Being back at court always felt like a weight on his shoulders. Despite his natural charm and his nobility, Hal had never really felt like he would succeed as a courtier, pandering around, spending every waking moment distracting and entertaining the royal family. He knew that court was where deals were made and advancements were achieved, but the simplicity of the country always appealed to him more. In the north, the men were honest, if not as suave as their southern counterparts. Still, as a peer of the realm, he needed to show face relatively regularly. His place at court now was rocky. His success during the Pilgrimage of Grace had brought him the appreciation of his sovereign, but he knew that the king was not overly fond of him. And Hal was not stupid, he knew exactly why.
Hal pushed those specific thoughts away. The queen had called him for an audience and he would try his best not to search her ladies' faces for the one he had missed so dearly. But his stay at court would last for a few weeks and he would not waste this opportunity. He had plenty of time to speak with her, and he would make a point to seek her out shortly. Despite Cromwell's claims that he had regaled him with jousting strategy the whole trip, his mind had been busy formulating exactly what he wanted to say to Anne.
As he entered the queen's chambers, her ladies flocked to greet him. Each one preened and cooed their greetings, each trying to outdo the others with how creative they were. He knew that after his messy divorce, the noble ladies must see him as an incredibly eligible bachelor, yet this outrageous show of attention still flustered him. He looked at all these perfectly presented ladies and knew he was not impressed with any of them. He valued character, wit, and intelligence and he knew that while these ladies may possess an ounce of charm and certainly beauty, they were all either vapid and witless or power-hungry snakes on the inside.
Yet he played his part, smiling gallantly at them, greeting each one pleasantly before being led in to see the queen. Queen Jane painted a pretty picture, fair and sweet and English through and through. He knew her light blonde hair, milk-white skin, and clear blue eyes certainly appealed to some, however looking at this even-tempered woman, he couldn't help but think of his striking Anne in comparison. They truly were opposites, but how any man who had Anne Boleyn by his side and in his bed could ever look at any other, baffled him. He meant Jane no ill will, it just didn't make sense to him.
"Your Grace," Jane greeted him pleasantly, rising him quickly from the deep bow he gave her. "Please, sit," she gestured to the couch opposite her and he obeyed, accepting a goblet of fine English wine from one of her pastel-draped ladies. "You are not a frequent visitor to court," she observed, her tone carefully light.
Hal bit back a grimace and made sure his charming, courtier smile was firmly in place as he answered her unasked question as to what brought him back. He knew, and he suspected the queen knew as well, that his arrival would set tongues wagging.
"Your Grace, I must confess, I brought you here to speak on a matter that is dear to my heart..." Hal took a deeper swig of his wine and steeled himself. "As queen, it is my duty to engage myself in the welfare of my ladies. Especially those who remain unmarried and are looking for proper suitors. As such, I wanted to speak with you regarding Anne Boleyn." The wine was sucked down his throat as he gasped at the queen's words, leaving him sputtering as he stared at the queen in shock.
"Anne Boleyn?"
"Yes, I know she was a great friend of yours in the past..." Hal could not detect sarcasm in the queen's voice "And, as someone who knew her before her marriage to the king, I wanted to know your thoughts."
"Anne is...she is a woman like no other..." he said uncomfortably. Jane looked on expectantly, yet kindly and Hal couldn't help but open up to her slightly. "Unlike any I have ever met. She is awe-inspiring. She is a woman beyond her time and deserves a man who would appreciate her." All too late, he realized his mistake and tried to quickly, yet awkwardly backpedal. "Not to say that she has not been appreciated before! His majesty must do as he will for the sake of the country and to secure his kingdo-" Jane raised a hand to stop him and he could see her biting back a smile.
"Do not worry, Your Grace," she teased. "I am glad to hear your words, I truly am. I want to have a hand in helping any of my ladies be settled with a good man and I appreciate your honesty."
"She is not..." he paused, unsure of how to phrase this without offending the lady before him. "She does not conform to what some men desire in a wife. She has an abundance of wit and fire...Obedience? Not so much." Jane did not seem offended, but she looked at him expectantly again, eager to hear his thoughts. And curse those open, blue eyes, but Hal felt his tongue loosen against his better judgment. "She will need a man who values her mind and her spirit. Too many men I find want their wives to be pretty and silent. That would never be Anne..." he couldn't help the slight smile from pulling at his lips thinking of his captivating first love.
"You love her." It wasn't a question and Jane spoke so softly Hal almost thought he had imagined her words. But her kind eyes fixed to him had him nodding all the same, shocked into complete honesty. God, he had not thought this is the topic he would have been addressing when he arrived to the queen's chambers!
Jane masterfully changed the subject, glossing over the raw moment as if it was a completely appropriate subject for a queen to discuss with a courtier. Truly, it seemed as if none of her ladies even overheard his confession. And while Hal was grateful to move on to lighter subjects, he couldn't help but study the pale queen, seeing a depth to her he had missed before. Perhaps there was quite a bit more to Jane Seymour than he originally thought.