Almost a three months after the royal wedding, Anne and Edward were back at Wolf Hall, having received news of the Queen's pregnancy through one of the royal messengers.
The couple were delighted to know that Jane was proving to be very much promising as Queen, although Anne still held unvoiced worries about Jane's treatment if she bore a daughter. Henry was greedy for an heir; he craved a strong and healthy baby boy to uphold the Tudor lineage and take over the throne for him when he passed. For years, that was all he had yearned for, yet still, he hadn't been given a son. If Jane failed to satiate his greed, she and her family would be cast aside once Henry had a new woman in his sights...just as the Boleyn family had been.
The guilt Anne felt for bringing her family into the likes of shame and of lesser power...gosh it made her feel bad.
"Anne, my love, Jane will succeed and pull through. I assure you, she will. My sister may not seem it, but she is strong. Don't fret over her." Edward had assured her, as they walked through the resident gardens together in peace, having eaten a meal just before.
"I've grown to love her over time, Edward, and I hold her dear to my heart. I know exactly what it's like to be in her place, worrying over whether the child shall be male or female. That in itself is unhealthy for the unborn thing." She replied. "Jane is like a sister to me. I won't be able to stand seeing her fall like I have, especially through the hands of that traitor Cromwell."
The morning sun hit the dew which settled on the plants and flowers, creating the cascading effect of gems glistening upon the petals. It was a beautiful sight, creating a tender and romantic setting for the couple to explore. Edward plucked a red rose from a nearby bush as they passed, stopping Anne suddenly.
"Do you recall the time I plucked a white rose from one of the bushes and I passed it to you? I then told you what it represents, did I not?" He smiled.
"How could I forget such a moment? It was the day you asked for my hand in courtship."
"Well...here, I now gift you a red rose. It symbolises the feelings you awaken inside of me, inside of my heart, mind and soul. An intense passion, one of the fiercest of its kind, a strong and unbreakable love. For you, Anne. All for you. I am not worthy that you should accept my request, but I plead for your hand in marriage. Marry me. Forget your past and build a new life with me. Refuse your Boleyn name." The look on Edward's face wasn't new to Anne. When he'd ask to court her, the Seymour had born that very look of determination and truth within his eyes.
She took the flower, careful not to prick herself on a thorn, her eyes brimming with tears of joy. "But of course, my love. How could I ever refuse such a perfect man as yourself? You have treated me with nothing but the kindness and goodness of your heart. I accept. I accept. I shall forget my Boleyn title and assume a position beside you as your wife."
Their own ceremony, when it came, was a small affair, with only Anne's family in attendance (the Seymours were housed amongst the courtiers at the King's castle). As the vows were said and the marriage solidified upon the swearing of the Holy Bible, Anne became Anne Seymour, wife to Edward Seymour, and the guests in attendance moved on to celebrate over a quiet meal. Again, it was simple and eventually the guests had left the couple to consummate their marriage.
Anne stood at the foot of her's and her now husband's bed, slowly pushing the elegant nightgown on her body off her shoulders, letting it drop to the floor with a soft thud, revealing her small and pert breasts and the rest of her body to him. Edward watched, eyes glued onto his wife, onto the love of his life... "Come, my love. Let us make love. Let me treat you as the King should have treated you; let me give you my heart..." He beckoned.
And so the two spent their night in bliss and enjoyment, learning the tricks of each other's bodies and slowly exploring every part. And true to his word, Edward made sure it was an enjoyable time, for Anne had never experienced such tenderness and such intimacy until that very night.
