1550
It was cold in the gardens of Greenwich, Constance Fitzroy didn't notice the chill much - across the courtyard she could hear the lusty cries of the Prince of Wales. It wouldn't be long before he was moved to his own household but with the Queen only just rallying from childbed, it had been thought that it would raise her spirits to have the boy so close. At least until Bess was churched. Constance had seen the life come back into her cheeks and it had been enough, her sister had done what had been needed - a healthy boy after all the turmoil. A sign of God if there ever was one.
Though Constance did not believe much in God, not most days.
"I thought you were avoiding my missives Lady Fitzroy," A voice came from behind and the redhead turned, her features relaxing into an anxious smile. "Not that you would send me a note to ask me to meet you without your usual chaperone,"
"I have been doing a lot of thinking while attending to my sister Lord Rochford," Constance answered as the handsome young courtier stood before her. "Would you sit by me?"
"Anything for the fairest rose in all of England,"
"How many women has that worked on?"
Arthur Boleyn considered this for a moment and then laughed "Are you calling me a cad?"
"I would never call you a label you did not assign yourself,"
Constance paused, her face troubled for a moment before she asked, "You have asked for my hand more than once, none could ever say your family is nothing but ambitious but I know your cousin well and she says you are a good man. I trust her judgment, she has the shrewdness of her mother in her but I wish to know if that offer still stands,"
"You mean if I still wish to marry you? But Her Majesty -"
"My sister has long been kind to me, I think her sympathies about my upbringing and what our -" Constance swallowed hard "Father. What he did to us and to me and our mothers, they will remain for a long time. In terms of my marriage, she has left it to me and I stand in a unique position than most women do. She does not want me harmed any more than I have been,"
"I would not harm you," Arthur said softly, "I would swear it upon all the Saints, upon England, upon our someday King Edward. You would have my word,"
Constance regarded him, almost curiously. "I have heard many promises from men Arthur Boleyn," She said quietly, far too sadly than any young woman had the right to be. "None have been kept, but if your offer for my hand still remains I would give it to you,"
"I-"
"I am not obligated to do this, I have thought about it for a long time and -"
"What about Kathryn Howard?"
Constance tilted her head up, her eyes flashing with something that she couldn't name.
"You love her," Arthur Boleyn said quietly into the morning air, not a question but a statement of fact.
"And what will you do about it?" Constance asked quietly, "Who will you tell? You would bring shame on my sister? I could go to a nunnery but -"
"Kitty Howard would follow you," Arthur replied "She would follow you into hell itself and I would not be so cruel as to unleash Mistress Howard upon some poor unsuspecting women of God,"
Constance let out a low humorless laugh, "So what would you do?"
Arthur sighed, "I know enough of the heart to know sometimes there is no choice, you have stayed by each other's side through many trials and love is something for God. I chose to put my faith in God instead of question anything else,"
Constance considered Arthur for a moment, a flicker of understanding falling on her face. "Who is he?" She asked after a long moment.
It was Arthur's turn to laugh then, "You are far more clever than anyone gives you credit for Constance Fitzroy,"
"Will you then? Will you have my hand?"
"What about our -"
"We can figure it out I believe, I wish to be a mother more than anything. That's why I want to marry and -" Constance smiled "Is he unmarried?"
"Yes."
"Then I may have an idea,"
"Ah, well I have a letter to write to my father,"
"And I will speak to my sister, the Portugese have landed on our shores they wish for their Infanta Maria to be Queen someday, so perhaps it is the spirit of things,"
Arthur took her hand then and kissed it, "And I swear to be your loyal heart or simply just your friend,"
A smile came across Constance's face, like a rose coming into full bloom. "You are a good man Lord Rochford,"
And in the cold early morning air, they did not let each other go.
I have a much larger family tree but this one is the most relevant and likewise if anyone has any questions if I forget to cover anything, I'll definitely answer those!