2nd of March 1534 - Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire

Riding through the forest with those who he considered his most loyal friends, King Henry was relieved to get away from the palace for even the shortest amount of time; he could not shake the fact that Anne had failed in for a second time. 

However, it was his wife's latest behaviour that had thrown him more than he would have liked to admit; she had been calm and even ignored his attention drifting to other ladies of the court. 

Instead of throwing a fit or attempting to have ladies removed from his attention, Anne had instead focused solely on their children; throwing herself into dotting upon their children. 

This was certainly not what he had expected, of course she did not shun him and was warm with him when he was in her presence but he could not determine her sudden change in behaviour. 

The rain poured down around them and a frown formed on his face as the weather continued to get worse; he had hoped that hunting would distract him from Anne's odd behaviour towards him. 

"The weather seems to have taken a turn for the worst," Charles shouted seeming to catch on to what Henry had been thinking, he pulled his horse up alongside his old friend knowing that they were far from a Palace or any royal buildings. 

It would take too long for them to return to Hampton Court Palace, they would be soaked and the weather seemed to be deteriorating faster meaning that there was a chance that they could find themselves trapped in the coming storm. 

"My family seat of Wulfhall is nearby, Your Majesty," Edward Seymour informed them from his position beside George, he had been surprised when his cousin had approached him about attending a royal hunt with the King. 

It was most pleasing to find that the Boleyns were recognising more than their Howard relatives but those who would benefit most from their rise. 

He and his brothers had found good positions at court, his sisters had been welcomed into the Queen's household and Edward had no doubts that they would be rewarded for their loyalty.

"To Wulfhall then," Henry ordered spurring his horse onwards, anything to get out of this pouring rain and not wishing to return to the Palace where the court was waiting for him; where he would have to face his wife. 

The anger and disappointment that he had originally felt at the loss of their child had slowly disappeared though he had yet to return to her bed; they dined together when they were able to. 

The ride towards the Seymour seat in the countryside was silent, each man urging on their horse as the wind howled around them and the rain started to pelt them with each step that they made towards the manor. 

Slowly the home of the Seymour family came into view, the timber framed double courtyard house stood out in the rain and Edward felt a little proud at being able to welcome the King and his Kin to his home. 

Entering the courtyard, the men were quick to dismount their horses and handed them off to the Master of Horses before making their way into the warmth of Wulfhall. 

"Lady Mother," Edward greeted moving to kiss her cheek, this had been short notice and he knew that their simple home was nowhere as grand as the Palaces where the King had spent his entire life. 

He stepped aside so that she might greet the King before moving to speak with one of the servants so that they might inform his father of the royal guest. 

"Welcome to Wulfhall, Your Majesty," Lady Margery Seymour greeted, she ducked into a curtsy in greeting to her King and was almost in awe of the fact that her home would provide shelter to royalty. 

It had been sometime since she had last been in his presence, she had served in the Infanta of Spain's household when she had been considered the Queen of England. 

"Thank you, Lady Seymour. We apologise for the inconvenience," Henry replied knowing that there had been no such warning for them arriving and it was a great ask to house a King on such short notice. 

He and his friends would try and not create too much trouble while they were guests in the Seymour home; afterall they were kin to his wife and loyal to them in all matters.

***

"The rain seems to have gotten harder," Clarice noticed looking out of the window at Anne's apartment, a frown on her face knowing that there was no way that the men would be able to avoid such weather while they were out hunting. 

George had left her early that morning, a kiss on her head as he had climbed out of bed with promises to return when he could; that he had been summoned by the King to come hunting with him. 

Instead, Clarice had spent the day in the royal chambers with Anne and her children; she was most thankful that she had been able to keep Contessina and Filiberta with her for a little longer. 

She adored her girls and every moment that she had with them was special, they seemed to grow up so quickly and she wished that she had more chances to be around them. 

"I should hope that His Majesty was able to find shelter, lest he finds himself ill," Anne murmured looking up from where she had been doting upon her nieces, a small moment of joy for herself when her own children had been returned to their royal nursery in Hatfield only days earlier. 

Court was not a place for children and Anne would visit Alexander and Elizabeth soon enough, she had duties of her own to attend to though as her father liked to remind her there was none more important than providing a little Duke of York for the succession. 

"It is unlikely in any case that His Majesty shall return this evening, it appears the rain will be on for the night," Clarice mused knowing that if His Majesty did not return then it was unlikely that her husband would do so. 

The idea of sleeping in their bed in their private quarters seemed rather foreign to Clarice, she doubted that she would get much rest without him sleeping soundly by her side. 

The ladies that were gathered in Anne's apartments were silent at such news, it was likely to be a dull night at court if the King were not here and they would likely spend the entire evening trapped in these apartments. 

"Perhaps Your Majesty should preside over supper," Lady Elizabeth Ughtred suggested, she saw no reason that the Queen alone could not host such things and it would be good for the people to see Anne not just as the King's wife but a Queen in her own right.

She was anointed after all and had been crowned Queen of England, the celebrations had covered England if she remembered right and no one could deny that in such miserable weather that perhaps the Queen should be seen not hiding away but embracing her royal duty. 

