Anne flinched, and then quickly covered it up by seeming indifferent. Mary was just trying to be the star, the only shining beacon that will lead the Boleyns to the throne. Anne mentally scoffed, like her younger, inexperienced, beautiful, silly sister could bring this family the satisfaction of their ambition. So Anne had decided to take matters into her own hands. Without her parents looking out for her, and without her father choosing a suitor. Anne came to the conclusion that she was being overlooked. Mary took Anne’s cold fingers in her hands, and looked at her with pleading eyes. Anne then knew, that Mary wasn’t joking. Her plans…all her planning and flirting, for nothing. This revelation that was brought to Anne by her younger, more favoured sister was too shocking for Anne to accept. Everything that she had done, it couldn’t all just go to waste.
“Uncle wouldn’t do that to me, it’s in his best interest that our family gets ahead. He must want this for me, and I have done it,” Anne said, not giving her sister the satisfaction of a quavering voice. The older girl stared at her blonde, already married sister, and silently prayed that her father hadn’t left her.
“You wouldn’t have gotten away with it Anne, I was trying to help you,” Mary said in a pleading tone. Mary grasped Anne’s hands in hers, and tried to hold her shaking limbs still. Anne shook her head so fiercely that her French hood slipped back further. She wrested her hands from her sister’s. Think. Think Anne, think. You can’t wait until Uncle sends you away to France for God knows how long. Anne sank to her knees, feeling hopeless. She grasped the cross she wore on her neck, and sent a silent prayer to God for wisdom. Mary knelt down beside Anne, and stroked her dark hair.
“Anne, listen to me. You have to let him go; the Percys’ won’t have you as duchess. And His Majesty won’t let the Howards get a duchy that easily. If you refuse, Uncle won’t forgive you,” Mary whispered to Anne. Anne looked at her sister incredulously, out of all people. Her dim-witted sister was counselling her. She abruptly got off the floor, and brushed off the dust from her silver gown embroidered with pearls. Leaving her sister alone in their room, Anne swept off. Holding her head high.
Broken promises. Broken hearts. They were all too familiar at court. Anne had been here since young, she had seen worse. She wouldn’t let this tarnish her. Deep in her thoughts, she didn’t notice a handsome young man calling out her name. Startled, she spun around. Ah. There. Henry Percy, the love of her life. She let out a sigh, and went over to him. He strode up to her, and brought her hand up to his mouth for a kiss. Seeing him, Anne completely forgot about the situation. Like a whip, she drew her hand from his embrace, and gave him an icy stare.
“Shouldn’t you be courting another woman now?” She asked with cool demeanour, her face unreadable. Henry Percy lifted his eyebrows in surprise. He opened his mouth, no doubt to ask what was wrong. However he was interrupted by Anne’s Uncle. He strode over to the pair of them, flanked by his brother and sister-in-law. Anne sank into a deep curtsey, her face upright and questioning.
“Get up,” the Duke of Norfolk snapped at his niece. Her cheeks red, Anne rose.
“To what do I owe this pleasure of being in your presence my lord?” Anne said smoothly. She flicked her gaze to her mother, and then to her father, a silent plead in them. The Duke ignored her, and faced Henry Percy. His brother spoke.
“The King requests your presence Lord Henry,” said Anne’s father. Henry Percy looked at them with questioning eyes, but said no more. Not even giving Anne another look, he walked towards the King’s chambers.
“Stupid boy,” Anne muttered softly. Her heart ached, and she briskly shoved the pain aside, she would deal with her feelings for the idiot later. A sharp look from her Uncle quickly brought Anne back to reality.
“You won’t be seeing him again,” The Duke of Norfolk said with a deadly menace. “His parents have already sent an escort to bring him back to the North. You on the other hand…” Anne looked at her uncle, with a flash of fear. Then looked down again, she couldn’t afford to look weak.
“You’ll be sent to France,” he said gruffly. Anne let out a sharp intake of breath, and cursed inwardly. When she looked up, only her mother remained there.
“How could you betray us like this?” She demanded as she led her daughter to her chambers. Her daughter remained silent. Swiftly, her mother ordered the servants and maids out of the privy chamber, and closed the door. “You will go to France, and you will learn from there. The Queen of France is strict, but she is wise beyond her years. You will learn from her, and keep your head down. Be polite, and do not act of your own accord. Your uncle has plenty of people there; they will keep you in check, and report any wrongdoings to your uncle. France is a place where women know how to get what they want, not by demanding things and sneaking around. They court men and use the only tools they have to get what they want, their bodies. You will learn. And when your father and I have decided you have learned your lesson enough to return, you will come back, swiftly and quietly, just as you went.” Facing the window, Anne’s mother’s face was hidden from view. Anne wondered what was on it, was it disdain? Was it pity? Was it pain, that her eldest daughter was being exiled from court? Or was it embarrassment, that one of her own had done such a thing to earn her this banishment? Whatever it was, it was enough to keep Anne silent. Anne sank into the nearest chair, her face white and blank. Turning her head towards the window, it had begun to rain. Even God weeps, Anne thought. England, the greatest country in all of Europe, lead by the most handsomest king in Christendom. Anne’s mind whirred, she would come back, and then she would get what she didn’t get before. She will finish what she started, but maybe aimed at a higher apple this time. She will take from her sister what her sister took from her.
Nothing could stop her; her ambition was too high for anyone to compete with. She had the will, now she has the drive. A few years in France might even increase the chances of this plan executed. Yes, yes. Anne barely heard her mother state that she sent the servants to pack Anne’s belongings. Gliding up from the chair, Anne went over to her mother’s vacant position at the window. Rain droplets spilled over the glass. It was misty, but Anne could still make out her sister’s fair hair, and the glint of the golden crown on the top of a tall golden head. The King and her sister… One relationship that would bring the Howard family more wealth, and the Boleyn family, fame. Anne scoffed, not if she could help it.
