"That was completely dreadful Cromwell," a man said as he threw his gloves to the floor.
The man he addressed picked them up and hung his master's coat up. "Perhaps tomorrow will be better, sir."
"Hmm. What invitations have I received?"
Cromwell handed him the letters and watched his master's facial expression. He always found it amusing. His own father had served his master's father so they were quite close. He enjoyed working for the family.
Henry opened the first of the three letters. This one was from Sir Henry Norris. They got along well and he wanted to express his gratitude and admiration for the House of Tudor. Henry smirked slightly. It was no secret that his business was doing well.
Though he was a mere merchant he was becoming well known. He frowned. Though it was not always praise on people's lips. "Write to Sir Henry that I return his affection and will attend his party tomorrow night."
"Yes, sir."
Henry sighed. Hopefully tomorrow night would go well.
Anne preferred the taste of wine to champagne but indulged her cousin and sister anyway. They drank with smiles and seemed perfectly content but Anne felt restless. She wished to go to the opera with Nan but her mother had dragged her here instead.
"You can't find a proper husband at the opera," she had said. "You must mingle and dance in order to entice a man. When you begin to court then you can go to the opera."
Anne had rolled her eyes at what her mother said. It was completely foolish. She almost wished Mary hadn't received a proposal.
Oh, she was happy for her sister, of course. Marrying an Irish lord who was a distant cousin. Her sister would be a Countess and her family was quite happy about that. Now that Mary was engaged and George married that left Anne alone with their parents.
The two elder children are marrying well. Mary a Countess and George's father in law making him his heir to a Viscountcy raised their hopes of Anne marrying well too. She wanted to please her parents but the men she had a fancy to were never good enough for her parents.
Sir Thomas Wyatt was a man she loved very much but her father disagreed. Her mother only wished for her to marry a man with a title. Whether he be called Sir or Duke. Anne found it strange that her father didn't want her to marry a knight, but he himself was one and her mother's family didn't like it.
He could claim different now that he was called a Baron though it wasn't to be inherited by none of his children. Anne sighed.
"Is something wrong cousin?" Katherine Howard asked. She was only fifteen and was completely sheltered. She knew of nothing else besides comfort and wealth. To know anything else was to not know herself. Though Anne suspected she didn't know that either.
"I find this party quite boring, is all."
Katherine giggled. "You find every party boring. I wager that the next man who walks through that door will be your soul mate." Anne scoffed but silently hoped so.
"Mr. Henry Tudor."
Everyone stopped and turned towards the man who walked in. He was tall. Very tall. His hair was dark and his eyes a very light blue. Anne felt her heart quicken.
She watched him go to different people and introduce himself. When he near her she listened closely to what he said.
"Good evening. Mr. Henry Tudor. What is your name?"
The lady smiled. "Miss Eleanor Luke."
"A pleasure Miss Luke."
"Have you frequented our society?"
He smiled. "This my first occasion."
Eleanor's smile brightened. Perhaps she could show him around. "I hope you find it to your liking."
"I'm sure I will. Would you like to dance Miss?"
"Oh! Gladly." She moved to stand but a gentlemen close to her whispered in her ear. She pulled her hand away from his. "Forgive me, sir. I forgot I already have a partner."
He straightened. "I see. Sorry to have bothered you..."
Mary huffed. "Upstarts! How dare he just waltz in here like that?"
"He was most likely invited, Mary."
Mary scoffed. "If he wanted to dance he should have gone to one of the balls in town."
Katherine giggled. "You have to admit that he has a charm about him. And rugged sort of handsomeness, no?"
Anne fazed out when Mary began to lecture Katherine. She was entranced by this man. This Henry Tudor. She stood and began to walk away. "Where are you going?" Katherine whined. Anne was her favorite cousin. She indulged her Mary wouldn't. She also admired Anne's intelligence and confidence.
"To get a drink." With that she walked away. She picked up a glass of wine from a servant and sat at a spot a good distance from her sister and cousin.
The man called Henry Tudor stood beside her. She glanced at him. "You can sit if you'd like. There's plenty of room."
"No, thank you. I'm quite alright."
From the corner of her eye Anne saw him study her. Her heart began to beat faster and she wondered why her face was feeling warm. He approached her. "Would you like to dance Miss...?"
"Lady," she corrected. "Lady Anne."
He smiled. "Would you care to dance, Lady Anne?"
"Not at all."
As they danced Henry asked her questions. "What's your favorite thing to do?"
"I love reading."
"What do you read?"
"Philosophy. I love to read Locke, Descartes, Voltaire and so on. And you, good sir, what is your favorite thing to do?"
"I work too much to have a favorite thing to do," Henry replied.
"What is your work?"
"I run a business."
"Business? Do you own shops?"
"No, my lady. I do not."
The music ended and Henry turned to go.
"Leaving so soon?" Anne teased.
He grinned. "Unfortunately. Business."
"I see. I hope to see you again."
"I as well, my lady." He bowed and disappeared.