2nd of April 1531 - Calais, France

"My dearest brother," King Francis greeted clapping his English counterpart on the shoulder, he had been most pleased that the English King could make it; there was much for them to discuss and he was hopeful that they could make an alliance. 

With King Henry's recent annulment from the Emperor's aunt dealt with, King Francis had hopes that there would be nothing in the way of a truly beneficial partnership between their two countries. 

"We are here to renew our friendship and that of our two nations," King Francis continued pleased with the fact that King Henry had come to him seeking approval of his new bride. 

A bride that King Francis knew would boost his alliance with the English especially against the Emperor; perhaps even push for them to unite against the man that had caused their two countries so much trouble. 

"Come, let us celebrate," King Henry insisted leading the way, the feast around them was a pleasant enough distraction while they discussed such matters. 

Everything had been planned out carefully, it was too be Anne's introduction to the French King as the future Queen of England afterall; nothing could go amiss when there was so much on the line. 

Taking their seats on the thrones, the two Kings seeming most pleased with how their meeting was going; there was much to be discussed and both had high hopes for their meeting. 

"But where is the Lady Anne?" King Francis asked signalling to the empty seat beside his counterpart, he was most surprised to see that the woman of the hour had not yet arrived. 

The Lady Anne had spent time at his court, not only as a lady-in-waiting to his dear sister but to his late wife as well; he could not help but think that King Henry was a lucky man in deed to have such the chance to marry her. 

"She will be here," King Henry replied reassuring him, he had no doubts that his beloved wanted her entrance to be memorable and he recalled that she had decided to host a dance in the French King's honour. 

For such a meeting was something that should be celebrated especially taking note of the fact that he was hopefully willing to support her marriage to King Henry.

"I am sorry my wife changed her mind about meeting her," King Francis apologised, he didn't need to look at the empty seat at his side to know that Eleanor would not be there. 

She was the niece of Katherine of Aragon, sister to the Emperor and had refused point blank to meet with the King that had set her beloved Aunt aside and the woman that would take her place as Queen of England. 

"But what do you expect? Women are often variable," King Francis mused with a smile, he would not miss her this night and was sure that he would find someone else keep his attention for this night. 

Perhaps one of the many ladies that had accompanied King Henry and the Lady Anne to visit with him; it had been some time since he'd had an English rose and he was unsure when he might have one again. 

"Only madmen believe them," King Henry said in agreement, sipping on his drink while he scanned the room taking in the joyous occasion; things were going well he was most pleased with the effort that had gone into welcoming the French. 

The trip had been an easy one and King Henry could not imagine that anything could get in the way of his plans for this trip; he hoped that with King Francis's backing that none would get in the way of his impending marriage. 

"It is a shame my dear cousin could not attend," King Francis stated, his eyes searching the room not surprised that Clarice was not in attendance; he had hoped to speak with her but it seemed like that would not be possible. 

He had hoped to apologise for the hurt that he has caused her, perhaps even offer her some consolation for her after losing her Duchy like she had. 

"I must thank you brother for finding her a most suitable husband and providing for her while I could not," King Francis continued before his counterpart could speak, he looked to him knowing that he could not have asked for better treatment of her. 

Her marriage to the brother of the future Queen was a blessing and King Francis doubted he could have found a better match for her if he had tried.

"She is most dear to my heart, I should hope her time in England will be a comfortable one," King Francis told him, he looked away to search the room knowing that this would be his only warning to his friend. 

Should any harm befall Clarice then King Francis would not stand for it, she might not be his subject anymore but she was family and he feared what might happen to her especially with her disappointing the Pope as she had done. 

"As such I should warn you of His Holinesses displeasure," King Francis murmured turning back to King Henry, his words quiet so only the other King could hear him speak having no doubt that there would be spies for the Pope around reporting on his doings here. 

Clement had made his feelings on the matter clear when he had delivered Catherine de' Medici to France and King Francis would not have been surprised if he'd instructed people to watch his responses to the King of England or find a way to do away with the Lady Anne. 

"He is most displeased with your actions and asked me to deny my support of your marriage to the Lady Anne," King Francis whispered conspiratorially, he glanced around not knowing who would be watching them or listening in. 

His words brought a frown to King Henry, he should have known that His Holiness would seek to further undermine home; he would not be swayed from his decision to marry Anne. 

"I do not agree with him. I fear his acts are bore out of humiliation for believing the Dowager Princess of Wales," King Francis assured him, he was here as a friend and with King Henry's help perhaps he could deal a blow to the Emperor in more ways than one. 

He was hungry for power and should he succeed in taking France then there was no denying that he would turn his attentions to a place like England; he would install his aunt's daughter as a puppet on the throne to appease the people but the country would become a part of the Spanish Empire. 

"In this you shall have my support where I can give it," King Francis told him, he looked to King Henry knowing that together they would beat back the Emperor and that they would have a perfect alliance with Queen Anne.

The two men shared a look just as the music started up, announcing the start of the mask that had been prepared for them; ladies entered the room dressed in finery catching everyone's attention.  

