Chapter IV - The French Court Pt. II
Anne had danced with a few attractive men at the wedding festivities. All of them attempted to woo her with poetry and flirting. She just laughed and shook her head at their ill attempts to win her favor. Anne wouldn't so easily be won over like that. She knew her worth. Even if her sister was sleeping with the prince, Anne knew she wanted more than lust. Sure, she wanted to enjoy all the aspects of love, including sex. Who didn't? It would take so much more to get Anne to climb into bed with a man. She wasn't that easy. Not to say that Mary was easy. No, she loved her sister, and she won the affections of a prince. It was better than the old king.
It seemed Mary liked French court life and thrived here. Mary was eager to flirt and be a part of this licentious culture. Anne looked over at her sister who sat beside Francis in a corner while others were dancing. Mary was totally flirting with him openly and letting him kiss her in front of everyone. He would whisper in her ear, and she would laugh and shake her head. Anne couldn't hear what Mary was saying. But she didn't mind. She preferred it that way, Anne didn't want to know what was going on between them. All she knew there was sex, but Mary hardly talked about it to Anne. She probably didn't want to terrify her younger sister. Anne knew more than she let on, but she was determined to keep her poised character and studious nature.
Anne made a solemn vow to herself that she would marry for love and wealth. She didn't want to just experience lust. She wanted the whole package: love, wealth and a title. Or nothing at all. She hoped she'd never have to marry someone old like King Louis. Or someone whose sexual appetite was not in control. She knew how kings and princes operated. As soon as they had their way with a woman, she would be tossed aside like a used rag. Anne wondered why so many women chose to become royal mistresses. She knew that noblewomen didn't have too many options but surely spinsterhood was better than being a whore? Wasn't it?
As she slowly drank her wine, a young man saw her and made his way towards her. She held her breath, tensing but doing her best to remain stoic.
"Good evening, my lady," he greeted, with a bow.
"Good evening, my lord," she said, with a curtsy.
"You look quite beautiful in that red and gold dress. It suits you well."
"Do you give all the girls compliments like that?" Anne questioned, raising a brow.
"Only the pretty ones," he answered. "I'm Philippe, Comte de Boudin."
"Lady Anne Boleyn, my father is the earl of Whiltshire."
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Anne. I do believe that the next dance is a galliard. Would you like to accompany me?" Philippe asked, with a flirtatious look on his face.
"I suppose one dance wouldn't hurt. I enjoy dancing the galliard."
"That's excellent to hear. Shall we?" Philippe offered her his hand and she accepted it.
Couples lined up on the dance floor and the music began. The couples danced in time to the music and flowed beautifully around the room. The couples twirled around each other, skirts flaring out from the ladies' dresses. At some point in the dance, the ladies were lifted into the air and gracefully brought down again. The set went on for another five minutes before it came to a close. Anne dipped into a low curtsy before Philippe, and he bowed.
"May I offer you a refreshment, my lady?" he asked.
"You may."
"So, my lady Anne, what will you be doing here while you stay in France?"
"I am to be a lady-in-waiting to Princess Mary."
"That sounds like a fun job, what will be your duties?" he inquired, pouring her some wine.
Anne accepted the beverage and took a small drink of it.
"I am to help her dress in the mornings, go to prayer with her and spend the day helping her with activities and the like."
"You must have a very interesting life, Lady Anne. Where were you before the French court? I noticed when you arrived last week when your carriage pulled up."
"Well, I served under Princess Margaret, Emperor Maximillian's daughter. I was her lady-in-waiting and gained experience through that. She was an excellent teacher. We had debates on royal politics, philosophy, she taught me card games, falconry, archery and we would go horseback riding."
"That is most impressive, you seem like a very multi-talented young woman. Do you have any particular interest?"
"I like to read a lot of books on philosophy and illumination. It's quite fascinating. There's so much to absorb."
"That's rather unusual for a lady-in-waiting." Philippe said, suddenly feeling rather intimidated by Anne's wit and intelligence. He chuckled awkwardly and finished off his wine quickly.
"Are you intimidated, my lord?" Anne wondered, curiously.
"Well, yes rather, I've not known many well-educated women. Most of the women I have personally known enjoy music, dancing and the arts I suppose, not things like philosophy or politics. That's rather impressive I must say. I don't even know much about either of those things. I'm the spare, you see. Well, of course I had schooling with my brother, but he's expected to inherit and continue Father's work. I, however, have a little more freedom."
"It must be nice to not have so much weight on your shoulders, though, isn't it?"
"I suppose. But, my brother, Francois always got the best of everything. He still does, sometimes. I wish I could have some responsibility."
"Perhaps you might ask the King for special assignments, he might have something for you or a duke or some other nobleman. It wouldn't hurt to try to ask."
"How is it you have such confidence in the way you speak? You are so lovely, my lady Anne Boleyn."
Anne did blush this time and he smiled at her, his dimples showing up. He was rather a very handsome man, but Anne didn't wish to delve any further with the man except for friendship. It would be good to have another ally in court. He looked down at his feet, his dark curled hair falling over his eyes.
"Would you like to be friends, Philippe?" Anne asked, surprising even herself at the ridiculousness of the question.
"I'd like that more than you know." Philippe answered, looking up at her.
