22nd of February 1536 - Greenwich Palace

"The King is in a fine mood," the Duchess of Bedford noted from her seat beside Queen Anne in the royal box, her eyes focused on her husband who was across the arena from her as he spoke with the Earl of Buckingham. 

It had been a wonderful surprise for Mary to join them at court, wanting to announce her pregnancy in person rather than send the news by letter. 

"That he is, he even asked to come to my chambers tonight," Anne mused sipping on her ale, her eyes casting over the gathering that had come to watch the celebrations. 

Today was not only about celebrating the return of the King and the victory in Europe, but it was also celebrating the fourth birthday of her beloved son. 

It had been at Hampton Court Palace, four years ago to this day that she had birthed her precious son and she could not believe that she had been so lucky since then. 

Her three children were her blessing, she would do anything for her children even if it meant dealing with her fickle husband. 

Clarice nodded at that, her eyes moving away from her husband to look at her sister-in-law as she pondered her thoughts for a moment. 

They had not had the chance to speak privately since Clarice had returned to court, she had heard news that she wished to discuss with her. 

"And the whispers?" Clarice queried discreetly, her voice lowering so that she would not be overheard by anyone that was seated around them. 

The last thing that she wished to do was to let anyone know what was going on in the royal marriage especially if it was going to cause Anne grief in anyway. 

"Mistress Jane it appears by goblet is nearly empty," Anne instructed loudly holding out the goblet for her lady to take, she eyed the simple blonde that had thought of herself so highly. 

She waited until Jane had taken the goblet from her and moved away from them to fill it before she spoke. 

"Lady Ughtred says that the King has not visited her since their liaison upon his return to England, he has not called her to his bed either," Anne murmured softly, she looked back at the field for the next round of jousting. 

There was no emotion on her face as she stared ahead, she would not allow anyone to see how she felt about the fact that Jane had slept with her husband.

When Edward and Elizabeth had come to her with their concerns about Jane's behaviour and had presented Anne with copies of her letters from Henry that had made her heart feel colder towards her husband. 

There had been silence as she stared at the letters that confirmed her fears about the situation at hand, she had always known that he was fickle and his attention would never stay on one woman. 

"Now that he's had her, he certainly doesn't want to keep her," Anne mused gently, a small smile on her face as Jane returned and handed her the goblet back before she returned to her spot. 

Her eyes refusing to meet Anne's, she acted like she was anywhere else than here serving Anne as her lady-in-waiting when she could be in the stands with her family watching the tourney and supporting the King. 

Clapping as Sir Arthur Darcy unseated his opponent to win his joust to the roar of the crowd around him, Anne raised an eyebrow to Clarice who eyed the blonde.

The two shared a knowing look as they focused on the next round of jousters, Anne sat up a little straighter and she could not help but notice that Jane also perked up at the announcement of the King. 

Henry rode in on his horse into the tiltyard waving to the crowds as he did so, he urged his horse towards the royal box. 

"Your Grace," Henry greeted with a nod of his head to Clarice before he focused completely on his wife, who looked resplendent in her dress. 

There was no finer lady in attendance in his mind and his eyes were only for her, she looked every inch the Queen that he had risen nearly five years ago. 

Jane watched Henry from where she stood, her hand holding on tight to the ribbon that was wrapped around her wrist as she waited for him to ask for her favour. 

He might not dare to ask in front of Anne but surely, he would wish to honour her in some way, even if he had not seen her in weeks. 

"Would Your Majesty give me the honour of wearing her favour on this fine day?" Henry asked lowering his lance so that she might tie her favour to it, he would happily win today for her. 

They were so very blessed in many ways and Henry could only imagine what the future had instore for them and hopefully it contained a Duke of York. 

Anne smiled as she moved from her throne and walked towards Henry, she carefully removed her ribbon from her wrist so that she might tie it to his lance. 

She said not a word to her husband as she finished tying the knot, Anne had no doubts that if she had not attended today then he would have likely asked another for their favour and had been just as sweet to them. 

Jane could only watch the scene before her unwind, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched Henry smile at Anne with the same smile that he had done so with her. 

Memories of that night flooded her mind and Jane felt a lump form in her throat as Henry did not even acknowledge her before he rode away from the royal box and towards his starting position. 

Tears blared her vision as she watched his back, she did not want to believe that he had used her and would cast her aside after everything that they had shared together. 

Clarice watched Jane with interest, pity filling her as she saw the tears in her eyes as she tried to hide the pain of being ignored by the man that had promised her the world and now would not look at her. 

Perhaps if Jane was a better actress at concealing her emotions, then Clarice would have felt nothing for her and would have happy continued watching the jousting that was before them. 

"Dry your eyes, it shall not do to have you cry over a married man," Anne instructed without hesitation as she produced a hankie that she held out for Jane to take from her as she remained focused on the events ahead of them. 

She did not look to Jane as she took the hankie from her, instead she carried on as if nothing was amiss around her; leaning forward to speak with Sir Henry Norris and his wife, who was seated ahead of her just outside of the ryal box. 

Anne would say no more on them matter at hand, she dd not care if Jane thought the king was in love with her nor what she did, she would have to face the consequences when the time came for her to do so. 

Pulling down his visor on his helmet, Henry stared ahead thinking about the time that he had forgotten to lower his visor and had been hit in the face by his opponent's lance just above his right eye. 

It still gave him the most terrible headaches at times, the doctors seemed to have no cure for what ailed him no matter what they tried. 

He nodded his head at his dear friend and loyal companion, the Duke of Suffolk who was his challenger for this joust. 

It had been Charles that he had been jousting against back in 1524 when he had been injured, although Charles had apologised profusely when he had recovered enough to see him. 

His horse shifted nervously beneath him as they waited for the flag to drop before the two men clad in their armour charged at one another. 

The first pass unseated neither of them from their horses although Henry was sure that he had managed to knock Charles back slightly as the crowds cheered them on as they turned around. 

Watching them charge at each other again, Anne clasped her hands in front of her as she saw the two men approaching each other of the second pass. 

It was this time that the lance that Charles was using stuck Henry in the middle of his chest and forced him backwards off his horse. 

He held on tightly to the reins in an attempt to stay on his horse, causing the stallion to rear up its hind legs before Henry was thrown to the floor by the force of the horse being pulled backwards. 

Anne could only watch along with the crowd as her husband was thrown to the floor just before his horse came crashing down on top of him. 

The crowd cried out in horror at the sight of the King of England being crushed under his own horse, it was like they had all been frozen in place for a moment of time. 

"The King!" cries came from the crowd as people lurched forward to see if Henry was alive, they pulled the struggling horse to its feet while there were calls for a doctor. 

Anne stood from her seat as she stared down at Henry, she prayed to the almighty that he would be well; her son was but a child and she knew that England needed a strong leader at this time. 

Tears in her eyes as she thought about what would happen to her sweet boy if he became the King of England this very day.