After the incident in the rose garden, it seemed to Jane that the King had forgotten her. It did not matter where she was in his company either attending the Queen or at mealtimes in the Great Hall, his dark blue eyes never swept her way. When two weeks had passed, Jane's brother Edward cornered her as she left the Great Hall after dinner. Grabbing her roughly by the arm, Edward propelled her into an alcove and all but slammed her back to the wall.

"What have you done to displease the King." he snarled in her face.

"I have done nothing brother. I just don't seem to please him anymore." said Jane testily, "I daresay he has found someone else to confess false love to."

Edward gave her a small shake and leaned closer.

"You had the King of England in the palm of your hand and you lost him."

"It wasn't my fault. The Queen came upon us in the rose garden whilst he was kneeling at my feet and asking me if I could learn to love him…"

"He said that!" asked Edward urgently, giving her another slight shake. "What did you say?"

"I could not say anything! The Queen came before I could utter a word. The look she gave me Edward. It was like cold disappointment that I would go the same way as all the rest." said Jane with a hint of tears in her voice.

"Now that's enough!" snapped Edward. He clenched his jaw and then sighed. "I knew it might be too soon to have the King fall for you. His infatuation with Bessie Blount and her son must be too fresh in his mind to face a dalliance with you. That and the Queen must have frightened him off you."

Jane's vanity was piqued. "Am I not as beautiful as that second rate whore, Blount?"

"But she has his son. It shows he is fertile if not by the Queen." said Edward thoughtfully, releasing Jane and rubbing his chin. "Maybe all the King needs is a push in the right direction, to forget all about mistress Blount. I shall fix it."

"But what are you going to do? All the world knows you can't push the King into anything." asked Jane fearfully.

Edward regarded her with amusement. "Surely you don't care for the King, Jane?"

"Not for him altogether." Jane said wryly, "But it's a foolish girl indeed who does not try for the prize. Who knows what my happen. In time, I am sure I will love the King wholeheartedly."

But as Edward laughed ambitiously and withdrew from the alcove, Jane opened her hand and revealed a dried pink rose petal.

"Who knows what my happen."

Several days later, Jane opened her chamber door after being dismissed by the Queen for the night and found a pale pink gown with matching hood embroidered with golden thread and swansdown sleeves. Jane moved forward and reached out a hand to stroke the rich fabric.

"I thought something simple would suffice."

Jane jumped and with her heart thudding loudly in her ears turned to see her brother propped against her wardrobe, arms folded.

"Simple!" Jane squeaked, "How much did this cost?"

"I meant a simple way to recapture the King's attention sister dear. What he needs is reminding of his love for you."

"What love?" said Jane tartly, "His so called love was called forth in a trice and dismissed just as easily."

"Now now, don't start being like your true self, my sweet. Remember, a King's love is worthless, it's no use pretending otherwise. There are other aspects to a King which are far more pleasing. Lets say gold, for instance." said Edward, leaving his post and sauntering smugly.

"And power, brother. Lots of power." Jane glanced up at Edward through her lashes.

Edward smiled and shook a finger mockingly at her. "Ah Jane, you do learn fast. The court has persuaded you to grow up at last. Tell me, what scheme is it that I have in mind concerning the gown and His Grace?"

"Oh, that's easy. To remind him of our time in the rose arbour."

"Exactly."

The next night, Jane was late in following the Queen into dinner. At her final appearance, the Queen raised an eyebrow and regarded her coolly.

"Ah, Lady Jane. I knew you would look lovely in pink." was all she said.

Jane curtsied mutely and deliberately hung back in the line of ladies in waiting as Edward had instructed so that she was last and a little way apart from the rest. The line filed in front of the King, curtsying as they passed, Jane paused and sank down, spreading her skirts as she did so. After a few seconds, she rose and glanced flirtatiously up at the King, who was staring at her with his goblet of wine suspended halfway to his mouth.

Jane turned at caught Edward's smirk as she moved toward her seat. The dress had done it's work. She was back in the game.