“You cannot tell me you want to be here.” I continued. “I know where your loyalties lie. I heard you tell Cromwell I was not the real queen the night Henry summoned me and declared me Regent. Well, regardless of your thoughts, Seymour, if you have any in that addle brain of yours, I am now regent of the land on behalf of my son. The Lady Mary and the princess dowager are now dead. And so is the man who was courting you. Did you think to supplant me?”
I laughed at the thought of that.
“It would only be just retribution, madam, for what you did to Queen Katharine!” Jane said. I was surprised. She had more spirit than I had thought. Perhaps I had misjudged this woman. But as I was Regent, she spoke treason.
“You have three days to pack your things.” I said. “In the meantime, remember that I am Regent and words spoken against me are treason. I will let you live. I believe enough blood has been spilt as of late. But mind your tongue, Seymour.”
“May I… may I ask for a favor?” Jane dared. I inhaled deeply. She insulted me, now she begged a favor? What kind of woman was she?
“You may ask, certainly. But whether I will grant it is another matter.” I said.
“I… I love another.” Jane said. “I did not love the king. I love William Dormer but… his parents…”
In spite of the fact she would have been a serious rival had Henry lived, I still felt sorry for her, and I felt a pang in my conscience. I should help her. Like myself, there was a man that she loved, and the king had gotten in the way. We shared that, at least.
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