The Balcony

"Hello Henry." Mary greeted him with a smile. "It is a pleasure to meet you." Then she leaned her head back staring up at the night sky again. She pointed to the brightest star in the sky as she spoke, "that is the north star, that bright one there. It is said that those at sea use the stars to guide their voyage."

He glanced behind him and gave her a cursory glance, smiling a little,"Mm-hm. You can see that from my home."

Mary smiled at him as he smiled at her, "I can see them from my home too. My home is not far from her, where do you come from?" She inquired politely as she looked at him.

"Gloucester,"he replied,"But I've been travelling about for a while - and you?"

"I am from Richmond and this is the first place I have traveled too. Well so far, but I do hope to travel with the court now." Mary smiled at him then leaned against the balcony as she continued to gaze up at the stars.

He nodded contemplatively,"Gloucester is not far from Richmond. Feel free to visit our home when you are on your travels. I suggest Germany - a fascinating country."

Smiling brightly Mary nodded at him, "I will remember that and you have been to Germany? Oh tell me about it. I would love to visit there!"

He smiled,"It is like no other place I have been to before and they have the most fascinating theories - especially on the reformation. There is a great many artists and scientist who seem years ahead of us in England. It is a very beautiful place.[/b]"

"Sounds like a wonderful place, perhaps some day I will be able to travel. I do hope so but I am but a woman in this world so I am limited in what I have any say of." Mary sighed wishing that she could change her stars but not sure what she would change.

He shrugged,"I'm not so sure - you are a duchess and so you have opportunities many wouldn't have. I suppose you could always buy your freedom,"he joked and grinned.

"Buy my freedom?" Mary laughed at that, "I doubt my family would much approve. I am supposed to marry well and continue the family but I do hope to do more with my life. I want to be more than just a pretty face." She eyed him then smiled "you have quite a sense of humor, I like that."

"Never live your life trying to fulfil your family's ambitions,"he replied,"I never did and it done me no harm."

"You are a man, that makes it a bit easier for you. My family is very well tied in here at court." Mary sighed, as a Howard her family was related to the soon to be next Queen of England so she dared not create any scandals but she could not speak of such things. Instead she just looked back up at the night sky watching the stars twinkle at her. Then she spoke softly, "I must bide my time for now but." She paused thinking of someone then grinned to herself. "I have plans I hope."

He listened carefully,"At least you are hopeful and ambitious. It is important to live ones own life for ones own self - or else we should never find happiness."

"I try to be." Mary sighed, "it is hard. So my lord you will think me forward but how are you not with a lovely lady yet?"

He shrugged and chuckled as he thought, who says I am not,"Hm...I cannot honestly answer - perhaps I am abhorrent to women..."

Mary laughed very softly as his response, in the back of her mind she thought of one but she dared not mention names. She whispered to him, "I do not think you are. But perhaps you have not met the right lady yet."

He laughed and joked,"Well I charge you to keep an eye out for any possible suitors for me...and you - I am sure you have admirers."

She burst out laughing at that, he was so easy to talk to almost like a brother. She nodded with a smile, "I can do that for you and please I might have one, well I hope he admires me."

He smiled indulgently,"And tell me...this fellow, who is he?"

"Oh um." Mary's face flushed bright red thinking of him and a kiss but she could not say his name. His reputation here was too great as was the chance that she was just another one of the many. In her heart she wanted to be more to him but she also knew that their relationship was too new to say too much so she said only this, "he is just a gentleman here."

Henry smiled knowingly and nodded,"Be wary then. A man with no name must have a reason to remain in the shadows."

"He has a name, a very well known name which is why I do not speak it." She sighed, "I just do not wish to make it more than it is for the time being. It is not his fault that silly girl I am one kiss and I am smitten." She covered her mouth at that and laughed. "Oops I meant not to tell you that."

"You're not silly if you are being cautious. There is nothing wrong with a reputation, Mary - as long as it doesn't tarnish yours,"he retorted and sat upon the ledge and looked at her.

"I think his reputation is rubbish. He is not any of the things I have heard if he was he would have ruined me already but he has been nothing but a very charming gentleman. I think many here at court are judged unfairly." She spoke firmly then looked at him, "I do not care if being near him tarnishes my reputation, I judge him worth that."