Criticism for all members of the wives' club, except for CoA: Why did you want to marry Henry, especially after the first divorce?
Anne Boleyn: Well, because I loved him and the divorce happened because he loved me. I would be a cool to have been through all that and not do the one thing I had been so damned and judged for… At the time, I thought it would be forever, but our forever lasted only as long as Henry hadn’t grown used to me. Six years and a thousand days.
Jane Seymour: I loved Henry and I wanted to spend my life with him, which was the case. He was kind and gallant and loving and I know his divorce to Catherine was not his fault, but Anne Boleyn’s as she lured him out of a true marriage to her bed. I am not proud of the means that needed to be took so me and him could be joined at they eyes of the church, but I do not regret doing so.
Anne of Cleves: It was not as much of a choice of mine as it was a family’s choice. Political reasons are more important than heart matters as it is. It’s unfortunate that he couldn’t have persisted a little more in the marriage, with some work I suppose we would have been a couple that, if not madly in love, were at least very fond of each other. Still, Kitty did win over his love then, and I was more than happy to be a close friend of both when the divorce was signed. He and I are still friends to this day, he views me almost as a sister.
Katherine Howard: He did win me over and I was always a slightly hopeless romantic. I should’ve seen that it was doomed from the start, but he used to promise me the most wonderful things, speak of the sweetest of poems, shower me with gifts… My family was more than happy to love me a little more while that happened too. Oh, well, one more poor life choice, you could say.
Katherine Parr: It would be a lie to say that love isn’t part of the equation. After two marriages, you know it takes a bit of heart eyes to get things running smoothly, but family and politics do not take any less of a role. The thing is, he fell for me, moderately, and I for him, equally moderate, and both being widowers and having been through the good and bad of marriages appreciate each other’s company and the lukewarm affection to this relationship. I will be the best wife I can and he will be the best husband he can. So far, the agreement has been working rather well.
