Hello everyone, I will keep my apoligies for the delay in writing this brief, but do know that none of my stories have been abandoned and I do my best to get chapters out. I will be aiming to update 'The Queen and Her Duke,' and "God's gift' next so keep an eye out for those updates.

Thank you as always for staying with me and for reviewing, favouriting and placing the story on alert.

When we last left this story Anne had been bought to court for the Christmas celebrations and the rebels had been promised a pardon from their king.

As always I own nothing and some dialogue has been adapted from Showtimes 'The Tudors.'

Please enjoy and review.

Chapter 7:

13th of July 1537

Lambeth House

Anne had not been to Lambeth since her childhood. She had been surprised to receive an invitation, but she had accepted it all the same. She had always been fond of her step-grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, she was quick witted and quick tongued if a little lax in her guardianship over her many Howard wards.

Anne was even more surprised when Agnes Howard passed her the letter she had just received from Kitty Howard (Kitty had bought the letters straight from the stables), news from London, news of grave importance.

" What do you make of that girl?" The Dowager Duchess gruffed as Anne took the letter from her hands and read with a curious eye.

The letter did not surprise her. Nothing Henry did could surprise her now.

" The northern rebellion has been quashed," Anne stated matter of factly, even surrounded by her own family Anne knew she had to be careful, not all where as supportive of her as her step-grandmother, " Praise God the rebels have been defeated."

"Ha," Agnes laughed, " Defeated? They were promised a truce and instead they lost their heads."

Anne had been there when the King had promised Robert Aske a pardon. She had heard Henry promise to be merciful and just.

She knew what had happened. The whole country knew. Aske and his fellow conspirators had been locked in the Tower for months now; their deaths were not a surprise. Robert Aske had left court after the Christmastide with promises from the King, he had not been expecting for more fighting to break out as he began his journey North, the renewed fighting had given Henry an excuse to change his mind and he had the men he had promised pardons to seized and brought to the tower, as she once had been. The men had all been convicted of high treason in Westminster, and only this last week they had all been bought back to York, to show the North what happened to those who questioned their King.

They had been hung in chains. A message of the King's justice.

" They were rebels, Lady grandmother." Anne answered with a pointed look. Her children were both present, they could not speak ill of the King.

Agnes Howard nodded her head in response, Anne's message clearly received.

" Did the messenger say anything else Kitty?" Anne questioned her cousin. The girl looked very much like she had more to say.

A gossip, as girls that age always are.

" For goodness sake Kitty, you look like a fish," The Dowager duchess admonished firmly, when Kitty looked at Anne with wide eyes and an open mouth, " The Marquess asked you a question."

" Forgive me, lady Marquess," Kitty said quickly dropping into an apologetic curtsey, " I did hear something, when the messenger heard you were at Lambeth, he said he would expect you would soon be summoned to court."

" Me? Whatever for?" Anne questioned, stoping herself from allowing any panic to seep into her body. Jane was pregnant, due in October; perhaps she was to be summoned to kiss her feet again.

" Your friend, Lady Latimer has been bought to court for questioning, her husband was a friend to the rebels, and Queen Jane told the King that the lady was a great friend of yours and that perhaps you too should be questioned. It is rumoured that some of the rebels thought you may be of some help to them."

Kitty spoke quickly but Anne heard every word and it left a feeling of sickness in her belly.

Catherine Parr was a dear friend, and Anne knew well enough what had happened with the rebels. Catherine had been held under siege in her husband's castle, it was not known if her husband was a prisoner as well, or if he was a conspirator and a traitor to the realm. But Catherine was a devout reformer, her brother and uncle had both fought against the rebellion.

Anne had never received any communication from the rebels. Not a word.

Jane was trying to have Anne's threat removed before the birth of her child. She would see Anne dead, as Anne had once wished for Katherine's death.

" I must return to Pembroke."

God willing she would find no summons there.

1st of September

Pembroke Castle

It took almost two months but a summons did eventually come for her.

It came with no mention of rebels or Catherine Parr (who Anne knew had been sent home without charge-as had her husband), but it came directly from the King.

He wanted his children present for the birth of their brother. And he wanted to see Anne bend the knee to a Prince of Wales that was not hers.

" Is that not risky of him?" Mary questioned from next to her, " There is no guarantee the Queen's child is a son."

Henry more than anyone should know that.

" No," Anne agreed, " But there is a chance, if Jane birth's a son he will see us all accept the boy as his heir."

" And if she births another daughter?" Mary put forward softly, " Does he not demonstrate that your union was the one that was blessed."

We had no union according to the law sister. My children are royal bastards.

