The Third Boleyn Sister
folder
S through Z › The Tudors
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
5
Views:
4,496
Reviews:
3
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
S through Z › The Tudors
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
5
Views:
4,496
Reviews:
3
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own the television series that this fanfiction is written for, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Deathbed Confessions
Chapter 2: Deathbed Confessions
A/N: Okay Claire learns the truth about her father as she’s getting ready to be carried off to Hampton Court. How will she take the news? Please read and review…I would love to know what you think of it so far!
Disclaimer: Nope still don’t own The Tudors or the incredibly sexy Jonathan Rhys Meyers…so I’m not making any money from this story. My reviews are payment enough…so PLEASE leave them! Good or bad I want to know what you (the readers) think!
Claire flinched a little when the door to her mother’s bedroom opened and the elderly nun that had been caring for her stepped out.
“Oh…Sister Frances…you startled me.”
“Forgive me my child…I wasn’t trying to frighten you.”
“My mother…may I see her now?”
“Certainly Lady Claire.”
“Thank you Sister.”
Claire opened the door to her mother’s room and walked inside quietly shutting the door behind her. There in the middle of the large four poster oak bed was her mother. She was dressed in a simple cream colored linen nightgown and she looked pale and tired. Elizabeth smiled when she opened her eyes to see her daughter standing at her bedside next to the chair that was beside the bed.
“Oh Claire…you look absolutely stunning darling. Are you all ready to go to court?”
“I suppose. Mother…do I have to go to Hampton Court?”
“Of course you do…it will be good for you. It would be silly to pass up an opportunity to become one of Queen Katherine of Aragon’s ladies in waiting.”
“Lady in waiting? What exactly am I waiting for? For the opportunity to be hand picked to become the next one of his majesty’s mistresses?”
“Claire Elizabeth Selwyn!”
“What? It’s the truth isn’t it?”
“It may be true that King Henry takes a fancy to some of Queen Katherine’s ladies in waiting…but that isn’t why I’m sending you to court.”
“Then forgive me mother…but why are you sending me off to Hampton Court exactly?”
“The experience of life at court is one that all young ladies should be privy to. You can learn a lot from Queen Katherine…she’s very worldly.”
“And King Henry? What might I learn from him?”
“King Henry is very intelligent as well and very athletic…you can learn a great deal from the both of them.”
“Mother why can’t I just stay here with you in Avonlea?”
“Because tucked away in Avonlea you will never find a suitable husband to provide for you once I’m gone. And that won’t be long now Claire.”
“Mother don’t say such things! You could get better…don’t give up on that.”
“Claire…I’m an old woman now…and I’m dying. There is something that I wanted to tell you before you leave.”
“I wish that you wouldn’t send me away.”
“Hush now and stop that fussing…it’s very unbecoming for such a beautiful young lady as you. Sit down.”
Claire sat down in the chair at her mother’s bedside and took her mother’s hand in hers when she reached out to her.
“Claire I wanted to talk to you about your father.”
A frown crept onto Claire’s face at the mention of her unknown and long absentee father.
“What’s there to say about the man other than the fact that he didn’t want me?”
“Stop it Claire and just listen!”
“Fine…but no matter what excuse you might conjure up for him being gone all this time I’ll never forgive him.”
“I’m not asking you to forgive him Claire…I’m asking you to listen.”
“I’m listening.”
“Claire remember how I told you that your father was just a merchant sailor that was passing through?”
“Yes.”
“Well that wasn’t exactly the truth.”
“So you lied to me?”
“Let me finish. Yes Claire…I lied to you. Your father is no merchant sailor.”
“So you know his name then?”
“I do.”
“And he’s not off sailing the seas somewhere?”
“No…he’s here…in London actually…at Hampton Court to be more precise.”
“My father’s at Hampton Court?”
“Yes.”
“Is he a commoner?”
“He is…but a very well to do commoner at court.”
“What’s his name? I want the truth and I want it now mother!”
“Your father’s name is Sir Thomas Boleyn.”
Claire’s sharp blue eyes widened in shock at her mother’s confession. She sat there dumbfounded for a moment not really sure what to say. Shaking her head she looked down at her lap.
“My father is Thomas Boleyn? How?”
“We had an affair Claire…it was years ago…sixteen to be exact.”
“When did this happen? Where?”
“At Pembroke Castle…I was a lady in waiting to Queen Elizabeth of York.”
