89 Chapter 5: The most happy

Hello guys! English, it is not my motherly language, I'm French so I apologize if there are some mistakes. Don't hesitate to tell me where they are so that I can improve.

This is my first full length fiction, with chapters, I hope it will please you. It is a AU where Katherine Howard does not marry Henry and where Cromwell is spared. Instead of katherine, Henry marries a french noble lady, on the advice of Cromwell.

I hope my little story will please you..

Sincerely

Marina Ka-Fai

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The French Bride

Chapter 5: The most happy

Henry joined his wife for dinner. He found her even more delicious than the previous morning. She was wearing a lovely green gown, a necklace he offered her for their marriage and a very delicate silver ring. She seemed trully happy to see him, she greeted him with a huge smile on her face. Musicians were playing a song Henry composed.

' This is trully lovely Husband! Isn't it Pastime with good company?' she asked

The king looked very surprised.

' How do you know the name of this song?'

' When Master Holbein and My Lord Suffolk were at Fontainebleau, the duke had the kindness to tell me a bit about your hobbies. But I must admit I am impressed, I did not imagined that you were so gifted!'

' And I never imagined how beautiful you were until I met you.'

Marina blushed a little and it made her husband laugh a bit. He asked to her how Katherine was doing in her new job.

' She is really talented and she makes an excellent lady in waiting. She may be still a bit clumsy since she is not used to all of this yet, but I am really happy to have her among my ladies. And I was right, Lady Howard is trully a nice person. Your Majesty is right to trust her. She worths it.' She answered before drinking a bit.

It really made Henry's day to hear this. His wife was getting along well with his former mistress. She even liked her. Maybe this time, he was going to live a long and happy marriage.

' Marina, please, call me Henry.'

' If it pleases you, Henry.' she said in a joyful tone

' I have heard you sent gifts to our children. It is really sweet of you. All of them are more than happy.'

' I am glad they like it. I was afraid they did not, since I do not know about their likings very well.'

A beautiful young and loving wife, with Jane's virtues, a devoted and kind stepmother... Cromwell did really found him the perfect bride.

' Are you pleased with Lady Rochford and Lady Missledon?'

' I am more than pleased. They are trully a good help. I would even say that all of my ladies are very good.'

' What did you do today?'

' I had a surprise visit from our daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. They came to thank me for the gifts. They are both so lovely! I ma certain they make England proud. They are the most beautiful princesses I have ever met.'

Henry smiled. But then, he saw that Marina was thinking. Something was bothering her.

' Husband...'

' Sweetheart?'

' We have a serious problem with our daughter Elizabeth.'

He sighed. But he encouraged his wife to go on. So she explained everything. Elizabeth's sufferings, her thoughts, the true words she said. It shocked Henry. He felt trully bad. He was so scared of Anne's memories that he neglected his daughter. And now she was paying for her mother even if she was innocent. If he was not with Marina, he would have cried.

' Do you have any idea to make her feel better? He asked

' I do, but they are going to upset you.'

' Go on.'

Marina looked at Henry directly in his eyes and said:

' I think that we should speak of Anne to Elizabeth. And give her a portrait of her mother.'

She saw that the idea did not please her husband at all. Henry wanted to shout that he did not want Elizabeth's purity being corrupted by anything related to the whore who gave her birth. But he saw that Marina was trully concerned. And Elizabeth was suffering.

' Allow me to explain why I think so.'

It hurt him but he said to her to go on.

' The Lady Mary may have lost her mother, but she has plenty of memories of her, she knows that she was loved by her. And I know you allowed her to keep a portrait of her in her rooms. Prince Edward may have not any memories of his mother, but he has her portrait, he has some stuff of her, and when he asks about her, I am certain everyone answers happily to him. But Elizabeth has only the voice of her mother in her head. She can't recall how she was, neither she can remember of any moment with her. She has come to an age when you feel a lot of things. I am not saying that we should speak of Anne Boleyn in front of everyone or showing a huge portrait of her in the castle. But I do think that speaking of her truthfully just in our family, giving a thing that belonged to her and a portrait of her to Elizabeth will be more than helpful. Our daughter is wondering if her mother loved her and cared for her, if her presence does not make you or her sister suffering.'

Henry had to admit that she was right. Those were small things but if it could help his daughter to feel better... The only thing he did not feel comfortable with was the portrait. He was fearing to see Anne again. He could give Elizabeth the locket that contained her portrait but if she wore it at court, everyone would recognize it and Marina would be in trouble. She would have to hide it in her rooms. He explained that to his wife.

' Then, Husband, what about a ring with a secret locket? At first, it would look like a normal ring with the E of her name, but a small portrait of her and of Anne would be hidden inside. It would be our secret and she could wear it whenever she wants without fearing.'

