After dinner, there was dancing. Edward came over to partner her and Jane smiled as her brother led her through the graceful, swaying steps. The music was lively and when it finished, Jane was flushed, laughing and out of breath. She bobbed a curtsy to Edward and clapped along with everyone else. The Earl of Northumberland swept his feathered hat of his dark head and boldly asked her for the next dance.
"Why of course, my lord. I would be hon … " but Jane broke off as the Earl's attention was focused behind her.
She turned and saw the King smiling down at her. He held out his own hand to her without a word and she knew she could not refuse.
"Play a Gavotte!" the King bellowed up to the musicians high up in the minstrels gallery overhead. They obligingly struck up their instruments and Jane allowed herself to be towed further into the middle of the room, the King's hand on her waist.
Jane glanced up at the top table as the King bowed and she curtsied. The Queen watched them thoughtfully, as though the sight of her husband leading out one of her pretty maids in waiting was an interesting tableau rather than the obvious side courting of her husband and a potential new mistress.
"Well now Jane," said Henry, linking his hands with hers, "How fares my pretty little rose?"
Jane paused for a few seconds, hoping that her slight silence would show the King that she was displeased with his casual treatment of her.
"This rose seems born to blush unseen for Your Grace. I daresay there are many such roses."
This seemed to amuse the King, for he threw back his head and laughed joyously.
"How has this come to pass, sweet rose. Mayhap you are jealous of other roses?"
"No, Your Grace. Although you do have a rose in full bloom already." Jane again glanced at the top table, at the Queen who still observed them. The King followed her gaze and Jane saw his eyes soften. The he turned in the movements of the dance and she just caught a glimpse of boredom that was not related to the subject of their conversation.
"Ah yes, the Queen. But you see, some roses only seem to be blooming, but are really starting to fade."
Jane almost faltered in the steps. So, her suspicions were true. He was bored with the Queen, despite her being with his child!
"I see, so it is a new bud that you seek?"
The King smiled knowingly down at her.
"Yes." he said simply. She saw Edward nodding at them, ambition clear in his eyes and this made Jane bold.
"I am afraid that this bud is not on offer to anyone outside of marriage. My father has made it quite clear to me that he only expects me to hold out for marriage and not to fall prey to any rogue that takes an interest in me."
The King did not say anything. Jane thought that she might have gone to far. Ambitious, she and her brother might be, but unlike Edward, she did not plan to be another Bessie Blount. Jane had heard that evening that the King had arranged for his former mistress to be married off to a simple squire and to be buried in the countryside while the King's son was to be made Duke of Richmond and be separated from her in an establishment of his own. Jane shuddered in horror at having such a future thrust upon her by uncaring men who dismissed women from the sphere of their minds once their usefulness was at an end. Such a fate would not be for her.
"I would expect nothing less from a devoted father Jane, but love should not be denied whoever cupids arrow might strike. And my dear sweet rose, loves dart has pierced me and it has named you as my hearts desire."
Jane did not answer, she was too dumbfounded to think, let alone reply to this declaration of love from the King of England.
The steps of the dance separated them as the dancers changed partners for a moment before rejoining their original partners.
"You say nothing, my dear. Have I offended you?" the King asked as they went down the line of smiling courtiers, who were all straining to hear what was being said.
"Not exactly Your Grace. I only mean to be careful to avoid giving false hope where none can flower." said Jane, not daring to meet the King's eyes. "I am a true maid and you have had a wife these twenty years past. Neither of us are free to love."
The dance ended and as they bowed and curtsied to each other, the King leaned close and murmured, "Sweet Jane. A love such as mine will not be denied. Everyone can be bought for the right price, even your father. Just give me leave to speak with him and we can be together within the week."
Jane could not believe he could be so brazen. And with the Queen watching too. The Queen's unspoken judgment that Jane would end up used and discarded was threatening to come true if she did nothing to stop it. But how to stop it? An idea edged into the corner of her mind, an idea so huge it stole her breath with its treasonous audacity. But why not, she had nothing to loose. Suddenly, unbidden, an image rose in her mind of the block, shadowed by the headsman and his axe which slowly dripped blood. Her minds eye was clouding her real ones and only came out of the horror of her vision when she felt the King move her out of the area for dancing.
Her father and brother stepped forwards. Sir John's kind blue eyes were filled with worry at the sight of his daughter who had suddenly gone milk white on the dance floor. Edward, however seemed to not to notice as he took Jane's limp hand and drew her around so that she was facing the King, who looked very pleased with himself.
"A splendid dance, Your Grace, none can match you in anything it seems, except perhaps my dear sister." said Edward smoothly, surreptitiously giving the back of Jane's hand a pinch.
The pinch brought Jane's focus back completely. She forced herself to smile brilliantly at the King, while discreetly dragging her hand from Edwards cruel grip.
"Indeed, I declare I have never enjoyed a gavotte so much as this one." she said.
Instantly, the King face sobered and it showed itself almost like a green boy in its quest for adoration. "Do you mean that Jane?"
"As far as a maid can in the arms of a married man."
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Edward give her sharp look which promised later retribution for her insolence. But this statement did not seem to displease the King, who had grown more sober still. His stance was thoughtful, but as he glanced up at the Queen, indecision crept over his features.
It was the Queen's belly he saw, thought Jane in alarm, I may be able to hold him at arms length for a time, but with the hope of a son still fresh, I cannot hope for salvation.
A moment later, Queen Anne stood up, ready to leave the fest for her bed. As the ladies in waiting stood up to accompany their mistress, Jane curtsied to the King, who still looked troubled.
"Goodnight, Your Grace."
King Henry suddenly seemed to realise that the court had stood up, taking their leave of his wife.
"Ah yes, goodnight, but we shall discuss this further some other time, Mistress Seymour, you may depend on it."
Jane could feel the King's eyes on her as she walked away to join the trail of ladies leaving with Queen Anne and as she helped direct the maids in the drawing of the Queen's bath, she wondered if the idea that had stolen still further into her mind was even possible or if the vision of the headsman and his bloodied axe foretold the consequences involved in the toppling of a rightful Queen.