"No," Anne responded evenly, " if Jane births a daughter, George is his proof that her failures are no fault of his."

Though Henry called her son a bastard, he was a son none the less. The King's only son. If Jane failed to provide a legitimate boy, it is she who will be blamed.

As Anne was once blamed.

As Katherine was blamed before her, when Bessie Blount gave him Fitzroy.

" Why must we go to court Mama?" Elizabeth questioned earnestly as Anne helped put her daughter to bed. George had been sleeping for over an hour now, no doubt her boy would wake soon for a feed.

"Your father has requested our presence," Anne responded lightly, " Queen Jane has entered her confinement."

She had already told her daughter why they were going to court. No doubt Elizabeth had something else on her mind.

" Papa thinks the Queen will have a son." Elizabeth stated matter of factly.

" He hopes she will," Anne confirmed, how many times had Henry hoped for a son now? " All of England prays for a Prince of Wales."

A title that rightfully belonged to Anne's son.

" I don't." Elizabeth answered her brow creasing in anger.

" Elizabeth," Anne admonished gently. Her daughter would need to learn to control her emotions, Henry's court was full of liars and all of them would be better than her daughter.

" She calls you a witch."

" A witch?" Anne questioned light-heartedly, hoping that her face did not betray her emotions, " Who says that?"

" The Queen?"

" Queen Jane?"

" You told me Queen Jane was the only Queen Mama." Elizabeth answered smartly. That she had.

" Why would the Queen say something so silly?" Anne returned, her best courtiers voice and smile on display for her daughter.

" Kitty says that Queen Jane thinks you used witchcraft to have the kings son, and that if the Queen does not have a prince she believes it is because you cursed her."

" Kitty told you this?" Anne asked keeping her voice even; she would box the girl's ears if she was spreading such filth to her daughter, no matter how fond she was of her young cousin.

" No," Elizabeth called wide-eyed, no doubt she was worried she had got the girl in trouble, " I heard her talking to Joan Bulmer."

" A girl of your standing should not listen to gossip Elizabeth." Anne put forward with some relief, Kitty's gossip was harmless, and Anne did not doubt it's authenticity but at least she could dismiss it to her daughter as nothing more than frivolous gossip.

" A girl of my standing?" Elizabeth questioned curiously, and Anne cursed herself for her own words, her daughter was too clever, since they had arrived at Pembroke all those months ago Anne had been careful to stress Elizabeth's status to her.

She would not make the same mistakes as Katherine; she would not let her daughter make an enemy of her father.

" You are the King's daughter, are you not?"

Bastard or Princess that fact did not change.

10th of September 1537

Hampton Court Palace

Anne Boleyn was invited to court.

Jane had heard the news whispered half a hundred times amongst her ladies, and each time it set her teeth on edge. Why would the King ask his former mistress to come to court, when she had just entered her first confinement?

Surely her husband must know how uneasy Anne's presence would make her.

There was enough pressure on her already; she did not need to hear of the Marquess or her children.

No doubt while she was in confinement (and while she was being churched) Anne would seek to show off her children. Elizabeth already was much loved at court, she was an enchanting child and many it seemed had forgotten that she was a Princess no longer.

George was another matter entirely. The boy had never been to court, Henry had only seen the boy once, but he was the King's only son, conceived when Henry believed himself married to Anne, little George Tudor would be the talk on everyone's lips.

A bastard boy, the image of the King.

"Majesty?" It was her sister's voice that pulled her from her musings.

" Yes, Elizabeth, what is it?"

" Lady Lisle has written to me asking if Your Majesty might find a place in your household for one of her two daughters. I told her I would mention it to you."

There was always someone wanting a place in her household now that she was Queen, even more so now that she was a pregnant Queen. Just before her confinement she had agreed to take Lady Rochford (George Boleyn's widow) into her household, she could not help but wonder what the Marquess would make of her sister-in-laws presence at court.

At least Elizabeth did not bring some other news of Anne Boleyn.

" Have you warned Lady Lisle that life at court is full of pride, envy, scorn and derision?" Jane asked loudly her eyes pointedly finding her husbands mistress, Lady Misseldon, in her crowd of ladies, " If you have, then send them to me, once I am churched, and I'll choose one of them. And remind them that they must bring two sets of clothes; one of satin, the other of damask."

" Madam," Elizabeth responded with a nodded head.

" Lady Misseldon," Jane called, " Help me unlace my gown, it seems to grow tighter by the hour." And she fatter.

Ursula looked surprised by her request but obeyed her mistress's command without complaint.

The girl was pretty. Jane would not deny that, she had dark hair and green eyes and carried herself with grace. She was witty and charming; in Jane's condition she could not blame her husband for choosing Ursula to warm his bed.

