The rest of the morning flew by; Queen Anne's rooms were a hive of activity, with music, dancing, card games and of course flirtations. Ginny was introduced to so many people that morning, the court seemed to be filled with people with nothing better to do then hang around the Queen's rooms, and she knew she would never hope to learn all there names. Ginny got the impression however that this was a court ruled by the Howards, they were everywhere and at the centre of them all the three Boleyn's, Mary the youngest fair and sweet always ready with a smile, Anne dark and wise and George one of the most handsome men at court who could turn anything into a compliment. But they were followed by a shadow, Jane Parker, George's wife, she was a wealthy heiress and George had married her for her connections and the wishes of his uncle, and it was no secret that the three Boleyn's hated her. Ginny could see why, there was something odd about her but she just couldn't put her finger on it.
Preparations began in earnests for the masque, it would be performed at Whitehall and there would be a castle and Ginny and the other dancers would be attacked by Indian women (the choristers) before being rescued by the green nights (the king and his favourite courtiers). The master of revels came over and taught them their dances and lines, Ginny was given the part of kindness and was very happy when she found out they would be wearing dresses of Lincoln green which made Ginny's hair shine and glow radiantly.
The masque turned out to be great fun, with the choristers throwing rose petals and the dancers spraying rose water. At the end when the knights came over to dance, the king took Ginny's hand; he was unmistakeable with his golden mask and red hair, taller then everybody else in the room. As the dance brought them near the king whispered,
'I am jealous of your husband, for when you take of your dress tonight he shall be showered in sweetmeats' this was not the language of courtly love but something all together different and Ginny was unsure how to reply 'but you can have whatever you
want for you are king, king of château vert of course, if you were King Henry you could have whatever you wanted when ever'
'And what do you think of the king?' came his reply
'He is the wisest and most handsome King in the entire world; we are all stars circling his greater moon. But he has never even glanced in my direction'
'Oh he has more then glanced'
Ginny gasped, she loved Harry but this was the king, the king of England.
The music had ended, the dance finished, it was time for the unmasking, Ginny removed her mask with shaking hands, her hair fell down her back, Ginny finally returned to her senses the king was looking at her with longing in his eyes, the queen who had been dancing with her brother gave her a long look, she looked as if she was measuring her worth like a horse for market and Ginny was unsure what it all meant. Before she could give it anymore thought he king called for them all to dine and Harry was by her side.