King Francis clapped his hands, a look of joy on his face at the five ladies dressed like Greek muses as they took to the floor and started their dance; soon finding himself being led down from his throne to dance with the ladies. 

He felt rather sure that he could seduce perhaps one of them to his bed for the night, he could imagine that they would not deny a King; he twirled around looking at each of them, each pretty face covered in a mask with feathers. 

Moving down from his seat as the dance came to an end, King Henry moved behind the dancer that King Francis was dancing with and helped her remove her mask once the dance was over revealing Anne. 

"May I introduce my future Queen. The Lady Anne, the Duchess of Pembroke," King Henry announced holding out a hand for his beloved to take as she offered the King of France a curtsy. 

The room clapped at the reveal of the Lady Anne and soon the music started up again allowing the French King to whisk Anne away from the dance floor. 

Both knowing that there was much for them to discuss and it would be best to do so away from King Henry; she had no reason to worry of King Francis's part as he would not betray the secrets of any woman. 

"Do you really support my marriage to the King?" Anne asked once they were away from prying ears, she peeked back at Henry almost nervously and prayed that he would have no reason to doubt her. 

Of course, she had learnt things while attending French court but when her sister was the mistress of the French King; it was rather hard to avoid being painted with the same brush. 

"For one thing, I hate the Emperor so that anything which discomforts him, like the divorce of his aunt pleases me immeasurably," King Francis assured her with a smile, with Katherine's removal that things would be rather different from now on in England. 

There was nothing that the Emperor could do now to fix the fact that his aunt had lied and it had been noticed that he had been rather silent about the King of England's plan to remarry. 

"But also, I know you are a friend of France so we can do business," King Francis encouraged, he leant back in his seat pleased to think that there would be a strong alliance between their two countries. 

If England sided with him then they could not side with the Emperor, he would have a better chance in making him pay for what he had done; King Francis would not forgive the suffering that he or his sons had suffered at the hands of the Spanish dog.

Looking down for a moment, Francis considered how to word his next words to her; he did not wish to cause her any distress when they were here to celebrate. 

"But there is something else?" Anne asked sensing that there was more that King Francis had to say, she watched him not sure what to make of the raw emotion on his face while they spoke. 

Everything that she had ever hoped for was finally coming into reach, she had never thought that she would rise so high and so fast; she would be married to Henry and she hoped to make him happy. 

"It is not my place to say this, madam but perhaps we know each other well enough," King Francis spoke, his words careful and he searched her face as he prepared to give her some advice. 

He did not wish to frighten her but he knew that the position that she would soon take would not be an easy one; it would be something that she had never been prepared for. 

"The fact is the station you will be asked to occupy is not an easy one especially to those not born to it. It is much harder to have everything than to have nothing." King Francis said hoping that his words might be a caution for her. 

Despite his hopes of an alliance with England, he didn't want it to come at the cost of something that Anne was not entirely prepared for. 

His dear cousin was now linked to the woman and he greatly feared that her enemies might be too great; she would always have his support in this matter but he had to be careful how he expressed such support. 

King Francis recalled Anne's sister rather fondly, she had been a great favourite to him during her time as his mistress and he had been sad to see her leave the French court when she'd caught the English King's attention. 

The world of royalty was not an easy place for those who wishes to occupy it especially those who were not prepared for what it meant and what was expected of them. 

"If I had not been born to be king, I would certainly not have wished that fate upon myself," King Francis informed her, he was the son of a Count afterall despite him being the great-great-grandson of King Charles V of France. 

His words seemed to strike a chord with Anne, she stared at him and nodded her head knowing that her role would not be an easy one especially if she could not give Henry the son that she had so promised him during their courtship. 

***

Staring down at the letter that she had been writing, Catherine de' Medici frowned unable to find the words to express herself; she had not thought that she would get such a chance to send a letter to her cousins. 

Clement had made it clear that she should forget them now that they had turned their backs of their family in favour of serving the King of England and focus on her future as the Duchess of Orléans. 

Turning her quill over in her hands, Catherine wished that she could find the words to ask what she needed to; she had always felt like she could trust in Clarice but now they seemed to be on opposite sides. 

The news that Clarice had been married had made Catherine think of her own impending marriage, she could not help but dread the fact; her future husband clearly favoured his mistress and she could not see how she could catch his attention.

Dipping her quill into the ink pot, Catherine started to write again wishing many congratulations on her marriage to the Duke of Bedford and asked for advice on her own impending marriage despite the fact that it was a couple of years away. 

If she was going to survive here then she was going to need all the help that she could get, there was no one better that she could think of that could give her the advice that she needed. 

Catherine prayed that everything was well with her cousin, she hoped that Clarice would be blessed with sons that would please her husband and she would be safe in England. 

Once her letter was finished, Catherine sealed it with wax and hoped that her letter would reach Clarice; she wondered for a moment if she should write to Ippolito. 

It had broken her heart to be separated from him like she had and she wished to hear his thoughts on her husband-to-be; he would surely have much to say about the Duke of Orléans.