A/N: Thank you everyone who has read and reviewed so far! Your responses do wonders for my inspiration and I love that my story is being received so well! I hope you like this latest chapter, as everyone starts moving past the tragedy of Jane's son.
Ursula caught her staring at him again. The woman gave Anne a gentle kick under the table to jolt her from her thoughts and Anne glared at her. Ursula had only grinned wickedly and returned to her meal.
"Be careful, Anne, or Master Percy will catch you" she teased, causing Anne to sputter nonsense excuses.
"I was only..." she tried, only to have her friend cut her off.
"Only dreaming of what could have been, I'm sure. He's been watching you too" at this eyes shot up from her pheasant.
"What?" Ursula gave her a knowing look and she chanced another glance at the man in question, but he seemed oblivious to the scrutiny. Anne had to admit that she had been staring. But she couldn't help it.
Ever since he had come to court she couldn't stop thinking about him-about those few weeks they had shared together so long ago. Henry Percy truly had been her first love. She had been foolish, she'd admit, but she had been young and in love. He still looked devilishly handsome and she knew several ladies at court were gossiping about him. At first, Anne had ridiculously been a little jealous, but thoughts of his wife brought her back to reality, as they did right now.
"It matters not. He will be returning to his wife soon anyway. He'll be rewarded and gone within a fortnight, I'm sure." She ignored Ursulas pitying glance and focused on the meal in front of her.
She was just waiting on the day that Percy would leave and she could return to normal. Having him around set him on edge. There were just too many memories that threatened to overwhelm her when he was near. Unfortunately he had seemed unaffected by the awkwardness as he seemed to accidentally run into her on several occasions. And it seemed Henry had taken a liking to the man. But she refused to allow him to be overly familiar with her. She had her hands full trying to keep Henry at bay. Having both men at court was impossible.
As the room was cleared for dancing, Anne allowed herself to fade into the background. That didn't last very long as the object of her thoughts strode towards her and held out his hand. Anne reluctantly accepted Hal's hand and allowed him to lead her to the center of the floor. The two didn't speak at first as they let the music wash over them, moving in perfect tandem. Anne had always remembered that he had been a good dancer, and Anne herself was one of the best at court, but together they were flawless. Anne found herself letting the burdens over the past weeks lift from her shoulders. Carefree, she let Hal spin her around and before she knew it, she was laughing out loud. Only Hal could make her feel this weightless, this relaxed.
"There's the Anne I remember" his easy, charming smile overtook his features and Anne allowed herself to return it.
"And where's the Hal I remember?" she teased. "The absolute flirt that would never be dancing with the same woman twice?" she gestured towards the multitude of ladies looking on jealously and Hal snorted before the dance brought them close together. His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer than was absolutely necessary and he whispered in her ear.
"I seem to remember that once I met you, they were all doomed to be disappointed night after night" his warm breath tickled her and her throat caught at the familiar sensation. "Whenever you were near, I could see no one else."
She could feel her blood pounding in her ears and she knew that she was blushing. How could he make her feel this way so quickly? After everything she had been through, all the pain and heartache that a love match had brought her-both times!- she wouldn't let him sweep her off her feet. She needed to give the both of them a reality check.
"And now that's your wife's job." she shot at him icily. To his credit, he took the change of her demeanor with grace and they hadn't missed a single step of the dance. As the steps took them apart from one another, Anne almost felt guilty. When they were brought back together he looked at her solemnly.
"Forgive me, Anne. I did not mean to offend you." the timing was almost perfect as the music came to and end and he bowed to her and left her alone. Anne watched his retreating back and felt a sense of loss. Perhaps she had been to rough with him. It wasn't his fault that he had been forced to marry the Talbot girl. His father had immediately betrothed him to another woman after the scandal and it was one of the shortest betrothals Anne had seen. Back then her sister Mary had brought her news of his nuptials and Anne remembered crying for two days straight. Her father had finally come to her and reprimanded her sharply. He had forbidden her from showing any further remorse. It had truly been a hard lesson for a young girl who had just had her heart broken.
She had remembered when her father had first started pushing her towards the king how guarded she had been. She had wanted nothing to do with him outside of the further advancement of her family. She had been angry with everyone, her father and uncle and even Henry himself for existing and giving her family the opportunity to use her like this. It was only after weeks of him humbling himself to be with her that she began to have some feelings develop.
Alone on the floor, surrounded by mingling and laughing courtiers, she felt a wave of loneliness crash over her. She raised her eyes to the royal dais, honestly looking towards Jane, with whom she had grown close, and met eyes with the king. He was glowering at her with a look of anger mixed with lust. The look frightened her and she felt an unmistakable need to flee. She turned on her heel and walked as fast as she could without attracting attention away from the great hall. She ran from the court, from the stares, from the two men who had turned her world upside down, and away from the memories.