Anne's favor seemed to switch every day to whoever could amuse her. I found myself the favorite every other seven days. It was fine for me because I liked to live my life in peace and quiet. I guess it was a consequence of being ignored all my life. I liked to go on walks around wherever we happened to be and help. The people found it strange but I enjoyed helping them. Of course that was only when Henry had not asked me to ride with him or something. It was a boring and dull day and I found myself walking outside the arena for a jousting tournament. I did not particularly like jousting; I found it a useless sport. My family found my attraction to old age plot movies ridiculous but I always felt that I really belonged in those time periods or something.
"Lady Andrea why are you not among the Queen's ladies," Charles Brandon asked coming up behind me.
"I prefer not to watch and Queen Anne it seems did not want me among her today so here I am just thinking," I replied.
"Thinking about what," Charles asked.
"My family," I said. He seemed to choke up a bit when I looked at him. He seemed familiar and it was completely weird.
"Were they nice people," He asked. I shrugged.
"Depends on who you ask. They were nice when they took time to be with me but most of the time I was neglected. I was the runt in the family I guess you could say. But I think because of that I welcome solitude and always wish for something different. Now I am here so I am trying to find even just a small measure of happiness," I said.
"Then you might want this back," He said pulling something out of a pocket like thing. I saw it was my necklace.
"How did you find that," I asked.
"Henry has been holding on to it and when I saw it, it reminded me of my sister," Charles said.
"Why," I asked as I put it back on. I felt a calm feeling overwhelm me. I smiled and closed my hand around the cross.
"Because eighteen years ago my sister was taken from me. I gave her a necklace exactly like yours. The first time she held it she grasped it in her hand much like your doing now. I never stopped looking for her," Charles said smiling at me. I found the smile comforting because it reminded me of a dream I had been having. A boy was smiling at me as he held me.
"Well she must have been very special to you for you to keep looking for her," I said.
"I have never given up hope which is why I knew that I found her when I saw your necklace," Charles said.
"Look my parents neglected me I was not taken from them," I said as I started to walk away.
"Do you remember a curly haired eleven year old boy? He smiled at you promising to protect you. He gave you that necklace. He never stopped loving you. You are his little sister. Just as I am her big brother," Charles said. I stopped and looked at him.
"Even if I believed you do you have any proof," I asked him. He stood before me. I looked deep into his eyes and saw nothing but sincerity and truth. Those eyes were the same ones from my dream.
"Look at me. Do you see any reason not to," Charles said looking at me. I couldn't help but feel safe as if I knew he was my brother.
"No but what do you want from me," I asked him.
"I want you to come to home and meet my wife and get away from Anne Boleyn. I just found you again and I want to take care of you," Charles said.
"But I serve the Queen and I would have to get her permission," I told him. He seemed unfazed.
"I am a close friend of the King. He will make the Queen release you," Charles said hugging me.
"Fine but I will not hesitate to tell you when your brotherly protection is not needed," I said.
"We will see," Charles said. I just laughed and he joined me minutes later. When the laughing ceased he pulled me into a hug.
"Am I intruding," a voice asked. I turned to see Henry in a suit of armor.
"Henry are you sure the doctor said you were in good health to be jousting," I asked him.
"The doctor said that I was fine enough to ride," Henry replied coming towards us.
"Play it safe then England needs her King," I said.
"England or Andrea," Charles whispered in my ear. I gave him a cross look and turned to Henry who just looked amused.
"May I borrow Andrea for a moment Charles," Henry asked.
"Very Well but I want my sister back in perfect condition," Charles replied.
"Of course anything less would be rude," Henry replied. He led me out of earshot from Charles.
"So Charles is your brother," Henry asked. I smiled and nodded.
"Yes and I think he is already starting to be overprotective," I said.
"I was the same way with Margaret before she died," Henry said.
"Henry I am so sorry if my being related to Charles brought back memories of Margaret," I said.
"No so are you going to go live with Charles and his wife," Henry asked.
"For a while until I decide what to do with my life," I said.
"Will you come back to court," Henry asked.
"I do not know," I said to him. He looked hurt by my statement. I put my hand to his cheek. He leaned in towards my hand.
"May I wear your favors today," Henry asked.
"Henry you know that I will not do any such thing. It is a sign of affection and we promised to be only friends," I told him.
"Can you honestly tell me that after every moment you have not begun to feel something for me," Henry asked. I avoided looking in his eyes. I knew I wouldn't be able to lie to him. I took a deep breath and looked into his eyes.
"You are the King Henry. I am nothing, but the sister of a Duke. You have seduced many women into your bed, why should I believe that I am any different," I asked him. He looked at me with hurt in his eyes.
"Andrea do not think you are like all those other women, you are much more," Henry said.
"Have you given me any reason to think otherwise? Henry please do not ask me to become a mistress or anything of the sort. I have avoided men who only seduce women my whole life please do not make me sacrifice all of my hard work," I told him. He turned away from me obviously mad. I restrained the tears that were sure to fall.
"Go then, after all you are nothing but the sister to the son of a whore," Henry said. I bit back the urge to slap him. But it was also my feelings for him that restrained me.
"It's not that I do not love you Henry because I do with everything that I have and am, It's that I can not love you," I said untying the lavender ribbon from my neck and placing it on his horse's saddle. I turned and walked back to where Charles was standing. He saw that my eyes' were staring to water but did not press the subject and instead led me to the carriage that he had called for during my conversation with Henry. I took one last look back at Henry who had not moved and stepped into the carriage towards my brother's home. I just hope I did not lose Henry as a friend.
"Sister did he say anything to dishonor you he may be a king but that is no exception," Charles asked.
"No my dear brother he did not," I replied as I looked out the window and saw the arena getting farther and farther away.
Henry heard her words and was saddened as she walked away from him. When he finally turned around the carriage was gone but a piece of lavender ribbon was upon his horse's saddle. He grasped it in his hands and put it under his breastplate over his heart. Andrea was the purest woman he had ever met and he had ruined it all when he did not stop her from leaving. When this match was over he would do everything in his power to convince her that he loved her. He would be just Henry and would prove to her his love and devotion. He would divorce Anne to prove everything. He would be a better man and deserve Andrea and do the right thing and ask Charles for her hand.