She must remind him of Anne, it was a thought Jane had had more than once, and Ursula was Jane's opposite as Jane had once been Anne's.

But the girl had no real ambition. She did not seek the crown, an advantageous marriage perhaps, but not Jane's place at the King's side.

The king's bed was enough for Lady Misseldon, and if Jane bore the King a son she was not likely to stay in his bed much longer.

Unless you die in the birthing bed, that was not a thought Jane had had before.

What would happen if she died in childbirth?

Would Henry return to Anne?

She could not let that happen.

" If anything should happen to me," Jane whispered taking Ursula' s hands into her own tightly, " be a comfort to his Majesty."

20th of September 1537

Hampton Court Palace

When she had been banished from court Anne had almost thought there had been a chance that she would never be welcomed back. Now as she stood in front of the King for the second time in less than a year, she realised how stupid such thoughts had been.

She was the mother of two of the king's (acknowledged) children, therefore a part of her would always be entwined with the King, and as such his court.

For this visit at least Anne would not be forced to play nice with Jane Seymour.

She had taken a great deal of time to plan their outfits for this royal audience. Anne had always been a vain creature, a woman who cared for the way she looked, try as she might it was a habit Anne could not break, even when she lived the majority of her days in the obscurity of the countryside.

For herself, Anne had chosen a square cut gown, of emerald velvet. Gold beading adorned the neckline and matching French hood, and around her neck Anne wore nothing other than her "B" necklace. To her right, Elizabeth stood tall and proud, very recently turned four, in a gown of blue and silver, her red locks were down and adorned with a pretty headpiece and she wore a simple chain around her little neck. George stood on his mother's left, and it was he that she had had the most trouble dressing, in the end Anne had decided to keep both her children in blue, and so she had had a fetching blue doublet and pants made for the boy.

Unbeknownst to Anne, however, the King had also decided that blue was his colour of the day, By accident she had dressed George as the King's miniature…let them try to say George was not Henry's son now.

" The Marquess of Pembroke," The royal herald announced loudly as Anne moved herself forward towards the king, " And Lord George Tudor and The Lady Elizabeth Tudor."

Anne curtsied deeply at the King's feet, Elizabeth next to her gave her own pretty curtsy, while George, not yet one, bowed his head deeply. It was the first time George had seen his father since he was born, the first time Henry had seen his son walk.

" Lady Anne," Henry greeted gruffly, his eyes finding hers for a second before they fell on their children, his gaze lingered over George much longer than it did Elizabeth. His voice still set a tremble through her body, and she hated herself for it. How could she feel anything but hate for this man, this King who had killed her brother and their friends, who had sought to leave her children motherless, " I trust your journey was pleasant."

" Yes, thank you, your majesty," Anne answered softly, her eyes lowered towards the floor, in the past she would of looked into his eyes, but that was a different time….when he was a different man, " We are pleased to be welcomed to court for such a joyous time."

She hoped desperately to be dismissed, but Henry it seemed had other ideas.

" And do our children have no word of greeting for their father?" She could not detect the tone in his voice, she did not know if he was angry or amused. The children had done nothing wrong, nor had she, they were bastards, royal bastards yes but bastards nonetheless, it was not their place to run into their father's arms as other children might have.

Without skipping a beat Elizabeth moved away from her mother and knelt before her father sweetly, " I ask you for a father's blessing."

Thankfully, the King found his bastard daughter charming and laughed loudly at her antics, before placing two large hands on top of her head, " You have it my daughter."

Elizabeth smiled widely, accepting a kiss on the check from the King. " You have grown so much darling, did you receive my birthday gift?"

" Yes, Papa," Elizabeth answered happily, " Don't you see?" She questioned turning her neck prettily so that he might see the silver chain around her neck.

A few courtiers laughed at Elizabeth's antics, despite her parentage it could not be denied, that even at four, Elizabeth was a charming child. George on the other hand, had started to grow shy with the amount of eyes that were upon him; Anne could feel him moving backwards into her skirts.

" And what about you my boy," Henry called staring at George intently, under his fathers eyes George only sought his mothers skirts more, " Do you have a greeting for your papa?"

He does not know you Henry, Anne thought, you saw to that.

It would not do well for her to have George hiding behind her skirts when the eyes of Henry and his court were upon her family. Gently Anne took her son up into her arms and passed him to his father.

Try as she might she had been unable to stop their hands from brushing nor had she been able to stop the feeling that had coursed through her body at his familiar touch, did Henry feel it to?

" Well hello there George," thankfully George did nothing but gurgle at his fathers words.

