Author's Note: I totally forgot i ever wrote this but now i've rediscovered posting another story i might as well continue with it. I hope you don't get sick of me on here! I deleted the original chapters and have had to rewrite it all so if you notice any continuity errors could you kindly inform me of them please. This is based on Anita Briem's portrayal of Jane. Hope you enjoy. All constructive criticism is welcomed :)
King Francis did come in the summer as it was rumoured, and Henry was half looking forward to hosting his welcome, half dreading having to spend time with his life long enemy. Some times Francis could be quite amiable and charming. Most of the time however he was very trying and extremely pompous. Of course, Francis thought exactly the same thing about the King of England. He also thought that the King of England was a spoilt little child.
Meanwhile, Anne was concocting her own little plan but hadn't thought it was going to be made this easy for her.
The King had asked her specifically that Lady Jane Seymour, who was such a "fair dancer", should have a place in the Queen's special pageant dance in honour of the King of France. She had named it the 'Dance of the Muses,' and each lady present would embody one of the ancient muses and would inspire her partner with a dance.
She was to be Calliope, of course, leader of the nine sisters and the most well known of all them all as the muse of epic poetry. Jane was to be Erato, muse of lyrical poetry and love poems. They were all dressed in white Greek styled tunics and their faces hidden behind beautiful silver masks. Yet each woman also had elements of their costumes that made them stand out from the others. They all held a different object to show what they represented. Anne held writing tablets to her breasts whilst Jane held a miniature lyre in between her hands. And all the ladies wore a different head pieces from each other too. Naturally Anne wore her royal gold crown which commanded all attention on her. But Jane looked the far more prettier of the two with her head adorned with a wreath of pink roses and myrtles. Only Madge, who represented Thalia, seemed disappointed with her headpiece of a simple wreath of ivy.
Francis arrived in June with a full entourage of servants and his own mini court in towe. His announcement was met with mock cheers and fanfares as he swaggered into the Great Hall and smirked in triumphant at how much more magnificent his palace was compared to his English counterpart's.
"Brother" Henry greeted Francis, meeting him half way down the golden laid aisle so that they both stood as equals in this reunion. The meeting was designed specifically so that one King was not made to feel inferior to the other. They liked to call each other brothers when they were friends. Brothers of Europe who would support each other during their times of need. In reality, however, the only brotherly characteristics they shared were jealousy, covetousness and competitiveness. Each wanted the other's kingdom and dreamed of European dominiation.
"Brother" Francis replied, and the two great Kings embraced to the clap of both French and English courtiers who were eying each other up suspiciously with great dislike.
"Welcome to my court. What is mine is now yours" Henry graciously announced, putting one arm around Francis and walking up to where their thrones sat high. There was only three thrones there now that Francis's wife, Claude, had died. It was no great upset for Francis though, who did not really respect his wife enough to mourn her.
"You are too kind, brother. I have brought you a gift" Francis flattered, and summoned one of his more portly, crimson clad servants. The man produced a highly polished wooden box that was decorated with floral engravings and encrusted with jewels. The servant opened the box and walked up to King Henry, head bowed, as he presented him with what was sitting inside. A glittering golden chalice which was inscribed with the English and French emblems, showing the letters H and F symbolically entwined. "Said to be modelled on the Holy Grail itself, I hope it will become a symbol of French and English solidarity and friendship" Francis smirked, knowing that this was far more than what Henry had expected. It left him a little a little speechless it seemed, but after a moment he cleared his throat and declared,
"It is truly magnificent. We thank you, brother" he announced and the two embraced once more. "The Queen has choreographed a little performance for you. Shall we watch" Henry announced, clearly annoyed that Francis had brought such a magnificent gift and all he could give him in return was a silly little show of Anne prancing about in costume. Again!
Francis looked a little curious by the mention of the Queen dancing. He had remembered the last time she had danced for him, though he had to pretend he did not know it was her who was dancing behind a golden mask. What was it with this King and dressing up in masquerade? He acted like such a child at times! He was at least thankful that he didn't have to pretend to be 'surprised' this time however.
"I would be honoured"
Henry clapped his hands and all the courtiers stopped what they were doing and turned to the King. The musicians stopped their merry tune and prepared themselves for the new piece of music they had to play for the Queen's dance. The King nodded his head and the musicians struck up a slow, light tune that sounded rather exotic compared to what they were playing before hand. Then a flurry of white fluttered into the hall from the side corridors and the ladies formed a circle in the middle of the hall and waited patiently for their men to arrive. The knights stormed in through the main doors in shining silver doublets which dazzled them all like glistening armour. Their masks were larger than the ladies and were meant to represent helmets.
