The King was surprisingly eager to visit the Seymour's home, due to his favoring of Edward. He was also happy to get a chance to get away from his harlot of a wife whenever possible, and this made Edward hopeful.
"Your majesty, I am very grateful that you have come to visit us here, and most honored of course." Edward told the King one night at dinner. Anne watched him with a mixture of delight and disgust, which was caused only by the fact that Edward was kissing the King's ass. If he had not been betrothed to me, I see where his heart may have lied. She thought, smirking to herself as she spun the wine around in the goblet she held.
"I like you a lot, Edward. I was eager to come visit you at your home, and meet your lovely wife." The King said, winking at Anne who smirked at his compliment. Henry let out a deep chuckle. "As you know, I was also eager to free myself from my wife's grasp."
Edward laughed with the king for a moment. Anne continued to watch them carefully, and listen to them. She wondered if, when the king spoke of his wife, that stupid whore, in such a demeaning way, Edward joined in? For his sake, I pray he does not, for if I ever find out a bad word has been said of me I will punish him in unimaginable ways. "Your majesty must be very glad to be get away from your wife."
"You have no idea!" Henry replied, letting out another laugh. He took a sip of wine from his goblet and then placed it back down on the table. He leaned closer to Edward, making it more difficult for Anne to hear him. "Sometimes I miss the life of a free man, if you know what I mean, but you might not," Henry said, leaning back and looking to Anne. "Since you have such an ideal wife. Beautiful, smart, well behaved." He smiled at Anne.
Anne sat up a little straighter in her seat, pushing her chest out a bit. It was more of a gesture to tease her husband than anything else. "Thank you for your kind words, your majesty. I am most complimented by your words."
Henry chuckled and nodded his head in reply. Beside him, Edward looked momentarily irritated. He hated to see any other man flirting with his wife, even the king, it appeared, though his love for His Majesty still held strong. He would be the only man he would allow it from, and nothing more than verbal compliments. If he goes any further than this, I will become a most unfaithful servant. "She is a wonderful wife, your majesty. As a mere courtier, I could not ask for more than I have received."
Even if you were a goddamn duke you should not be asking for more! I would please a king, clearly! Anne thought furiously, spinning her wine around at a faster pace. She smiled sweetly at her husband, batting her eyelashes.
"She seems lovely." Henry repeated, again looking to Anne. It was more than obvious that Henry was completely tired of his wife and wished to move on, but the fact that he was eyeing his wife with interest annoyed Edward. He would not have a cheating wife again, even if it were better with the king than with his own father.
Edward smiled, looking at the king, and then he too looked to Anne, his eyes fierce with irritation. Anne looked at him and almost let out a laugh at his expression, and his foolishness. Anne knew that she was perfectly capable of putting the king under her spell if she wished to do so, but she did not, which is what Edward was foolish enough not to realize. I won't let him miss this opportunity because of childish jealousy. "Your majesty," Anne spoke up. "Has Edward told you of his siblings?"
Henry tilted his head and then shook it, looking from Anne to Edward for a moment. "No he has not, my Lady Seymour. What is there to know of them?"
"He has many sisters, your majesty. One of them is here visiting with Edward's brother. I hadn't invited them for dinner tonight since I was not sure whether or not you were fond of more company." Anne explained, smiling. "I wished only to please your majesty." She added her last phrase in just to put Edward on his last nerve, and she watched his eye twitch as she spoke, with pleasure.
Henry looked surprised. "I had not heard of Edward's siblings until today." He turned to Edward in his seat, resting one arm on the table. "Why have you not told me that you have sisters?"
Of course that is all he is interested in. Anne thought, as she watched the two men interact. Sisters, women! If he were not the King of England, I would lay my hand upon his face with a combination of speed and animosity. Despite her disgusted thoughts, she was quite content with the King's reaction; he was falling into the trap, or so it seemed.
"My greatest apologies your majesty. I did not think it to be important." Edward replied.
"Women are always important!" Henry said, laughing. "Especially the sister of my favourite man of the moment."
Edward blushed a bit, feeling embarrassed, which was an odd sensation for him. He tried to brush it off as quickly as he could and return to his normal composure. Think quickly, Edward… "Would you like to meet her, your majesty?"
"Your sister?" Henry asked, raising an eyebrow.
Edward nodded his head. "Yes, your majesty. My sister. She is here, I could call upon her, if you are interested in meeting her." He hoped he was not pushing the idea too hard, but judging by the smile on Anne's face, he proudly assumed that he was not.
"Go on then." The King insisted, shooing Edward with his hand, as if to say he should go fetch the girl himself. Anne smirked, but as Edward stood up, bowed and turned his back on the King, he sneered a bit.
