My Nephew, My King

Love Is In The Air

Henry found Lady Jane Seymour in the Queen's chambers with the other ladies-in-waiting. He silently beckoned to her, and she followed him into a courtyard. As soon as they were alone, he showed her the amulet. She saw the dent in it and gasped.

"Your amulet saved my life," he told her. "If I hadn't had it around my neck, the lance would have went right into my throat and killed me."

Jane gasped. "Oh my God! I'm so glad I gave it to you, then."

"So am I." Jane felt Henry's fingers touch her chin, then his lips on hers. She was in heaven.

Henry and Jane were inseparable after that, and before long, they became engaged. They soon married, and a few months later, Jane became pregnant.

"John III, the Duke of Cleves," is seeking a husband for his second daughter, Anne," Arthur's chancellor, Thomas Cromwell, told Henry and Katherine. "He is considering your son Edward as a possible mate for her. The artist Hans Holbein has painted her portrait, which the Duke has sent for your approval."

"Very well," said Henry, glancing over the portrait. "She seems quite an attractive woman. I feel confident that she will be a worthy mate for Edward." He immediately called his second son to him. "You are to be wed to Anne of Cleves," he told Edward. "She is to journey from Germany to Dover, and you are to meet her at Rochester shortly afterwards. Here is a portrait of her which was painted by Hans Holbein."

Edward examined the portrait carefully, then nodded his approval. "She is a very attractive woman," he said. "If she has a personality to match, I'm sure I shall be quite happy with her."

Edward, who was prone to playing pranks, traveled with a couple of his friends to Rochester, all of them disguised in masks. They reached the room where Anne was watching a bear baiting and stood just outside, peeking in.

"That's her," whispered Edward, immediately recognizing Anne from her portrait.

"I dare you to go up to her and kiss her," one of his friends told him.

Never one to back down from a dare, Edward sneaked into the room, silently crept up to Anne, and kissed her.

"Fick dich!" Anne said crossly, pushing Edward away.

Edward, immediately contrite, removed the mask and bowed before Anne. "It is I, Edward, your betrothed," he told her. "I'm sorry I startled you."

"Edward?" Anne stared for a moment, then giggled uncertainly.

"Yes, it's me." Edward smiled and took Anne's hand. 'Come on. Let's go back to London. I can't wait to show you more of my country."

"Meet my parents, Henry and Katherine," said Edward. "Mother and father, this is Anne of Cleves."

"Hello," Anne said politely, dropping a curtsy.

"Hello, darling," said Katherine. "It's lovely to meet you."

"Hello," Henry said stiffly.

"She seems quite nice," Katherine said to Henry later.

"She doesn't resemble her portrait at all," Henry said coldly. "In fact, I find her quite unattractive. I do not wish to have such an ugly woman for a daughter-in-law."