Francis couldn't help but scoff. So there would be masks after all.
He thought it was a pretty dance, well choreographed and undoubtedly created by the Queen. Some of the dancers stood out better than the others. Calliope, Terpsichore and Erato were the best. In fact, Erato stood out magnificently with her golden hair and snow white skin compared to the other ladies who were either dark haired or swarthy. She was also quite petite compared to the others though this wasn't any slight on her. No, she looked quite dainty and lovely. When the dance had finished, Anne looked up at the two kings and gave a deep curtsey, looking for approval from her husband and taking a sneak glance at Francis to see if her plan of making Jane stand out from the other ladies had worked. She had chosen her ladies very carefully to create the correct effect.
"Very good, my dear" Henry complimented and Anne smiled her charming smile at him.
"Tell me, dear brother, who is the fair maiden that plays Erato?" Francis leant over as he tried to whisper into Henry's ear. He was quite captivated by the demure blonde. "Tell me she is not hideous beneath that mask" Francis must have forgotten that Calliope, who had now risen and was walking over to take her place on the throne, was actually the Queen and she over heard him asking. Henry was going to lie and say she was an undesirable lady, after all he did not want anyone to have his sweet little Jane, but Anne decided to expose her already.
"That is Mistress Seymour, she is one of my ladies. Such a lovely young lady, I have never known such a virtuous young woman, she would put the Holy Mother to shame"
"Anne!" Henry warned her for her blasphemy.
"Such a rarity these days" Francis smirked at the expense of both Henry and Anne. Their love affair, if that is what you could call it these days, was infamous all around Europe. The Brat King and his Great Whore.
"You can judge her for yourself, I shall call her over. I would place a wager on her to prove to you she is purer than the fresh snow but it may tarnish her reputation. Jane, come over and remove your mask for the King"
"Your majesties" she said falling into a deep curtsey at her feet and only when she felt she had bowed her head long enough in respect did she raise her head and unmask herself. Francis smiled when he saw the young girl's face. She was very fair and beautiful indeed, and he leant forward to take in her face.
"Jane, their majesties were speaking of how it is so rare that a woman can still hold her virtue so high. You are a shining example to us all" Anne commended with a false smile that was so charming that she was straining her cheeks in an effort to keep it up.
"Majesty, I…I look to you as the most shining example of them all" Jane stuttered in embarrassment and dropped her gaze for a moment until she felt that she had caught her composure once again.
"Ah, modest as well as virtuous" Anne proved her point. It was taking all of her strength to keep this false pretence up. In truth, she could not stand the sight of the sickeningly virtuous girl.
"It must be so refreshing for you to meet such a lady, Your Majesty, they are few and far between in France"
"I must object! There are many virtuous women in France" Francis was a little offended by this and turned to look at the Queen. How could she possibly have the nerve to say such a thing, or was she being ironic? He remembered her and her sister well at his court. But being ever the gallant and chivalric knight, he kept their dirty little secrets quiet.
"Your majesty forgets that I lived at the French court for a time"
"Oh but of course" he laughed at her expense, insinuating that she would know from her own experience. A few of the English courtiers who disliked the Queen laughed aloud though tried to suppress it with all their might. Anne looked around at them and made a mental note of who was laughing. She would deal with them later.
"I think it would do you good to dance with Lady Jane" she changed the subject and smiled at Francis and then inclined her head towards the young lady. Jane was a little shocked that she was being asked to dance with the King of France and was hoping above all hope that he would decline the offer because she was so mindful of her reputation. But she equally feared the humiliation she would endure if the French King did actually reject her. She couldn't win either way.
"I would be honoured" Francis smiled gallantly and stepped down from his throne, taking hold of Jane's hand and helping her up to her feet. He led her to the dance floor and they were the centre of all the dancers and courtiers. Henry looked upon them with the utmost jealousy. He thought he had found a perfect angel, a true virtuous lady and now she was being stolen from him by that lecher Francis. He looked to his side and saw Anne smiling at him lovingly and it sickened him.
"Would you care to dance, husband?" she asked quite genuinely, wanting nothing more in the world than for her husband to take her hand and lead her on the dance floor where she would seduce him with her dancing and all would be well again, with a son in her belly and no more talk of other ladies, and certainly no talk of Seymours. But Henry did not even acknowledge her. His pride was so wounded that he decided if he could not dance with Jane that night, he would not dance with anybody. And he was angry at Anne, more than angry. She was interfering in his life again, manipulating it for her own selfish purpose.
Well, it would be a long time until he would share a bed with her again. A very long time indeed.
