Bedroom

Mary watched him and looked surprised at his question, "you mean the poet?" She thought back trying to remember if she had seen him with Anne, "I did not spend much time with Anne until I came to court your majesty but I know that my cousin would never do anything not befitting of a lady."

"I know only that Anne and Thomas Wyatt were friends, she is a great writer and they used to write together but I know nothing of this Percy. Who is that?" Mary answered with an innocent expression, she knew of her cousin's rumored men but she also knew that in order for Anne to become Queen she must appear innocent of it all.

Mary heard his words and gasped almost dropping the pawn in her hand, "the rumors say that?" Then she slammed the piece down harder than she meant to as she spoke, "who starts such rumors? They must be the most hateful people, the things said about you, about Anne, about Francis." As soon as his name came out of her mouth Mary froze then quickly stopped talking with her head lowered as if she was concentrating on her next move.

Mary's face paled and she spoke softly, "I was speaking of my friend Francis Bryan. I meet him here at court and I have heard many terrible things about him but I do not think them to be true."

"He is called a ladies man, said to use woman and then to scorn them afterwards but he has only been a perfect gentleman to me until...." Her voice faded as she was not willing to tell him more. The memory of their kiss was one she guarded but she knew that if the King demanded she would have to confess to it. "Francis was the first one I met when I came here."

Mary's hands fumbled when he asked her to know until what. Her face went bright red and she bit her bottom lip hard. Lowering her head so her long blond hair covered her face from his view Mary spoke so softly it was almost a whisper, "until he kissed me." Then she brought her hands to her lap hoping he would not ask more about their relationship.

"I am worried because I care about him deeply and I don't see myself as beautiful as some of the other ladies at court. He surely desires a woman while I am just a girl." Mary sighed but then laughed softly, "I think Anne would like romantic you. And a kiss, our kiss was magic. It touched me from the tip of my head down to my toes and all places in between. That one kiss made me want things that I ought not to think about."

Mary felt her cheeks burning red as she blushed at his words.  "I dare not say that word when I talk about him.  I have deep feelings for him but I am young and inexperienced, he has been nothing but kind to me.  Is it love when you crave their company above all others?"  Mary asked him as she looked up into his face.  "I do hope he has feelings for me as well."

Mary nodded to his majesty then stared at him, "I do not remember if I told him if Anne is my cousin or not. So much has happened since we first met. Why do you think he would treat me differently knowing that?" She thought about his comment about love and lust, she knew in her mind it was more than just lust.

Mary's face paled when he mentioned Francis and marriage and she started to take long deep breaths before she answered him, "Francis and I have never spoken about the future but have just been spending time getting to know each other as friends. He has not spoken of his past but I never asked. He has only been a gentleman to me but I will not lie and say that I do not wish that he wanted to marry me. If he ever mentioned it to me I would come to you straight away your majesty but I am merely a girl, surely he wants to marry a woman."

"You are very kind your majesty, I thank you. I care about him deeply as I have never anyone else." Mary smiled at him, "Anne is very lucky to be loved by you."

Mary watched his move and nodded, "I would be honored to come with you and Anne. France is a beautiful place."

Mary grinned at him thinking of the fun they would have in France but she knew now she would have to play carefully as the King might be watching her and Francis together now. "This trip sounds like great fun."