Chapter Ten: One Last Chance

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19th of December 1530 - London, England

Staring up at the worn-down building, the stone looked like it was crumbling and the roof was missing in places; the sign on the door read that it was an orphanage, though it looked far from that. 

Snow coated the building and Clarice doubted that a place such as this offered much protection from the elements especially the extremely cold winter that England was enduring; it made her thankful for her place at the Palace. 

Clarice ignored the whispers from Anne's other ladies as she stepped inside following Anne knowing that their mission here was more important than ever; especially with what Ippolito had told her of the King's plans. 

Wrinkling her nose slightly at the smell that greeted them upon entering the building that was meant to be a safe place for children; it was like nothing she had ever smelt before in her life. 

A harassed and shocked elderly woman appeared, wiping her hands on her apron and ducking into a clumsy curtsy at the sight of the ladies. 

There was no denying the wealth of the women that had entered and it made her wonder what had brought them to her establishment; her eyes flickering between them trying to make sense of this. 

"We have come to see the children," Anne informed the woman kindly, she wasn't here to cause trouble in fact it was the opposite; she was certain that her travels around the poorer parts of the capital had spread. 

Clarice had been most helpful in selecting the causes that Anne would visit, boosting her popularity amongst the common people was important especially if she was to be Henry's Queen soon. 

Her friend had pointed out that if she could not win the nobilities favor then she must focus on winning the people to her side if she wanted to stand a chance upon coming into her throne. 

A frown set upon the elderly woman's face, almost as if she had realised who was at her door and a part of her wanted to turn them away but she had heard that the Lady Anne had been visiting many places like this. 

Many had heard about her stealing the King away from his wife and trying to force Good Queen Katherine from her throne.

However, when word had started to spread around London that Anne had started to visit those in need including the local hospital, visiting those who had been injured fighting for the King and those without a place to call home. 

"Of course," the woman said, her eyes watching Anne not sure whether the woman that had caused Good Queen Katherine so much grief and deserved to be dragged through the streets like a common whore was good news or not. 

None of the other nobles had ever wandered down here and stuck to the palace turning their noses up at the common folk; she had lived here all her life looking after children and no one ever paid her much mind. 

The building was freezing and the air felt trapped inside the slim corridors that wormed their way through; some rooms that Anne passed had no doors on them at all and there were improvised beds made up of straw and dirty rags for covers. 

The great hall was where the children were scattered around, skinny and small with barely any clothing to call their own despite the cold; dome had no shoes but all of them were dirty and unwashed. 

They all bore looks of sadness and hunger that made Anne grateful for what her father had provided for them even if they hadn't had much money at times given that her father was the son of a knight. 

Making her way into the middle of the floor, Anne looked around unsure where to begin and knowing that there was much that she could do to change their lives. 

If she was going to be Queen then it was her duty to do something that would perhaps help them instead of ignoring them; she wanted to do more for the people that were often ignored. 

"Your dress, My Lady," Mistress Margaret Shelton exclaimed dismayed at how dirty the place was, she stepped forward to stop Anne as she crouched down on the floor. 

The children all stared in wonder at the woman that had come to see them that was so finely dressed; they had never seen the like and Anne stood out just as her ladies did in a place where there was so little. 

Anne didn't care about the dirt, she sat down on the floor knowing that it didn't matter if her dress was ruined, she thought of all the times that she'd played in the gardens of Hever Castle; a smile forming on her face as a little girl clambered into her lap. 

The others slowly followed and soon Anne was surrounded by children, all in awe of her and she had never felt like this before; she answered any of the questions that they had for her. 

In turn she asked them questions about themselves, about their parents and she took an interest; some had been abandoned at birth, others their mother's had passed and their father's abandoned them. 

"I have presents for each of you," Anne announced with a smile, she signalled for her ladies to come forward and start distributing the gifts amongst the children; their little faces lighting up at such a gesture. 

The Christmas holidays were around the corner and many would receive no gifts at all, Anne had wished to provide them with clothing to keep them warm and toys for them to play with. 

Clarice had assisted in obtaining the necessary items, clothes had to be made and Anne didn't exactly have many friends at court especially with her future so uncertain. 

To the lady that ran the orphanage, Anne gifted her a bag of coins, some clothes that she and her ladies had put together for the children in different colours and sizes along with a few bags of food. 

"It's not much," Anne told the lady, wishing that she could do more right now she was nothing more than the King's beloved and the daughter of an Earl. 

Henry had promised to ennoble her and would see her raised to the position of at least Marquessate but if favour moved more in her way then perhaps she could even see herself as a Duchess. 

Anne promised that she would visit when she could and would even consider taking on some of the girls into her household when they were older; she would make sure they had a better life than what they had started with. 

The lady had tears in her eyes, she could not believe how generous Anne was being; some days she struggled to even make sure that the children had something to eat every day. 

Some nights they went to bed starving because there was no money for food, the fact that Lady Anne Boleyn had gifted them with so much would keep them fed for weeks. 

"I have tried my best to help them... but these times are hard on us all," the lady said trying to explain, she shook her head mournfully and looked around knowing that she did all she could. 