" Say hello to Papa, George," Elizabeth admonished her little brother sternly, Anne wondered if her daughter worried that they would be sent away if George, not even one, did not please the King.

Her son knew only a few words; Papa was not one of them. Her son did not know his father. Anne never spoke of Henry, in any case it was only Elizabeth who asked after her father.

She had memories of her father. George did not.

George did nothing more than tug on Henry's beard curiously, a fine yank that surprised the King and set the courtiers into laughter.

" See how strong my son is," Henry laughed proudly and the words struck Anne like a knife through her heart.

This had been their dream. For over a decade this had been the image they had promised one another.

The dream tasted like ashes in her mouth now. There was no taste of sweetness left only bitterness.

" We pray that Your Majesty will have a Prince within the month." Anne said smoothly. She wanted Henry to forget about her children….she wanted him to forget about her. If Jane gave him a son he would surely forget them, and once he had forgotten them Anne would be able to stop loving him.

How could she still love this monster that had taken everything from her.

" You will pay your respects to Queen Jane, Lady Marquess, you and my children, and give her your well wishes for our son."

" Of course, Your Majesty."

They had gone straight from Henry to the Queen's chambers. Anne thought it was best to be done with the un-pleasantries early.

It seemed they would be stuck at court until Jane's child was born. Anne would not be able to sneak her children away in the middle of the night this time. If Jane bore a son, Henry would see her and her children bow to him before the world…he would leave no doubt as to whom his heir was.

Jane's rooms were merry, full of excitement and buzzing with energy, and pregnancy had put some colour in Jane's pale cheeks. Her hair seemed blonder than usual and Anne could see a sparkle in her eye, a sparkle Anne had once known when she too had thought she carried a prince in her womb. Jane's stomach was large and round, covered in a tight purple gown, the Queens jewels draped around her neck lavishly.

When Anne's presence was noticed the merriment seemed to quickly disappear. The looks she received were a mixture of hate and sympathy. Many of the women in Jane's service had once been Anne's own, many she knew were still friends to her and her own, many still sent her letters, but many others she was sure had once done the same for Katherine when they were in Anne's service and had supported her downfall to see Jane rise.

To Jane's credit she only flinched slightly at Anne's presence. No doubt she had been preparing herself for their arrival for days, Henry would not have dared have his Queen said to be unprepared.

"Lady Anne," Jane greeted her voice cold yet sickly sweet, this time she gave Anne her hand to kiss, perhaps someone was finally teaching her her duties.

Anne took the outstretched hand dutifully before dropping into a shallow bob with a muttered 'madam,' beside her Elizabeth curtsied prettily while George nodded his head shyly.

"It was so good of you to bring us His Majesty's children, in this joyous time."

At that Anne shuddered slightly, despite her current freedoms her children would always be the King's children first, to do with as he willed, if Jane had her way Anne was sure she would see them acting as servants to the child in her belly. The lady Mary had once had that role in Elizabeth's household, perhaps Henry would see it as a fit place for his youngest bastards once again.

" Of course, the children are eager to meet their newest sibling," Anne put forward just as sweetly, her eyes locking with Jane's as she continued, " Elizabeth wishes for a new sister, don't you sweetheart, although I am sure she will make do with another brother."

The shocked silence that met her words was enough for Anne to know that she had once again won this battle of wits against Henry's strumpet.

"She has cursed me," Jane cried pitifully, her mother and sisters all around her, try as she might she could not quite ignore the rolled eyes of her brothers and father, " You heard her mother, didn't you?"

Jane could not stop herself from pacing up and down her rooms as she spoke, Anne's words repeating over and over in her head.

" Jane please," Margery Seymour calmed making to grab her daughter, Jane merely shrugged her off, continuing her pacing, " You mustn't work yourself up."

"The Marquess' presence at court only shows how imperative it is for you to bear a son from your womb," John Seymour added, talk of curses would get them no where he knew, " So I beg you to be always careful with yourself, take no exertions or excitements, shut yourself away as much as you can from the world."

" I wish there was a way I could remover her and her bastards from court," Jane continued as if her parents had never spoken, " But I dare not I think it would anger the king."

" This is what we mean, Jane," John interrupted making his way to stand in front of his daughter and stop her in her tracks, " If you fret about such little matters than your thoughts may poison the child inside of you."

" It is not a little matter to me," Jane screeched pulling herself from her fathers grip, " she is a witch, how else can you explain that boy? She is a witch and she has cursed me to have a daughter."

Whatever retort her father had on her lips Jane did not hear, as soon as the words had left her mouth the doors to her bedchamber where open with the King standing in the entrance.

