At dinner, Neville was doing his best not to gag at the stench of Henry VIII's ulcerous leg. Bandages, and the monarch's liberal use of cologne had failed to mask the man's putrefying leg wound. With the tight dress's corset constructing his ribs, Neville found he could scarcely breathe. He felt like a mouse, frozen before a three hundred pound viper. One that was readying to strike at the slightest provocation. The King's aloof attitude towards him made him fear his impersonation of the Princess Elizabeth wasn't going well. I'm being shunned by my supposed father because I'm failing miserably at impersonating her. His spirits rose suddenly when he gleened how near sighted was the King's eyesight. The monarch's beady eyes, imbedded deeply in his flesh, squinted at anything farther away than three feet. Lady Ashley was right. The King's as blind a bat. Maybe there is hope!

Despite his elevated mood, Thomas Parry's warning about Henry's veiled acuity remained foremost in his thoughts. "Neville, whatever His Majesty says, be sure not to relax your guard with him. He may look old and decrepit, but he's as sly as a fox. Don't underestimate his cunning perception." With this advice, Neville chose a seat diagonally across from the King. Keeping his face angled in profile, he nervously sipped his wine.

Halfway through the meal, Henry's appetite partially sated, he finally addressed his supposed daughter. "Elizabeth, I see Bisley's fresh country air is agreeing with you." Leaning forward, he squinted at Neville. "You're as brown as a potato and you've grown like a weed since last I saw you. Tell me, what have they been feeding you?"

Neville smiled, but inwardly he was shaking like a leaf. "I may appear humble as a common garden creeper, Father, but inside I have the heart of a lion." He lightly tapped his chest. "Your heart."

Henry looked momentarily stunned, then roared with laughter, his jowls shook like one of the jellies on the table. "Have you, little one?" He held out his cup to the serving girl. "More of this excellent wine, lass." As the young woman bent to refill the King's cup, her breasts threatened to tumble into his lap. Lady Ashley had ordered the girl to keep her corset loosely laced, pulled down low to distract the King's faculties.

"What else have you to say, daughter?" Neville realized the glutton was thoroughly enjoying their discourse. With the few teeth he had left, the stout monarch possessively gnawed at his leg of mutton. Alternately, his focus strayed from dinner to the milky white bosom placed temptingly before him.

"With your Lord's leave, I hope I present my person as more than a weed, competing for nature's nurturing sun light." Encouraged by another round of laughter, Neville held out his cup to be refilled. Lady Ashley motioned for the serving girl to cut off the boy's spirits, but the harried woman missed the signal. She was too busy fending off the King's roaming hands.

Unaccustomed to such free flowing wine and the abundance of excellent food, Neville soon became inebriated and increasingly loquacious. The King, his own cheeks flush with excessive consumption, applauded the young boy's zeal. "I see you've inherited my strong appetite for making merry, daughter."

"Aye, 'tis fine wine from the region D'Anjou." Neville allowed the pungent drink to slosh around in his mouth, imitating the King's intemperateness. He savored lingering hints of berry and fruited wood, while a delicious warmth spread through his limbs. "Ah, I do love this bouquet." He took another large gulp of wine. "Have you seen the new mare, Father? She's quite a good hunter."

"A good hunter, eh? Then she must be fast. Your aunt Mary approved of good horseflesh. She was always my equal when it came to hunting and feasting, but more importantly, she fulfilled her duty to the crown." Lady Ashley and Sir Thomas both looked at each other, alarmed the conversation might be taking a sharp turn off a steep cliff. Sitting up straighter, Neville self consciously pulled in his gut, fearful his seams might burst before the dinner ended. "At first she protested when I arranged her betrothal to the French King." Henry covertly evaluated Neville as he spoke, looking suspiciously at him over his goblet of wine, he searched for tell tale signs of his sister's headstrong qualities in his youngest daughter. "Eventually, she listened to reason and acquiesced." Chewing noisily, he continued. "My sister always possessed a stubborn streak when it came to men. I forbade her to marry Suffolk, but she had her way in the end, killing off her first husband to make way for her true love." As he related this detail, the King's beefy hand tightened on his goblet. Dark liquid spilled onto the table's white linen.

"The stain's similarity to  blood unnerved Neville, but copious amounts of wine had loosened his tongue. "Not a great loss for France or England, was it Father?"

One of the courtiers related to the French court, bristled. "Here now, Lady Elizabeth! What do you mean, blaspheming a King of France?"

There was a deadly silence. No one dared to breathe until King Henry burst out in roaring laughter. "God's Death, the Princess fears not to speak the truth! How refreshing."Enjoying what he believed was a successful royal debut, Neville allowed himself to bask in the King's praise. He failed to see Lady Ashley's response. Across the table from him, she gasped in fright noting the wig crowning the boy's head was in danger of slipping sideways. With each drunken nod, Neville's curtain of red hair threatened to slide completely off his head.

Sensing disaster, the serving girl expertly jiggled her bodice, freeing one of her fine breasts. "Another glass of wine, my lord?" She bent low to retrieve a dinner plate, dangling a nipple before the King's face. Henry licked his lips in anticipation, imagining substituting the tempting bosom for his wine goblet. The lass's invitation to him was clear. Playfully pinching her bottom, he upset a full wine bottle as he pulled her into his lap. Neville, busy imagining a great bear mercilessly pawing at the serving girl's person, failed to notice Kat desperately motioning for him to right his hairpiece.

Thinking quickly, his guardian pivoted in her chair signaling for the waitstaff to serve dessert. An aromatic plum pudding soon arrived. Henry immediately turned his attention back to dinner, helping himself to a large, rich slice of the greasy confection. "Elizabeth, I see you're no longer a timid child. Tomorrow you shall ride with me to the village. I want to see if your equestrian skills match your nimble mind." Lady Ashley breathed a sigh of relieve confirming Henry had missed Neville's wardrobe malfunction.

"I would be honored to accompany you, Father." Neville winked impishly at Lady Ashley and Sir Thomas. Raising his wine goblet, he saluted the King. "To your good health, My Lord."

Everyone joined Neville in heartily wishing the King good health, except Sir Parry. Unimpressed, he snarled in Lady Ashley's ear, "God save us, we've created a monster."