It had been a few weeks since the feast, Lord De Angelo scolded Isabella for the insults directed to Lord Rochford, though he did not command her to apoloize for them nor offer the Boleyns a gift as an exchange. It was quite clear who the De Angelos supported, and it was not the Boleyns.
Even the King did not reprimand Isabella for her actions towards George. Even with Anne's pleas and George's complaints, Henry only laughed at the idea of punishing a girl over a mere insult.
The council meeting had been adjourned by the King, his keen eyes watched as Thomas Boleyn waited around with Norfolk, usually Henry allowed them to linger in his presence but ever since the feast - Isabella De Angelo had plagued his dreams more so than Anne ever did.
"Lord De Angelo, please stay."
The look that both Boleyn and Norfolk shared did not go unnoticed by the King, they seemed rather flustered that the King allowed his grooms to shut the door on them, there was an awkward silence between Lord De Angelo and Henry.
"Lord De Angelo, I understand that your daughter, Isabella, has recently joined the Queen's service and has hardly ever been at court. Pray tell, why is that?"
Lord De Angelo arched an eyebrow at the question. "My late wife asked me to protect all of our daughters' virtue and honour until a well suited match is found, I only done what I could, your majesty."
"Do tell me all that you know of her."
"Has... Has my daughter caught your eye, your majesty?" Lord De Angelo asked, slightly uncomfortable as he did not mind the King having Mistresses, but now that the King has set his eyes on Isabella - it made a horrid taste fill his mouth.
"I simply wish to know more about her, Isabella is a new face, and I wish to know a little about those in my court. Would you not agree?" Henry sat forward. "Is there anything specific that comes to mind?"
"Isabella has shown herself to be loyal, honest, and kind. Those traits will not waver anyone if they go against what she believes in. My late wife and I have raised our daughters to carry themselves with pride and grace, your majesty, Isabella would do almost anything if it does not go against what she believes or prides herself on." Lord De Angelo replied, his grip on his hat tightened. "I must be blunt and forward with you, your majesty. If you are looking to make Isabella your mistress, she would outright decline, gracefully, in her duty towards the Queen."
"I do not wish to take her as my mistress, Lord De Angelo. I find the Lady Isabella De Angelo to be a puzzle."
"A puzzle, your majesty?"
Henry nodded. "I find her to be an enigma. Faithful, guarded, virtuous, but by all means stubborn."
"What of Mistress Boleyn? Has your love for her begun to fade?" That was a good question, Henry had to admit that the spark between himself and Anne was dimming as a result of the Pope's stubborness to grant him a divorce and the Boleyns ambition for power, some of the nobles looked down at the Boleyn family but if Anne becomes Queen, then they would be shown respect.
"Leave that to me," Henry replied, waving off the Lord's concern. "I would like to speak to Isabella again, however, since she is the Queen's service, it quite clear that she will not be willing to be in my presence, alone, out of loyalty towards her Queen. Which is why I ask you to accompany us... From afar."
Lord De Angelo bowed. "Yes, your majesty."
Once De Angelo left, Charles approached his friend and King, a smile upon his face. "Come Charles, we are to go to the gardens."
"Is Lady Anne to join?" Henry tilted his head slightly, Charles made no hesitation to hide his dislike towards Anne or her family, especially since they now believe theor station is of equal standing.
"No."
"Mistress Isabella, come here." Catherine called, making the girl look up from her needle work and approached the Queen with a deep curtsey.
"Your majesty."
"I have knowledge that the King will ask for company soon," Isabella's eyes widened as she scanned the room for those that would spread the rumour, if it was to be true. "Worry not, I hear you will not be alone with him."
"What if he asks me to dine with him?"
Catherine patted her hand, the innocence of the girl was quite laughable, she was a good choice indeed. "If the King wishes to dine with you, then so be it. He is the King. You may join him or deny it. It is your choice, Isabella. Do not believe that you are being pressured into doing this."
"What of Mistress Anne and her family? Surely they will see this a threat to their ploy in placing Anne in the King's path?"
"I have good intent to know that the King has begun to tire of his ruse with the Whore, it is the matter of time before he beds her and then discards her like her sister, Mary Carey." Catherine smiled. There was a glint in her eyes. The idea of the Boleyns falling from grace had her feeling like a young girl all over again.
They were interuppted by the Queen pageboy, who then announced Lord De Angelo's presence and wished to speak with Isabella. "You may leave, Mistress Isabella."
"Father."
Lord De Angelo observed his daughter well, her choice of clothing was a gown of dark material with a short Spanish hood lying over her elegant curls as it was common for unmarried women to wear their hair down until they are betrothed.
