Men and women gazed at the palace in awe, their excited voices mingling with the shouts of the servants and the calls of knights and grooms as men cantered past on horses, preparing for the tournament the following day.
Elizabeth looked over towards the French settlement, this too was lavish, but as they passed away from the spectacle of the palace, Elizabeth felt Henry had won this particular battle of the kings.
‘Maman, Papa,’ a voice called as they entered their own luxuriously appointed tent and a slender girl with dark hair threw herself at them.
‘Annie,’ Elizabeth exclaimed, hugging her tightly. ‘You’ve grown so tall!’
‘It’s been many years, Maman,’ she said as Elizabeth wiped the tears from her daughter’s eyes.
‘Too many,’ said Thomas, hugging them both.
Elizabeth felt as though her heart would burst with happiness, then more arms joined them, Mary and George were laughing and crying, too, their joy at being together after so many years apart.
This must change, thought Elizabeth, as they disentangled themselves from the many-armed hug, chattering and laughing, teasing one another, catching up on each other’s news.It is time to find Anne a husband, to bring her home and our family will remain close again, there have been too many years apart. If she is married, she will be safe from the king and from Younger’s grand plans of a Howard heir.
A few days later, after the vast entourages of both kings and queens had settled and rested, a ceremony between King Henry and King Francis marked the official opening of the festival. Thousands of people watched as, after bursts of artillery fire, the two monarchs met on the elaborate esplanade between the two encampments. Thomas Boleyn, one of the forty especially appointed men who accompanied the king, rode a few paces behind Henry. When the kings met, they doffed their plumed hats at each other, then embraced to rapturous applause and a storm of cheering.
Despite the scorching heat, the weather was unsettled and the strange intensity of burning sun with howling winds made Elizabeth uneasy.
‘This is what’s known as the mighty wind,’ Anne said to Elizabeth one evening as they dressed for a masque. ‘The French say it’s connected to the marsh of Vivarais in the Provençal region. Legend says it can be calmed by singing it a lullaby, but never try to capture it, or if you do, you will be cursed forever.’
The Boleyns laughed, but from the other side of the room, Jane Parker, George’s betrothed, gasped in shock.
‘How can you speak with such ease about curses?’ she said.
‘We’re nowhere near Provence,’ said George, squeezing her hand. ‘The wind can’t hear us, we’re safe.’
‘Say your rosary, Jane,’ said Mary, shooting an amused glance at Anne, the two sophisticated sisters united against the innocence of Jane, ‘then we’ll all be safe.’
Jane shrugged her shoulders. ‘Laugh at me all you wish,’ she said, but there was humour in her voice. ‘At least I shall be safe from the demons of the wind.’
Elizabeth shivered, but she forced a smile into her voice. ‘Enough, ladies,’ she said. ‘Time is running out, and, oh, here he is…’
Thomas Boleyn entered carrying three large jewellery boxes.
‘Girls, gather around me, please,’ he said, beaming at Elizabeth, who hurried to her packing chest in the corner and removed her own vast jewellery box, inside which were three more leather cases. She did not notice as the velvet pouch she usually secreted at the bottom of the chest fell onto the floor.
‘Your mother and I have bought you all gifts. You too, Jane, as you will soon be our daughter as well,’ he said and smiled warmly at Jane, who blushed.
She’s so shy, thought Elizabeth,we must nurture her and give her confidence, or she may find herself led into trouble.
‘Papa, this is unexpected,’ said Anne.
‘You gave me so much upon my marriage to William,’ said Mary.
‘These are a sign of family,’ said Thomas and pushed a box towards each young woman.
‘I shall count to three,’ said Elizabeth, ‘and then you must open them together.’
Elizabeth beamed up at Thomas; it was he who had suggested these gifts – a striking jewel to show the sisterhood between their daughters and their soon-to-be daughter-in-law.
‘One, two, three…’ she said and all three young women opened their boxes.
‘These are stunning,’ said Mary.
Each box contained two pendants of pure gold adorned with three floating pearls which shimmered, catching the sunlight as they moved. There was an ‘M’ and ‘B’ for Mary, an ‘A’ and ‘B’ for Anne and a ‘J’ and ‘B’ for Jane.
‘And these are for you to wear them with,’ said Elizabeth and placed another box in front of each girl.
