Jane soon found herself in the rose garden of Whitehall with the King of England. The members of the court that were quick enough to snake behind them were dismissed by an impatient wave of the royal hand and a cheerful roar of, "Away!"
Tucking Jane's small hand into the crook of his arm, Henry proceeded to lead her at a stroll deeper into the rose garden.
"Tell me sweet mistress Jane, how is it that the finest rose in all England has escaped my attention for so long?"
Jane had been instructed by both her father and brothers when they had noticed the King riveted by the first glance of Jane in the Presence Chamber days ago. Her father, Sir John Seymour, had been mainly concerned for her welfare, knowing full well how Henry's affairs ended and had cautioned her against continuing. However, her brothers were ambitious and urged her to go only so far, always seeming to go forward, but never surrendering completely. Edward was the most ruthless of her two brothers and although Jane loved him as a sister should, she knew he would have no scruples in using her to advance himself.
"Your Grace is pleased to flatter me. I believe I am not as fine as the roses in this garden, let alone all England."
Henry chuckled warmly and patted her hand where it still rested on his padded arm.
"Oh, but you are my sweet Jane. Now tell me where you have been hiding all this time?"
"I have not been hiding anywhere, Your Grace," Jane shrugged delicately, "My families seat is Wolf Hall in Wiltshire, which is quite a way from the dazzle that is your court. My father wants me to be married to a suitable husband and has moved me and my brothers here to achieve fine matches for all of us."
When the King did not immediately answer with a teasing quip, Jane dared a peek at the royal visage and found his face puckered in a frown. As the silence lengthened, Jane realised they had reached the end of the garden, sheltered under a bower. As a pale pink rose petal fell from overhead and came to rest on her shoulder, Jane felt the King raising her chin with a ringed finger and stared up into his dark blue eyes that were full of a tenderness that she had never seen from any of the other men who had looked upon her with desire.
"My sweet Jane, you must tell me. Is there a man here at court you could love?"
Jane knew what he was asking. Knew that for him, the chase had begun. She now had one of two options. Take her fathers advice and escape now while she still could and go back to Wiltshire to wait for her father to broker a match with a member of the local gentry or do as Edward wanted. Use her beauty and wit to capture a powerful husband whilst keeping the King of England dangling. For a split second, Jane considered listening to her fathers voice that was urgently buzzing in her ear. But she remembered the crushing boredom of Wolf Hall and made her choice.
Twisting out of the King's light hold, Jane twirled away with an arch look back.
"My my, Your Grace, to ask such a personal question of a lady! I have been here but three days. One could not possibly form an attachment in such a short space of time."
Jane chanced a glance behind her as she stopped spinning. The King was looking down at something he held in his hand. As Jane moved closer, Henry raised his hand and brought it to his lips. It was the pink rose petal that had landed on Jane's shoulder a minute before.
Dropping down on one knee before her, Henry offered Jane the rose petal.
"My dear, sweet Jane. Let me assure you. The combined beauty of all of the roses in this garden could not compare to you! I want you to forget about marrying for the moment. Forget about all the other swains that plot to steal your heart and the poetry and trinkets that they will tempt you and your father with. Can you forget about them and the fact that I am King and learn to love me a little?"
Despite her decision of a few minutes ago, Jane was strongly tempted to slap the face that was gazing so guilelessly into her eyes, willing her to surrender. He was not free to confess this miraculous love that had apparently arisen from one sighting and this one false conversation. He had chosen the wrong girl if he expected her to melt and consent to his adultery and her ruin in the marriage stakes for one brief interlude that would end in her dismissal.
"Well now. What a pretty picture."
Jane's heart leap uncomfortably as the King dropped the petal into the dust, jumped up from his position at her feet and foolishly staggered sideways, almost loosing his balance. Jane turned and immediately sank into a curtsey, her eyes lowered in shame. Dull and dutiful as Queen Anne was, as a wife she could not have been less pleased to see her husband kneeling at the feet of one of her ladies like a lovelorn boy.
"Sweetheart!" bluffed the King, obviously hoping that this endearment would soften any harshness that might occur.
But he need not have worried.
"Lady Jane," said the Queen evenly as though nothing had happened, "How lovely you look among the roses."
Jane stood up and looked the Queen in the eyes which were frosty with disappointment.
"Thank you, Your Grace." Jane did not know how she continued to gaze at the Queen without flinching with remorse. Her brother Edward would approve of her stance she was sure. Brazen it out with the Queen, but be sure of the greater prize. The King might wait for a few months as the thrill of the chase took hold of him, but surrendering was not an option. At least not until every opportunity had been taken advantage of.
"Madam." said the King, all smiles. "I take my leave of you. The deer awaits and such sport will not wait forever, even for a King!"
Queen Anne just smiled at him.
With that, King Henry turned, ignoring Jane and called to the male courtiers that were in earshot, "To horse!"
The Queen also turned away but more sharply than her husband, her ladies following her, leaving Jane standing alone framed by a bower of pale pink roses.