Chapter One – The Betrothal

May 1533

Many men in Thomas Boleyn's position would have been well satisfied with themselves. His daughter was married to the King and expecting a child, while her rival was safely tucked away in an old dank manor befitting a woman who dared to challenge her sovereign. But Thomas Boleyn was not a man to rest on his laurels. Anne's position must be secured and until she gave birth to a child, a son, it would not be. His solution to the problem had a certain simple elegance to it. It would pacify the Lady Mary, show her exactly what her position was, and if the worse should come to pass and Anne failed, he would have covered his gamble.

Entering the hall of the Moor, Thomas Boleyn was announced to the Dowager Princess.

"Your Highness" Thomas said while doffing his cap and making a bow. She may not have the title of Queen, but as the widow of Prince Arthur she was entitled to his respect.

"You mistake yourself, Sir Thomas. I am the wife of your King and Queen of this country." Katherine of Aragon sat in a chair by the fire, her voice firm and confident.

"I have not come to argue with you Ma'am or to make any further entreaties, though I once again remind you that it would go easier for you if you were to agree to the King's proposal to renounce your claim and enter a religious community." He coughed slightly. "As you know, the Archbishop of Canterbury has pronounced your marriage to the King null and void and pronounce the marriage of the King to Queen Anne good and valid. That is not the subject of my visit. I have come to tell you that your daughter Mary is to be married."

"Married? To whom? The Emperor is married. Has the King agreed to wed her to the Dauphin?" Her voice had a slight agitation to it, though it maintained its firmness.

"No, Ma'am." He could not help but allow a small smile to play upon his face as he let slip the next few words. "The Lady Mary is to be married to my son." He could see the Dowager Princess's face fall and her breathing become faster and shallower while the muscles in her face tensed in an attempt to retain t heir poise. "The King has graciously invested me with the title of Duke of Wiltshire and my son will hold the courtesy title of Earl of Ormonde."

"But why? How could he?" Katherine clenched her fists and seemed to shake. "My daughter is a princess, she has royal blood in her veins, the granddaughter of Ferdinand and Isabelle of Spain! She is not the daughter of some country gentleman to be thrown away on the grandson of a merchant! This cannot be so. I do not allow it to be. "

"I am sorry Your Highness, but the King has commanded it."

"Leave me now! I will right to the King about this. He will see that he cannot treat his own daughter in such a way."

"As you wish." With that Thomas Boleyn bowed and left the Moor knowing that his family was that much more secure.

The Countess of Salisbury looked on as her charge practiced the virginals. She allowed her a few more moments before she interrupted. She knew that music was one of the few refuges left to the young girl in these turbulent times and she was coming to bring her even more distressing news.

"Your highness?" Lady Margaret bowed as she entered the room. Mary stopped playing and turned to greet her.

"Lady Salisbury."

"Your playing continues to improve." She smiled softly as she approached and knelt beside the princess.

"Thank you. You look concerned my lady governess, have you some news? Is it my mother? Has the King agreed to let me see her?" Her face remained calm but there was a light in her eyes that told the Countess she was far from easy.

"Unfortunately, no. If you do not mind, Your Highness, Ambassador Chapuys is here and the King has permitted him to give you the news."

For the first time, Mary looked over at the door and noticed her mother's old friend and advisor his forehead furrowed and his face long. Chapuys approached the Mary and as she held out her hand kissed it lightly.

"Ambassador, please, it is quite clear you have some grave news for me. Tell it quick or I fear my apprehension shall over come me."

"Your highness – I – I am grieved to tell you that your father, the King, shows no signs of abandoning his whore, or of returning to the true Church. He has, in fact, brought her family into even greater heights and given her father the title of Duke of Whiltshire." Mary frowned at this. "But this is not the news I have come to bring you. It is the King's wish that you are to wed the Lady Anne's brother, George Boleyn."

The air suddenly seemed to leave the room and Mary felt dizzy and light headed.

