Festina Lente

Chapter Fifty-Six: To Be Queen

"Now that he is divorced from his Habsburg wife, he asks that we join together to fight and take Italy for our own," Henry explained leaning back in his seat, pleasure at knowing that his plans to install his daughter and son-in-law back in Florence would be aided by the French. 

There was much to discuss between them and Henry would happily seed Milan to the French in exchange for Florence that was the home of the Medici. 

Lucrezia de' Medici was proving most helpful in such matters and was even speaking with the French King to remind him of their own kinship.

The Medici seemed to be the key in securing the French alliance while allowing Henry to speak with his sister about a Scottish alliance; one that would benefit both countries in the long run and would been that neither could side with an invading force. 

"And you shall install Mary as the Duchess of Florence?" Anne asked knowing that such plans would not have been forgotten, it had been long since talked about especially with their alliance with the Medici. 

She had found herself rather in awe of Lucrezia de' Medici, the woman had a brilliant mind and could command the attention of any man that was in her presence. 

Something that was not quite expected of the woman at the English court, though she seemed not to care for the men who looked rather offended at having to deal with her as the head of the Medici House instead of any man from said house. 

"Of course. Ma'am de' Medici has spoken highly of the Palazzo Medici where Mary shall rule alongside her husband," Henry agreed, those plans had not changed and he was rather pleased with the progress that was being made on that front. 

An alliance with the French would allow them to invade Italy, a war which would benefit England greatly especially with the loss of their lands in France over the years. 

"Should our plans come to fruition then I shall be required to lead the army, I have made arrangements that should this happen that you shall be Queen Regent and run the country while I am away at war," Henry informed Anne, he had every intention of ensuring that no one would doubt his Queen while he was away. 

It would be with the mother of his children that power would stay and he had no doubts that people would seek to claim power in his name while he was away fighting. 

Silence filled the chamber and Anne did not know how to respond to such news, never had she considered for a moment that such a thing might happen. 

If something were to happen to Henry then Anne was aware that the need would arise for a Regent, one that would rule until her son was of age to rule England himself; she would fight to ensure it was her as only she would rule in his best interest. 

"You shall start accompanying me to my privy council meetings, so that you may learn how I run my country," Henry announced, he needed her to be prepared as unlike with Katherine this was not something that would have been taught to Anne. 

Her father was a diplomat and Henry needed to be sure that he was leaving England in capable hands, hands that knew just what they were doing and not to allow others to steal their power.

"Then I shall do my best to be the Queen that England needs," Anne stated knowing that her uncle and father would expect such power to be given to them, they would try to rule through her or even in her stead. 

That could not be allowed, she was an anointed Queen and the mother of the future King of England; she would rule in her husband's stead until he returned home to her and God willing all would be well. 

If Henry had already decided that he was going to leave her running the country then she would do whatever it took to prove that he was making the right decision and not place someone else in her place. 

Katherine had been the daughter of two monarchs, born to a militant Queen and had led the English army against the Scottish when they had tried to invade while Henry had been fighting in France. 

There would be people that would attempt to compare the two women and the fact that Katherine remained in the country despite being locked away in a nunnery. 

She had plotted against the throne twice now and Anne was sure that Katherine would use Henry being out of the country to her advantage; she would protect England from anyone that threatened her and that included Katherine. 

The succession of her children had been secured and Anne knew that people had turned against her predecessor for her actions; they would not rally to the former Queen's side against the true Queen of England and her heirs. 

Katherine would spend the rest of her life locked away, she would be forgotten and not even her own daughter would visit her now; Mary was eager to leave England and the shame her mother had brought her behind. 

Anne was fond of the relationship that she shared with her husband's daughter, when once she had thought that Mary would hate her for what was happening now they were at least on civil terms and exchanged letters while Mary resided in her country home with little Lucrezia.