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...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
👑
Another day passed, and while Savanna assisted Lady Wiltshire in arranging Anne's cutlery, Lady Shelton burst into the kitchen, a look of fear etched on her face.
"Bridget! Come quickly to Madam's chambers! Something isn't right."
Savanna glanced at the two Ladies, but without thinking, she hiked up her skirts and dashed out of the kitchen and into the Queen's compartments, hearing Anne's screams of pain as she continued to run towards her chambers.
"Everything will be ok, Madam. You just need to breathe and try your best to stay calm." Lady Horsman soothed, clasping Anne's hand.
That was the first time in her life Savanna witnessed first-hand a baby being miscarried while Anne was withering away in agony, appearing to be in premature labour.
"Ahhh!!!" Anne continued to cry out as Savanna and her Ladies were trying everything they could do to help save her and her baby. Her aches lasted into the wee hours of the afternoon, but the Royal Physician still hadn't arrived.
"Lady Rochford, do you know if my Mother and sisters are still at the burial ceremony?" Savanna asked as she dried Anne's forehead, ridding it of any sweat while Lady Shelton brought fresh towels.
"Yes, oh! That's probably them now!"
"Good! Can you please run down and receive them? I think Aunt could use some support if something happens to her or the baby."
"Of course, Your Highness! I'll head down now."
As Jane raced out of the chamber, Anne's screams only grew louder, rattling off the castle walls and while Savanna and the Ladies tried to help her, blood began to trickle down from between her legs.
"No! No no no no! This can't! This can't be happening!" Anne yelled, torn by the pain rippling through her body. But deep inside, she knew all too well what was happening, and to her dismay, no one would be able to save it.
"Aunt, I need you to push for me." Savanna requested, removing her jewellery and having Lady Wiltshire remove her dress while trying to calm Anne.
"I-I-I can't, Anna. It's not the right time yet..." She stuttered, tears rolling down her cheeks with pain and agony in her words. Eventually, she had to give in and started pushing as the castle walls rattled with her screaming, wailing and all the pain and energy Anne gave off when she lost the children before.
Two hours of pushing later, the baby finally emerged out of her womb. But he didn't wail, squirm, scream or breathe, giving no signs of living. He wasn't due until that summer, but Savanna guessed her Uncle had other plans.
"Savanna!"
"Mama! You're here!"
"What on God's green earth happened here?!" Émilie exclaimed, noticing the blood between Anne's legs, on the Ladies' dresses and her 12-year-old daughter holding a small infant in her arms, not appearing to be crying. "Is it..."
"January 29th 1536, 2:25 PM at Greenwich Palace. A Prince of King Henry VIII and Queen Anne Boleyn of England who was born 5 months in advance of his preserved due date."
"Oh, Holy Lord..." Émilie whispered, refusing to let herself cry. "And you sure there's no signs of the little Prince living?"
Unfortunately, Savanna shook her head. "We double-checked him already, Mama. He hasn't screamed or cried once since he was born..."
"..."
"Please, Mama. Help me cover him." Savanna said in a whisper as she and her Mother began cleaning the little boy's body before Émilie wrapped him in her black veil and took him out of Anne's sight.
"Mama, that isn't right...You're hiding your nephew from his Mother."
"Your Aunt Anne can't see him, Anna. She lost two children before him, it would be too much...and too heartbreaking for her to see her son dead in her arms..."
Savanna still felt it wasn't right to take a child somewhere their Mother couldn't see them, but deep down in her gut, Anne's screams and cries confused her, was this truly the right thing to do? Keep the baby away from Aunt?
"WHY???!!!!" Anne cried as she hid her tear-stained face in between her pillows while the Ladies started cleaning her and comforting her at the same time.
"Alright, I took care of him," Émilie said, standing next to her daughter.
"What did you do with him, Mama?"
"I took him to the closet empty room I could find, for now, your Uncle wants to see him though, 'cause I told Mr Cromwell what happened, so he shouldn't take long to arrive..."
"Can you comfort her before he arrives?"
"What?"
"Mama, I know you're upset with what happened and I know you loved Uncle, but that was almost 17 years ago! So please, can you put your grudge against them aside and help Aunt Anne? Cause deep down, I know you still care for her..."
"Fine, I'll go comfort her. But I'm only doing this at your request, Anna."
Listening to her Aunt's cries of sadness and despair, a look of worry stretched across her face. She knew what was about to happen if Henry came...What he would say to Anne once he learned of their son...Only makes it more heartbreaking.
Thunderous footsteps emerged from outside, they all knew who could own them and he was coming this way. As the Ladies shared a look of pity, the doors abruptly opened, and in burst Henry, but he didn't appear too happy...
