"I don't believe it!" Anne blurted. "Tom Culpepper?"

"That's right. We were supposed to go caroling last week, and she cancelled out, saying she was under the weather. We ended up going caroling in her neighborhood, and when we reached her house, I saw his car parked in her driveway. As soon as I was able to sneak away from the group, I went back to her house. Through a crack in the blinds, I could see them both on the bed, naked and getting it on."

"Oh, George, I'm so sorry!"

"I loved her, or at least, I thought I did."

"I know. I just wish there was something I could say to make you feel better." Anne remembered the day Henry had told her about Jane. She'd just begun to come out of the lingering depression following her miscarriage when her world had come crashing down again.

"I've found someone else," he'd told her. "Someone who makes me smile again, someone who can give me the son I want so much."

"Have you confronted her about it yet?" she now asked her brother.

"I know I should, but somehow I just can't seem to get up the nerve," George replied.

"What an awful time for this to happen - right before Christmas!"

"Well, now I know how Henry felt when he did the same thing to you."

"You are still coming over for Christmas dinner, aren't you?"

"Of course!" he assured her.

"I hope Louis can come by for a little, too. His daughter's in town, you know."

"He has a daughter?"

"An adorable four-year-old named Reese. She looks just like him, and she's so smart!" Anne couldn't help thinking of Louis's sister, Elisabeth. While she now longed more than ever to tell George about her, she wondered whether the substantial difference in their ages would make them incompatible.

"Sounds lovely. Maybe they will come by for a bit."

Anne thought of her cousin Kitty and wondered whether she knew Tom was cheating on her with Jane Parker, but she wasn't overly concerned about her cousin. Kitty would be upset for a day or two but would then take right up with another man, Anne knew.

On Christmas day, she arrived at her parents' house about thirty minutes before lunchtime. By the delicious smells wafting from the kitchen, she knew her mother was cooking and went into the kitchen to see if she could help.

"You can set these rolls on the table for me if you like."

Anne was carrying the rolls to the table when the door opened and George walked in. He wore a pasted-on smile, but Anne could tell he'd been crying. Quickly, she set the rolls on the table and went to embrace him.

"Are you all right?" she asked him.

"I'm all right." His voice was soft.

They were just about to sit down to eat when Mary and William arrived with Katie and Eric. "Sorry we're a little late," said Mary. "We were just about to walk out the door when I saw that Eric had unwrapped half the gifts, and I had to re-wrap them."

Liz chuckled. "Oh, that's all right! Come here, you little stinker!" She held Eric, then Katie, and then the family sat down to eat.

"Wake up, Daddy! It's Christmas!"

Louis opened his eyes to look into his daughter's excited face. "So it is." He threw the covers back. "Well, let's go see what Santa brought, then." He followed her into the living room.

"Look! Santa drank the milk and ate the cookies I left for him!"

Louis smiled and nodded, licking his lips to remove any remaining crumbs.

Reese squealed with delight when she saw the presents underneath the tree. Louis had splurged, barely even noticing how much he was spending. The only thing he cared about was his little girl's happiness, and from the expression on her face, he'd succeeded beyond his wildest dreams.

The Boleyns had finished dinner, opened their presents to each other, and were drinking coffee and relaxing on the sofa when the doorbell rang. Liz opened the door to let Louis and Reese in.

"Merry Christmas!" the little girl cried, running into the living room.

"Hello, everyone." Louis's eyes met Anne's, and he took a few steps toward her as she stood to greet him. "How have you been?" he asked her.

"All right." The way she clung to him as he held her and rested her head on his shoulder told him otherwise. He knew he'd have to find out what was wrong as soon as possible.

"I brought presents for everyone." He began to pass out the five-dollar gift certificates for Starbucks. "Sorry it couldn't be more."

"Oh, that's all right!" Liz smiled. "It was kind of you to think of us!"

Thomas Boleyn snorted as he pocketed the card, without saying a word or even smiling.

For the children there were toys, and for Anne there was something extra - a 48-piece make-up set.

"This is great! Thank you!" She hugged his neck.

"You're very welcome. I'm glad you like it."

"Wait till you see what I got for you!" She fetched the only gift remaining under the tree and handed it to him.

"I can't wait to see what it is."

Reese jumped up from her play with Katie and Eric. "What did you get, Daddy?"

Louis unwrapped the package to reveal a bottle of Gucci Guilty cologne. He smiled at Anne as he hugged her. "Thank you very much!"

"You're welcome!"

Louis glanced at Reese, who'd gone back to play with the other children. "Would you like to sit on the porch swing for a bit?"

She nodded and took his hand, and they walked outside and sat on the swing together. Louis took Anne's hands and looked into her eyes.

"Please tell me what's wrong!"