Wolsey's residences after his downfall

Wolsey travelled throughout the country after his downfall, chased by his enemies who wanted him as far away as possible from the king.
In the series he went to Jericho House, but in reality he went rightaway to one of his own houses at Esher, which he had not visited in years.

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It is raining all day.
Stripped of his splendor Wolsey sits at a table, hunched up, writing diligently a letter. It is terribly cold even though the fire is on, and due to the many leaks in the roof, Joan is putting pans everywhere to catch the dropping water.

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Thomas' enemies had managed to send him even furhter from the king. Joan and him moved to another house, a much more poor and old residence. She doesn't mind that, she never needed luxury or wealthy to be happy with the love of her life, she promised him to follow him everywhere and that she will always do, because he's everything she has ot and loves, he and their children, and if they're together they will be fine and won't need anything else but their neverending love.
But she really hates the fact that he's being humilated. He has worked so hard all his life, only for the best of the kingdom and the king, and now he's being treatened as if he were the worse ever, as a traitor, when he's among the few who are really loyal to the king. Her beloved Thomas is wise and so faithful,he can put everything aside just to please his king, he can put him before everyone or everything else and he's being paid like this, 'life is so unfair' she thinksand bites her lips with anger for all those corrupt and ambititous men who are now around the king.

This situation is unbearable! *she says changing the filled pans where water is falling and replacing them for empty ones* we have to repair the roof. Wolsey says they have no money and no servants so she replies* I am sure the king doesn't want you to live like this, you still are York Archbishop *he remembers loudly an old metaphor, they believe and know the king isn't acting by his own will, but moved by other influential forces* should it be Anne Boleyn?

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He keeps writing while she tells him the roof needs to be repaired and just sighs.
'By whom and by what? We have no money and almost no servants.' he says resigned and when she says he is still the Archbishop of York and the king can't possibly want him to live like this he whispers.
'Maybe it is not the king's fault.'

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He puts down his quill and rubs his chin.
'Lately I had reasons for me to recall an ancient prophecy. When the cow rides the bull, priest, watch out for your skull.'

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He smiles as she asks him if he is talking about Anne Boleyn.
'Yes, indeed... and that is why I write her this letter.'

*He says he's writting to Anne Boleyn and she looks at him surprised* do you write to her even when she's the reason of our misfortunes?

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*So he talks about why he writes to her and says he still has got the first letter she wrote to him, in which she promised to reward him as soon as she would become queen* I think I remember for that moment her promises were funnier for you... *she says looking at him remembering his first reaction when she read him the letter*

'She is the cause, yes, so she can also be the remedy.' he says, while he stands up and walks to a shelf on the wall and rummages among the papers. He finds what he seeks and reads quickly the words, written not so long ago, though everything has changed, now.
'If only I could convince her I am not her enemy, but her friend.' he says thoughtfull.

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He listens at her while she tells him he was very amused at the time.
'I might be... but meantime I lost my sense of humor.' He rolls his eyes and puts her letter carefully away, goes back to the table and starts writing again.

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*She follows him with her gaze and feels sad for him, she doesn't like him begging help to that woman but maybe he was right, if she was the cause of all this problems maybe she could be the one cure.
She sighs and he sits down again at the tablet, she walks to him and kisses his head tenderly with all her love, softly rubbing his shoulder* I hope it will work my love, I will make coffee and bring you a big hot cup of coffee with milk, would you like a piece of bread too? I made it this morning *she smiles tenderly to him*

He choses his words with care, aware of the importance of this letter, their future depends on how she will react. He smiles grim, he pleaded many times before, he faced many challenges but this is the first time his personal fate is at stake and he has to beg someone who is responsable for this situation in the first place. If the situation was not that serious he would have laughed hearty. Joans hands on his shoulder make him smile faintly and his frown disappears for a moment.
aww my love, yes, something warm would be nice, your hands are cold angel. he rubs them gently and kisses her cheek tenderly, she leaves the room and he finishes his letter with his signature, sighing deeply.