Every day seemed to bring in a new mouth to feed and nothing seemed to get easier; the price of food just seemed to continue to rise especially with the wars going on. 

"I swear to do what I can to make this better," Anne murmured knowing that her own fate was not secure, nothing would be until Henry had freed himself from Katherine and his doomed marriage to her. 

There was nothing that she could truly do until she was certain that Henry could do as he had promised her; there would always be a chance that things could change and she would find herself with nothing. 

At first, she had not loved the King and saw the task that her uncle and father had set to her as nothing more than a waste of time; Henry was renowned for growing bored when he'd had his fill of women. 

Now she found herself in love with the man that she had been tasked to distract, the way he treated her and asked her to speak her mind; she didn't feel like just a woman with him instead she was almost his equal. 

They shared the same hobbies and Anne knew that with Henry, she could rise higher than any other; she would not be like the Woodville Queen who sort to rule through her husband when she found herself in Anne's position. 

"You have done so much for us," the woman said snapping Anne from her thoughts, she took Anne's hands not knowing how she would have coped if the other woman hadn't shown up like she had with food and clothes. 

They were struggling and each day things seemed to get worse, the woman had even thought that she might have to shut her doors and throw children out onto the street because she wasn't able to cope. 

"I shall speak with the King, get this place repaired for the weather will only grow worse," Anne insisted knowing while she did not have the funds to help more that Henry would not deny her. 

She wanted to be loved by the people and Anne was sure that the steps that she was taking would make it so that when the time came the people would be welcoming to the idea that she was going to marry Henry and become Queen of England.

***

"Husband?" Katherine greeted surprised to see that Henry had come to her, she had been preparing for bed when her lady had come to her with news that her husband had come with a visitor to see her. 

It had been so long since Henry had willingly come to her, he had all put avoided her as of late and Katherine knew that his time was spent with the Boleyn whore; he barely paid her any mind while he showed her off to the court. 

A part of her wondered if Henry had finally come to his senses and casted aside his whore to return to her; a small part of her still held that hope that this would happen. 

Glancing to the man that Henry had brought with him, Katherine didn't recognise him and guessed that he was a new groomsman that had entered with her husband to serve him. 

"I would like to introduce you to Mister Ippolito de' Medici," Henry stated signalling towards the man that had accompanied him to her chambers seeing her curious look towards him. 

A frown formed on Katherine's face upon hearing the man's name, if he was any relationship to Clarice then she had no doubts that the man was no friend of hers; she was sure he was another supporter in the King's matter to divorce her. 

"Katherine, you must accept the inevitable. We were never legally man and wife. And the court will decide in my and if the court does not decide in my favor, I shall denounce the pope as a heretic and marry whom I please," Henry stated wanting her to see that he was serious. 

This would be the last chance that he offered her and there was nothing that she could say that would dissuade him from his course; he was going to marry Anne and he grew tired of having her drag her feet. 

Pursing her lips, Katherine could not believe that he was here to discuss this with her again; she had made it clear that she would not yield to any but the Pope on this matter.

Nothing that Henry could say or do would break her faith that she was the true Queen of England and that she was doing God's work. 

She was certain her Mary would be a fine Queen and unite England with Spain, producing many children and ruling like Katherine's own mother had done; she had been a Queen by her own right and Mary would do the same. 

"Retire from court and agree to an annulment, our marriage was one of good faith so Mary will be well provided for. In return, should you decide to not enter then I shall grant you titles and land that shall see you comfortable for the rest of your life," Henry offered wanting her to see what a fine offer that he was making. 

It was a better offer than most would have received given the fact that the evidence that Henry had against her was enough to see her sent to the tower; he had vowed to never be like his father nor would he give the Emperor the excuse he was looking for to attack England. 

"How can you ask me to do such a thing? I am your wife and I will not be parted from you," Katherine insisted shaking her head, she wanted nothing more than for him to see that she was here to stay. 

There was nothing that Henry could offer her that would make her relinquish her crown, she had done everything that she could and prayed daily that God would give her a son that Henry desired so much. 

The Pope had decided in her favour and nothing Henry did would change that, she was his true wife and nothing Henry did would change that; she would always remain by his side until God called her away. 

Their daughter would be a great Queen and would be mother to many children, she would marry one of Katherine's many relatives and bring about a Golden age like Katherine's mother had. 

"Then I shall see you in the morning. There is much for us to discuss," Henry informed her, he said no more about what would be discussed or the actions that he was willing to take to free himself of her. 

The evidence of corruption of the church could not be ignored any longer and the Pope had failed him time and time again; the books that Anne had showed him had shaken any doubts of his next step from his mind. 

Ippolito offered a small bow to Katherine before following Henry from her chambers, he had no doubts that Katherine would try and talk her way out of this. 

However, Ippolito had made sure that there had ensured even the witnesses that he was calling up for His Majesty were set; he was leaving nothing to chance and there was a lot at stake. 

Should this fail then Ippolito had no doubts that he would share the fate of those who had failed before him. 

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The man at the top is Ippolito de' Medici for this story.

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