12th of September 1537 - Greenwich Palace
Taking a deep breath as she approached the royal chapel, Queen Anne steeled herself knowing that her husband did not like to be disturbed when he was in prayer.
Since the death of the Duke of Richmond, Anne had seen a change in Henry one that set her on edge no matter how contented she was with her position as his Queen.
The death of his longest living son, illegitimate as he was had shaken Henry to the core; nothing that the doctors had been able to do seemed to have been able to save his son.
Henry Fitzroy had left the world barely seventeen years old, his one year old son now the Duke of Richmond and his wife a widow at the tender age of seventeen.
Henry had ordered that Alexander, Elizabeth and Beatrice should be moved from Hatfield in fear of the sickness that had taken their half-brother would also claim their lives.
Henry would take no chances with his only son and daughters, his nights plagued with visions of the Tudor line ending and the crown being ripped away from his dead fingers.
The news of the Dauphin's death had reinforced Henry's need to strengthen his own line, Francis was at least blessed with three other sons that could take the throne after their ill-fated brothers death.
"Henry," Anne called softly, stepping into the chapel to find her husband alone in prayer while her ladies waited outside for their mistress; only Madge was in the know about why Anne was seeking out her husband.
They had recently celebrated the third birthday of Princess Elizabeth, gifts from her intended from Sweden had arrived pleasing the King and breaking his melancholy for a brief moment.
"Anne," Henry greeted, his eyes fixed on the cross as he rested his arms on the pew in front of him as he prayed; he prayed that God would bless his line, that perhaps all was not lost and that his son Alexander would be king after him.
The Tudor line should not, could not end with him. "My apologises in disturbing you," Anne stated moving to be seated beside her husband, she did not wish to upset him further than he already was.
The news of his son's death was something that Anne could not imagine and she had invited his widow to court when she was ready; a place in her household waiting for her so that she might support herself.
"It's quite alright," Henry insisted with a weak smile, he was most grateful for her company at times like this; she was a soothing breeze against the pain that filled his heart.
It saddened him that Mary was so far away, although for the best his eldest daughter would be greatly missed but had recently discovered that she was with child again.
God willing, she would give her husband a second son further securing the Medici rule over Florence with Lucrezia and Giuliano likely to make strong alliances in the future.
"Is there news from George?" Henry asked knowing that it was important that the killer of the Dauphin be found and punished, the actions could not be allowed to slip by them.
The murder of a member of the royal family could not be allowed to go unpunished, the death of an heir was something that some monarchs never recovered from.
"There was. Sebastiano de Montecuccoli has been arrested for the poisoning of the late Dauphin, it is said that he confessed to being an agent of the late Emperor Charles," Anne admitted softly.
It was rather strange in her opinion, although a relief that the man had been caught before he could strike again and murder another member of the Valois family.
Queen Elisabeth was pregnant again, her second child due early next year and no doubt the court was praying that she would be blessed with another son to further secure the line of succession.
"Then I shall pray that his death is a slow one," Henry stated with a nod of his head, he understood the pain that Francis must feel at this time; he had written to his French counterpart when the news had come that the Dauphin had been murdered at his own wedding.
Poor Maria of Portugal would return to her home country, a widow when she should have been celebrating her marriage at this time with her husband.
No doubt Francis would wish to see the execution of the man that had murdered his son in the name of France's greatest enemy.
Anne sat nervously beside Henry for a moment, not entirely sure how she wanted to break the news to him and she knew that if she did not tell him then there was a chance that he would hear it from someone else.
The royal doctor visiting her chambers was not something that would be ignored, whispers already filling the palace no doubt on why he had been summoned.
"I am with child again," Anne announced with a sad smile, her words feeling louder than she meant them to be and she watched Henry closely wondering how he would react.
Her husband was silent, he seemed frozen in his place as her words rang in his ears before he slowly turned to face her.
"The doctor confirmed my suspicions this morning. He says that he thinks I shall deliver in spring," Anne informed him calmly, her eyes searching Henry's face for any sign of emotion.
The last thing she wished to do is quarrel with him, no one could say that she wasn't doing her duty; it had been nearly two years since her last pregnancy and she had taken good care of herself.
"You are with child?" Henry whispered, relief slowly filling him wondering if this was a sign from God that all would be well with the Tudor line.
God willing Anne would be carrying a little Duke of York, a title that Henry had once held in his own right as the second son.
Nodding her head, Anne offered him a small smile before she took Henry's hand allowing him to press a kiss to it; she might not love her husband any longer but that did not mean she had to be cold with him.
The death of Fitzroy as well as the murder of the Dauphin was a reminder to all how fragile the line of succession could be and Anne would do anything to keep her children safe.
Alexander would be the King of England, Elizabeth would be the Queen of Sweden and Beatrice was to be the Duchess of Anjou; God only knew what fate the baby that she carried would have.
"God willing we will have our Duke of York," Henry said confidently, he was sure that it would be a boy and he would take no chances with Anne's health; he would hire new tasters to ensure that no one poisoned his Queen.
There would be nothing left to chance, his boy would live and further secure the Tudor line; he would be a great support to his older brother when Alexander became king.
***
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
"I hear that you are to travel back to England," King Francis said softly, linking arms with Clarice as they walked through the gardens of the palace; both of them dressed in black as the French court remained in mourning.
Even after a month, Francis did not wish to believe that his first boy was gone; it was bad enough that he now prepared to say farewell to his daughter with Madeliene set to travel to Scotland for her wedding to King James.
"We are eager to return to our children," Clarice replied knowing that they had never planned to stay in France for a month, she was eager to be reunited with her three children.
Contessina, Filiberta and William were never far from her mind, she longed to be back at their estates away from the drama of court that she had once loved so very dearly.
Francis nodded his head sadly, he could not fault Clarice for that not when she had stayed longer than he had expected of her; he was so grateful for her support during this time and it warmed his heart that there was no ill will between them.
"I shall write to King Henry once court mourning is over. Tell him that I agree to his proposal," Francis stated, there was nothing he wished to do right now other than see that man's head on a spike.
Henri had led the investigations into finding out who had murdered his brother, his second born son stepping up into his role as the new heir to the throne.
"It is the least I can do after shaming you so badly," Francis added shaking his head, he had been a fool when he had agreed to the Pope's orders and he wished he could take it back.
The least he could do was agree to the marriage proposal that had come with the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, it would be a small way to make things right between them.
"Your daughter will be the Duchess of Calais, that I will make sure of," Francis promised, he would make sure that Filiberta was treated well and welcomed to court as her mother had been.
Charles Bourbon would be a fine match for the girl, who had royal blood in her even if she didn't have the title to match and she would be respected at court for that.