Chapter 13: Small means of redemption

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 13: Small means of redemption

The royal church was full of crowd, the whole court was here to attend to the christening of the new royal children. Anne of Cleves carried Harmony, Elizabeth carried Henry and Katherine carried Lloyd. Next to them were the godfathers: Thomas Cromwell for Henry, Francis for Harmony and Charles for Lloyd. Henry and Marina hesitated a lot for the third godfather, they did not know who to name between Charles, who always had a special place in Henry's heart, and Edward. Henry wanted to honour Charles but he did not want to be unfair to Edward since his sisters both had a godchild. But the child had a marvellous answer to this problem.

' The Duke of Suffolk should be the third godfather. He is Papa's friend. And he is so kind to my sister Mary! It dos not matter if I am not a godfather. I am already the babies' older and loving brother. It is enough for me.'

Charles was so honoured and touched by Edward's gift that he sent him presents and a letter to thank him. The kid was more than pleased.

Cranmer blessed the children who were then taken to their mother. For everyone, it was a miracle that she was still alive, in good health and, in the physicians' opinion, still fertile.

Katherine's wedding to Thomas Culpepper took place a week after the christening. Marina could not attend since she was ordered to remain in bed but she sent to them luxurious presents. She was told that Katherine's belly was starting to show. And it also seemed that the Earl of Surrey, who took Katherine to the altar, looked like a proud father. It made the queen smile.

Henry paid regular visits to his wife. He often found her looking after their children. He always made sure not to bother her with his problems but it was as if she could read his mind. She always guessed what was wrong. So, even in bed, Marina helped him as she could. Henry surprised himself, he hated to speak of matter of state with his wives. Catherine was in favour of Spain, Anne in favour of France, they always tried to put their ideas in his mind. He loathed that impression of being these women's puppet. So, he decided not to involve his wife in this. But with Marina, it was different. He knew she would never judge him. She listened, gave her opinion but never tried to force him to accept it. It was relaxing.

' Something is bothering you, Henry. I can see it.'

' It is an old matter of state. The Catholic faction again. They keep asking for the monasteries to be restored.'

' It is because they considered them to be like a second house where they could find comfort and help. I do not think restoring them would be a good idea but maybe a small mean of reconciliation could ease them.'

' What are you thinking of?'

Henry listened to Marina's idea to convert the desolved monasteries into place for education for the people. They would be still under the control of state but they would be as useful as they were before Henry's reformation. It made him smile a bit. It would please both of them.

' Why not? I shall think of it.'

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About a month after the birth of her babies, Marina was perfectly well. She enjoyed being with her children. And het stepchildren had been just sweet with their new siblings. Mary and Elizabeth sent clothes they made themselves for their new brothers and sister and Edward always stared at them with a loving look when he visited his stepmother. Henry visited them almost every day. Marina watched him taking in his arms each baby, hugging him or her softly and saying to him or her the sweetest words.

Francis left when he was certain that Marina was going to be okay. He was serene, he knew that his beloved sister of heart was happy in England, that Henry would not hurt her. Before leaving, he offered innumerable gifts to the new parents and to the whole family. The most beautiful one was peace between the two countries.

At the end of the month, Henry announced to Marina that the babies were to be established in their own castle, in the country. She was expecting it. But it hurt her. She tried to ease her pain by thinking that it was for their own good, for their health, that she would be given reports about them and that she would see them during progresses or on visits. She knew that Court was no place for young children. And she assumed that if it was hard for her, it was certainly painful for Henry as well.

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' We have many things to discuss, Thomas.' Henry said to Cromwell.

The secretary was standing in front of his king, who was sitting on a chair, his leg was hurting him a bit.

' How are the preparation for the queen's coronation?'

' They are going well Your Majesty. The people seem excited to see their new queen. She is quite loved.'

' I'm glad she is. The queen is my ray of light. I want them to love her as I love her.'

Cromwell smiled to this. He was relieved. The king loved his wife. The marriage was a true success.

' I want to create an Act of Succession.' Henry suddenly announced

' Majesty?'

' Thanks to the queen, my family is united. I want to make a small thing to prove to everyone that it is not just appearances. Here is how I see it.'

Henry took a piece of paper and wrote.

