It was early summer and the court was preparing to go on progress for the palace at Greenwich needed to be cleaned and aired out before Henry and his courtiers returned in the fall. He also wished to be free of the city before rumors of plague and other diseases appeared because the young monarch was afraid of illnesses, and most importantly, catching one.

Henry decided he wished to hold one more joust before the court left for the countryside. The trees were in full bloom, their branches clustered with white, pink, and lavender blossoms. The temperatures were delightfully warm, the weather perfectly suited for both participants and spectators.

The ladies sorted through their gowns, deciding which to keep out and which to pack. Each saved out a favorite gown, for there would be dancing after dinner to celebrate the winners of the joust.

Rumors were floating about that Queen Catherine had stopped bleeding and was now unable to provide Henry with a son and heir. A search was being made for a match for the princess Mary, for no one in England could conceive of a queen ruling England alone. Gossip floated about of a possible match with Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, but nothing would truly be certain until the princess came of age.

William was nowhere to be seen and Mary felt a sense of relief. She heard rumors that he was visiting brothels with his friends, but she did not care. Henry occupied her time and her mind. He had asked, and she had consented, that he carry her favor for the coming joust. It was certain that he would also carry the queen's but that was to be expected.

She had chosen a white linen kerchief embroidered with the red and white Tudor rose. There was no motto, nor were there names, for neither wished to flaunt their attachment. He would salute the queen and her ladies but pay no particular attention to her. No one knew for certain that she was his new mistress, therefore she was not a source for gossip, and she wished to keep it that way.

Since the news of the queen's downfall, there were already ladies competing for the king's attention. Henry was still young and handsome and had no attention drawing female attention. Jane Seymour must have been instructed to flirt with the king, but he paid her no more attention than he did the other women who surrounded the queen. The Seymours and Boleyns were rivals, therefore it was important to the Boleyns that their girl be in Henry's bed.

With the king's attention focused on Mary, Anne was no longer the favored daughter. It was clear that Mary was the king's choice and for once she was finding favor with her father and uncle. It would not last forever, because as she expected, eventually Henry's attention would stray. In the meantime, Mary for once was not overlooked. That the king had chosen Mary Boleyn over Jane Seymour was a good sign and the Boleyns intended to take full advantage of the situation.

Anne, however, was not enjoying the shift in the family's attention. Though not as beautiful as her sister, Anne possessed a keen mind which had been finely honed in the court of Margaret of Austria. Henry himself was an intellectual and well-read and Anne wondered how Henry would deal with a woman who was not his mental equal.

For herself, she did not wish to be in Mary's situation. She still desired to marry even though the match with the Ormonds had failed. Despite her family's machinations, Mary would not be able to wed the king. Her sister would come out of this with whatever favors Henry had granted her but risking her reputation if she were to be found out. Francis had been discreet, to an extent, but when he tried to pass Mary off to his favorites rumors had started to spread and eventually Mary had been returned home. If any now knew about Mary and the king, they kept their counsel and said nothing.

"What did you give the king for a favor?" she asked Mary who only shrugged.

"Just a kerchief I embroidered with a Tudor rose. Nothing fancy, nothing that can be traced back to me if someone finds it."

"That hardly seems adequate," Anne replied, "No motto or anything else?"

"Do you wish to be the one in Henry's bed, Anne? If so, tell Father and I'll yield. I'm tired of your little criticisms, if Henry is happy with me, who are you to complain?"

"If it were me, I'd be doing more. He has a queen who can bear no more children..."

"And I have a husband who married me in the Church. My marriage can't be dissolved and neither can his. And if he wants a son he has Henry Fitzroy, he can adopt him if he wishes but he hasn't. Now, leave me alone, I'm tired of your acid tongue."

Rose laced her into a pink silk gown trimmed with lace and a silver petticoat. She was about to join the queen and her ladies when William came to her.

"Madam," he said, "May I ask to carry your favor in the joust? I know you have given something to the king, but I am your husband and should have the right to carry the favor of his wife."

He had caught her off guard, her thoughts had been so wrapped up in the king that she had forgotten that her husband would be competing in the joust. She could not deny that what he said was true, she did owe him her favor. His jealousy and abuse had changed the way she saw him, and he was no longer her beloved husband, but someone who almost seemed a stranger now. Henry had become so important to her that these days she gave William little thought.

She went to a box and pulled out a yellow handkerchief. It was of little value to her but was pretty enough. "Here," she said, "Will this do?"

He took it and smelled it, it smelled of her perfume. He tucked it into his armor, and Mary had to admit that he looked very dashing. She had seen him joust before, he always looked handsome on his horse and tended to perform very well on the field.

"Thank you, Mary," he said and kissed her on the cheek. She watched as he walked away, and for a moment felt regretful at the loss of their marriage. Then she reminded herself that the king would be waiting for her, and that comforted her.

