The King's Favourite

A Tragic Return

It was a early Spring and there was still a chill in the air. The nights were still cold and the mornings frosty. It was Mary's favourite time of the year and she often took Edward for a morning walk around the palace gardens. She loved seeing his little nose turn pink in the light breeze and wrap him up in silk blankets. Whenever they passed someone in the garden, Mary would stop and proudly show her little bundle of joy to the passer by. She couldn't have been more proud of Edward, and simply because he was hers.

On one particular morning walk, Mary passed a woman dressed in light purple with a matching headdress. The headdress was so large Mary couldn't even see the face of her fellow walker but never the less she bade a cheery "Good Morning Ma'am" as she passed the figure. As usual Edward had been noticed during the passing and the woman smiled "Such a gem your little baby".

Mary was once again filled with joy in sharing her Love of Edward, but still noticed the crest of England on the woman's book she was carrying and realized the woman was from court, even if her headdress concealed her identity.

"Would you like to hold him?" Asked Mary after the figure, hopeful for a second chance to parade the chubby handsomeness of her son.

"If I may." was the response and soon Edward was placed in the arms of the woman who giggled as Edward tried to grasp her long fingers through her gloves. Then he caught sight of the purple ribbons that were tied around the woman's neck.

"I'm terribly sorry to ask but could you possibly remove my headdress, I don't want him to tangle himself in the ribbons." asked the woman.

Mary obliged and carefully removed the bonnet to reveal a face she was shocked to see. "Anne!" She exclaimed as a mass of thick raven hair fell around the woman's shoulders.

"Yes Mary. Hello" Was the sour response "You didn't tell me you had married in my absence."

"I haven't" Mary replied full of gullibility.

"Then you must be the King's Mistress then" Anne retorted.

Mary was determined to protect her own and her sons reputation so replied calmly "Indeed Anne you are correct. I am the King's Mistress and he adores me and the child I have given him"

Anne laughed "The illegitimate child you have given to an already married man who just so happens to be the King of England".

Mary was furious but kept her calm "I have the approval of father and this child will help to raise the station of the Boleyn family."

"What about our agreement?"questioned Anne slyly

Mary had completely forgotten "What agreement?"

"The one that we both agreed too that stated that wouldn't get too close to the King" Anne was red with rage.

"I can't help it if the king requests me to be his Mistress." Mary was now equally angry at Anne and had no regard for remaining calm or speaking to her sister in a civil tone.

Anne was determined to make Mary feel guilty so replied "I thought you wouldn't betray the trust of your sister, who has been with you since birth and only requested that you don't go near the King for your own sake. And now I return from serving Lord and Lady Mason to find that you saw no problem with letting the King unlace your corsets and use you for his unwholesome pleasure which by the sounds of things, you enjoyed greatly..."

Mary had had enough, she slapped Anne powerfully across the face and took Edward from her arms.

"Well at least I meant something to the King and am a proud mother of a beautiful baby boy. Which is more than I can say for you!" She yelled at her sister as she ran back to the castle with Edward in her arms and tears streaming down her face.

That night she put Edward to sleep and whispered tenderly to him "You are loved and perfect in all ways" before leaving the side of his crib and walking into the chamber of the King as per usual. She didn't tell him of Anne's harsh words and just acted although nothing was wrong. She spent the whole night with the King as she often did and didn't wake until the sun was completely in the sky when she rose from her place next to the King in his bed and returned to her chamber.

When she returned to her chamber she found the room freezing. The windows and doors were open and her fire had been put out. But the most awful sight was Edward's crib: His blankets had been thrown onto the stone floor and he lay motionless and blue in his crib. Mary ran to her precious child and held him in her arms to warm him, but she could feel no heartbeat or pulse. She fell to her knees holding her icy child and screamed at the top of her lungs with huge sobs. Tears ran down her face and she cried loudly, she knew he was already dead.

Henry heard her cries and burst into her room: "What is this noise about?"he demanded but fell silent when he saw Mary.

"H-h-he's d-dead." She sniffed.

"Dead, my Edward. Dead" replied the King overcome with grief "How?"

Mary sobbed "He f-f-froze to death last night. When I-I-I was with Y-y-you."

"How did this happen?" Henry demanded angrily.

"When I returned to my chambers this morning, every window was open and my fire had been doused" Mary reported, calming her tears for only a second.

Henry put a heavy hand on Mary's shoulder and pulled her to her feet. She still clutched her dead child "Did you not check the fire and the windows. Well." he demanded.

"I did my Lord. I-I-I swear I did." Mary pleaded with tears running down her face.

"It wouldn't seem that way. You have allowed my child, my boy, to die." Henry released his grip on Mary's shoulder and yelled "Guards" before turning and leaving Mary alone in her icy chamber with her dead infant.

"Please Sir. I beg of you. Please!" Mary screamed through tears as Henry left the room and she was arrested by guards and marched to the Tower of London in nothing but her night clothes.

It was cold and Mary shivered as she walked between the guards. Several people passed the guarded parade on the street and spat at her. Is this all she would come to, A bitter end in the tower, no more than a criminal? She thought of a time when she and Anne had sat at home or ran through the gardens, such a time they had had. She recounted how the King had adored her musical talents and chosen her to be at his intimate side. But now look where she was, marching to the tower, treated with less respect than the criminal scum.

They walked through the stone walls that surrounded the tower, a port culis falling behind them. Guards shouted commands at each other and ravens feasted on scraps on the ground. Mary felt a sudden chill, a bucket of water had been thrown over her from above. Even as a criminal she wouldn't stand for it "Why did you feel the need to soak me? I am the Kings Mistress and a grieving mother, I am in enough pain can't you see?" She yelled through tears.

The guard laughed "You might have been a King's Mistress before but now you are a criminal. Grieving or not the plague doesn't care and will penetrate this whole place if each new inmate isn't washed. Save your petty thoughts for God." Then he spat at Mary.

Edward was then removed from her chilly arms and she was marched up some cold steps and thrown in a room with bars over the window that contained only a small bed and a wooden cross. There was straw around the edges of the room and the squeak of a mouse could be heard through Mary's sobs.