Edward left the room momentarily, leaving Anne and Henry alone, which he was not happy about, but he knew that it was something he could not let bother him. He was going to get Jane so she could meet the King, and that was an important moment for their family, an important moment where he had to be willing to sacrifice leaving his wife along with the King for a few minutes.
Henry turned to Anne as Edward left the room. "He is a good man, your husband. I enjoy having him at court. Will you join him there?"
"If my husband allows it, your majesty."
"I can't see why he would not." Henry replied.
Anne, daringly, raised her eyebrows at the King. "I certainly can, your majesty."
Henry attempted to act confused by her words, but he knew very well what she meant. Court was not the best place for a loyal wife, especially when the King was throwing compliments at her. "Would he not trust you at court, Lady Seymour?"
"He would trust me just fine, your majesty. I am a most loyal wife to my husband, as he has never given me a reason to not be." Anne leaned closer to the King to whisper in his ear. "I think it is you that he would not trust, your majesty."
For a moment, Henry said nothing. He exhaled somewhat heavily, and then turned to look at Anne, who sat back in her seat. He put a hand on her knee, which reminded Anne of the first time her and Edward met. The memory was such a cherished one in her heart, it made her close her eyes, but she cringed as she realized it was not her beloved Edward touching her, but the King of England, the most powerful man in the world. Had she gone back in time, to before she had met Edward, she would have taken full advantage of this situation and seduced the man, but now, she could not. Though she would not admit it to anyone but him, she loved Edward and she would not betray him as long as he did not betray her.
"What are you doing, your majesty?" Anne asked, trying to keep her tone light. If he were any other man in the world I would slap him! I would slap him so hard! Part of her was praying for Edward to rush back into the room, Jane at his side, and save her, but then she was not sure if he would be angrier with her than the King, and the last thing she wanted right now was for him to be upset with her.
"Whatever I want." Henry replied simply. He needn't say more than he had. He was the King, free to do whatever pleased him, even if it was some other man's wife, a man who he favored and considered his friend.
"Your majesty, please, Edward's sister will please you to look at much more than I." Anne insisted, still trying to keep her tone light with him. "And she is not married."
Henry bit his lip, looking into Anne's fierce, dark eyes and then pulled his hand away, nodding his head. "Very well, Lady Seymour, if you wish for me to look at another woman, than I shall."
Anne sighed quietly in relief and looked to the doorway as she heard footsteps approaching. Jane better be looking her best today… She did not bother to reply to the King's comment.
Edward and Jane entered the room, Jane following closely, quietly and obediently behind Edward who led the way towards the table. When he stopped walking, Jane came to his side and curtseyed in a way that impressed even Anne herself. The King watched Jane with careful eyes, taking in every detail of her body, her hair, and her face. He smiled to himself, and Anne was content to see that he looked pleased with Jane's appearance. Now it came down to her mannerisms, which seemed to be where the whore failed.
"Your majesty." Jane said, looking up at him. He motioned for her to stand up and she obeyed promptly, and with a smile.
Henry stood up from his seat and looked at Jane, investigating her further. As he did this, Edward moved around the table and took a seat beside Anne. "Is something the matter?" he asked. He had noticed upon entering the room that the colour was drained from her face. "You're not ill, are you?"
Anne hesitated for a moment. She wanted to tell Edward about what had happened, but she could not do it now, not in front of the King and not in the state of mind that she was in. Truthfully, the King's touch on her leg had made her feel sick to her stomach; it had not felt right to her. "I feel a little warm." She lied quickly.
"Should you return to your chambers?" Edward asked, raising an eyebrow slightly, the corner of his eye on Jane and the King.
Anne shook her head. "I think I'll be fine for now." She turned her attention back to Jane and the King, and smirked slightly. Edward followed her gaze and smirked too.
"This was an excellent idea." He said. Though he would not actually congratulate Anne for her mastermind plan, he would at least note the fact that her idea was excellent, which was enough for her. He will say thank you by the end of tonight… she thought, her mind returning to its normal naughty state.
"I know." She replied, turning to look at him for a moment.
Henry turned suddenly to Edward, a smile on his face. "I have a request for you, Edward."
"What is it, your majesty?" Edward asked, standing up from his seat.
"I would like for Jane to come to court, and you and your wife as well, your whole family if it must be this way!" Henry said happily, looking to Jane for a moment, which smiled quietly at his side. The view painted a picture in Anne's head of Jane as Queen of England, replacing the whore beside Henry. What a very perfect Queen she would be.
Edward raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised. "If that is what your majesty wishes… then certainly!" Edward glanced down at Anne for a moment, a smile on his face and then looked back to the King, who was once more distracted by his sister. He sat back down in his seat, and decided he need not say anymore. "An excellent idea…" he repeated again to his wife, who shone with happiness at his side.
