My Nephew, My King

George And Joanna

Shortly After The Wedding Of Arthur And Anne

Joanna's heart beat with excitement as she headed for the royal stables. It was a bright, sunny day, and George Boleyn had promised to meet her there to go horseback riding. She was also a bit anxious. George would be the first young man she'd ever gone riding with except for her brothers. What if he didn't show up? She'd only met him once so didn't know him well at all. Perhaps he'd forgotten, or changed his mind.

As she approached the stables, she caught sight of George's dark hair and mustache and felt a surge of relief. He was wearing a riding cap, with brown breeches and a brown-and-white striped shirt. He saw her coming and grinned widely. She smiled back.

"You look beautiful this morning," he told her.

"Thank you. You look very nice yourself," she replied.

He helped her onto a horse, and they took off across the field. Joanna had a lot of fun that morning, more than she'd had in a long time. She dreaded saying good-bye to George and returning to the palace at lunchtime, but eventually they were both pretty hungry.

"I really enjoyed riding with you this morning," Joanna told George as they were brushing down their horses. "I hope that we can go again soon."

"We definitely will," said George. "I packed a picnic lunch for us. Won't you join me?"

"Oh, good!" Joanna exclaimed. So she wouldn't have to leave him right away after all.

Over lunch, George and Joanna got to know one another better.

"So what's it like to have the King as your big brother?" George asked.

Joanna shrugged. "I never really thought of him as the King. To me he was always just my brother."

"So you weren't constantly in awe of him?"

"Of course I was!" They both laughed.

"Are your sisters older or younger than you?" asked Joanna.

"Mary's older, and Anne's younger," George replied.

"What's it like to have an older sister?"

"It's all right. I've always gotten along fine with Mary, but I've always been closer to Anne."

"What about your parents?"

"My mother's really nice. I suppose that deep down inside, my father loves us, but he's very ambitious, and sometimes I feel that he uses us children as a means to his own ends. He did a lot of manipulating to get Anne into a position where the King would notice her."

"What about your other sister?"

"He arranged Mary's marriage when she was very young. It's a happy marriage, but she and William didn't even meet each other until the day before their wedding."

"What about you?"

"My father's been pressuring me to marry a woman named Jane Parker. I can't stand her!"

"You shouldn't have to marry her, then, said Joanna.

"I don't intend to, if there's any way possible to avoid it." George chuckled.

As George and Joanna got to know one another better, they began to like one another more and more, until one day Joanna realized that she was in love with George. However, the day of George's wedding to Jane Parker grew nearer and nearer, until at last it was at hand.

Joanna watched miserably as the man she loved walked down the aisle to marry a woman he couldn't stand. She listened as the minister began to speak.

"Should anyone here present know of any reason that this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace," the minister said at one point in the ceremony.

Suddenly Joanna couldn't stand it anymore. "I object!" she shouted, jumping to her feet. Everyone stared at her in shock except for George, whose face bore an expression of profound relief and gratitude.

"George shouldn't have to marry a woman he doesn't love just because his father wants him to!" Joanna exclaimed. "And if George's father really loves him, he shouldn't force him to marry against his will!"

The minister cleared his throat. "Well, this is certainly highly unusual." He looked at George. "George Boleyn, is it true that you don't want to marry this woman, Jane Parker?"

"Everything the princess has said is true, sir," George told him.

"Then I cannot in good conscience continue this ceremony," the minister announced. "You are all dismissed."

As all the guests started to leave, Joanna saw that George was making his way toward her as quickly as he could. At last he reached her.

"Joanna!" He was grinning from ear to ear as he hugged her. "I don't know how to thank you!"

"I couldn't bear to see it happen," Joanna told him. "I had to say something."

"I'm ever so glad you did," George told her. "I think I owe you at least a nice dinner now."

"I'd enjoy that very much," Joanna said with a smile. George took her hand, and they left the chapel together.