He looked at her, trully amazed. She managed to find a solution to both problems so easily! He got up and he kissed her.

' I did not marry a french descendant of a princess, but an angel, sent by God himself to ease the pains and wounds of the Tudor's family. You have my permission. For all of what you will see necessary for our children's sake.'

' Thank you Henry! I am certain that she will feel better in no time! I am very honoured by your trust.'

' I want you to know that I did not want this to happen. But I am not at ease when it comes to Anne Boleyn. She made me suffer and somehow I was afraid of seeing her in my daughter. And I did not want Elizabeth's innocence being twisted by her. But what of Mary? I do not want her to be hurt by all of this.'

' Lady Mary assured to her sister that she loved her and that she did not see Anne in her. I am almost certain that she will not mind, since it is for Elizabeth's sake. Lady Mary is trully a strong young woman. If I were a man, I would marry her right away.'

Suddenly, Henry had a idea. It was crazy but it would solve two matters at the same time. He kissed his wife again.

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Lady Mary's room

Eustace was visting his beloved little princess. He found her drawing. Next to her, there were others .

' Ah, Eustace! How are you today?'

' I am very well, you are very kind, Lady Mary.'

The young woman noticed he was wondering what she was doing.

' The queen, my father and I are planning a surprise for Elizabeth. I am making some drawings for a ring.'

' A ring?'

' Yes. And since both my father and the queen allowed me to tell you about this since you are the most trustable person at court, I will explain you the secret of this ring.'

The ambassador felt honoured. He took the drawing Mary was giving him. He saw a ring with amethysts, forming a E.

' This ring will contain a portrait of her and of Anne Boleyn.'

Eustace looked trully shocked. He did not understand. Why would Mary take part in something that was dealing with the Harlot? Mary saw it and she explained him how Elizabeth was suffering and unhappy.

' I may hate Anne Boleyn but I love my sister too much to let her suffering. My love for her is stronger than my hate for her was not her fault if she was born from her. I... As her eldest sister, I just cannot let her living like this! It would be just too cruel! We will not hide to her what her mother did but we will not hide the fact she loved her either. This idea is from the queen, just after she learnt this. And she managed to convince my father. Maybe that... One day, I will be able to call her Mother. My mother would have loved the new queen.'

' I do agree. The new queen seems very wise, generous, calm. And brave, since Anne Boleyn is a forbidden subject. But I guess that she fell in love with all of her stepchildren and a mother never fears when it comes to her child.'

' I just pray that my father won't get rid of her. That she will have a healthy son. And that she will survive childbirth.'

Mary's fingers were playing with the brooch Marina offered her. She trully prayed for that.

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Marina's rooms

Marina was sewing while Katherine was reading a letter she had just recieved. She noticed that the young woman was not well at all.

' Is something wrong, Lady Howard? A bad new?'

' It is a letter from an old friend, Joan Bulmer. She writes that she has learnt about my good fortune and she begs me to ask to Your Majesty if you could find her a place in your household.'

The new queen noticed that her lady's hands were shaking. It was more than that. She invited Katherine to follow her, so that they could speak without being heard. She asked if she could read it.

' Why are you so afraid, Lady?'

' Because it is a blackmail... Your Majesty... Before I came to court, I lived with the Dowager Duchess... And I had lovers. Carnal lovers. And Joan was a friend from this time...'

Katherine was about to cry, she felt trapped.

' Listen to me Katherine. May I call you Katherine by the way?'

' Of course Your Majesty.'

' Even if I can't tell you that it was a good life, you don't have to pay for this. You did well, by telling the truth to me. I won't let this kind of things happening to you. You will write to Miss Bulmer, saying that I have a place for her. Lady Missledon will tell you what she will have to take. And when she will be here with us, I will tell her that if she tries those kind of things to you, she will be punished and even worse, bannished.'

Katherine couldn't believe her ears. First, the queen wanted to be her friend, she made her a lady in waiting and now, she was protecting her?

' All is mended Katherine. You don't have to worry. And if those kind if things happen again, just tell me, and I'll manage to do something. Now, let's go back. My present for the king won't be made just by itself.'

She smiled to Katherine.

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A few days later, Elizabeth was offered her ring. And her father took on him to tell her the whole truth about Anne Boleyn. Of course, it was his truth. But Elizabeth was well again. She knew she could speak of her mother to her parents and sister. She knew how her mother was with her. She knew that her father and Mary would love her forever. She knew her features again. And she had a part of her mother on her finger. She could not help it, she said after that, tears in her eyes:

' I am the most happy!'

And it did not hurt Henry's ears.