“And you had an affair with a married man?”
“Yes…I was very young then Claire…I was not even as old as you are now. I was only fourteen when I arrived at Pembroke Castle and Thomas Boleyn immediately took notice of me.”
“And so the two of you what…began meeting in secret?”
“Yes…we would have secret trysts at Jordan House.”
“The King and Queen’s riverside mansion?”
“That’s the one.”
“Is that where I was conceived?”
“It’s quite possible yes…but it could have been our last tryst at Pembroke Castle.”
“And when you told him about me?”
“He told me that our relationship was over and that he couldn’t see me anymore.”
“So he went back to his wife and family and sent you away back to Avonlea?”
“Yes…he couldn’t risk Lady Elizabeth Howard-Boleyn finding out.”
“Finding out what? That he was a lying unfaithful maggot?”
“Claire! He may not be the most perfect man but he is still your father.”
“By blood only! Thomas Boleyn has never been a father to me and he never will. He was far too busy trying to protect his image and shelter his darling wife and his other obviously more precious children.”
“Claire please don’t judge him too harshly…it’s partly my fault that all this happened. If I hadn’t been so young and naïve then perhaps you would have grown up with a father. Now I want you to go to Hampton Court and get to know him.”
“Mother I really must protest…you ask too much.”
“This is my dying wish Claire…please? Give him a chance to be a part of your life…for me?”
Sighing heavily Claire looked back up at her mother who smiled at her.
“Fine…if only because you asked it of me on your deathbed.”
“That’s my girl. Oh Claire…I’m so proud of you. You will never know how much I truly adore you.”
“I’m going to miss you mother.”
“Oh hush now…no tears alright? Be a strong woman Claire. I love you.”
“I love you too mother.”
Claire leaned over and kissed her mother’s forehead lightly before knelling at her bedside and placing her head against her chest. She lay there for a long time just listening to her mother talk and the soft rhythm of her heart beating in her chest.
“Do you remember how I used to hold you when you were a little girl Claire?”
“Yes…I miss those times.”
“So do I darling…so do I.”
“Mother…I’m afraid to be without you.”
“You’ll be just fine Claire.”
“How do you know?”
“I have faith.”
Claire closed her eyes and just breathed in the soothing scent of her mother’s peppermint oil and listened to her heart beat. After a while she realized that she couldn’t feel the rise and fall of her mother’s chest as clearly as she had before. Sitting up quickly she looked up at her mother.
“Mother?”
“I’m not gone yet my darling…but soon now.”
“No! No you can’t leave me! I don’t want to be alone!”
“But you won’t be alone darling…you’ll have your father and your brother and sisters.”
“But I don’t know them. What if they hate me?”
“Just give them a chance to love you Claire. Now I just want to shut my eyes and rest for a while…I’m tired.”
Claire laid her head back down against her mother’s chest and closed her eyes as she listened to her soft breathing and inhaled the soothing peppermint oil that her mother wore. She ended up dozing off and woke up with a start when someone knocked on the door. Raising her head she looked down at her mother to see her eyes were still closed. Thinking she was still sleeping she smiled and leaned down to kiss her forehead. But she froze in place when she realized that her mother wasn’t breathing. Claire gently shook her mother but got no response.
“Mother? Mother open your eyes! Mother!”
The door to her mother’s room swung open and Sister Frances came back into the room.
“Lady Claire is everything alright?”
“No! Oh Sister Frances…my mother…she’s not breathing! You have to help her!”
Sister Frances came over and checked Lady Elizabeth’s pulse but found none. Looking back at Claire whose blue eyes had welled up with unshed tears that were just waiting to fall she shook her head.
“I’m sorry Lady Claire…she’s gone.”
“No! No! She can’t be! Not yet! I didn’t…I didn’t get to say goodbye!”
“I’m sorry child…she’s already gone. Now then…it’s time for you to leave for Hampton Court.”
Claire clenched her fists and shut her eyes making the tears start to leak out through her eyelashes. Sister Frances carefully guided her out of the manor and into the carriage that had been waiting to take her to King Henry and Queen Katherine’s palace. Once inside the carriage Claire broke down and began sobbing for the loss of her mother. Now she was truly alone. She knew nothing about her father…he was practically a stranger to her. And her half brother and sisters…they were strangers to her as well. Claire Selwyn had lost the only person in the world that mattered to her and now she was being carried off to Hampton Court to be thrust into a life she knew next to nothing about.
