Perseverance, p.1
Perseverance, page 1
Perseverance
Charlie Fenton
First published in Great Britain
This edition published in 2014
Copyright © 2014 Charlie Fenton. All rights reserved.
Cover illustration by Kristina Gehrmann
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or transmitted in any form, digital or printed, without the written permission of the author.
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Also, of course, for Anne Boleyn, my true inspiration.
March 1522 – York Place, London
I looked down at my white satin dress. It clung tightly around my breasts before flowing freely from the waist down. The word ‘Perseverance’ was embroidered in gold stitching, shining brightly against the white. Looking around the great chamber, I spotted my sister Mary. She was wearing the same as me, except on her dress shone the word ‘Kindness.’
We were to take part in the Chateau Vert pageant; a royal festivity in which ambassadors and even the King would be in attendance. I had been given the part of Perseverance, and Mary, the part of Kindness. Of course Mary would be kindness; she is kind.
At least she is to the King.
“Places please!”
We quickly took our positions inside the prop castle. It was decorated with torches and arras, and I could hear the musicians that were hidden inside. As I was new to the English court, I only knew a few of the other women that were taking part. The King’s sister, Mary Tudor, was playing Beauty, Jane Parker was playing Constancy, and the Countess of Devonshire was playing Honour. The women I didn’t know the names of were playing Bounty, Mercy, and Pity. Strangers, yes, but I was pretty good with names. I learned them quickly in the French court, so it wouldn’t take long to find them out.
As other women dressed in different colours moved in front of us, the music suddenly changed. They were named Danger, Unkindness, Scorn, Malebouche, Disdain, Jealousy, and Strangeness; and their darkened gowns were meant to stand in stark contrast to ours. The audience around us went quiet as eight men dressed in blue satin cloaks entered the chamber. These men were named Nobleness, Youth, Amorousness, Loyalty, Attendance, Gentleness, Pleasure, and Liberty.
One man for each of us. And one of them was the King.
From what I had seen, he liked people pretending not to know who he was when he was in disguise. He liked us then acting surprised when he revealed himself. But by looking closely, I could tell which one was the King. He dwarfed all the other men and his red hair stood out. He was also the one with his eyes on my sister Mary.
Everyone liked Mary; the King of England did and even the King of France used to. I was the younger, forgotten sister.
I did my part, smiling as the men attacked the castle and threw oranges and dates at it. The dark women were made to surrender and so the men rushed forward to rescue us. As I expected, the King took Mary’s hand and led her out to dance. I took one of the other men’s hands and followed along with the other couples.
As we danced, I couldn’t help but watch them, the way they looked at each other as if they were the only people in the room. It felt oddly intimate and sexual; I wondered if anyone else could see it. If they could, they wouldn’t dare mention it for fear of angering the King. Even Mary’s husband, William Carey, stayed silent. I didn’t know how Father could condone, let alone encourage it.
And so they danced. And I danced. And everyone danced together.
Staying carefully quiet.
After the pageant, Mary and I, along with the other ladies-in-waiting, followed Queen Katherine back to her chamber. I made sure I stayed by Mary’s side as we walked, leaning close to whisper to her.
“I will never understand how you are with the King. He adores you… as well as your husband.”
She looked at me as if she had no idea what I was talking about. “I don’t ask for the King’s attention, nor do I want it. Father and Uncle want me to keep him happy, and so that’s what I’ve been doing.”
“Well, as the older Boleyn girl and the prettier one, you’ve always had everyone’s attention. You are lucky, whereas I’m just forgotten.” I responded with a fake pout, managing to stop my laugh just before we entered the Queen’s chamber.
The Queen invited one of her other ladies to play cards with her, while the rest of us worked on our sewing and needlework. I wanted to continue my discussion with Mary, but even though we were a fair distance from the Queen, we were sitting next to Jane Parker. I didn’t dislike her, but she had an awful habit of listening to other people’s conversations, and although many people already knew, I couldn’t discuss Mary and the King in front of her. I would have to wait and have words later.
But Mary wouldn’t talk about her relationship with the King that night. We shared a room just off of the Queen’s chambers and were allowed to retire to them early. I had thought this the perfect opportunity for discussion, but my every attempt was evaded.
Maybe it was because she was now a wife that she wouldn’t share these things with me as she had when she was Francis I’s mistress. Instead, she merely stared at the ceiling, ignoring me, and occasionally letting out a sigh. It was almost as if she was waiting for something. Eventually, she turned away from me and fell asleep. I tried to let it go, but throughout the next day, I kept thinking back to it.