"Isabella, the King wishes to take a walk with you in the gardens." He held up his hand as of to stop her from protesting, which she, of course, did not as Catherine already warned her of this. "Worry not, my daughter, your sisters, and I will walk behind you. You will be in the company of others."
He was persistent, Isabella would give him credit for that, nibbling on her bottom lip as the choice was up to her. She knew it would be foolish to deny the King, and it was just a harmless walk in the gardens with others close by. "Very well."
She was instantly escorted outside to where her sisters, their maids, the King, and a few of the King's attendants stood waiting.
Henry's eyes immediately fell onto Isabella, who quickly curtsied. "Your majesty."
He helped her back to her feet. "Lady Isabella. Will you join me for a walk with the company of your father and sisters, of course."
Isabella hesitantly nodded as Henry motioned for them to begin walking.
"I wish to know more about you." Henry spoke, his hands folded behind his back. "I have heard that you are never alone in the company of men because of your morals. May you explain that a little more?"
Isabella simply smiled. "That is indeed true, your majesty. I believe for wives to be more secure about their marriage, I would never dare to be alone in the company of a married man, I do know that it is a part of life to be surrounded by married couples. But I do not wish to be seen a threat, unintentionally, of course."
"That is a most admirable." They paused their short walk to glance over at some blooming roses, a mixture of red and white. Symbolising the joint house of York and Lancaster. "What are your thoughts of Mistresses?"
Isabella tilts her head slightly. "A man will take a mistress even if he loves his wife or not. That is inevitable, I have no desire to become a mistress. But, if I am married I will please my husband with the best of my ability, if I am with child then for the sake of our health and the health of my marriage I shall take a brief break until I am healed from childbirth. I will have no issues for that brief hiatus that my husband takes a mistress as long as it is just that. Briefly."
Sensing his slight confusion to what she was saying, Isabella continued. "Do not get me wrong, your majesty, there is nothing wrong with letting your sexual frustrations out. I, as a wife, will take care of everything else. If my husband takes a mistress when I am of good health and without a child, I would see that as adultery, and that is most unforgivable and in the Holy Bible, adultery is seen as a great sin in the eyes of God. Marriages are built on trust, loyalty, honesty, and love. Without those, marriages are doomed to fail."
Henry blinked several times, comprehending what Isabella had just said as they continued their walk. "You are very wise for your age."
"I thank you for your compliment, your majesty."
"What do you like to do away from the eyes of my court?"
It was Isabella's turn to be caught by surprise. "I like to read and play music I especially love learning new dances, embroidery is not my highest achievement, I know I am quite terrible at it but her majesty has given me some tips and I do believe I am getting better at it. Before I came to court, I also hunted briefly with my father and grandfather."
Henry tilted his head slightly. "You hunt?"
"Yes. I am not skilled enough to take down a stag, but I have hunted several rabbits."
"Perhaps you could join me on a hunting trip with your father to escort you."
"I will be delighted, your majesty."
They walked for a few more minutes, stopping every now and then at random plants or flowers, Henry watched as Isabella leaned forwards to inhale the sweet perfume of the flowers his mother loved so much "What of jewels, do you have a favourite?"
Henry had expected her to name the usual ones, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, diamonds, or pearls, but her answer was not one he expected at all. "I would not exactly call it a jewel due to it not being as popular as pearls or diamonds. But I find it most beautiful none the less, it's Opal, your majesty. I come to find myself most taken by it as it comes in many different forms and colours."
Grey clouds started to form an overcast, Henry noticed that Isabella began to shiver slightly, and it began to lightly sprinkle with rain as the heavens opened up. "Perhaps we should return inside, I do not wish for you to catch a cold."
"I believe that is a good idea, your majesty."
They quickly headed back inside. It was clear to everyone, but Isabella, how close the King was to Isabella.
"Lady Isabella?"
Isabella paused in her steps, glancing at her father as he ushered her sisters forwards away from earshot. "Your majesty?"
"Would you dine with me on the morrow?" Henry locked eyes with Lord De Angelo. "With your father, of course, as I do not want you to get the wrong impression."
"May I think about it more, your majesty?"
Henry nodded. It was a mere simple test to see if Isabella's morals were indeed true or not.
"You may."
Isabella gave a deep curtsey, enough for him to glance at what little cleavage her dress allowed. Perhaps he should send her some elegant silks to be made into dresses, especially shades of emeralds. "If you would excuse me, your majesty, I must return to my duties to the Queen."
Henry allowed her to go as Lady Isabella De Angelo became more of a puzzle than he originally thought, though some of the pieces were coming together.
What none of them knew was that Catherine arranged for the Boleyns, especially Anne, to witness the interaction between the King and Lady Isabella De Angelo.