11th of October 1534 - Hampton Court Palace
Staring out of the window, Anne sighed admiring the snow that had started to fall and she could not help but pray that things would continue to remain this peaceful; they had come to Hampton Court for the holidays and she would enter her confinement here.
The chambers that she had given birth to Alexander in were being prepared for the birth of her newest child, she would enter the chambers just after Christmas Day and spend the next few weeks there.
Anne prayed daily that God would be kind to her, that her child would survive and she would not suffer Katherine's fate; she did not think she could stomach losing another child.
Her children were her everything, they were what sustained her now and everything that she did was for them; she cared not who her husband brought to his bed as long as she had them.
"Your Majesty?" greeted a meek voice making Anne turn away from the window, she eyed the young woman before her and offered her a kind smile before stepping closer.
Lady Margaret Douglas was spending her last weeks at court in preparation for her move to Calais, she had been granted the title of Duchess of Calais only days earlier and there was much to be done before she travelled to Calais.
"Your Grace, I trust your preparations are going well," Anne greeted, she remembered how she had felt when she had left England behind for the first time.
First, she had served in the household of Margaret of Austria then she had moved to France where she had served to Queens, it had been those times that had shaped her into the woman that she was now.
"I have, Your Majesty. My mother writes to me often sending her well wishes and instructs me of the importance of my marriage," Margaret replied softly, she could not recall the last time that she had seen her mother in person; she was far too busy helping her brother rule Scotland to care for her daughter.
Even now with the announcement that she was to marry and leave England forever, Margaret had hoped that her mother might be there on her wedding day but she would likely be alone.
It was her late aunt Mary's husband, the Duke of Suffolk, that would give her away to Antoine of Bourbon, she would be married within the month and she would leave for Calais by November's end.
"I hear your brother is to marry Madeleine of France," Anne recalled softly, her heart going out for the eldest daughter of the French King knowing that despite the many French brides that had been offered that King James had insisted upon the fourteen-year-old.
It would be a couple more years before the wedding but an agreement had been reached and Anne prepared that the harsh weather would not hurt Madeleine's weak constitution.
"That is right, Ma'am. I am most pleased with the news and look forward to meeting my future sister," Margaret spoke politely, it was likely that Madeleine would be at her wedding and she would treat her well.
She had only her brother now and she would welcome any woman that he married, though she knew that it could have easily been another that James had selected to marry.
Anne eyed Margaret, she was a quiet girl and hoped that she would be able to handle what was being asked of her; it was through her that the reforged Auld Alliance between England-France-Scotland would be united.
From there they would take Italy, they would start a war against the Emperor and his Habsburg relatives; they would need all the help that they could get against such might.
"I pray your marriage will bring you much happiness and that you shall be very blessed with children," Anne said, with a small smile and she could not imagine that anyone would not be eager for Margaret to deliver an heir especially given what her marriage to Antoine of Bourbon would mean.
They had to be united against the Emperor, there could be not fault in the alliance lest they find themselves being invaded by the Spaniard and Anne knew what that would mean for her and her children.
It was likely that Mary would be installed or some other puppet that they could rule England through; she and her children would like be murdered for that to happen.
***
Clasping her hands in prayer, the Duchess of Orleans prayed that God would answer her prayers and turn her husband from his mistress so that he might come to her bed; she did not know what Henri saw in that woman but he would not gain an heir from her.
Diane de Poitiers was twenty years Henri's senior and she could give him no legitimate child, only with a child from her could Henri have an heir that would secure him.
Still no marriage had been made for his older brother and Catherine knew that the tides could change, her astrologers promised a glorious future for her children and she prayed nightly to be with child.
Her letters to her beloved cousins in England did little to fill her with hope, the news that Clarice was expecting her third child after birthing two healthy daughters only made Catherine's stomach turn.
Henri did not hide his affect for his mistress, showering her with attention while he avoided Catherine; she knew people eyed her and the fact that in nearly a year of marriage there was no sign of a child.
Clarice had gotten pregnant quickly and was even on her third child since marrying the Duke of Bedford, she had yet to provide an heir for him but no one could deny that she was fertile.
It was bad enough that the French court looked down on her, thinking that the Medici were nothing more than upstart merchants and she was an unworthy match for a French Prince.
The arrival of several of her Medici cousins at the French court had only caused further issues, her Great-Aunt had encouraged her to take on several of her female cousins into her household.
Lucrezia de' Medici was not a woman to cross and after some time in England, her presence in France securing the final parts of the Auld Alliance was not to be ignored; she had been the reason that such an agreement was even being made.
The idea that the French would strike back against the Emperor for what he had done, imprisoning their King and the two royal princes would not be forgotten or forgiven easily.
Staring up at the cross, Catherine wondered if she would be able to do her part; she had to prove Henri with an heir but that could not happen when he would not even come to her bed.
Jealousy bubbled inside of her, the whispers of how George Boleyn treated Clarice with such care made Catherine wonder how her cousin had been so lucky to find such a man on her own while she was trapped in such a marriage.
At fifteen, Catherine knew the clock was ticking and with each passing day that she was not with child was another day where her husband could persuade his father to seek a divorce from her and allow him to marry his mistress.
Tears stung her eyes and Catherine bite at her lip to prevent herself from crying, she was meant to be the most powerful woman at court; there was no Queen and the Dauphin had no wife.
Instead she feared for her position and Catherine wished for nothing more than for a child, she longed for one and her astrologers promised her that she would have many children.
"Ma'am," one of her ladies whispered breaking Catherine from her thoughts, she turned her head to see her maid wondering why she would dear disturb her; she wanted nothing more than to wallow while no one would disturb her.
Surely, they could not need her for the talks, preparations were being made for the wedding of Antoine of Bourbon who would be married when his bride arrived from England in Calais.
Nothing was being left to chance and it would be the first time that the three Kings would be in the same place; the engagement for Madeleine would be announced at that time.
"She says that she shall met with you in two days' time," the maid told Catherine, her voice filled with anxiousness and she looked around knowing that such things could not be discussed in public.
Her lady would find herself in grave danger should anyone know what she planned to do, it was dangerous and she had warned Catherine against it but her lady would not listen.
A smile formed on Catherine's face, she nodded for the maid to leave her before looking at the cross; if God could not give her what she desired then perhaps another could answer her wishes.
Her astrologers promised her that she had a grand future, that it would be her children that were seated upon the throne of France and as long as Francis remained unmarried then she believed it but first she needed a child and Catherine would do whatever she could to gain one.