Tudor Rose

The King's Gaze

December 1509 | Greenwich Palace

The first presentation of the Holbrook ladies to King Henry went predictably. The young king, as he did with every noblewoman brought before him, studied them with a calculating eye. With the support of their uncle and cousin, the girls settled in remarkably well. Beatrice dazzled everyone she came across, and Elizabeth followed her older sister closely. Anna took a quieter approach. She chose to live on the outskirts of every occasion, like a shadow. For the sisters, this life seemed acceptable.

The king began to show special interest in Beatrice. It was hard to imagine a world where this wouldn't happen, considering the way men at court seemed to be enamored with her after just one glance. It began with his eyes lingering on Beatrice just a moment longer than anyone else. It grew over time, more like a weed than a flower. At its height, there were rumors he would take Beatrice as his mistress. Never once did the prospect of marriage cross anyone's lips. There was no formal courting between Beatrice and Henry—only brief dances, fleeting glances, and a growing sense of unspoken attraction.. And by the time the Christmas celebrations arrived, Henry's interest had faded as quickly as it had bloomed.

It stung her ego. Dread filled the pit of Beatrice's stomach. She tore through the crowds of celebrating nobles, desperate to find her sisters. And find them she did.

"We are done!" she announced.

"We're going home?" Anna asked, eager and cheerful.

Beatrice shook her head. "No, of course not," she said, her tone edged with bitterness."I mean our chance of capturing the king is gone. He is completely uninterested in me. If he feels absolutely nothing for me, goodness knows the two of you have no hope."

"How little faith you have in us. Anna and I can certainly marry better than simple stable boys," Elizabeth joked, her sardonic tone bringing out amused smiles in her sisters.

Beatrice's face softened, but only slightly. "Perhaps," she mused, "but I doubt either of you will ever receive the king's gaze the way I did."

"I will never want it," Anna quipped.

"Perhaps the king is dreadful and mean—" Elizabeth started

"Handsome," Beatrice countered.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, not even acknowledging the interruption. "Completely terrible!" she continued, "Think positively. You may have saved yourself from a lifetime of misery."

Beatrice became cold. Her eyes seemed to become glossy, but a few blinks set them back to normal. The change in demeanor was obvious to her sisters but not to any possible onlookers. Anna tilted her head, curious about what could have possibly elicited such a change, but did not give a voice to her wonders. She looked from one sister to the other, not understanding, feeling both too young and too distant to comprehend their unspoken tensions.

Beatrice's voice became softer, as if she was pleading. "I have already had my share of misery. I'm facing the reality that my youth and beauty will go away soon. You understand the gravity of all this, Lizzie. I'm certain you do."

Elizabeth looked like she had been physically shaken by her sister's harsh words. Anna stood there uncomfortably, feeling confused and childlike. While the two oldest sisters continued arguing in riddles, the youngest slipped away. She looked back at them once. Her eyes fixed on Beatrice, then she found herself looking at King Henry. Strangely, the king was looking straight at her. Even stranger, she found herself caught in a dance with him just a flash of moments later.

"You are one of the Holbrook girls, yes?" the king said, his voice pooling in Anna's ears like honey.

"Yes, Your Majesty," she replied, the words feeling cold on her tongue.

Though they danced amiably, Anna avoided his gaze. He stood many inches taller than her — shocking, because she was noticeably taller than other ladies at court — but did not succeed in intimidating her into doting on him at first glance. The two seemed awfully uncomfortable together.

"Lady Anna Holbrook?" he pressed further.

"Yes, Your Majesty," she repeated.

"You are enjoying life here, I hope?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The young king arched one of his auburn brows. "Is that the only thing you know how to say, Lady Anna?"

Anna smiled playfully, a mischievous giggle escaping her parted lips. "Yes, Your Majesty."

"What an irritating creature you must be."

"A creature, Your Majesty?" She shook her head. "I promise I am just a girl."

"An irritating girl, then," he amended. His gaze now settled somewhere distant, as if his attention was already slipping away from her."Quite unlike your sister, the golden haired one."

The dance came to an end, and the crowd around them moved on to their next partners. But Anna and the king lingered for a moment longer, an unspoken tension hanging between them. Anna could feel the weight of the court's eyes on her, but it was the king's look that made her stomach tighten. She wanted to step away, to escape the strange, uncomfortable space between them, but she stood still, her gaze unwavering.

Anna dug her nails into her palms, summoning all her self control to not scold him for the comparison to her sister. Her sister, who would fawn over him! The king seemed to notice her silent frustration, which only made her struggle to maintain her composure more.

"Golden haired, with a golden heart to match," she responded finally, choosing her words slowly. "I do apologize for lacking the gift of sweetness you seem to be accustomed to." She drew so much emphasis on the apology that she was certain it was impossible for the king to miss how completely insincere her apology was.

Before retreating to the safety of her shadows, Anna offered him a final smile, wry and disoriented. She gave a small curtsy, so rushed it might as well have been skipped altogether, and then turned away from the king. Behind her, she could feel the weight of the king's gaze, but she refused to acknowledge it. She did not see him as he stood there, caught between amusement and some subtle hint of surprise. Beyond doubt, she did not see the bewildered smile he wore.