A loud clanging noise distracted everyone's conversation. Anne and Philippe looked over as did the crowd of people to see the king standing in the center of the room, taking hold of Princess Mary's hand.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us on the first eve of our celebrations for the week. May the festivities of the royal wedding continue but now, my beautiful young wife and I are to finish the marital act!" Louis exclaimed, loudly and raising his glass. "To my bride, Princess Mary! May you have many healthy children!"
"To Princess Mary!" The room joined in the chorus of voices. "Long live the king!"
The king led the procession out of the grand hall and to the king's suite. Anne stayed tucked away in the corner, hoping to not watch the consummation. She saw the king begin to undress and took her cue to leave. She quietly closed the door behind her and walked back up the corridor. Anne sighed, thankful for the short rest. She didn't even realize how much the French loved their parties. They drank until their minds were clouded, danced, frolicked and flirted their way around. It seemed even Anne's sister Mary enjoyed the court life. She didn't realize how much until she saw Mary dancing and flirting with a few different men.
Anne found her way back to their apartments and closed the door behind her, relieved that it was quiet and cozy. She rang for a maid to help her dress into a nightgown. She opened a window to let in the cool evening air and made her way to her desk. Anne grabbed a book from her desk and crawled into bed to read. Anne continued reading until she felt tired. She closed the book and fell asleep, replaying the whole day again in her mind's eye.
Anne woke up late the next morning. Mary had to come wake her up and said it was urgent from Princess Mary. The two sisters got dressed and went to see the princess and found her curled up on the sofa under a blanket, eyes red from crying. Princess Mary sat up when she saw the Boleyn sisters come in. She sniffled and wiped her eyes.
"Your Highness," the girls greeted.
Anne sat down next to the young woman and embraced her. Mary was fuming beneath the tears. They weren't tears of sadness but of rage and anger.
"I hate him. I know what I must do, but I just can't do it. It was so awful last night, Annie." Princess Mary confessed. "I couldn't even LOOK at him."
"Oh, Mary," Anne said, softly.
"I just have to wear him out, honestly. If I keep at it, he might just get bored."
"How can you stand it, Mary? Men doing that to you?" Princess Mary asked Anne's sister.
"I suppose it depends on who it is. Francis isn't bad. But it seems so odd now to be his mistress, considering you are technically his stepmother now."
"Don't remind me!" Princess Mary groaned, in dramatic agony. "I'm pretty sure Francis is older than me too, by two years. I wonder how he must feel that his father married someone like me. Damn it, why did my brother force me to marry an old man? Why couldn't he have had me marry the king's son? I know you're his mistress, but I don't care." Princess Mary exclaimed, getting up.
She was pacing back and forth, sighing angrily.
"He isn't all too worried that his father married you. I don't think he thinks much of it. I wouldn't think too much about Francis, Mary. He's a bit of a player though. He likes to fool around and have fun. He's not worried about what his father's doing. Honestly." Mary Boleyn said to the princess, in a soothing voice.
"That's comforting," Princess Mary said, with a scoff. "Well, I suppose I better get dressed. I'm sure my other ladies are waiting for us. Come on. Let's go and then we can have some kind of luncheon in the garden. It looks like a nice day out at least."
Princess Mary slipped on a silk, red, morning robe over her wool chemise and led the way to the sitting room of her royal apartments. The other ladies were sitting around the room in different places, reading, playing cards, socializing quietly with each other and other things. When Princess Mary walked in, the ladies rose and dipped into a low curtsy. She walked across the room to another door. It had been her dressing room. As royalty, Princess Mary was given the queen's apartments and had multiple rooms to herself. There was a vanity by the window and a chaise near the fireplace. The boudoir was very spacious and had a table with six chairs around it for dining and playing games.
Her dresses were well organized, and she fanned through them, uncertain of which one to pick. She sighed and glanced at Anne, Mary, Kate and Jane - four of her ladies who'd joined her in the morning dressing preparations.
"What do you think I should choose, ladies? Something that will really get the king to notice me?" Princess Mary asked, turning to the side to glance at the young women around her.
"I would say wear the blue and gold dress - it'll brighten your eyes." Lady Jane said, pulling out the velvet blue dress.
"Oh, that is a stunning dress, Mary!" Anne exclaimed. "I have to agree with Jane on this one."
"Alright, let's do this one then. I guarantee this one will produce a son." Princess Mary said, looking at the dress.
Her ladies went to work and assisted the princess in getting dressed and applying cosmetics and jewelry on. The girls continued talking and laughing together as they got ready for the day ahead of them. They left the boudoir, joined by the other eight ladies and made their way to face the French court head on. It would be Princess Mary's moment to shine. She wanted everyone to see that she would not be scared off by the old king. She walked into the grand hall, her head held high as she practically sauntered in. Anne smiled to herself as she watched Princess Mary act like she owned this royal palace. She glanced around at the room, keeping an eye out for the French ladies' reactions.
Some were impressed and others not. Princess Mary made her way to the king and dipped into a low curtsy before him. She took his hand and went to sit beside him. He smiled and kissed the back of her hand and kept his long, bony fingers wrapped around hers like an iron grip. Princess Mary was determined not to let this French court send her packing. If anything, she would have the last laugh and shove it in their faces and send this lot packing.
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