Jane watched Anne dancing with Henry Percy and allowed a smile to come to her face. Anne looked truly happy as Percy swung her around. The two made a perfect couple. She had heard rumors that they had been involved years ago, before Anne caught the king's eye, but she had never thought anything about them until tonight as she saw the obvious chemistry between them. She chanced a sideways glance at her husband and wasn't surprised to see that he was also watching the pair. He, however, didn't look happy like she was. The look on his face was not one she thought she had ever seen on his face. She couldn't tell whether he wanted to kiss her or kill her, his expression was so mixed. Jane realized this was the first time he had seen her truly happy without him. Ever since Anne had been brought back to court she had been miserable and alone. She had found peace with her family and with Jane herself, but Jane knew that being back at the same court she had once presided over couldn't be easy. That it must weigh on her every single day. The ladies in Jane's household were controllable, but not every courtier was, let alone foreign visitors. Jane knew that wherever Anne went she was followed with harsh whispers and snickers as the people gossiped about her. Jane pitied her, but there wasn't too much she could do to help outside of her own household. When she had spoken to Anne about it once, she had just waved her fears away.
"They don't bother me. Not anymore."
Anne's emotionless words had been unconvincing, but Jane had let the matter drop. There wasn't much that anyone could do-people would always talk and Anne's situation had been quite the scandal. Jane could only do what was within her power, so she vowed to always try.
Even now, as Anne found a moment of happiness, she was the center of attention. Everyone was watching she and Percy and occasionally glancing at Jane's husband and Jane herself to gauge their reactions. The queen made a point to appear unfazed by the gossips as she plastered a smooth smile on her face, but Henry was not so discreet. Jane figured she should be upset that her husband was looking on another so passionately so soon after she had returned to court, but she was surprised at herself for not feeling that way at all. Perhaps it was due to her budding relationship with Anne. She knew that she had nothing to fear from her old rival. Anne would not undermine her and try to take her place. And she knew that Anne was not interested in opening her heart back up to Henry.
Jane was alarmed when an instant later the carefree smile was wiped from Anne's face. The couple looked as if someone had doused them with cold water and Jane could only speculate along with the rest of court what had happened. Percy strode away from Anne, leaving her alone on the deserted dance floor. She watched as Anne turned toward the dais and met eyes with her husband. Anne's face filled with fear before her gaze darted towards Jane. Jane saw the plea in her eyes as she turned and basically ran from the room. She placed a hand on her husbands arm to keep him from running after her. He shot her a warning glare before shaking her off, but he stayed in his seat. Jane then turned back to the courtiers, watching them calm from Anne's sudden departure. They all turned to one another and began the whispering again. She caught sight of Percy, who had watched Anne go with a panic stricken look on his face. He turned and met Jane's gaze and she saw the heartbreak in his eyes.
"Pardon me, Your Majesty. I am afraid I am feeling unwell. If you will excuse me" Jane rose and walked away from her husband before he could tell her to stay. "Enjoy the festivities, ladies. Mistress Boleyn shall assist me." She waved away her ladies and motioned for only Mary to follow her.
The two women made their way towards Anne's rooms and Jane wondered what she should say. Anne had been there through Jane's heartbreak over her child and now she only wished to return the favor. When they came upon the chambers, she asked Mary to beg permission for her to enter. She was sure Anne wouldn't send her away, but she felt it would be disrespectful to invade Anne's private space. As she hoped, Mary came to usher her in quickly.
"Could you fetch some wine for us, Mary? I think the three of us need some time away from court" Jane smiled at the woman and she returned it.
"And men" Mary quipped before skirting past the queen and heading towards the kitchens. Jane chuckled as she entered the room, drawn to the sound of muffled sniffling. She found Anne curled up on the ground next to the fireplace. Her tears had stopped flowing but the ones originally shed had left their tracks down her face and her eyes were still swollen. She used the sleeves of her gown to wipe away the tears from her face as she looked up at Jane.
Jane didn't think she'd ever seen Anne Boleyn look so pitiful before. Anne made to rise and pay her respects to her monarch, but Jane surprised her by joining her on the ground. They both sat, disregarding their crumpled gowns, and stared into the fire. Anne's sniffling soon ceased and Jane glanced at her.
"Are you okay?" she asked, concerned.
"I don't know" came the honest answer. "I just feel so alone. And unwanted. And scorned. All those snakes out there can't get enough of the fact that I was thrown down from the throne and now walk among them again. I can see the elation in their faces. And Henry...it's like he doesn't even know what he's done to me! He acts as though he didn't reject me. Acts as though nothing ever happened and he can still take me to bed" at this point in her ramblings she seemed to be aware of what she was saying. "Oh, forgive me, Your Majesty! I didn't-" Jane held up a hand to stop her apologies.
"Please. I know how he's like. And call me Jane. At least right now when we're alone" Anne smiled.
"Jane. I know I'm better off now. My marriage to the king almost killed me. Literally. And even when were still married I wasn't happy. Losing Henry was probably the best thing that happened to me. Outside of my daughter. I thought that having Henry's love and having the crown would make me happy. But Henry was so fickle and the crown certainly did not bring me any happiness. But now I'm alone. Outside of Mary and George what true friend do I have at court?"
Jane tried not to be hurt by her words. Of course Anne wouldn't feel the same way that she did. After all, what had Jane really been able to offer her? Anne looked up then and seemed to read Jane's thoughts.
"Well...did have. I thought I'd always hate you, Jane. But I don't anymore. Not at all. In fact you've become one of the only non-family members I feel like I can truly trust. It's weird how that worked out, right?" Anne chuckled. "But now Hal has come to court and it's like I feel his rejection just as strongly. Here's this man that I loved so freely. With Henry there were always complications. My family was always pushing us together. But Hal and I were drawn to each other on our own. And I fell in love with him just as he did with me. The king could have any woman he wanted because he is the king. Hal could have anyone he wanted because he was so charming. And he wanted me. But he abandoned me too. Just like every man in my life" Jane listened as Anne's words got more and more heated and she felt her heart bleed for her.
Jane had never known true love. She knew exactly what Anne meant when describing how she and Henry had come to love each other. It was almost the mirror of her relationship with the man. She had been flattered that he had come to her, and that mixed with her families urging had been what brought them together. Henry's confidence that he could get any woman he wished had tainted the experience for her, just like it had apparently with Anne. But from what she could tell Henry Percy had truly loved her.
She placed an arm around Anne's shoulders and let her cry. At this point, Mary Boleyn reentered with a large flagon of wine. Jane and Mary helped Anne out of her next to ruined gown and into something lighter. Mary also slipped into a dressing robe and Anne lent Jane something similar. The ladies sat by the fire, drinking wine and talking about nonsense. Jane had not felt so relaxed since she had come to court all those years ago as Anne's lady in waiting. She could also see the healing affect on Anne as the swelling of her eyes faded and a smile returned to her face.
A/N: Yay Tudor style slumber parties!