Rose Garden

Arthur walked through the garden surveying the lovey roses around him, he breathed in the scent and smiled as he continued walking.

Wondering at night I walk in a place where I never been the smell off roses hits me I close my eyes and taken back to the rose garden in HEVER

Alice was reading in a quiet spot in the garden, the sun was gentle and the breeze was only slightly cool, signalling the change in the weather. She heard footsteps and looked up to see another lady in the garden.

"Good day, my lady. Are you enjoying this quiet place as well?"

Anne had been walking the gardens her long hair trailing down her back, she was soon brought out of her thoughts as she heard a woman and she turned around and looked at the woman and she smiled

"My lady, yes..The weather is perfect, is it not?"

"Indeed, I love this time of year.. I'm sorry I have not seen you around court. Are you new? I am Alice More." she smiled as she introduced herself. "Forgive me if I disturbed you."

Anne smiled at the woman and nodded "Yes, i have just arrived from Italy not that long ago..My name is Anne Brett, Duchess of Squillace" she said with a smile and she shook her head "You did not disturb me at all, do not worry." she said with a soft smile.

"From Italy, what a beautiful place, so I've heard. I have never left England.So how did you come to be at court?" she asked, interested. "Do you like the English court so far? I hope you have met some nice people," she felt glad to have someone to talk to, as Thomas was usually busy with his chancellor duties, and Margaret was off with friends.

Anne frowned a little then smiled "I am travelling, My lady..Though i like this English court and i decided to stay a little longer" she said with a smile and she nodded "It is..nice..Though..I was in the great hall and there was a fuss about a woman named Anne wearing purple...i do not get it" she said with a light laugh.

Alice's face brightened."Oh how fortunate you are! I've always wanted to travel but have never had the means to go. My only travelling is through books." she placed her hand upon the dark green leather-bound book in her lap, a novel she'd found at the market one day.

She pursed her lips as Lady Brett seemed to mention Anne Boleyn. She'd heard of the fuss caused in the hall earlier when it was said the Boleyn woman sauntered in wearing a deep purple gown, as though she were queen already. Alice sighed. "I am sorry you had to see that. She was Lady Anne Boleyn daughter from an upstart family who seeks to replace our rightful Queen Katherine with Anne herself! She was wrong for wearing that color in public, only royalty may wear purple. She presumes much too far ahead of herself.' She bit her lip and wondered if Thomas already knew. "I don't suppose if you know what has been going on with King Henry and his great matter?"

Anne smiled at the woman and she nodded with a smile "You can read? I myself love poetry" she said with a smile and she frowned at the womans words "So..she was not Queen? I thought she was Queen Katherine..truth be told, i would rather Katherine on the throne..Anne seems...to...she is full of herself"

"Oh I adore reading, my father taught me. He gave me a thorough education." She frowned when the duchess mentioned Anne Boleyn. "Anne is definitely not the queen but she aims to be. She is only a woman without noble blood who has caught the king's eye."

Alice quickly looked about but found no one. "I believe her family put her up to it. The Boleyns are a conniving family, only out for their own interests. They saw a weakness in dear Queen Katherine and used that to get to the king." She smiled weakly. "Forgive me, I don't mean to sound like a common gossip."

Alice shook her head, sighing. "Many of these courtiers are so without morals. I have never met Mary Boleyn but I have no doubt she is just as ill-behaved as her sister Anne. And I hear that the Boleyns support the Reformed Faith. I only hope she does not try to sway the king in that direction!" As sad a situation as it was, she was glad to have someone to agree with her.

She sighed deeply. "It is what most people believe the Church should actually be like. Some claim there are reforms that need to be made to Catholocism.. and that our ways are outdated, superstitious. They don't believe in worship to the Blessed Virgin, they think they can gain entrance to Heaven only by means of belief, not through prayer and acts of kindness. They also think that anyone, not just priests, should read the Gospels. They have it all wrong.." Alice shook her head. "But, if I may boast a little, my husband, Sir Thomas More, is going to deal with these heretics."

"There are so many misguided souls in this world. Our religion is the oldest, the purest, the true way to God. I will never understand why people wish to diverge from the Path of Christ." She shook her head sadly. "Thomas has promised to deal with them very strictly." Alice smiled at Anne. "I am sorry you came to court at such a tumultuous time!"

"I hope you can, Your Grace." Alice smiled. "So tell me about where you are from. I've never been anywhere but England."

"Oh it must be such a beautiful place! Which cities have you seen?" Her eyes glowed with interest.