Wolsey's study

He felt restless and walked through the room, he knew he asked much of the straightforward More.
If only he could go himself! He wiped his forehead again, then came close to him and smiled weakly.
´You have principles, I understand.´ he nodded, based.

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´But because of the love we both share for His Majesty, it is your task to be as obstructive as possible! Make sure that Francis does not forget his promiss to us and don´t let the Pope forget that it were the Emperor´s troups who invaded Rome and raided it!´ he watched him sharply to see if his message came across.

Thomas nodded, trying to smile back at him

Yes...I have strong principles, Cardinal. Neverthless, I have duties towards crown too. I love Harry like a brother. And...if this mission is necessary for his kingdom's safety, I'll do it. You can count on me, Wolsey...

He answered, noticing that Wolsey realized he was rather perplexed about that

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Wolsey was rather surprised that More gave in so easily, he expected resistance or at least a discussion.
Grateful for his attitude, he tapped his shoulder and smiled.

´I´m glad you agree with me on this, Thomas! You know I want peace above anything else, but this is too soon! Our national safety is at stake indeed, from outside but also from inside. The king is not happy, Thomas, and you and I know the importance of a happy king!´ he paced back and forth across the room.

Thomas put his hands together and nodded

I have to agree with you, Cardinal. The King is not happy. But...it's all because of his obstination. Oh...I won't discuss with you about my opinions now, Wolsey. You know my principles very well. But...as I told you, if the mission you just gave me...will help him to get happier, I'll leave to France very gladly...

He replied, looking firmly at him but with a kind smile on his face. He just hoped that Wolsey was not thinking that he was kidding him or his proposals...

He sighed and bited his lips. If only Henry saw the importance of this meeting, he would have let Wolsey go. Unfortunately, Henry only thought of his divorce and even suspected Wolsey of wanting to go there to avoid the outcome of the trial. Francis had offered him a large sum of money and therefore Henry saw no need to pay much attention to the negotiations of two countries who were great rivals after all.

He looked at More again and shrugged. He had no choice, he had to trust him.
´I... appreciate your cooperation. You should leave at once, I´ve been told the meeting will take place next week! And Thomas... don´t let anyone change your mind about the English interests in this consultation!´

Thomas listened attentively at him. It seemed this mission was very important for him. Especially now...when he needed to gain King's trust again. Then he nodded and took the paper from his hands

I'll keep it in mind, Cardinal...

He answered, staring at him. Then he bowed with his head and left the room with slow steps

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Wolsey smiled faintly and bowed his head slightly while More left the room.
He stared ahead, deep in thoughts for a while, then finished his wine at once and walked back to his desk, to take more matters at hand.

Margaret had just got back from seeing the Princess Mary, and she felt asif she needed to thank Wolsey, for making her feel comfortable at a court, that's trying to get rid of her mother, going to the the announcer she nodded at him and held her head high, 'I would like a audience with His Eminence' She said and she announced entered Wolsey's study.

The Princess Margaret Tudor wishes to have an audience with his Eminence' He said.

Wolsey just sealed another plea to the Pope to decide quickly on the Great Matter, the ink was still drying as a servant entered and announced the sister of the king.
He nodded to give him permission to make her enter and smiled faintly, he had not seen her in a while, ever since Henry abandoned her from court because she married the Duke of Suffolk without his approval, she didn't visit court often anymore. Even when Henry revoked the ban and Charles came back, Margaret still preferred their quiet countrylife.

He stood up and approached the door while he waited for her and the moment she entered, he bowed deeply.
'Your Highness, I am most pleased to recieve you...' He smiled at her, blinking his eyes to conceal his shock about her changed appearance. She was still beautiful but unnatural pale and almost translucent skinny. She actually looked very sick and he quickly offered her a chair.

'Can I offer you something to drink, Your Highness? I have all kinds of fresh drinks, or perhaps you prefer a wine?'

Margaret looked at the Cardinal and nodded her head 'With the day iv' had, wine shall do' She said and she sat down in the chair, she gathered the words she saw about to say in her head, and she looked at Wolsey 'II wish to thank you' She said.

