Royal Gardens

Anne decided to take a walk again in the morning, she was so fond of these large gardens around the palace.
A man promptly approached her and she smiled,"I'm fond of walking,"she replied simply with a shrug,"Sir...?"

"Fond of walking?" He asked and looked toward the horizon where the sun was setting. "You know it's not safe for young ladies to be on their own in the darkness, it could be dangerous. Can I escort you to your chambers or at least into the palace?"

She smiled,"Perhaps I am a vampire,"she then chuckled and offered her arm,"Of course sir-you may escort me, if it please you."

He smiled and tucked her arm under his "Yes miss I insist" He said and walked in the direction of the palace. "Since I'm walking you back, I inquire to know your name?"

She smiled, feeling the nearness of him,"Anne Lumley...and you are?"

"It's a pleasure to meet you Anne, my name is Thomas Seymour" He said and smiled thinking he may have recognized her last name. "Now tell me are new here at court?"

She nodded,"I've been here for...oh...perhaps a month? Not long really, everything is a bit new to me. And you? Do you live in court all the time?"

As she spoke he enjoyed the soft tone of her voice, very innocent. "My home is at Wolfhall, although most of the time I reside here at court." he said as they were approaching the courtyard of the palace. "Since your not too familiar with things, I offer to show you around the grounds if you permit me to do so" He smiled as he held her hand and waited for her answer.

She smiled lightly,"I wish I could say yes-however I can't. It was very nice to meet you Thomas. I hope we shall meet again."

She walked away and glanced back, giving him an apologetic smile and then disappeared into the palace.

I walked into the garden with Mary, seeing the day was still pretty and not too overcast. What do you think of it so far, my lady?

Walking with him Mary smiled shyly at those they passed but kept her attention on Francis. She looked around then leaned towards him, "I like it very much and having such an escort makes it all the more enjoyable. So do you spend a lot of time at court?"

Yes, I have resided here most of my life. My mother is an expert at court life, and my sister comes now and then. I decided not to tell Mary just yet about the scandal surrounding my Elizabeth and the king, what seemed like a lifetime ago. I think you will always find some amusement or other, and if you cannot..then simply call on me. I gave her a look, grinning sideways at her.

"Sounds like quite an interesting life you have led, I look forward to having you teach me the things that I should and should not do here at court." Mary gave him a flirty grin then quickly looked down before she laughed softly. "I will always remember that, I enjoy your company. You are the first person I have met here."

Mary peered to see if anyone was near them and then she whispered softly so only he could hear, "What do you know of King Henry? I have heard many rumors of him and his many....." She stopped struggling for the right wording before she continued. "Companions?" She asked then she gazed at Francis wanting so much to ask the same question about him as she had heard so many rumors about him as well and now being near him she could see why ladies would fall to such charm. She bit her lip thinking that she might herself be too charmed to ever resist him if he showed the least attention to her in that way.

Well, I think I know what you mean by 'companions'. He is fond of women, as is widely known, but he is not the lecher that others say he is. He admires beauty, loves to joust and sport, is a true gourmand, and also very knowledgeable. He knows many languages and reads them as well. I paused. Why do you ask, my lady?

Listening to him intently as they walked Mary turned to stare at him, "You know him well. I only ask because there are so many rumors that I have heard over the years. He is viewed very harshly by many but yet those same seek his love and support as their King. I know that many are unhappy with him for all that is going on with the Queen." She sighed, "it just seems a shame that she cannot provide him with a son. I believe him to be a great King, I was honored to come to court in hopes that I might meet him"

Her eyes looked up at his face then she smiled, "He has good taste in friends, we have that in common."

I smiled at her compliment. Perhaps if you speak with my lord Cromwell he may be able to set up an appointment for you to meet the king, if that is what you wish. I think you will find His Majesty a very good and noble man. Of course, he is not without a man's heart, which can lead him in many different ways. The same can be said of any man upon a throne. I think that is where the rumors began. I brought her close to my side as a small squirrel ran past us, and had a quick moment of her warm skin against me.

