"You may go,"

Catherine whispered loud enough for Mary Jane to hear and the young lady was more than happy to run away, though her heart cried at her broken engagement.

Mary ran to the chapel, falling to her knees at the altar. Who gave these kings the right? Were they not men? Surely what the king was doing was adultery, and that was a punishable crime. Why did no one ever hold the king accountable!

The Mother Superior came to collect Jane, sending her off to attend to the princess Mary.

The two Mary's spent the whole of the princess's break time together. During her lessons, little Mary loved to find her distractions with the older Mary, and the instructor often chided the princess to pay attention. The princess went back to her lessons and Jane had to go back to the Queen.

She dreaded facing Catherine now, now that she knew what her husband was doing. Jane didn't want to stress her friend, lest she suffer damage to her baby, but as lady in wait, Jane was bound to go.

Jane quietly entered the queen's room and exchanged kisses, then picked up a cotton cloth to start a dress for the baby. Heaven forbid she make any shirts for the king now! Jane left the king's responsibilities to the queen.

Catherine asked her about how Mary was doing in her lessons, and they all talked about the new baby. There was also gossip about other lords and ladies and court, but no one dared to mention the king's own affairs. The Queen didn't call out Mary Jane's betrayal, instead keeping the room jovial with talks of party planning and meals and giving advice to young ladies in waiting. They discussed their needlework and exchanged notes. It was a regular day at work.

The day passed and dinner time came. King Henry was rumored to have had a busy day, and wasn't to be expected at dinner. Jane thanked her lucky stars. Any audience with the king avoided was a blessing. She'd never forgive him for her broken engagement or how he planned to use her to hurt her friend. Sure, Mary Jane wasn't entirely in love with William, but she loved Catherine more than she loved her own sister! Henry could at least have taken into account that the queen was pregnant with his child, hopefully his son.

Maybe it was God's way of punishing her for cursing against the king when a knock came on the door of her ladies in waiting chamber. Thankfully she was alone in the room. Jane shivered as she reached the door, half expecting it to be the king himself. But it was one of the king's personal guard. He made a quick bow, then produced a letter from his jacket to give to her. It had the king's seal. Oh heavens! He hadn't forgotten her! She let out a choked sob before breaking the seal to read the letter.

Mary Jane,

I can't seem to get you off my mind since I first laid eyes on you at the ravine. I seem to recall my abrupt exit from your home this last Sunday, when all you had done was offer me your home and tend to my wounds. How my mother must be turning in her grave over my impertinence.

I shall like to prove to you my thanks personally, and I invite you to join me in my chamber tonight once the Queen has retired.

I'm aware of your loyalty to your queen, seem to find myself the need to remind you that I am King of the English Empire. I don't take no for an answer. A member of my personal guard will be posted at your door, to bring to me once your attending to the Queen are done.

I eagerly await to host you.

Your King,

Henry

Jane cried more the further she got into the letter. Sobering herself, she dared to look up at the guard.

"Does he expect a reply?"

"I'm afraid he's already taken it," the guard made a haste bow and left quickly.

Jane collected herself and made her appearance presentable before she went to have dinner with the queen. She happily greeted her friend, and made no show that she was about to betray her tonight. Jane gayly spent the night with little Mary and the other ladies in waiting. All the fun made her almost forget her upcoming ordeal, but then the Queen called it a night. 

The entourage first dropped off Princess Mary at her cottage, making sure she was all tucked in before they left. Finally they went to the queen's chamber for some late night tea and gossip. One by one the ladies in waiting took their leave, and while Jane was not the one chosen for the sleepover tonight, the Mistress of the Robes was the last one to leave. The girl was calm and smiled as she exited the Queen's chamber, but as soon as she was out, her heart beat hard against her chest and her worries grew.

As foretold, a personal guard of the king was stationed at her door. Jane was about to cry on the spot when she noticed the guard, but built the courage to walk to the door.