*She goes to the kitchen and prepares his coffee with milk, cuts some pieces of the bread she made and continues thinking about this crazy situation, her love having to beg to the woman responsible of his missfortunes, she hates him pleading but knows there's no other option for them. Puts everything in a tray and takes it to her love* here you are my darling, eat something, my hands will be warm if you eat and let me put them in your pocket *smiles and kisses his cheek* hope you will like it.
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Puts one of her hands in his pocket when she realizes he has just finished the letter and starts to read it with her eyes, hands a piece of breadand starts to eat with Thomas*

He puts the letter aside, thoughtfull and then takes a new parchment to write another one. It is important that Francis keeps supporting Henry and also Charles V, both rulers he knows for so long and he also knows how to to convince them to maintain the peace.
His quill slips quickly over the parchment and he just finishes the second one as Joan approached and he looks up, smiling.
'Ahhh I love that smell, my love! Come and warm yourself, it is cold in the kitchen now the oven is off.' he takes one of her hands in his and rubs it warm, while kissing her cheek.

*She smiles and rests her head on his shoulder, cuddling tenderly against him* ahhh my love shall I bake another cake? *teases him and kisses his hand with all her love* Don't worry my love, everything will be fine, and everything will result as it has to be, you are doing everything you can, even sending a letter to that woman and always thinking about the kingdom's and the king's security, ahh you really are the best ever an you can be calm and with your conscience quiet an clear, you've always been loyal and hardworker and there's no money to pay that

Days, weeks passed by and they moved several times, never knowing when they had to move again.
Life was simple but fulfilling, everywhere they went people visited and consulted them and they decided to ignore the daily harassment from his enemies.
By Christmas Wolsey fell seriously ill, they feared for his life but as Henry found out, he sent him another token of his love for him. Henry also made Anne sending him a ring and Wolsey recovered though he never became the same again.

The gifts meant hope, though, and by Januar he was fully acquitted and people whispered he would soon be restored to his former function. His enemies were alarmed and feared him more than ever. They held many meetings to discuss their plans.

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That night he can not sleep and when he sleeps, anxious dreams come upon him, his hands grab the sheets, restless and suddenly he sits upright, his eyes widened in horror, staring in the darkness of the night and into an even more dark future.

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They have been moving from one place to the other, tired of this situation they have some hopes but they see how their enemies try to humilate them knowing they really need help and will recieve every favour or do whatever the king will say without hesitate.

*She sleeps next to him and feels he isn't quiet, he wakes up and sits upright in bed, she wakes up, blinks her eyes and sees him staring nothing deep in thought* What's the matter Thomas? *she asks worried with sleepy voice. *
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*He tells her what's really happening and she realizes about the the seriousness of the situation* so we're lost...

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She wakes up and he tells her that Lady Anne answered his letter and told him she would not speak on his behalf to the King.

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Joan is silent and then sighs they are lost. She leans against him, seeking solence and his gaze softens as he looks at her sweet worried face.

'No....' he says thoughtfull. 'Not necessarily. there is someone else I can write, a lady who is in every respect much higher as that deceitfull whore... and more inclined to be friendly.'

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When he talks she realizes he's speaking about Queen Catherine, he smiles to her and she smiles back softly, as her heart is filled with new hopes. She kisses his hands with love and cuddles against him, his arm around her and she rests her head on his chest, hugs him tightely as they fall asleep together again.

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He smiles as he enters their little living room, she sits near the fireplace and he embraces her from behind, his hands playing in her hair as he leans over her to kiss her cheek.

'My love, I just had a meeting with two representatives of my diocese at York, they want to reinstall me as their Archbishop. It means we have to move once more, my angel, but then we find our destination and live at ease and quietly!' he says happily in her ear and nibbles it with joy.

*She sits down there to wait for him and pray for his best, begging God he'll come back with good news*

Ahh my love, really? *she asks happily almost crying of emotion, holds his face in her hands and covers him with kisses* awwww I am so so happy for you my love, such a happy blessing move it will be, I am sure we'll find out our way and quiet happy life, you deserve it my beloved Thomas! *kisses his forehead and hugs him tightely letting him rest his head on her chest as she strokes it*

He kneels before her and kisses her neck while she kisses his forehead.
'Yes, my love, really and such a blessing indeed! they want us to go there as soon as possible, I only had a huge argumentation with them about the festivities... they had many plans but I told them I don't want to insult the king so I don't want a ceremony with splendor and just let me do my job there quietly.'

He shakes his head and smiles while frowning, then rests his head on her chest.
'I am not sure if I won this conversation though.' He sighs and strokes her arm.
'I hope we will have many quiet and happy years, my angel, I look forward to mean something for the people of York and I also look forward to continue our wonderful time together. Our recent months together were the happiest of my life, even though we lived in poverty, thank you for staying by my side and cheering me up as only you can!' He raises his head and kisses her lips with love.

