An Endless Supply Of Rubies

Lady of Waiting I

Fanfic: An Endless Supply of Rubies Ch 14, Tudors | FanFiction

A/N: On 24 January 1536, Henry's horse really did fall on him in the tiltyard at Greenwich, throwing everyone into a panic during the two hours he was unconscious. After the ulcer on his leg formed, Henry put on a lot of weight. His waist was over 50 inches when he died.

15 January 1536

"I managed, with some difficulty, to obtain a copy of the secret report of the autopsy of Queen Catherine," Eustace told Brereton urgently.

"And what was discovered?" the groom asked.

"Most of her internal organs were normal, except for the heart, which had a black growth, hideous to behold, which clung closely to the outside," Eustace responded.

"What could have caused it?" Brereton asked with urgency in his voice.

"A doctor, whom I trust completely, told me that such a growth was consistent with the evidence of poisoning," Eustace replied. Brereton looked up with surprise in his eyes. "Had the body been properly examined, traces of it would have been seen."

"Oh, Catherine," Brereton responded, bending his head down until it reached his palm. He was truly sorry for the fate of the deceased Queen.

"No," Eustace said softly. "There is little need to pray for her. Her Holy soul is in eternal rest, but I worry for her daughters."

"Poor Mary and Amelia," Brereton responded. "There are rumors circulating that Amelia is pregnant again. I worry what might happen to her."

"As do I," Eustace said, looking over the edge of the balcony at the bodies moving about on the chamber floor. "We shall talk more later," Eustace told him before leaving.

20 January 1536

"Do you know them?" Anne asked her brother as they played cards. She planned on being extra cautious with her pregnancy this time around, opting to spend most of her time in her chambers. Therefore, she often called on George to come and keep her company, or Mark if George was busy.

"Who? Know who?" George questioned in response.

"The Seymours," Anne replied. She was incredibly anxious over the arrival of the family at court. Henry had told her that it was because John had done a great kindness to him, but she wasn't so sure. Jane was gorgeous, after all.

"I may have met Edward, the eldest son," George said nonchalantly, looking through the cards he held in his hands. "He's a cold fish. I don't know about the others." He looked up from the cards he was shuffling in his hands. "Are you afraid of them?" he asked his sister.

"Father thinks they may be secret supporters of Mary and Amelia," Anne told him.

"Ah, Mary and Amelia," George sang. "It's a pity they're not keeping company with their mother." On one hand, he meant what he said. The fewer illegitimate children Henry had, the better chance Anne's children had at succeeding him on the throne. On the other hand, Amelia's death would leave her son without a mother, and not even George would wish that on anyone.

"They tell me that Mary is ill again, and that Amelia is pregnant," Anne said as George began to deal the cards. "The King has given permission for Mary to be removed from Elizabeth's household for her comfort and for Amelia to choose whether or not she returns to Westhorpe for her confinement."

"Those are acts of kindness, no more than that," George told her, pausing to look directly into her eyes to get his point across.

"No," she responded. "No, he favors them. He always has been and still is, though he pretends differently, at least with Mary, to my face."