“He did that for love of me.”
George looked at me sadly. “He desired you greatly, that's true. But he wanted to make sure of the succession.”
“There is Elizabeth. There was Mary.”
“Girls! He wanted a son… who would be like him… riding around the country, bluff, hearty, winning the love of the people.”
“Could not a woman do that?”
“Leading the troops in battle?”
“When has Henry last gone to war? When he did, his efforts were not marked by success.”
“Do not tell him that. You are too outspoken… too frank.”
“I know I am. Bur what am I going to do, George?”
“Get a son. He would never discard the mother of his son.”
“I see little of him. He has his mistress now. Oh God, George, do you think he will be with her as he was with me?”
“Anne,” he said, “you are the most fascinating woman at Court. You have a special allure. You must think of that. You must get a son. There is something I have to tell you. He has hinted to Cromwell that he wants a divorce.”
“From me!”
George lifted his shoulders. “Who else?”
“No, George!”
“Why not? He rid himself of Katharine…at what cost! It would be simpler with you. The Boleyns are not the Emperor Charles. The Pope would not stand out against it.”
“Then I am doomed.”
He shook his head. “There is Cromwell. Cromwell has told him that he could divorce you easily…by declaring that his marriage to you was no true one. But that would entail one thing: he would have to take Katharine back. That he will never do.”
“Presumably I am the lesser evil.”
“Presumably. Don't worry. Cromwell is a clever fellow. He won't allow it to happen. If Henry went back to Katharine, he would soon be returning to Rome, and that would be the end of Cromwell. He has based his career on the break with Rome. Cromwell—for his own reasons—is your friend. Rejoice in that.”
“Sometimes, George, I am very frightened.”
“You'll come through if you can get a son. Then you would be safe. But you will have to accept his infidelities… just as Katharine did.”
“I am beginning to realize the patience of that woman.”
“She is the daughter of Isabella. Remember that. She has stood firm… unafraid. She is indeed a brave woman. In spite of everything, she has disconcerted Henry, and there are many throughout the country who support her. Anne, get a son. You must get a son. Therein lies your salvation.”
“These miscarriages…they were boys.”
“Perhaps you have been overanxious.”
“It may be.”
“Get him back somehow. Get a son. When you are pregnant, live more quietly. Give up this wild gaiety. You give an impression of indifference to the King's rising animosity. You flirt too much with men about you. It is noticed, and the King does not like it.”
“Even though he is no longer interested in me?”
“Even so. But he watches you sometimes and there is a glint in his eyes. He knows you are outstanding in the Court. You must find a way, Anne… soon. It is imperative.”
“I know. But at least he told François that Mary is illegitimate.”
“Yes, and offered Elizabeth to the younger son. That is only because she is so young and the Dauphin needs a bride soon.”
“Do you think François will accept Elizabeth?”
“I hope so. I pray so. Much will depend on it. If François refuses it will be tantamount to saying that he does not believe in her legitimacy. A great deal will depend on François's answer.”
“It is frightening.”
“I know. But we must face the truth, Anne. That is the only way we can continue to exist.”
“Thank you, George, you do me so much good.”
“Curb your temper. Remember when you are about to let it fly that you are dealing with a man who is very powerful and probably the most ruthless in the world. You have to forget the tender lover. He is not that any more. You must stop thinking of him as the man who pursued you and was ready to grant your every whim. He has changed, and not only to you. There was a time when he was a kind and courteous husband to Katharine; he loved Mary; true he strayed now and then, but no more than was to be expected. He had certain codes; religion and morals meant something to him. People do change. Events change them. And there have been some notable events in the life of this King. They brutalize. Think of his conduct to Queen Katharine and the Princess Mary.”
“I have said he was too soft with them.”
“You are thinking only of what you want. Consider a husband who has tired of a wife who has done nothing but good. Her only fault is that she is older than he is and is no longer attractive to him. You come on the scene; you refuse to be his mistress, so he schemes and plots and juggles with his conscience. He would get rid of that wife of all those years, repudiate her, and when she refuses to go into a convent she lives like a prisoner under house arrest. What anguish he has caused. And his daughter Mary—a girl brought up to believe herself Princess of England, now deprived of all her rights and separated from her mother…”
“They would have plotted against us. Chapuys is ready to foment a revolt.”
“Think of it, Anne. That's all I ask. If he can act so to one, he will to another. We will see what François's response is to this suggestion for Elizabeth and little Angoulême. So much will depend upon it. In the meantime, Anne, you must get a son.”
I said: “It is good to talk to you, George. I thank God for you.”
His words kept hammering in my brain. A son. A son. I must get a son.
I had a healthy daughter—so why should I not get a son?
There was trouble from an unexpected quarter.
Jane Rochford came to me one day, her eyes shining with that excitement which they displayed when she had disturbing news to impart.
“Mary fainted this morning. She was quite ill. And when we revived her it was clear that…”
I looked at Jane, hating her.
I said: “Send Mary to me.”
“We were amazed…”
“Never mind,” I said imperiously. “Send her to me. I want to see her at once.”
Mary came. She was very apprehensive.
I said: “Are you with child?”
“How …how did you know?” she stammered.
“That snake, Jane Rochford, told me.”
“Yes… she was there. I saw her when I came to.”
“Trust Jane to be there. This is a disgrace. You know I was thinking of a grand match for you. And now like the silly little wanton you are, you have made it impossible.”
“I don't want a grand match, Anne.”
“You are the Queen's sister. Your marriage should be a matter for the King and me to decide.”
“The King is no longer interested in me. He will be glad to see me out of the way. He rarely looks my way and, if by chance his eyes fall on me, he feigns not to see me. It was different once. But that is his way. When things are over, he wants to forget they ever existed.”
Her words struck me like a funeral knell. How right she was.
“In any case,” she went on, “I want only William.”
“William? William who?”
“William Stafford.”
“William Stafford! But is he not only a knight…of no importance?”
“He is of importance to me.”
“As you are ready to proclaim to the world, it seems.”
“Yes, I am.”
“I don't know what the King will say.”
“Nothing…precisely nothing. He is not interested.”
“And our father?”
“Our father has always despised me. I don't know how I happened to be his daughter.”