She breathed in deeply, and held her head high, something she would normally do, she blinked a couple of times 'I wish to thankyou, as i said, for treating the Princess Mary, with all respect, and being ever so kind to her, in these troubled times, something that no other normal person, would not do' She said and she smiled up at him.

Wolsey smiled and gestured a servant to pour them two goblets of wine. He sat down himself and listened attentively, a little surprised that she took the effort to come here and thank him.
He knew her temper and her pride, this was the last thing he expected from her, but he hid his confusion.
´Your Highness, I thank you for your kind words, after all I am still her Godfather and her welfare is very important to me.´

He shook his head, frowning a little and smiled faintly.
´Especially in these troubled times, the young Princess needs to be heard and supported in the best way possible... she is not a little child anymore. I appreciate your care for her, she needs strong and loving people around her now.. ´

Margaret nodded a little and she took the Goblet and took a sip from it 'Especially in...these times' She repeated before she sat the goblet down on the table. She looked at The Cardinal 'What does his majesty plan to do with Mary once the marriage is named annulled?' She asked and her eyes flickered around the room and back at the Cardinal.

Margaret breathed in deeply 'Im sure...Henry..won't just abandon her and..Katherine now, will he?...He is such a silly boy. Katherine was modest and..dignified. I despise that Boleyn girl, and her family' Margaret said freely, not giving a care if there was other listening ears or not.

As soon as she spoke again he smiled at himself, her temper made her speak freely, but he was a diplomat, not able to speak only for himself.
He was truly upset though about her suggestion that Henry would abandon Katherine and Mary and shook his head heavily.
'Of course he won't abandon them! Katherine will be treated with all respect she deserves, though she can't stay at court, that would be... impropriate. She can choose herself a residence and enjoy a good life as Queen Dowager, and Princess Mary will join her there if she is not here at court. Princess Mary will stay directly in the line of succession, until Henry has a male heir...'

Her last words made him moan in agreement in his thoughts, but he chose not to answer her, his position was uncertain enough without aggravating it with his personal opinion, so he just shrugged.

Margaret lean't forward to the Cardinal 'You and i know how my brother is, Wolsey. If Katherine won't go freely, he will force her' She said she sighed a little 'If Henry want an annulment, Mary will be proclaimed a bastard, and that...Boleyn girl will be happy to see that day, where she won't have to worry about Katherine's child becoming Queen' She also said.

Margaret lean't back with her chin held high 'As i should, i only worry for my niece, and her welfare.' She said with a courtly nod and she picked up the goblet and took a sip 'Will the Pope agree to Henry's annulment?' She asked.

Wolsey looked straight back into her eyes, frowning deeply.
´Of course he will force her to leave, once the separation is pronounced, she can´t possibly stay here at court!´

He put his hands on the desk and leaned forward, half rising from his chair.
´He has no intention of proclaiming the Princess Mary a bastard...´ he broke off, knowing very well that Anne would not rest untill Henry would give in and he shook his head.
´... he acknowledged two other children as his own, if the young Henry Fitzroy had survived he´d probably made him king, he even thought of marrying princess Mary to him to secure the Crown! I will do everything to keep him in mind that Princess Mary was born as his rightful heir, and she must stay in line of succession, only to be passed by a possible male heir!´

He sat down again, her last question remained in the air, loaded heavily. He reflected on his reply for a while, then shrugged and told her frankly and with a soft voice.
´No.... I don´t think the Pope will ever grant his annullment... at least not as long as he still fears the Emperor.´

Margaret thought for a second and she looked at Wolsey 'I will do everything in my power to keep Mary here at court, and as princess, for as long as i can' Margaret said, her voice faded of a little. Everyone knew at court that she was ill, but they didn't know how ill she really was, yes she went about with her head high, but she hurt every second as so did her chest.

Margaret looked at Wolsey 'This...is a good thing that he wont allow an annulment?' She asked, and she breathed in deeply before letting the breath back out and she shook her head 'These are stressful times, Cardinal. But, does the Princess know of her fathers actions?' She asked.

Wolsey nodded in agreement and smiled faintly.
'So will I, believe me, so will I!'

He heard her voice fading and looked unobtrusively though sharp at her. He heard the rumours about her health and though she held her head high, he noticed her unnatural pale face, the dark shadows around her eyes, she gave him the impression to hide pain.

