Anne surveyed her new gown in the mirror, pleased with the way it hugged her body and accentuated her coloring. Deep sapphire blue always did look quite fetching on her. It was a gift from the man sitting just a few steps from her-one of the many new gowns her father had commissioned since his return to court. Anne wasn't a fool, she knew her father was trying to get her to look as she did in her youth, but she couldn't help herself from loving each new gown that her father presented to her. She and Thomas Boleyn had a great relationship when Anne was a child, only souring when she caught the kings attention. Now that she was no longer queen, her father was once again her papa. And she was willing to look past his ambitions and just be thankful for his showering of affection and gifts.
"You look lovely, Anne" he smiled warmly at her and she returned the gesture. "Come, sit with me a moment before we must leave." Anne approached him and took the chair opposite. They were expected shortly in the main hall. She had left Elizabeth only an hour ago to ready herself for the evening. Her little daughter was nervous to be meeting with the ambassador tonight for the first time, but Anne knew the girl would be a credit to both her parents. Until Jane gave birth, Elizabeth was the sole heir to the throne. A lot was riding on tonight.
"What is it, father?" Thomas had been looking at her cautiously.
"It's an interesting game you're leading my dear..." He started. "I wonder what it is you hope to gain. I told you that I would work tirelessly to gain your old position back and you said that it was not what you wanted, but I have to wonder what it is that you are after." Anne's eyes widened at his frankness and she felt her throat tighten. To be true, she had been asking herself the same thing since Jane announced her pregnancy. Henry had been avoiding her since that announcement and it had caused some odd feelings to arise once again.
"I...I want Elizabeth to be secure..." Anne tried the only thing she was truly sure of, but her father just shrugged.
"Your daughters future will be solidified by the end of the week if tonight goes well. The king has seen to it that Elizabeth will lack for nothing in her bridegroom." Anne nodded, knowing that her father was right. "I'm wondering what it is YOU want. Once Elizabeth is sent to France, I see no reason for you to remain at court unless you are playing for the throne."
Anne gaped at her father. He wanted to send her away? "Where is this coming from, father?" she gasped. "I thought you wanted me to-"
He reached out and snatched her hand, pulling her roughly towards him and all pretense of the doting father vanished. "I want you to know what you're playing for!" he hissed at her. "I want you to be the same girl I brought to English court from France! You were willing to do everything for the family then. Knowing the price and the advantages you were winning. You were unstoppable, Anne! Whatever your aim is now, I need you to be playing for it with the same intensity as you had then!" He stood then and straightened his doublet, looking down at his dumbfounded daughter. He took a deep breath and then touched her hand again, much softer than before. "I am not the man I was before, Anne. Do not think I am willing to throw you to the scaffold for the throne again. But you...WE need to have an aim. Something to be fighting towards. Get your daughter betrothed and then figure it out.'
As her father strode from the room, Anne couldn't help but stare after him, pondering over his words.