Anne pondered Lady Ughtred's suggestion, she had to admit that she was not fond of the idea of eating alone in the seclusion of her chambers with only her ladies for company. 

Since the King was away from court, it was her duty to preside over court in his absence and she would not have the people whisper that she hide away when Henry was not here. 

There could very well be a time where she would be expected to rule in the place of her husband should he go to war and she would be regent in his absence and their son was under age. 

"Send word that there shall be a banquet tonight," Anne ordered one of her ladies, she looked towards Clarice almost trying to see what the other woman thought of her decision. 

However, Anne knew that as Queen no one would question her even if they whispered behind her back about her decision; she had to look strong especially in the face of her own failure. 

"Your Majesty. The Countess of Sussex is here," Madge Shelton informed her, she glanced over to Clarice who seemed to have paused at the mention of her husband's former wife. 

Despite having remarried in Autumn, this was her first time back at court since before her marriage to George had been annulled; her marriage to the Earl of Sussex had been a private ceremony but Anne hoped that it would be a happier match than her last. 

George and Jane had been polar opposites and Anne knew how miserable they had been together despite the fact that they had been cordial between them. 

"Of course," Anne replied with a smile, she spared a glance at Clarice having completely forgotten that she had promised a position within her household to Lady Jane when her marriage to her brother had been annulled. 

It had seemed fair to her especially since she had lost out on the chance of being a Duchess; George had only been made a Duke after their marriage had been annulled meaning that Jane had only been a Viscountess for a couple of years. 

***

"Your Majesty must forgive the tardiness of my kitchen," Sir John Seymour stated approaching the King at the dining table which had truly little on it, all care had been taken to ensure that the King and his company would be comfortable here. 

There had been a bit of a rush to prepare the place for their royal guest and Sir John was relieved that his wife had managed to pull such a feast together for them at such short notice. 

Margery had given him many beautiful children, she had never given him course for concern and treated him well; he could not have asked for more and he wished the same could be said for his children. 

It was from his wife that they could boast their kinship with the Boleyns, a fact that would now benefit them all; his sons and daughters all had secured fine positions at court. 

"I think I am very well looked after, Sir John," Henry replied sipping on his ale, he was seated at the head of the table with the Duke of Suffolk to his right and the Duke of Bedford to his left. 

His eyes scanning across the room where those who had travelled with him who he considered his most loyal and trusted friends; he was not sure what he would do without such fine men at his court. 

"The Duke and I were reminiscing about the French campaign," Henry stated signalling to Charles, it had been such a time ago and he almost missed the fighting as there was no other glorious way for a King to be remembered. 

Even now people spoke of King Henry V, his winning at the Battle of Agincourt was something that would likely never be forgotten and Henry craved for such glory for himself. 

"It was a shame we only fought one battle against them," Henry continued knowing that most would also remember it as the time when Katherine had led an army into battle and defeated the Scottish King. 

It had soured it for him even when Katherine had presented him with King James's bloody coat, she had stolen victory from him and his war with France was always washed away by it. 

"Ahh but what a battle, Your Majesty. I remember how we charged at them, with His Grace leading the vanguard with tremendous bravery," Sir John agreed having served the King during such times, he had done his best for King and country, he dared anyone to say otherwise about it. 

He had always served so loyally and he had no doubts that his own sons would do the same should the need ever arise for such a thing; he had high hopes for them even if they were courtiers and served the King as they did now. 

George nodded his head with a smile, he had never really seen much battle and was more of a diplomat like his father before him but that did not mean he would not do his duty to his King if called upon it. 

He had been but a boy when the King had last gone to war, though he wished now that there would be a chance to further prove himself as the Duke of Suffolk had done. 

The men around the table laughed and joked about such things, an easy air settling over the group and everyone seemed at peace despite the sound of the storm that battered the windows that covered one of the walls of the dining room. 

"To past victories," Henry toasted holding his goblet in the air, his words were joined by those around him and he longed for such times again. 

He was bloodthirsty for another war yet uneasy to start such a thing when the line of succession was yet to be entirely secured; he wished to one day shared tales of his victories with his sons. 

Staring across the dining room towards the stairs, Henry caught a glimpse of a figure watching them; they seemed to duck away upon realising that he had spotted her while Sir John continued to reminisce. 

She did not disappear for long and soon the angel dressed in white appeared to him coming down the stairs; the room slowly falling silent as they realised that they had company. 

"Your Majesty. May I present my daughter, Mistress Jane Seymour. She's a lady in Her Majesty's household," John said introducing his eldest daughter to the King, he eyed the beautiful gown that she was wearing not sure that he had ever seen it before nor could they afford the like. 

Slowly making her way down the steps, Jane stared right ahead at the King feeling nervously in the beautiful gown that had been sent to her; she had no idea how Katherine had been able to send her such a gift. 

Lowering herself down into a curtsy, Jane did exactly as she had been instructed and cast her eyes down for the barest of seconds before allowing them to meet with the King's again.