He shook his head at her question.
'What is good and what is bad? If he gets the annullment, he still has a chance to get a male heir... if not, I am afraid he will use other means... with all consequences that this entails!
And no.... I don't think anyone informed her, though it can't be long before she finds out herself.' he sighed, then looked at her again, frowning deeply..

'Spoken about good and bad.... Your Highness, please tell me... was it a good thing I persuaded Henry to approve your marriage to the Duke of Suffolk? Can you confirm to me you are really... happy with him?'

Margaret looked at Wolsey when she heard his question reach her ears, her eyes showed the briefest glimmer of hurt, she blinked them and breathed in deeply 'I...and the Duke of Suffolk..are..happy' She said with some hesitation and she clenched her jaw 'Although, there is..some things about our marriage i would like to change, i know i cannot, as for my health, and his..mistresses...' She said 'God has given us what he have for a reason, maybe it is good, maybe it is bad, i have no clue upon it, but we shall see when the final days come' She said with a brief weak smile.

Wolsey looks at her with compassion. He never guessed that the strong-minded Margaret would have fallen in love with Brandon, even though Brandon seemed to capture every woman's heart.
He underestimated her despair at the time, alone in a totally strange and hostile country, surrendered to this one and only compatriot..... he sigh deeply.

'God gives us sorrows and pain, to learn and cope with them.... I am pleased to hear you say you are happy though, even though your husband is.... who he is!' he bites his lips, he never understood Brandon who not only dared to marry the king's sister but also betrayed her under the nose of his king and friend!

He frowns as she speaks about the final days and holds his breath.
'Your Highness! You speak as if... as if you think your final days are near!' He shakes his head, leans forward and whispers.
'Are you alright? You seem to be in pain..... is there anything I can do for you?'

Margaret looked at Wolsey and smiled 'The only pain i can feel, is the continuing pain in my heart' She said with a sad smile and she looked around the room and then at him again 'I fear, i know my final days are approaching, just like the lord Jesus knew his was near, yet i know His Lord will look after me when i do pass away, from this sinful world' She said with a smile.

He gasped as she spoke frankly and he reached for her hand.
'You... know that?.... Have you seen a physician who confirmed this? Ohh this can't be true! You are so young, so strong...' he stopped as he saw the expression on her face and he sighed deeply.

'Your husband... and your brother, have you informed them? How did they react?' he asked softly, not removing his eyes from her, her resigned attitude filled him with concern, where was her normal fighting spirit?

Margaret looked at Wolsey and raised an eyebrow 'I have...yet to tell the King of this...news' She said and she nodded 'Although Charles..knows..of course. He says i will recover to my full health, but i can see it in his eyes that he knows as well my time is near at an end' She said and she breathed in deeply and held the breath before releasing it 'Promise me..Cardinal...That you will look after Mary, once i pass' She said.

His eyes widened and he blinked them, she had not told Henry!
´Your Highness.... I know your brother is very... busy nowadays, but you should tell him, I´m sure he will do everything within his power to make you comfortable!´ he shook his head, he knew that Henry loved her but both their tempers made them not always go along very well.

Her words about Brandon angered him, where was he, he should be with his wife now, instead of following his own senses, but he just nodded.
´Of course I will look after her, I do my best to defend her interests and to support her as a true Godfather would do, it´s just.... ´ he shrugged and spoke softly ´... it´s just that he doesn´t seem to appreciate my opinions the way he used to do, ever since... she came into his life.´

Margaret knew instantly she was talking about Anne Boleyn, her anger boiled up inside of her and she gripped the edge of the chair 'Ever since that whore...Has came into his life, everything has pretty much changed' She said and she realized the breath that she didn't realize she was holding and she fixed her gaze upon Wolsey's eyes, 'I will do my best to try and change his Majesties mind, but we all know Henry. Once his mind is fixed upon something, it cannot be changed' She said.

"Charles reached Hampton Court since he was told that Cardinal Wolsey, retired himself there, wanted to see him. He was escorted by a guuard until his study room and he was announced"

"The Duke of Suffolk is here, Your Eminence.."