"The queen is waiting, madam," Rose reminded her, and Mary hurried to join the queen's ladies, hoping that Anne would not find out that William had sought her out.

The jousting yard was located at Fearson House and belonged to a descendant of Sir John Lovick, one of Henry VII's men. The house was surrounded by elegant gardens and possessed a lawn kept year-round for Henry's jousting matches.

A pavilion had been erected for the ladies, and the queen took her place with her ladies, their spring dresses rivaling the flowers which grew in the gardens. Jousting was Henry's favorite sport and he would indulge as long as he could. He was well-matched in his opponents, Charles Brandon, William Carey, George Boleyn, and Henry Brereton, but he won frequently and enjoyed the attention it brought him.

"Who will be going first?" asked the queen, and one of the ladies replied.

"Your majesty, William Carey and the king will be competing first. The winner of that match will meet with the Duke of Suffolk." The queen looked satisfied and the maid bowed and left.

Mary tried to hide the apprehension she felt. William was good, the king liked to keep sportsmen around him, but he was not nearly as good as the king or Brandon. Most matches resulted in no more than minor injuries, but sometimes concussions, broken bones, or even death came from jousting.

"Your majesty, may I go see my husband to wish him luck before his match?" She felt suddenly afraid for William, she could not explain why. She did not wish for the king to be injured, but she felt suddenly afraid for William, why, she did not know but she was.

"Of course, Mary," said the Queen kingly, "But you must make it quick, the first match is about to begin." Mary curtsied and ran off to find William.

The knights participating were gathered talking, grooms holding their horses. She looked around, afraid she would not find him. She wanted to see him one more time, what if it was the last time she saw him alive? Henry was stronger, heavier, and though he would not hurt William deliberately, the possibility was there.

She found him talking to his groom and his squire. He looked up and saw hers, "Mary, what are you doing here, you should be with the queen."

She came forward and took his hand, "I wanted to wish you good luck, William, and to ask you to be careful. I am worried about you, the king is a formidable opponent and you could get hurt, I could not bear it if that were to happen."

A sad smile came over William's face. "My dear little wife, it is sweet that you should be concerned but do not worry. Perhaps I do not have Henry's experience but I am skilled and have jousted many times. I am sure that if I am hurt, and I say if," he lifted her chin and looked at her, "It will be no great matter. Now, please, go to the queen and put a smile on your face."

Reluctantly, she left. She did not understand why she was so worried. Jousting was dangerous but none of the participants wished to injure their opponents. William was right, she was worried for nothing. Perhaps it was only guilt over her affair with Henry that caused these feelings.

The silver horns blew and William and the king took their positions. They saluted each other, and the spectators then lowered the visors of their helmets.

It was on the first pass, it happened that quickly. The opponents had galloped their horses at each other with their lance's lowered, then Henry's lance had shattered William's wooden shied. William had fallen from his horse, but Mary had not seen how he landed because, not even obtaining the queen's permission, she had run onto the jousting yard, screaming William's name.

She pushed men out of the way until she reached his side. "William, William, can you hear me?"

Someone lifted William's visor and Mary held her breath. William's eyes were closed but he opened them slowly.

"Mary, is that you?" he tried to look around him, but they held him down, forcing him to be still.

"I'm here, William, you must do as they tell you. They're going to carry you inside to our rooms. The doctor will examine you there and we will find out what is wrong with you. Do you hurt very badly?"

"Yes, I hurt all over, I'm afraid to movie. What is wrong with me, Mary?"

"The doctor will tell us, soon. Please be still, even if it hurts. I'm sure he will give you something for the pain."

The men lifted William and prepared to carry him into the castle. Mary made to follow them, but someone took her arm and Mary turned to see Henry standing behind her.

"Do not worry, Mary, I am sending my physician to examine him. You should be with the queen."

"I cannot, not until I know what is going on. How badly do you think he is hurt?"

"If no bones are broken, he will be all right but jousting is over for him for the season. He will not be able to go on progress with us this summer, he will be taken to Norfolk where he can rest and recuperate."

"Then I should go with him, sire, I am his wife after all."

"If that is what you want, but I would rather you go on progress with me. Will you not stay and go with me? It will be lonely without your company." Henry gave her his most beguiling smile.

"Of course, I would rather spend the summer with you, sire. William will recover whether I am there or not." Traitor, she told herself, I should go to Norfolk with William but I don't want to. "But I must see to my husband's welfare, or there will be talk. Do you still have my favor?"

Henry patted his chest, "It is stored safely next to my heart, my lady. I will miss you at the joust but it is my command that you attend the dancing tonight."

"Of course, your majesty, I would not dream of disappointing you." She curtsied to him and ran into the castle.