“We tell each other everything, us three. At least we used to.” I said to my brother George as we strolled through the gardens at midday.
Everyone was relaxing at this time, and so the Queen had given me permission to spend time with my brother. A light walk would also help the meal we just had to settle.
“And I’m sure we will again, but dear sister, you can be… intimidating.” He hesitated before saying the last word.
I glanced his way before laughing my reply, “Well thank you very much, dear brother.”
He shook his head and smiled before stopping to face me. “You always want to know everything that’s going on, and I know it must be hard for you after just coming back from the French court.” he gave me that cheeky grin that never failed to make me smile. “From what I’ve seen, the affair between our sister and the King had been going on since long before she was married. Some say the King even arranged her marriage, or at the very least, encouraged it. He doesn’t like to bed unmarried women…”
“… in case they become pregnant. It would ruin them.” I finished his sentence. He let out a sigh and I quickly changed the subject. “So I hear that once I’m married, Father will start arranging a marriage for you as well. I thought I’d offer my congratulations in advance.”
He groaned. George had never been interested in marriage. Sure, he flirted a lot with women, but he had never been in love and certainly never wanted to marry. In truth, I had never been in love either. But that made no difference for us. Many Boleyns did not marry for love. We were arranged to marry, just like my sister and William Carey.
“Maybe it won’t be that bad. It will probably be one of the Queen’s ladies, so at least you know that she’ll be good looking.”
“Well I better have my fun while I can, and so should you. Don’t forget, you are also to be married soon. What’s his name?” he asked, even though he knew well who he was.
“James Butler.”
“Yes… him.”
There was an awkward silence for a moment, as I thought about how far apart us three Boleyns would end up. Mary already seemed to have distanced from us since marrying, as evident from her secrecy about the King. And now, with me having to marry James Butler, and George destined to marry in the future… what would happen to us?
We were always close as children, despite being separated by the most powerful countries in the world. Now that we were finally in the same court… could it be that three simple marriages dissolve our bond?
These questions plagued me for the rest of the day, and before I knew it, we were back in the great chamber for our evening meal. I ate my supper quietly, and when I had finished, I looked around the room and spotted a man talking to Cardinal Wolsey. I recognized him from the Chateau Vert pageant, but didn’t know his name.
"Who is that man that Cardinal Wolsey is speaking to?" I asked Jane Parker, who was sitting next to me.
"That’s Henry Percy. His father is the Earl of Northumberland, and someday he will be as well. For now, however, he is just a man of Wolsey's household." Jane replied, frowning a little at my question.
I chose to ignore it, and was glad when the music changed and the King invited everyone to dance. I wanted to meet this man. He was handsome, and even though I was going to be married, who said I couldn’t flirt a little?
I danced skillfully through the crowd of people, slowly making my way towards Henry Percy. He looked away from Wolsey just as I managed to catch his eye. I smiled sweetly at him before moving away again. I had learned in the French court that subtle gestures and movements could be just as effective as bold ones. I knew it had worked because as he finished his conversation with Wolsey, he stared openly at me. I beckoned him forward, and when he came to stand in front of me, I finally got a good look at him. My heart skipped a beat. I could tell that he was handsome from across the room, but it was nothing compared to what he looked like up close.
He was smirking at me. It made him seem childlike, but I couldn’t help but smile. His dark
“Sir Henry Percy, I believe?”
He took my hand and kissed it. The touch of his lips on my skin sent a shiver throughout my body.
“Yes, and who might you be?” he replied as he started to slowly dance with me. As he pulled me close to him, our eyes met once again. I froze for a split second, before my wits returned to me.
“Anne Boleyn.”
Time seemed to suspend as we looked at each other, but then I felt a sudden hand on my arm.
“Mind if I step in?”
It was George. I almost wanted to shout at him to leave us, but I knew I shouldn’t. Instead, I nodded to Henry and turned to my brother, letting him dance me away.
But while my body was whirling around the room, my mind was still back in that moment with Henry. I had never felt like that around any man before, let alone someone I had just met.
"I’m nervous as we have not yet been intimate. He has been very kind to me, and I was so sure he would send for me last night... but nothing."
Finally, Mary opened up to me. I sat next to her on her bed, placing my hand on her shoulder.
“But Mary, you’ve been with King Francis. You say you’re doing this because Father wants you to. You are surely not hurt over the King not visiting you?” I asked, turning her to face me.
Maybe I would never understand. I would never understand what it was like to be a king’s mistress. From what I had seen, I didn’t think I would want to.
