God these council meetings were getting tedious. Henry drummed his fingers along the arm of his chair and allowed his gaze to shift to the window. It was finally getting warm as summer rolled in. Perhaps he should take a large portion of his court out on an extended hunt and a picnic to celebrate the sunshine.

He thought about Anne's hair flying free behind her in the light, her smile bright and cheeks flushed wind whipping around her. His grip tightened around the chair when suddenly a flash of her pressed up against a tree came to his mind. God that moment in the forest. He had all but forgotten about that. It had been one of the most passionate, intense love making he had ever experienced. She had been so exquisite, so worth the wait...

As if on cue, Thomas Seymour's voice rang out, speaking about something so pathetically boring, it softened his arousal. Damn the man. He had been sure that Anne would be disgusted by the betrothal. He had a whole plan to come to her and announce it and watch her protest. She would have fought against him and they would have railed against each other. Their heated argument would turn into heated passion and he would have taken her in any and all ways. Afterwords, in his infinite graciousness he would have agreed to break the betrothal as long as she continued to prove herself loyal to him.

But his plans were foiled as someone had informed her before he had the chance. It had been a stupid mistake, telling his council before Anne herself, but he knew that it had been part of their divorce agreement that she marry a man approved of by them. Someone had told her.

And she had reacted in such an infuriating way-prancing around like a girl in love. It was as if the entire Boleyn family was suddenly so very close to the Seymours. He had brought Lord Rochford back to court to advise Anne, not to seal her to another! Suddenly these two rival families were spending so much time together. It was infuriating. How dare the Seymours try to take her from him! Looking now at Thomas' smug face, Henry wanted to knock the smile away.

Aggravated now, he called an end to the meetings and headed towards his wife's chambers. He thought about his sweet wife and smiled. It had been months since they had lost their son, and even a few since she had rejoined he bed and for the first time he knew she was running behind in her courses. When he visited her tonight, if a son wasn't already in her belly,he was intent on putting one there. As he swept into her rooms with the usual flurry of silk skirts and the clucking of women, he met eyes with Jane. She was still beautiful and other than the empty nursery, a perfect queen. She was swathed in pale pink today and it brought out the perfect blush to her porcelain skin. He shook away thoughts of another's milk white skin and greeted his queen.

The two spoke amicably, as they had the past few weeks. Jane was more than willing to help coordinate a summer picnic and the two called for their Master of Horse to plan the event. The atmosphere was warm and pleasant, as it usually was with Jane. As he stood to leave, he hesitated and took her hand.

"I will be visiting your bedchamber tonight" he whispered in her ear. He was startled by her response. Instead of smiling like usual, Jane dropped her eyes to the floor and the blood ran out of her cheeks.

"I'm afraid..." she faltered.

For a moment, Henry felt hope rise in his chest. "Is there a reason why I cannot?" he placed a hand over her abdomen, praying that there was a child inside that could not be placed in jeopardy. His hopes were dashed when Jane flinched away from his hand.

"I'm afraid my courses are upon me, my lord" she whispered quietly.

Henry felt the disappointment wash over him. He turned abruptly from her, ignoring the small gasp and her reaching hands trying to draw him back. He strode from her apartments without another word.