"Oh isn't it such a glorious day, Anne?" Mary giggled as she rushed along the path, the velvets of her deep turquoise dress swishing as she did so. Her beautiful mass of blonde curls pinned up and dotted with pearls. Her sister was quite the opposite, her dark curls were let loose around her shoulders and the deep red of her dress seemed to match her slightly tanned skin perfectly. No one would ever have guessed that they were sisters. "Glorious? Nice maybe, but I would not describe it as glorious" Anne sniped at her younger sister with a roll of her eyes.
"What do you have to be so happy about anyway, Mary? That William fellow?" she laughed in spite, Mary stopped her giddy skipping and turned to face her sister, folding her arms as she stood still to the spot, birds happily chirping, no other sounds audible. It really was a beautiful day, the flowers were in full bloom, and the gardens of their grand home looked stunningly impeccable. "That William fellow happens to be one of the most gracious, handsome and kind men that I have ever met. Yes, he may be older, but he is sweet. I like that quality in a man. At least I'm making a marriage" she laughed, raising an eyebrow at Anne before moving forward to head back to the house, she couldn't stand being around her sister when she was behaving this way.
"We are to Court tomorrow, little miss Marry" Anne called out after before carrying on in the direction that they had been heading. "Maybe someone else shall catch your eye other than the bore that is Carey" she said teasingly, Mary didn't listen to her and carried on walking quickly.
William really was a lovely man; he was everything that a seventeen year old could want in a husband. She was lucky that they were to be married, she would soon be settled and a housewife and would have a lot of beautiful children. Her life was now pretty much laid out for her, she was happy with it. Maybe not entirely fulfilled, but she was happy all the same.
The next day, and they had arrived in London, the filth and smells made Mary's eyes water and so she bent her head as their carriage rolled on. "M'lady Mary" the coachman said as he opened the door for her once they had arrived, she thanked him with a tilt of her head as she stepped out, adjusting her beautiful pink gown as she did so. She looked around and smiled to herself, she could already sense the business of the place, that there was always going to be something going on throughout their stay. Her marriage for starters, the next day she would be Mrs William Carey. She smiled to herself; a flush arose in her cheeks as she was escorted inside along with her elder sister and brother who had been in a separate carriage. They were to be presented to King Henry VIII himself, and so of course had to look their very best. She checked that her elaborate hairstyle was still in place before they headed into the hall, the astonishingly large and gorgeous hall. Mary was in awe as they made their way through the great, vast room, lined on both sides with tables, portraits hung on every wall, the decorations were intricately mastered. "Lord George Boleyn, and the ladies Anne and Mary Boleyn, your Majesty" she heard a voice announce before she drew her attention away from the room and looked towards the man sat on the throne right in front of them.
He was stunningly handsome, he looked so strong. His fair hair was shoulder length, his beard close shaven. He looked so powerful, sat up there above them in his regal way.
"It is an honour to be here, your Majesty" George said once they had bowed and curtseyed to him. Henry looked over them all, his eyes lingering on Mary perhaps longer than they should have done for a married man, before he spoke. "And it is a pleasure to have you, Boleyn. You will all be feasting with us tonight, I presume?" "Yes, your highness" "Well, you are excused until that time" he said before waving a hand dismissively at them, he turned away, his face as if in thought as the three Boleyns turned to leave the room. "What a man, eh Mary? Not like your weakling" Anne giggled as they quickly left, Mary rolled her eyes and shook her head as she followed after her, she dared to take one last fleeting look back at the King, and what shocked her was that he was looking right in her direction, at her. She gasped, blushed and turned back around, speedily moving out of the hall, ignoring the way her heart had picked up speed at the mere sight of him looking at her in that lusty, desirous way.