"Do you remember the Shrovetide joust? He said someone had wounded his heart, and I’m sure it was me. He’s paid me so much kindness, but I’ve acted no differently to him. I’ve been ungrateful.” Mary’s distress was clear on her face. “Now that I’m married, I just want to be a loving wife, but Father wants me to seduce him."
“Then you will. We’ve all seen what happens to the families of the King’s mistresses. They’re greatly rewarded; your husband has been already. Imagine what more the King could do for us if you sleep with him. He hasn’t shown any displeasure, has he?”
“No, he’s gone along with it, but…”
“Oh Mary, we all just want the best for you. If I were in your shoes, I’d have to do the same. I would sleep with the King.”
I wiped away the tears that were forming in her eyes, just as there was a sudden knock at the door. After I called to allow entrance, the King’s Groom of the Stool entered and spoke to Mary.
“His Majesty the King requests your company.”
It didn’t sound like he was asking, or that Mary had a choice.
She smiled to reassure me before getting up, wearing only her nightgown. “Should I prepare myself first?” she asked him.
He looked her up and down, inspecting her. “No, you will do fine.”
He sounded so serious; I couldn’t image what Mary was feeling. I squeezed her hand before letting her go, offering a silent prayer that things would go well in the bed of the King tonight.
July, 1522
Yet another night I had been left on my own, waiting for Mary to sneak back into our room in the morning. After drifting in and out of sleep a few times, I sat quickly on my bed as I heard the door open. She looked like she was about to burst with joy, same as usual. At first, she had been worried about sleeping with the King, but after a few nights, she got used to it. Now, it was I who would have to get used to her saying how great a lover he was… every day.
“Guess what? The King told me that he might grant the wardship of Thomas Sharpe to William. Do you know what that means?” she asked, but it was apparently rhetorical as she carried on without me. “He’ll become a very rich man as he’ll be in charge of Thomas’ lands. We will become rich!”
I knew what it meant before she explained it. I had heard Thomas Sharpe being described as an idiot before, but I knew a position like this would greatly benefit William and Mary.
I looked up at her and managed to smile through my distraction. “That is great news, Mary. But you know you’ll need to tell Father as soon as you can. He needs to know everything.”
She blushed, an assurance that she was only with the King for our family’s benefit. Not for any other reason. At this point, I wondered who she was trying to convince.
“I know.” she sighed and looked down, shaking her head. “Sometimes I wish we could just be left alone, be able to do whatever we want.”
“Please don’t tell me you’re falling for him. You can’t fall for him.” I spoke the obvious; we both knew she couldn’t let her feelings get in the way.
Looking at me in alarm, she denied it. “No, of course not. It was just a thought.”
I said nothing, but I knew she was lying. After all, she wasn’t the only one with a secret. She wasn’t the only one who was falling for someone they shouldn’t.
The next day, as the Queen was speaking to some of her other ladies during our walk through the garden, I snuck away into one of the alcoves. He was there, just like he said he would be.
Henry Percy.
The man that I had been sneaking away and to spend time with for months.
“I’m craving the taste of your lips and we haven’t even been able to kiss yet.” he whispered, staring into my eyes as I stared back into his. He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him so our mouths were nearly touching.
“I’m craving yours too –”
He stopped my words with a kiss. A deep kiss that sent shivers throughout my body. It was a few seconds before either of us was able to pull apart.
“Oh Anne…” he sighed against my lips. “How I’ve longed to do that. I need to see you more; I want us to be together.”
“I know, I want that too, but you know we can’t. You’re already set to marry someone else… that girl, Mary Talbot.”
“It should be my choice. If we were already betrothed, no one could stop us. No one.” he repeated firmly. He leaned in and was about to kiss me again, when a sudden hand pulled me away.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Henry melted away into the foliage as Mary pulled me towards her. She knew the answer to her question already, but she wanted to hear me say it. She had always been the perfect daughter between us two.
I caught my breath, overwhelmed that my secret had been so abruptly exposed. “Henry and I have been seeing each other discreetly for quite some time. I don’t see what’s wrong with that.”
“You know very well what’s wrong with that.” she argued. “His father is arranging for him to marry. He’s set to wed Mary Talbot, not you.”
“Yes there are rumours that his father is going to choose Mary, but that’s exactly what they are… rumours.” I paused with an exasperated sigh. “Why wouldn’t he choose me? I’m already arranged to be married to an earl, so why not a different one? Why can’t I be the Countess of Northumberland instead, and married to someone I love?”