' My heir shall be Edward, my first son. If he dies childless, the crown will go to my son Henry and then to Lloyd. After him will come Harmony, my sole legitimate daughter, and after her, my illegitimate daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. And if, God forbids it, Elizabeth shall die childless, the crown will pass to the children of Charles Brandon and of my late sister Margaret. The succession shall remain open if the queen gives me more children. When I die, it will be closed the way it is. What is your opinion about this?'

' I think it is a good idea, Your Majesty.'

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Mary adjusted herself well to her life in Suffolk. Her stepchildren were kind to her and Charles was full of attention. She was quite happy in this simple but calm and healthy life. Nevertheless, a part of her still feared. Her husband did not force her into anything, she was grateful to him but she was afraid that if she did not give him a son, he would get rid of her, just like her father did to her mother. And even if she became pregnant, it was not certain that the baby would be a boy. Sometimes, Chapuys visited her. Charles did not see why he should keep the ambassador away, he had been a true help for Mary.

' My lady, you must not fear. The duke is a respectable man, he will never do that to you. He respects you too much. And he has a son already.'

' A woman must give an heir to her husband, must she not? I'm so afraid! What if I give hm a daughter? What if I have what my mother had?'

The old man hugged soflty his princess. He felt bad for « su pequena princesa ». She went through so many horrible things and because of that, she was living in fear.

' Lady Mary, I am certain that the duke of Suffolk will never do that to you. He respects you as he respected your mother.'

Mary felt a bit better.

' There are rumors at court. It seems that the queen convinced the king to convert the monasteries into places for education.'

The young womn raised her head, she did not expect that.

' It appears that they would be still under the control of the state but they would be as useful to the people as before the reformation.'

Mary could not believe it. It was not the restoration they were hoping for, but this was a small mean of reconciliation.

' If this project can be done, it would be marvellous for civil peace in this realm.'

' Indeed, Your Highness. And there is another rumor. You are to be restored to the sucession.'

Mary was stunned and she coumd not do anything but whispering a small « My God » before fainting.

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' Did you hear what this French belly said? The monasteries are to be restored and the bastard daughters of the king as well!' Anne Seymour almost shouted to her husband

For her, a convinced protestant, it was just too much.

' Anne, you should be grateful to the queen and to one of those bastard daughters as you call them. Thanks to them, protestants are not persecuted anymore.'

' Do you take her side? She will destroy all that was done! And Cromwell! He must be desperate to see that the queen is a catholic!'

It was too much for Edward. He remained calm, he did not want to hurt Anne or their baby but she went too far.

' Sit down and listen. You must understand that we played the game and lost it! We are already lucky! Thanks to my catholic sister, who died in childbirth, we are linked to the Tudors forever! We are part of the royalty! The next king of England will be a Seymour! The French belly as you call her is working for the peace of this realm! For before she arrived, we cannot say that the protestant faction was that happy! To tell you the truth, I'm quite glad that Cromwell was spared and gave to the king this wife! Just look at all that she has done! Don't you think that life is better now? And I will tell you one more thing, I will not do anything again her, because I do not want to make the child you carry lose what belongs to him.'

It calmed Anne right away.

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Henry enjoyed his last meal with his family. The next day, Edward was to be leaving to his establishement. Everyone was in Marina's rooms, by order of Henry, since she was still told to rest by her physicians. He remained silent for a moment, looking at what he had. Marina and Mary were talikng happily, Edward was proudly showing to Elizabeth what he learnt, their siblings sleeping in their craddles. This was what he desired from tha deep of his heart. A family like his parents had before. He realized that he almost destroyed this dream by making Mary and Elizabeth bastards.

' I have an announcement to make.' He said.

They turned their attention to him.

' I have established an Act of Succession, naming Edward as my first heir, then his brothers, Henry and Lloyd. Then comes Harmony. And I have decided that Mary and Elizabeth were to be inclued in the line of succession as well. '

Marina thought that it was a marvellous idea, she smiled to this.

Mary realized that she was a princess once again. She was after Harony, but still, she was considered as a princess again. Her father proved by this small mean that he still loved her and considered her as his. Elizabeth could not believe her ears. She was to be treated as Henry's daughter, not as a traitor's one. Her father was recognizing her as his. She managed not to show it but she wanted to cry tears of relief, joy, happiness. Both of them thanked them father, he could feel how touched they were. He knew it could not erase completely what he had done to them. But he had to do what was in his powers to show that he was sorry. They were not boys, but he loved them.

Just like any father loves his children. No matter the gender.