The dawn's first light came in through the unshuttered windows, casting dappled shadows against the walls and the rushes on the floor. The rooks began cawing, fighting amongst themselves over the scraps tossed to them from the night before.

Mary sat up and rubbed her eyes. It was no dream then, she was at the family castle of Hever and exiled from France. She put her hands over her eyes, crying softly so that no one should hear. She rose from the bed and poured water from the jug into the basin and rinsed her eyes in the cool water. No way would she allow them to see she had been crying.

There was a knocking at the door of her room. "Madam," a voice called, "Are you awake."

"Yes," she replied, "You may come in." She picked up her robe and slipped it over her shoulders.

A girl close to her age came in and curtsied. "My name is Rose; your father has sent me to wait on you. Would you like me to help you dress?"

"Yes, please," Mary replied. The girl seemed friendly enough, with her pretty face and light brown hair. It would be nice to have someone to talk to—if she could trust her. "My trunk needs to be unpacked. There is a blue gown and fresh linen on the top. The rest should be put in the cupboards. Is breakfast being served downstairs?"

"Your father is at the table in the main hall. He says you are to join him when you are dressed. Let me brush your hair and help you dress, then you can join him."

Mary did not know how much training Rose had as a lady's maid, but she had a gentle touch with the brush and detangled Mary's golden-brown hair and confined to a net. She helped her into her clothes and then put a French hood that matched the color of her gown over her hair.

"There," she said, "You look lovely, my lady, that pale blue suits you."

"Thank you, Rose," Mary replied. Rose was chatty but it was welcome after the silence her father had inflicted on her during the voyage across the English Channel. He had barely spoken to her since he fetched her from France.

What had truly hurt was when he told her that Anne would be serving Mary Tudor in her place. It was bad enough that she had lost her position in Mary Tudor's court, but to have Anne replace her stung.

She made her way downstairs and was escorted to the dining hall where her father was listening to his tenants' complaints and requests for aid. She took her place at the table and the servant put a plate containing slices of ham and cheese, along with bread and a mug of small ale.

She sat quietly while her father listened to his tenants, ignoring her until the last of them filed out of the room. Then, and only then, did he turn his attention to her.

"Now, there is the matter of what to do with you." He looked at her and she felt her cheeks burning. She wanted to sink into her chair to escape his penetrating gaze.

"Yes, Father," she said in a small voice, clasping her hands tightly so he could not see her trembling.

"Your mother is seeing about obtaining a position for you as one of Queen Katherine's maids of honor. Your affair with Francis is not too well known here, and your mother will vouch for your behavior. The Queen is strict and pious and if you are accepted as one of her ladies that will help improve your reputation. He paused and took a sip of his ale, "Your uncle and I have decided that it is time for you to be married."

"So soon?" She could not hide her look of dismay. After her fiasco at the French court, she wanted nothing to do with men. Perhaps in a year or so, but not now.

"You are almost sixteen, it is high time you were married. The best way to squelch any rumors of your behavior in France is for you to marry. There are several suitable young men that your uncle is investigating, this will help you increase your fortune as well as ours. There is one we have in mind, he is a second son but is a favorite of King Henry. I believe he is an acquaintance of your brother who is now a gentleman usher."

"George is in England?" asked Mary and her heart rose. If George were at court, she would not feel so lonely and abandoned.

"Yes, you will see him when the king and queen return from being on progress and your mother brings you to court. You are dismissed."

She rose and curtsied, glad to be released from her father's presence. She ran lightly up the stairs to her room where Rose was putting the finishing touches on her room.

The trunk was out of sight and her gowns had been stowed away in the cupboards. Rose had found some daisies and put them in a vase, cheering the room up. Mary looked around her, she had been away but now the room with the blue-curtained windows seemed to be welcoming her home.

"Did you have good news from your father, my lady?" Rose asked while she plumped a pillow on the bed.

"Yes, and no. I am going to court, I imagine when they come back from progress—father must be angry with me for pulling him away. And I am to be married, I guess..." she trailed off.

"Madame, you make it sound like that is bad news. Did he tell you to whom?"

"No one yet, only maybes. There is one, I guess, but he did not tell me his name."

"Then if you are to be married, we must put together a trousseau for you. When your father gives you the name and the date we will be ready."

"You are so funny, Rose, are you always this cheerful?"