A/N: Okay I hope that you like the story so far. Please let me know your opinion…good or bad! Next Claire will meet her estranged father and half brother and sisters.
A/N: Okay Claire learns the truth about her father as she’s getting ready to be carried off to Hampton Court. How will she take the news? Please read and review…I would love to know what you think of it so far!
Disclaimer: Nope still don’t own The Tudors or the incredibly sexy Jonathan Rhys Meyers…so I’m not making any money from this story. My reviews are payment enough…so PLEASE leave them! Good or bad I want to know what you (the readers) think!
Claire flinched a little when the door to her mother’s bedroom opened and the elderly nun that had been caring for her stepped out.
“Oh…Sister Frances…you startled me.”
“Forgive me my child…I wasn’t trying to frighten you.”
“My mother…may I see her now?”
“Certainly Lady Claire.”
“Thank you Sister.”
Claire opened the door to her mother’s room and walked inside quietly shutting the door behind her. There in the middle of the large four poster oak bed was her mother. She was dressed in a simple cream colored linen nightgown and she looked pale and tired. Elizabeth smiled when she opened her eyes to see her daughter standing at her bedside next to the chair that was beside the bed.
“Oh Claire…you look absolutely stunning darling. Are you all ready to go to court?”
“I suppose. Mother…do I have to go to Hampton Court?”
“Of course you do…it will be good for you. It would be silly to pass up an opportunity to become one of Queen Katherine of Aragon’s ladies in waiting.”
“Lady in waiting? What exactly am I waiting for? For the opportunity to be hand picked to become the next one of his majesty’s mistresses?”
“Claire Elizabeth Selwyn!”
“What? It’s the truth isn’t it?”
“It may be true that King Henry takes a fancy to some of Queen Katherine’s ladies in waiting…but that isn’t why I’m sending you to court.”
“Then forgive me mother…but why are you sending me off to Hampton Court exactly?”
“The experience of life at court is one that all young ladies should be privy to. You can learn a lot from Queen Katherine…she’s very worldly.”
“And King Henry? What might I learn from him?”
“King Henry is very intelligent as well and very athletic…you can learn a great deal from the both of them.”
“Mother why can’t I just stay here with you in Avonlea?”
“Because tucked away in Avonlea you will never find a suitable husband to provide for you once I’m gone. And that won’t be long now Claire.”
“Mother don’t say such things! You could get better…don’t give up on that.”
“Claire…I’m an old woman now…and I’m dying. There is something that I wanted to tell you before you leave.”
“I wish that you wouldn’t send me away.”
“Hush now and stop that fussing…it’s very unbecoming for such a beautiful young lady as you. Sit down.”
Claire sat down in the chair at her mother’s bedside and took her mother’s hand in hers when she reached out to her.
“Claire I wanted to talk to you about your father.”
A frown crept onto Claire’s face at the mention of her unknown and long absentee father.
“What’s there to say about the man other than the fact that he didn’t want me?”
“Stop it Claire and just listen!”
“Fine…but no matter what excuse you might conjure up for him being gone all this time I’ll never forgive him.”
“I’m not asking you to forgive him Claire…I’m asking you to listen.”
“I’m listening.”
“Claire remember how I told you that your father was just a merchant sailor that was passing through?”
“Yes.”
“Well that wasn’t exactly the truth.”
“So you lied to me?”
“Let me finish. Yes Claire…I lied to you. Your father is no merchant sailor.”
“So you know his name then?”
“I do.”
“And he’s not off sailing the seas somewhere?”
“No…he’s here…in London actually…at Hampton Court to be more precise.”
“My father’s at Hampton Court?”
“Yes.”
“Is he a commoner?”
“He is…but a very well to do commoner at court.”
“What’s his name? I want the truth and I want it now mother!”
“Your father’s name is Sir Thomas Boleyn.”
Claire’s sharp blue eyes widened in shock at her mother’s confession. She sat there dumbfounded for a moment not really sure what to say. Shaking her head she looked down at her lap.
“My father is Thomas Boleyn? How?”
“We had an affair Claire…it was years ago…sixteen to be exact.”
“When did this happen? Where?”
“At Pembroke Castle…I was a lady in waiting to Queen Elizabeth of York.”
“And you had an affair with a married man?”
“Yes…I was very young then Claire…I was not even as old as you are now. I was only fourteen when I arrived at Pembroke Castle and Thomas Boleyn immediately took notice of me.”