Jane could not read his expression. No doubt he had heard some of their argument but how much of it Jane would never know and she shuddered at the thought. This was not the woman he knew her to be.

" Leave us," Henry ordered briskly, as her family hastily bowed and left her alone with her husband, she could not ignore the worried glances they shot each other.

"Husband," Jane muttered demurely, her eyes lowered to the skirts of her powder blue gown, " I was not expecting you."

" Jane," The king responded his voice stern, " You have a duty to protect my child in your belly, I will not have you poisoning him with your hysterics."

"Your Majesty, I…"

" Enough," Henry cut through her words like a knife, raising a hand in the air as an act of silence, for a second she thought he might strike her, " I have told you before not to meddle in my affairs. Remember the fates of those that have come before you."

Jane could feel the colour fade from her face at his words and instinctively her hands went to her growing belly, " Yes, Your Majesty."

At her submission the King seemed to soften slightly, smiling as he walked towards her, " I love you more than her. More even than Katherine."

Jane held her breath waiting to see what the King would say next. He was standing before her now. He took her head in his hands and placed a cold kiss on her forehead before whispering in her ear, " Don't spoil it."

Before she could even compose herself, he had left the room without another word his words hanging in the air as a threat.

9th of October 1537

Hampton Court Palace

Jane sat by the fire in her grand bedchamber, her hands moving absentmindedly as she sewed the small garment in her hands. Her sisters sat across from her exchanging worried glances but Jane's eyes were focused on the door.

She tried with all her might to ignore her sisters, they were not the first to look at her with such expressions over the past weeks and they certainly would not be the last. Since the harlot and her bastards had arrived at court weeks ago Jane had felt herself falling deeper and deeper into a state of anxiety and despair.

As Jane was in her confinement she had no real access to court life other than the gossip her family and ladies bought back to her. Henry visited her once a day, yet his visits were cold and rushed she had heard that he was parading little George Tudor around the court like he was the Prince of Wales. Not much had been said to her of the Marquess, but Jane's knowledge of the woman made her certain that wherever George and Elizabeth were Anne would not be far behind.

" You wanted to see me?" It was Thomas' voice that had broken through her musings; she had called for him hours ago.

" Yes." Jane answered dismissing her sisters with a look.

" Jane, what is wrong?" Thomas questioned taking in his sister broken expression, every day she was more and more withdrawn, more and more anxious of the King and his former Queen.

" Don't you see Thomas, don't you see the harm they are doing to me? To my marriage?"

" They?" Thomas questioned although of course he knew who she was speaking of, " Jane, the Marquess and her children, what harm can they do you now?"

" Every harm," Jane answered hysterically, " I didn't see it before but I do now, as long as Anne is alive, as long as her children are alive, they could rule."

" No, no, no" Thomas soothed taking his sister hands into his own larger ones, " It is impossible they are illegitimate, your son will be made heir to the throne."

For the last year the family had been stressing the danger of Anne and her children to Jane, but they had all agreed that in her current condition it was better to soother her, they could not risk the child.

" But the King can change his mind," Jane exclaimed standing from her seat and pacing the room in angry strides, " He can do whatever he wills now, he has absolute power, you know that, and what he has given he can take away, and what taken away he can give back…. And he could still make George king even above my son."

" But why should he?" Thomas questioned soothing again. His sister was not alone in her thoughts, he too had thought them. They had all seen Anne's rise and fall; they all knew that without a son, Jane, the Seymour family faced the same fate as the Boleyn's.

" I don't know," Jane, answered wrapping her hands around her body, she was cold, " I just fear it. This is all I know of Anne. She is my death and I am hers."

She sounded crazy, Thomas thought, moving to stand towards his sister, he had to put some sense into her, even if it was by force, " Listen to me," he demanded angrily, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her, " You are the Queen of England for the love of God act like it."

Jane just stared at him blankly, and for a second Thomas thought that was the end of it, until she groaned loudly and his feet within moments were wet.

" Dorothy, Elizabeth, fetch the midwife, QUICKLY."

God help them the baby was coming.

A/N:

So I hope that was worth the wait and that you all enjoyed that action packed chapter.

In this chapter we got a taste of some of Anne's allies at Lambeth where we also met Kitty Howard and heard mention of Catherine Parr. I will not cut these ladies from Tudor history, though they will be given a different life in this story.

The rebellion has been squashed as it was in history, and Jane is pregnant as she was at this stage as well.

Anne was welcomed back to court for the birth of the long hoped for Prince and her presence has set Jane on edge.

The next chapter will focus on the birth of Jane's child and aftermath, and Anne will also come face to face with someone from her past, I alluded to this in this chapter as well.

Once again I ask that you leave a review.