At the King's Pleasure (Secrets of the Tudor Court) by Kate Emerson Page B

something calculating in his gaze. Then she told herself she was being foolish. The king was merely flirting with her, and she must reply in kind, keeping the banter between them light and friendly. Those who amused King Henry stayed in his favor.
    “I find him adequate, Your Grace,” she quipped, “though any man must pale before his king.”
    She meant the words in jest, and for the king’s ears only, but Charles Brandon was close enough to overhear. He bleated a laugh and within moments had repeated her quip to Neville, Guildford, Compton, and the rest. To Anne’s horror, George was also told what she’d said of him.
    From across the room, she saw his face darken with embarrassment. The tips of his ears turned bright red. Anne wished she could take back her hasty words, but to say more now would only make matters worse. She sent a silent look of apology in her husband’s direction, but he did not see it. Then the king stepped between them, blocking their view of each other, and whisked her away into another dance.
    His Grace was oblivious to George’s distress. Anne forced herself to smile and act as she always did, continuing the easy banter that was expected of all courtiers, but, all the while, she worried. She’d never meant to embarrass her husband. She resolved to make amends the moment they were alone in their chamber.
    But when Anne at last retired to their lodgings, George was not there. He did not come to her bed that night. In the morning, one of his men delivered a note to Meriall, Anne’s tiring maid. It was curt andto the point. He had business to attend to on one of his estates. He would not return for several days.
    Anne told herself not to worry. When George came back, she would shower him with affection to make up for her careless words. She had not meant to disparage his abilities as a husband. Surely he would understand that. Besides, he knew what Brandon and the rest were like. He should never have taken their taunts so seriously.
    She did not sleep well at night while George was gone but the celebration of Yuletide kept her too busy during the day to dwell on her rift with her husband. Anne was just breaking her fast in her chamber on the morning of St. Stephen’s day when her sister appeared in the doorway.
    “Have you quarreled with George?” Elizabeth demanded.
    “Certainly not.” Anne gestured toward the food and drink on her small table, silently inviting her unexpected guest to join her.
    Elizabeth seated herself on the other stool. “Did the king send him away?”
    “Why should he?” But the manchet loaf suddenly tasted as coarse as horse bread. What had Elizabeth heard?
    “I am not blind.” Elizabeth helped herself to a cup of barley water and took a long swallow.
    “Then I must be, for I fail to see any connection between your two questions.” Anne abandoned her meal and clasped her hands in her lap. She had a bad feeling about this early morning visit from her sister.
    “King Henry fancies you.”
    Anne was surprised into a laugh. “His Grace is devoted to the queen. He is as pleased with her over her pregnancy as a child with a new toy.”
    Incredulous, Elizabeth made a snorting noise. “Have you not seen the way he looks at you? Other men show an interest, too. They think you are ripe for the plucking, now that your husband—the husband you yourself deemed only adequate—has gone away.”
    “That is arrant nonsense! And George will return in a day or two.” Anne hoped she spoke the truth. She’d heard not a word from himsince his departure. She did not even know where he was. He owned land in several counties.
    “You are always at the center of a group of laughing gentlemen.”
    Anne heard envy as well as suspicion in her older sister’s voice and tried to rein in her irritation. No one flirted with Elizabeth. She had a haughty air about her that discouraged the court gallants. “It is best to keep the king sweet. Do not forget that our brother the duke