"You have ten minutes to dress in your night gowns and follow me. If you do not, I have been directed to barge in and take you by force."

Jane swallowed. She'd hold on to any dignity she still had left.

"I'll be out in ten minutes, sir," she bowed and walked into her room.

The lady only allowed herself two minutes of despair, thinking in those seconds to hide a dagger in her robes. She even held one in her hands, but decided against it in consideration of her friend's love for her husband, however unfaithful he may be. She took off her day's garments and changed into a simple night robe, one that would not allow the king much of a window.

As promised, Jane left her room in ten minutes, wearing a hooded robe to cover her face and followed the guard to the king's chamber. Per custom, the guard was about to announce Mary Jane's presence when the lady stopped.

"Please I beg you, think of the child in the Queen's belly."

The guard went ahead and whispered in the king's ear.

Henry was in a meeting with advisors, today had been a politically tense day, but he looked forward to seeing Mary Jane. He expectantly looked to the guard, waiting for him to announce Mary Jane's presence. He was about to behead the guard when the boy came close to his ear, but instead Henry was thrilled that Jane had indeed come. Henry whispered back to the guard to hide Jane, and abruptly ended the meeting and sent the advisors running off. Henry was excited as he had ever been; something about courting Mary Jane was scandalous, even to him, knowing how close the girl was to his wife and daughter. The king poured himself a drink to steady up, and tore into his adjacent bedchambers.

"Ah, I hope I haven't kept you waiting long?" Henry announced as he came into his room.

Jane jumped off her seat and knelt into a curtsey. The king quickly helped her up.

"You've had dinner already I suppose. Care to join me for a night cap?" The offer wasn't exactly a choice as he thrust a goblet in her hand and filled it with wine.

The king finally took a seat on a sofa chair and beckoned Jane to sit on his lap. She nervously did as told. Sipping on his drink, he trailed a finger of his other hand down her soft skinned face.

"Your father tells me you're a singer. Sing something for me."

Jane adjusted herself best as she could sitting on the King's lap, and began a French song after clearing her throat. Meanwhile, Henry lazily dragged his fingers everywhere he could, making Jane shiver uncomfortably. Noticing her voice crack, Henry pressed her own glass against her lips, and she drank to steady herself. Feeling indulged, Henry cupped a hand in her hair and brought his face to her neck, peppering her creamy skin with ghost kisses.

She was about to cry when a knock interrupted them. The king expressed his disdain and almost threw Mary Jane off his lap as he went to the door. The scared girl took the chance to hide, save herself from the king. Henry didn't look back, too busy scolding the messenger. The young man, though, noticed Jane and deliberately prolonged the king's conversation to allow her the chance to hide.

Henry slammed the door in the messenger boy's face and turned back to his room, surprised to find it empty. The only possible exit would have been the door that he had just closed, so that meant that the girl was still in the room.

"Ah, playing I hide and seek are we? Fine, I'll indulge you."

The king of the British Empire walked about his giant room calling out things like "Marco", or asking if he was getting warm or close. He'd checked under his monstrous bed, and behind the heavy curtains, leaving the only place to be the giant closet opposite his bed. A scuffle from within confirmed his guess and he slowly opened the door, thrusting in a hand in the darkness till he grabbed her ankle and pulled her out.

Jane finally squealed in his arms, trying to get away.

"Now, I played your little game. But no more. Tonight, you. are mine!" Henry hissed in her ear then attacked her exposed shoulders. He whipped her around to face him and pulled her against his chest. Jane resisted his hold on her, but when he put his lips on her mouth, she calmed down. 

Henry noticed how the kiss had placated her, and put his hands on her face, busying himself in the kiss. Jane had finally settled and almost seemed to be enjoying the kiss when they were interrupted again, this time by an advisor himself. Henry pulled himself away from Jane and pushed her away, almost in disgust, and stalked out with the intruder.

Mary waited a while, frozen in spot. But when it didn't seem like the king would return, she picked up her skirts and ran out, heading to her queen's room.