"But doesn't he realize what Henry is capable of?" asked Jane.

"I'm sure he could, but he chooses not to, out of fear of losing position and prestige," Anne told her.

"But if you talk to him and tell him that your life is at stake, won't he listen then?" asked Jane. Anne and George both shook their heads.

"Suppose you tell Henry that you're stepping down as Queen without consulting your father first," Jane suggested.

Anne looked terrified.

"What if we both go with you to talk to Henry," George said. "That would be a bit less frightening, wouldn't it?"

Anne smiled gratefully.

"As you have so willingly and graciously submitted to me, I will grant your request," Henry told Anne. "You do realize, of course, that as our marriage will therefore be declared null and void, your daughter Elizabeth will be considered a bastard and will no longer be in the line of succession to the throne."

"I shall raise our daughter to be a proper English lady, to be proud of who she is and confident of her own worth."

"Very well, then," Henry said. "I shall inform Cromwell that the investigation is to be called off and prepare the proper paperwork for you to sign. You are dismissed." He turned to one of his men. "Please send for Thomas Boleyn right away."

"To be honest, I'll be relieved to get away from this court and all the malice and back-biting," George said later to Jane, when they were alone together in their bedchambers. "Sometimes I really miss the country air. Did you ever run through the grass barefooted on a gorgeous summer morning with the sun shining down and the wind blowing through your hair, Jane?"

George's reverie was interrupted by the door swinging open as his father Thomas angrily stormed in without giving the doorman time to announce his arrival.

"Are you aware of the consequences your brash actions have heaped on me?" he screamed. "The King has taken my earldom away, and now it's as if the entire past three years have all been for nothing!"

Thomas' face was red with rage as he advanced on Jane. "You were behind all of this! My son and daughter would have never dared to make such a proposal to the King unless you had put them up to it!"

"You're wrong, father," George told him calmly. "Anne and I acted entirely on our own. Jane had nothing to do with it at all. She wasn't even aware that Anne planned to step down as Queen until it was already done."

"You're lying to protect her!" Thomas roared. He raised his fist to strike Jane, and George quickly stepped between them and took the blow to his cheek.

"George! Are you all right?" Jane's voice was full of concern as she rushed to her husband's side. George held his cheek and glowered at his father, who said nothing but looked guiltily at his son.

"Out! I want you out of my quarters, right this instant!" George bellowed at his father. Thomas turned and quickly stalked away.

"I'm all right, darling." George grinned bravely at Jane, but she saw a thin trickle of blood flowing from the corner of his mouth.

"I'm so sorry," she said.

"There's nothing for you to be sorry for. It isn't your fault at all." George sighed deeply. Jane went to him and he put his arms around her and held her tight. They stood like that for a long time, in complete silence.

The next visitor to George and Jane's bedchambers was Mark Smeaton. "I'm sorry to interrupt you," he said apologetically.

"You're not interrupting anything at all," George said amiably. "Come on in."

"Are you all right? Your cheek looks a bit swollen," Mark said to George.

"It's nothing. I believe a tooth has gotten infected, that's all."

"You'd better see a dentist soon, then. It doesn't pay to put that type of thing off. Anyway, I came to share the good news with you. The charges against me have been dropped, and I have been allowed to return to my post as court violinist!"

"That's wonderful, Mark!" George grinned and clapped Mark on the shoulder.

Mark turned to Jane and smiled awkwardly. "Would you like to be friends?" he asked softly.

Jane hesitated for just a moment and then smiled warmly. "Why not?" She and Mark shook hands. George beamed.