Mary nodded at once, she loved his idea and the thought of getting to meet the King of England thrilled her so that she was not passing attention to the ground in front of them.  As Francis pulled her close to him she let out a small gasp then turned bright red.  The feel of him against her even for such a brief moment made her heart ran in a way it never had before.  She gazed up at him without moving away from him and uttered his name very softly.  "Francis...."  Then she blushed redder as she whispered to him, "I do not think the rumors about you are true at all.  You are so much more than just ...."  She stopped wondering if he knew all the bad things that were said about him.  All the women he was rumored to have been with and led on.  She stared into his eyes and did not believe any of that could ever be true, he seemed like the perfect gentleman to her but what did she know.  She was new to court and new to any of this but he made her think of it all.

She swallowed hard as her thoughts continued to drift when they had never been and she leaned back so she was closer to him again.  That warmth from him, even the second touch did what the first had started.  She felt that slight touch all through her body making her breathless.  She tried to finish her sentence without looking foolish so she quickly spoke before she got tongue tied again.  "No one could ever make me believe anything bad about you."

I saw her face flush like ripe berries, her eyes were wide and shone like glittering jewels. I ached to kiss her lips and as we stood so near each other I dared to take her hand in mine and place a kiss upon it. I am used to hearing awful things about my character, but I assure you I do not take what is not willfully given to me. I have never had a woman I wished to be tied down with.. I paused, thinking of Eleanor and wondering where she was, but I pushed that thought away. Suffice it to say, I am quite intrigued by you. I hope you will permit me a kiss. If I am too forward you may slap me, push me away or call me a rogue.

As Mary stared at him she was speechless and for one moment she knew that he felt it too. The tension between them was there and when he took her hand a shock ran up her spine. As his lips touched her skin she held her breath as her heart raced. His words touched her, and she was lost in staring into his eyes.

"You want to kiss me?" She whispered to him. The memory of his lips on her hand made her blush even redder and she moved a step closer to him. "I know you would never do anything to me that I do not wish, Francis I trust you completely. I will never hit you or yell at you." She spoke quickly as she was nervous then she looked down as she whispered, "I would like you to kiss me."

As she gave her consent I smiled, seeing just how innocent she really was. And you know I would not harm you in any way either. Slowly I brought her to me, my hands on her shoulders then cupping her pretty face. Our lips met, hers were so soft and sweet. I let the kiss linger a moment, then pulled away slowly. I hate to sound greedy, but I know I shall crave yet another kiss from you, my lady. My eyes stayed on her cherry lips.

His words made Mary smile, she knew that she could trust him fully and as he pulled her close to him the world around them seemed to fade away.  All she could think of was him and his touch.  His hands on her face made her heart race as she gazed up at him then closed her eyes as their lips touched for the first time.  The touch made her shiver a bit then stare at him as he moved away.  She grinned at his words then whispered to him, "It might be forward of me but I know that I want you to kiss me again and perhaps again."  She felt her cheeks redden and she knew that she wanted many more of his kisses.

I smiled and ran a thumb across her pouty lips. Wish granted. Bringing her close to me again I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her lips, softly teasing my tongue between them. I wanted more, so much more but I knew I had to be patient with Mary, innocent as she was.

Mary stared at him as he ran his finger over her lips pouting slightly till he pulled her closer kissing her again.  Wrapped in his arms she gasped as his tongue ran over hers then she hesitantly moved hers against his as she moved her body closer to his. The closer she got the faster her heart was starting to beat but she would have moved away from him, no she could not have borne it. Now she wanted more than anything to stay right here locked in his embrace.

She didn't move away or even flinch, so I took that to mean she was consenting. I ran my fingers along the back of her neck as we kissed, my tongue still teasing her. Suddenly my hands went to her hips, arching her to me. Tell me if I take too many liberties I whispered, then moved my hand within her bodice to cup her small soft breast.

Each kiss and each touch of his tongue on her made her want more so she did not speak but let herself get lost in it. This was what she had read about, the heat, the fire and the passion that makes ladies made choices that they might not have but Mary did not care. As he pulled her to him by the waist she moaned softly but did not wish him to stop. At his words she merely wrapped her arms about him holding him against her as she whispered. "I would if I wished you to stop but I do not."

As his hand moved to her breasts a tingling started and ran through her whole body making her shiver against him. He was waking up a part of her that she did not know existed, her breath was coming hard and fast now but she did not wish him to stop. "Francis, explore me if you wish."