"That is not possible! Ambassador, it can't be true! My father would not be so cruel as to wed me to one so low!"

Chapuys shook his head. "I'm afraid Your Highness that it is indeed true. Your father announced it to me himself, with of course the Whore present."

Mary tried to contain the swirl of emotions engulfing her. "If it is true than my father is certainly bewitched." At this she took Chapuys hands in hers and looked him in the eyes. "My dear Ambassador, please tell what I should do? I can't marry him. Please tell me that you can arrange to take my mother and I to Spain and the safety of my cousin!"

Chapuys sighed. "I wish I could do so Your Highness, but alas, the Emperor can offer no help. His war with the King of France is such that he cannot afford to anger your father by giving either you or your mother sanctuary." He could see the tears threatening to spill from Mary's eyes. "But, please, Your Highness, do not look so sad. I can tell you that even if there is a service performed here by one of these heretic priests, the Pope will not recognize it. So long as you keep from consummating the union, once the King finally tires of his concubine and her family is in disgrace, he will return to the true Church and there will be no marriage."

Mary took a deep breath that made her chest shudder and Chapuys handed her a hankerchief to wipe her eyes.

"Now, what is essential, Your Highness is that after the ceremony you repair to your own room and keep your door barred – every night. Always ensure that there is a lady with you, for I have heard that this young man is not above taking a woman by force."

Mary nodded her understanding.

"And do not worry. It will not be long before your father returns to his rightful mind and this will all be a dim memory. With that, Your Highness, I'm afraid I must return to Whitehall."

Mary rose to see the Ambassador out. "Thank you Ambassador. I will pay head to all you have told me."

Chapuys bowed his head. "Your Highness."

As he left the room, Mary felt herself fall back on to the stool in front of the piano. She would need all her powers of will to face the coming trial.

George Boleyn knew the day would come when his father would announce that he had found someone to be his bride. His marriage would cement some familial alliance and further whatever interest his father had in mind. He did not know that the alliance would be between his family and the Crown and the interest would be to secure his sister's position as Queen. George sighed as he knocked on the door to his sister's chambers and was greeted by Madge Shelton.

"I've come to see the Queen." Madge helpfully led him over to Anne who was sitting by a fire stitching a shirt for the poor. "So" he said, looking on at her work "doing charity?"

"You sound surprised?" Anne said with a small pout. "I have to do something to win over the King's subjects."

"Indeed." George nodded and took a seat opposite her. "I've heard the latest ditty on the street they've written about you. Not very flattering."

Anne frowned at his comment.

"So, dear sister, have you heard the news? I'm to be married." He tried to sound as nonchalant as possible.

"So I have and I'm terribly sorry." The turn in conversation seemed to cheer Anne as she let out a slight chuckle. "Well, at least as her husband you can do what I cannot and box her ears when she misbehaves."

George rolled his eyes. "Come now Anne, that's no way to speak to me about my future wife."

"Well what do you expect me to say? She practically called me a whore to my face, no doubt she says it in private." Anne scowled at the thought of her mutinous stepdaughter.

"And here I thought you didn't care what people said."

"I don't, but Mary could cause my son and I trouble with her obstinacy." At this Anne placed a hand delicately on her stomach to emphasize her condition. "Besides what am I supposed to do? I've offered to reconcile her to the King."

George raised an eyebrow at this.

"All right perhaps I wasn't entirely genuine, but had she agreed to recognize me as Queen I would have been bound to follow through."

"Yes, well you are the soul of generosity sister." Anne pursed her lips at his quip. "Well I must away to father. He no doubt wants to give me instructions on my upcoming nuptials." He kissed Anne on the cheek and left her chambers. He was proud of his intelligent and witty sister, proud of all she had accomplished. But he also knew it had come at a cost to others and – for all her flippancy – he knew Anne understood that too. George wasn't sure what to think of his future wife. No doubt she viewed him as a mortal enemy and would do her best to let him know just how low a regard she held him. She was also little more than a child, a child whose world had been turned upside down.