“And so the two of you what…began meeting in secret?”
“Yes…we would have secret trysts at Jordan House.”
“The King and Queen’s riverside mansion?”
“That’s the one.”
“Is that where I was conceived?”
“It’s quite possible yes…but it could have been our last tryst at Pembroke Castle.”
“And when you told him about me?”
“He told me that our relationship was over and that he couldn’t see me anymore.”
“So he went back to his wife and family and sent you away back to Avonlea?”
“Yes…he couldn’t risk Lady Elizabeth Howard-Boleyn finding out.”
“Finding out what? That he was a lying unfaithful maggot?”
“Claire! He may not be the most perfect man but he is still your father.”
“By blood only! Thomas Boleyn has never been a father to me and he never will. He was far too busy trying to protect his image and shelter his darling wife and his other obviously more precious children.”
“Claire please don’t judge him too harshly…it’s partly my fault that all this happened. If I hadn’t been so young and naïve then perhaps you would have grown up with a father. Now I want you to go to Hampton Court and get to know him.”
“Mother I really must protest…you ask too much.”
“This is my dying wish Claire…please? Give him a chance to be a part of your life…for me?”
Sighing heavily Claire looked back up at her mother who smiled at her.
“Fine…if only because you asked it of me on your deathbed.”
“That’s my girl. Oh Claire…I’m so proud of you. You will never know how much I truly adore you.”
“I’m going to miss you mother.”
“Oh hush now…no tears alright? Be a strong woman Claire. I love you.”
“I love you too mother.”
Claire leaned over and kissed her mother’s forehead lightly before knelling at her bedside and placing her head against her chest. She lay there for a long time just listening to her mother talk and the soft rhythm of her heart beating in her chest.
“Do you remember how I used to hold you when you were a little girl Claire?”
“Yes…I miss those times.”
“So do I darling…so do I.”
“Mother…I’m afraid to be without you.”
“You’ll be just fine Claire.”
“How do you know?”
“I have faith.”
Claire closed her eyes and just breathed in the soothing scent of her mother’s peppermint oil and listened to her heart beat. After a while she realized that she couldn’t feel the rise and fall of her mother’s chest as clearly as she had before. Sitting up quickly she looked up at her mother.
“Mother?”
“I’m not gone yet my darling…but soon now.”
“No! No you can’t leave me! I don’t want to be alone!”
“But you won’t be alone darling…you’ll have your father and your brother and sisters.”
“But I don’t know them. What if they hate me?”
“Just give them a chance to love you Claire. Now I just want to shut my eyes and rest for a while…I’m tired.”
Claire laid her head back down against her mother’s chest and closed her eyes as she listened to her soft breathing and inhaled the soothing peppermint oil that her mother wore. She ended up dozing off and woke up with a start when someone knocked on the door. Raising her head she looked down at her mother to see her eyes were still closed. Thinking she was still sleeping she smiled and leaned down to kiss her forehead. But she froze in place when she realized that her mother wasn’t breathing. Claire gently shook her mother but got no response.
“Mother? Mother open your eyes! Mother!”
The door to her mother’s room swung open and Sister Frances came back into the room.
“Lady Claire is everything alright?”
“No! Oh Sister Frances…my mother…she’s not breathing! You have to help her!”
Sister Frances came over and checked Lady Elizabeth’s pulse but found none. Looking back at Claire whose blue eyes had welled up with unshed tears that were just waiting to fall she shook her head.
“I’m sorry Lady Claire…she’s gone.”
“No! No! She can’t be! Not yet! I didn’t…I didn’t get to say goodbye!”
“I’m sorry child…she’s already gone. Now then…it’s time for you to leave for Hampton Court.”
Claire clenched her fists and shut her eyes making the tears start to leak out through her eyelashes. Sister Frances carefully guided her out of the manor and into the carriage that had been waiting to take her to King Henry and Queen Katherine’s palace. Once inside the carriage Claire broke down and began sobbing for the loss of her mother. Now she was truly alone. She knew nothing about her father…he was practically a stranger to her. And her half brother and sisters…they were strangers to her as well. Claire Selwyn had lost the only person in the world that mattered to her and now she was being carried off to Hampton Court to be thrust into a life she knew next to nothing about.
A/N: Okay I hope that you like the story so far. Please let me know your opinion…good or bad! Next Claire will meet her estranged father and half brother and sisters.