne said, shuffling through the letters on her dressing table. "But after 15 lengthy years apart, this is our first reunion, and I am now Queen Of England and her Queen Of Greece, something I never meant or wished to happen."
"Not what you pictured as your 'bright future together', was it, Your Majesty?"
"I beg your pardon, Lady Rochford?"
Jane rolled her eyes, annoyed by so many questions. "I mean, wasn't it that obvious, Lady Shelton? We all know she liked her since they were children. She was just too terrified to tempt her shot!"
"Jane! Watch your tongue!" Lady Wiltshire scolded, only falling on deaf ears as Jane rolled her eyes again.
"Come on, Bridget. Anne knows very well what I say is true. She's just too scared to admit I'm-"
"Enough, Lady Rochford!" Anne stood up, slapping Jane forcefully across her cheek. "You will not dare use my love for her to your advantage, Lady Rochford! Just because you're my brother's Wife doesn't mean I'll allow you to take control of me."
"But Anne-"
"Madam, Lady Rochford!" Anne hissed, glaring at the blonde woman before her. "You either refer to me as 'your Majesty' or 'Madam', not by my name as if we are friends. Do you understand?"
"Yes...Madam..." Jane muttered, bowing her head. "Forgive me if I spoke poorly of you and her Majesty, Madam. I never intended to offend you."
"Good!" Anne waved her off, secluding herself in her bed chamber, her hand delicately grazing her growing womb, though it was Henry's son she carried, she wished it was the son of the one she truly loved.
A love she kept secret since she was 13, and she was 12.
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"Wait, let me get this straight, Serenity," Émilie remarked, casting a puzzled glance at her eldest daughter. "You've been approximating with your Uncle George, and he's been giving you the latest updates from your Father's court?"
"Pretty much, Mama." Serenity shrugged, readjusting her grip on her horse's reigns. "But it is good to know what goes on in that place, you know? Like having a little mole as a spy for you."
"Eh, I suppose it works." Smiling, Émilie looked ahead, her eyes glittering through the peeks of sun. "So, what has he told you so far? Any updates on the old Copper-nose and his sister?"
"Not much, Mama. All I know is Henry moved Princess Elizabeth into Hatfield while exiling Mary to Hudson, but also that Aunt Anne is expecting another child after her two miscarriages."
"Really?" Émilie sounded surprised, Anne was having another child? "But I thought after she miscarried last year, she'd be done having children."
"We thought so as well, Mama." Serenity implied, adjusting her hood. "But I guess Henry had other plans."
"Well, with the way things are running around here, I doubt she'll last as England's Queen much longer if this child dies or if it comes out as another girl."
"What do you mean by that, Savanna?"
Sighing, Savanna replied. "Henry implies this child is Aunt Anne's last chance to prove herself worthy as Queen and give him a healthy heir before he tries to rid of her and put his Mistress on the throne."
Émilie was caught off guard by that, Henry took another Mistress? First, he divorced Catherine after she had Mary, and now Anne was next? "Who is it, Anna? Who is his Mistress?"
Savanna shrugged, fiddling with her necklace. "No one knows who it is, Mama. But Aunt Anne's on high suspicion on it being one of her Ladies."
Émilie chuckled softly as she gazed ahead, contemplating the arduous journey that lay before them on the way to Hampton Court Palace. "It's hard to believe it's been 15 years since we last spoke... It's time to handle this matter like adults."
