The 1520s, 25 Years Later...

Millie balanced a tray of sweetmeats and fresh fruit precariously in the air as she pushed the bedroom door open with her pleasantly plump body. She glanced at her lady still in bed, although she was clearly no longer sleeping.

"Good morning, Anne," she said with her usual confidence.

Not many servants would dare to call their ladies by their first name, but Millie had been with the family since before this one was born. Every memory Anne had involved Millie in some way. Anne loved her and valued the advice that fell from her lips like honey. Their eyes met and Anne smiled with some trepidation.

"How did things go with your... friend last night?" Millie queried with pursed lips as she placed the food-laden tray on a table by the window. She smoothed her skirts and her eyes came to rest on the young woman in the bed before her.

Anne moved under the sheets, running her hands over her body, briefly reminiscing. A lazy smile pulled at her lips and she closed her eyes in satisfaction. She ran her fingers through her thick auburn hair and Millie could just imagine the memories fluttering through her young lady's mind.

"Mmmm hmmmm. I see," Millie said with a raised brow.

Anne didn't even bother to blush.

"And how was his night, might I inquire?"

Here Anne went still, her smugness fading ever so slightly.

Millie sighed. "Must I remind you that you are learning how to use the power of your beauty?"

Anne sagged beneath her covers, preparing for Millie's lecture. 

"No. You are a mere woman in the eyes of any man, but you have more power than they realize. You cannot simply simper your way through life if you are to accomplish anything great, Anne. You cannot be the passive one in the room. You have to do more than accept and take. You need to give. Your real power lies in your ability to withhold... which you cannot do unless you first give."

"I know, Millie, I know."

"Do you? Anne, working on these skills is going to be essential for your future."

"Millie, I am a lady. Truly, my future is not really in my own hands at all, is it?"

"Oh, but it is going to be, my lady. You just wait and see. You are going to do more in your life than you know."

Anne let out a disbelieving laugh as she threw her covers off, the blast of cold air turning her smooth pale skin to gooseflesh. "Really, Millie. I'm sure my future husband will be thrilled to death by all that I'm learning, but that is about all."

Millie scowled at Anne as the lady stepped behind her privacy screen to get dressed. The clothing that hung nearby was pulled behind the screen and Millie sat by the window and popped a sweetmeat into her own mouth. The flavours tickled her senses. Sharing food was a good way to solidify the bond she had with her sweet Anne.

After becoming a trusted member of the Boleyn household, it had taken Millie many months to create the right drink to ensure Lady Elizabeth conceived a child. Her first attempt had delivered a child with no signs of promise - Anne's older sister, Mary. After the second conception, she'd had to wait a long nine months to ensure the drink had done its job. Nothing could describe the joy buzzing through her veins when the darling girl was born with an extra finger. The child would have gifts, a predisposition for certain... skills. Her talents were starting to shine now as the girl turned twenty.

"Could you help with the buttons, please?" Anne's firm voice pulled Millie back to the present.

"Of course." Millie quickly got up to help her lady arrange her dress to perfection.

"Any news of my parents?" Anne asked as Millie tugged at her dress.

"They are still at the English court. I haven't heard anything from them. I believe they are trying to find a good match for you."

"Oh? Perhaps a prince? I do find Claude's brother-in-law quite fetching." Anne's eyes continued to dance as she teased her maid.

"Why have a prince when you could have a king?" Millie asked with a wink.

"I don't know if I could do that to Claude. I love her too dearly."

"Practice your charms where you may."

They sat down to eat their morning meal and Millie sighed as she took a bite of the fresh fruit. It was the middle of summer and the sweet juice from the grape felt glorious as it went down her dry throat. She took credit for Anne's good relationship with Queen Claude. The two regularly found fun at the palace's parties. Millie briefly wondered who might be about the palace today, since new arrivals seemed to come almost daily.

"I am so glad Mother and Father have allowed you to accompany me on my travels. I don't know what I would do without you here. You are such a comfort to me, Millie," Anne said as she watched Millie's eyes take in the garden through the window.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Millie muttered in response. A sudden frown pulled the corners of Millie's mouth. "Look who it is, Anne." She pointed to a new form walking into view.

"My goodness, it's Henry Percy," breathed Anne. She blushed all the way to her hairline, and turned away from the window, probably to avoid the possibility of his gaze. Her breathing became shallow and she looked like she might faint, so pale had she become.

Millie stifled a laugh, knowing exactly the last time she had seen Henry Percy and what that visit had entailed. Obviously the mere memories were still having quite the impact. She shook her head in dismay. They were in France now to escape the perils of just this relationship.

"That response is not going to get you anywhere, Anne. What you need to do is rise above all else with grace and dignity. Whatever happened between the two of you, you will not reveal your true feelings. Nobody will ever know what transpired as long as your public behaviour is beyond reproach."

Anne stared with focused concentration at a spot on the floor. Her breathing became more even. "But I love him," she whispered even as her throat tightened around the last word, causing the smallest squeak.

"Pah! Love. What is love? No. He rejected you. You will not pay him any mind. You can even act as if it is the first time you have met his acquaintance when you are introduced later today. This is the only moment you get to be...emotional."

Millie knew that Anne's heart had been broken when Henry had not followed them to France - but how could he? He had his own obligations as the future Earl of Northumberland. Following Anne around like some love-crazed child would not do. However, Anne's heart couldn't possibly let her mind understand. She had been completely broken over the perceived abandonment. 

"Love only ever ends in one way, Anne," Millie whispered. "Do not allow yourself to fall into it again. It fogs the brain and can result in questionable choices. You must guard your heart more closely."

Anne throat bobbed as she forced a swallow. She sniffed and  dabbed at her moist eyes. With a nod, she got up from her place at the table and paced the room a few times. 

Millie knew the memories that Anne entertained in those moments, for they had spoken of them from time to time. She watched each small gesture as she linked them to the past. His lips, his touch. The feel of his fair hair between her fingers. Whispered words of romance. Poetry, magically wiggling their way into her deepest, most secret places. 

"Somehow he made me his... and yet, he was never mine." This a whisper, breathed with agony into the air.  Anne stopped pacing and stood in front of the only reflective surface in the room, taking deep breaths to steel her resolve.

As she plucked another sweetmeat from the tray, Millie met Anne's eyes in the polished silver by the bed. There was acceptance in her lady's eyes, as there usually was. Millie always came out of these discussions as the winner.

Anne slowly straightened her neck and pushed her shoulders down. She held her hands to her front, careful to let her long sleeves cover her slightly misshapen finger. Millie watched with awe as she turned the hollowness in her eyes to merriment. It was almost impossible to recognize the deception behind the dancing mischief. The fall of her lips transformed from grief to gentle humour, an easy smile. 

Millie felt a tightness in her chest that could only be described as pride. What a formidable woman she was raising. This young lady was going to help her accomplish everything she wanted and needed. She was, truly, magnificent.

"Ready then?"

"Oh, yes," Anne's voice lilted pleasantly. "I'm not sure I could be more so."

~~

A/N Of course, I'm dying to know what you think! Please don't forget to throw a vote my way! <3