"Yes, madam, at least I try. With your permission, my lady, I would like to accompany you to court. Will they let you have your own maid?"

"I don't know, but maybe they would let me have a companion. It would be nice to have someone I can confide in, there was no one I trusted when I was a member of Mary Tudor's court. I was excited to be there, but it was so lonely sometimes."

"Well, my lady, you are home now and if you need someone to talk to, you can always talk to me. I promise I will never betray you." She held out her hand to Mary who took it and a friendship was formed.

Sir Thomas left the next day, leaving Mary in the capable hands of the housekeeper and the castle staff. She watched him ride off without a backward look and would have cried but for the fact that his presence was stifling and the feeling of oppression that had haunted her since she left France began to lift.

She whiled away her days with simple things to pass the time. In the morning she attended mass then had her breakfast with Rose. She walked in the garden, and rode, reacquainting herself with the tenant farmers and the countryside. On rainy days, which there were few, she read.

Were it not for Rose she would have found herself lonely, but the maid was proving more than just a servant, she was growing into a trusted friend. The maid had a merry temperament and set herself to keeping Mary's spirits up.

The girls would pack a picnic lunch and then walk through the woods hand in hand. They would spread a blanket and Mary would read to Rose who did not even know her letters. Upon learning that, she began to teach Rose to read and write, using the simple texts from her childhood.

She even told Rose what had happened in France, knowing her maid would not judge her. Rose was angry and indignant over the careless manner in which Francis had treated Mary. Even though she had been disgraced, fortune had perhaps had a hand in what happened. She would be better off in England, Rose assured her, everyone knew how corrupt the French were. It was good that she was back home where honesty and virtue were English traits.

The days passed in a golden idyl and before long she started to notice that the leaves were turning and the fruit on the trees grew riper by the day. Soon the court would be back from progress, and her mother would inform her of her fate.

Sir Thomas and Lady Elizabeth arrived in the middle of August. The king and queen had traveled across the countryside and were returning to Windsor. The Boleyns had been granted permission to return to Hever to fetch Mary and bring her back to take her place as one of the queen's maids of honor.

Lady Elizabeth did not greet her daughter fondly, but she decided to spare Mary her anger. All she wanted was to have her daughter secure a position at court and squash all traces of the scandal that hung over her.

Sir Thomas and Lady Elizabeth entered the main hall where Mary awaited them, the faithful Rose standing behind her for moral support. She looked around, "Has George come with you?"

"George is where he belongs, at court, at the king's side, you will see him when you come to court. The queen has agreed to grant you a position as a maid of honor, this is a very great honor, do not disappoint us."

"We leave on the morrow," her mother said, "You will need new gowns and hoods, but we must wait until we arrive at Windsor to have them made. The gowns you have now will have to do." Rose quietly cleared her throat and Mary spoke up. "Rose," she turned and gestured towards her, "Has been a great help to me during my time here. May she accompany me to London? I know I am asking a great deal but I have come to lean on her."

Sir Thomas and Elizabeth looked at each other. Sir Thomas shrugged, and Lady Elizabeth lifted her eyebrows.

"Very well," Lady Elizabeth said, "It is not the custom but not unheard of, but she must agree to help the queen's other ladies as well as you."

Mary breathed a sigh of relief and Rose smiled. "Yes mother," she said, "I am sure Rose's help will be appreciated. May I ask when we leave?"

"The day after tomorrow," Lady Elizabeth replied, "Have your maid pack your things. We will be taking the carriage. Be ready to leave in the morning after mass."

"Yes, my lord, my lady." Mary curtsied and left the room, Rose following her. She went upstairs to her room, barely able to hold her excitement.

"We're going to court, Rose, I'm to be a maid of honor to queen. I'm so excited. I was disgraced but I am to be given a second chance."

"And I will be there for you, madam, I will take care of you, I promise." Rose hugged her, then began to pack her mistress's trunk.

Mary was grateful that her father had allowed the use of a carriage, but the bumping caused by the ruts in the road made her dizzy. She said nothing, but lay her head against the carriage seat and closed her eyes.

It was twenty miles to Windsor, and seemed to take forever, however at their journey came to an end at last. Mary sat up, excited to see her first glimpse of Windsor palace.

"Look Mary," her mother said, "There it is, Windsor Castle. The court will be there through the holidays and this is where you begin your new life!"