Awww my love, ofcourse we will go there as soon as posible, ahh you are so humble my love, you know you deserve everything and all the best and you only want to do your job, I am so proud of you, I admire you so much my beloved Thomas *kisses his eyes sweetly and his lips soflty*

Ofcourse people will love you! you will be a blessing for their lives as you are my blessing, aww I love you so much, we will have our deserved happiness there , all this time with you has been the most divine and happiest for me *kisses his lips again and softly caresses his hair holding his head between her hands. She winks and smiling asks* mmm should we start to pack now or we can have our private celebration first?

He shakes his head slowly, thoughtful. He reminds the day, only recently, he had dinner with some of his clergyman and friends, they had a good time untill an enormous golden cross came down from its position and hit one of the bishops on the head. His physician, doctor Augustine who caused the cross to fall down, was shocked and took care of the poor bishop, his wounds were not badly but Wolsey himself was so alarmed by this bad omen that he could not finish his dinner with them.

'I hope everything will be just fine...' he murmurs, shaking away his bad premonition and he smiles again, faintly but filled with new hopes as he watches Joan's precious beautiful face while she holds his head in her hands.
He smiles wider as she talks to him and kisses her long and deeply.
'I think we have a little time before we leave, so we can celebrate now.... and again when we arrive!' He tickles her but then George knocks at the door and enters to hand him a note. He bows and leaves the room, while Wolsey studies the seal.

'A note... from Princess Cordelia!' he says happily and he reads it loudly to Joan.

"Dear Cardinal,

I do hope you are well and your partner? I have missed you greatly, am sorry for any trouble I caused, I am worried about the Boleyns and am scared for what they may do. I do hope this letter reaches you.

Please take care

Cordelia"

'Mmmm.... poor her, I have this feeling no one looks after her anymore. She hated me for it, but I really cared about her, I still do, but what can I do, so far from court?' he sigh deeply.

She knows he has hopes and wishes all the best for their future as she does, but she also sees something worries him, he fears a dark shadow could appear in any moment to overshadow their bright happy destiny, and she understands him very well because she has had the same fears herself, however, she is sure if they are together as always nothing too bad can happen.

celebrate now and when we will come back? aww I love that idea *she says giggling and kissing him as George enters with the letter*
Oh poor princess Cordelia, she's such a good girl! You can't send her a lleter telling her things that could make the king feel uncomfortable but you can send her a letter telling her about how wise and strong she is, tell her her good qualities and cheer her up, strong her mood my love, and she will see no matters what the Boleyns or any other ambicious people can do, they will never change her and they will never defeat her spirit. She can't fight against them in politic matters, unluckily, but having her heart quiet to face the things to come is the best gift she could ever recieve and her strongest weapon.

He frowns deeply, the letter still in his hand but while Joan speaks, his face brightens.

'Of course, my love, you are right as ever! I will send her an encouraging letter, that is the least I can do for her and she will know how to handle, she is still young and...' he chuckles 'stubborn, but she has learned a lot since she came to court, she will be able to maintain. I will write her first thing tomorrow, before we leave.'

He looks at Joan with all his love and cuddles her.

'My love, mmm let's continue where we were before... we were interrupted. Weren't we talking about some kind of celebration?' he says, nibbling her earlobe with growing desire. He stands up and ignores his dizzyness and the old pains in his stomach which never seem to leave him since he found out his one great pride, his two collegues, were taken from him and awaited an uncertain fate of most probably closure.

He smiles and his hand entwines with hers, he kisses her long and deeply and then pulls her gently with him to their small bedroom, closing the door behind them with his foot.

She will appreciate your letter so very much my love, you will see,m you will renew her hopes *she smiles and kisses his forehead*

mmm my love, a celebration you said? *she laughs and wrapping her arms around his neck kisses him deeply, with all her love and growing desire for him. They enter their bedroom and as he closes the door with his foot they made their way to bed, between kisses and caresses and fall on it. Their simple and always so cosy bed, is Paradise on Earth, where they forget everything else but their eternal wonderful so pure neverending love they share. Caressing his belly softly she starts to take off his clothes and kisses his neck sweetly and tenderly* Thomas, you make me the happiest ever, I will never be able to thank you enough, so I will tell it over and over and over again, Thankyou very much! I love you!