Skilled in intrigue herself, Anne, now that her eyes were opened, perceived all the allurements thrown out by Jane to ensnare the king, and she intercepted many a furtive glance between them.Still she did not dare to interfere.The fierceness of Henry's temper kept her in awe, and she knew well that the slightest opposition would only make him the more determined to run counter to her will.Trusting, therefore, to get rid of Jane Seymour by some stratagem, she resolved not to attempt to dismiss her, except as a last resource.
A slight incident occurred, which occasioned a departure from the prudent course she had laid down to herself.
Accompanied by her dames, she was traversing the great gallery of the palace at Greenwich, when she caught the reflection of Jane Seymour, who was following her, in a mirror, regarding a jewelled miniature.She instantly turned round at the sight, and Jane, in great confusion, thrust the picture into her bosom.
"Ah I what have you there?" cried Anne.
"A picture of my father, Sir John Seymour," replied Jane, blushing deeply.
"Let me look at it," cried Anne, snatching the picture from her."Ah! call you this your father? To my thinking it is much more like my royal husband.Answer me frankly, minion--answer me, as you value your life!
Did the king give you this?"
"I must decline answering the question," replied Jane, who by this time had recovered her composure.
"Ah! am I to be thus insolently treated by one of my own dames?" cried Anne.
"I intend no disrespect to your majesty," replied Jane, "and I will, since you insist upon it, freely confess that I received the portrait from the king.I did not conceive there could be any harm in doing so, because Isaw your majesty present your own portrait, the other day, to Sir Henry Norris."Anne Boleyn turned as pale as death, and Jane Seymour perceived that she had her in her power.
"I gave the portrait to Sir Henry as a recompense for an important service he rendered me," said Anne, after a slight pause.
"No doubt," replied Jane; "and I marvel not that he should press it so fervently to his lips, seeing he must value the gift highly.The king likewise bestowed his portrait upon me for rendering him a service.""And what was that?" asked Anne.
"Nay, there your majesty must hold me excused," replied the other."It were to betray his highness's confidence to declare it.I must refer you to him for explanation.""Well, you are in the right to keep the secret," said Anne, forcing a laugh."I dare say there is no harm in the portrait--indeed, I am sure there is not, if it was given with the same intent that mine was bestowed upon Norris.And so we will say no more upon the matter, except that I beg you to be discreet with the king.If others should comment upon your conduct, I may be compelled to dismiss you.""Your majesty shall be obeyed," said Jane, with a look that intimated that the request had but slight weight with her.
"Catherine will be avenged by means of this woman," muttered Anne as she turned away."I already feel some of the torments with which she threatened me.And she suspects Norris.I must impress more caution on him.Ah! when a man loves deeply, as he loves me, due restraint is seldom maintained."But though alarmed, Anne was by no means aware of the critical position in which she stood.She could not persuade herself that she had entirely lost her influence with the king; and she thought that when his momentary passion had subsided, it would return to its old channels.
She was mistaken.Jane Seymour was absolute mistress of his heart;and Anne was now as great a bar to him as she had before been an attraction.Had her conduct been irreproachable, it might have been difficult to remove her; but, unfortunately, she had placed herself at his mercy, by yielding to the impulses of vanity, and secretly encouraging the passion of Sir Henry Norris, groom of the stole.
This favoured personage was somewhat above the middle Size, squarely and strongly built.His features were regularly and finely formed, and he had a ruddy complexion, brown curling hair, good teeth, and fine eyes of a clear blue.He possessed great personal strength, was expert in all manly exercises, and shone especially at the jousts and the manege.He was of an ardent temperament, and Anne Boleyn had inspired him with so desperate a passion that he set at nought the fearful risk he ran to obtain her favour.
In all this seemed traceable the hand of fate--in Henry's passion for Jane Seymour, and Anne's insane regard for Norris--as if in this way, and by the same means in which she herself had been wronged, the injured Catherine of Arragon was to be avenged.
How far Henry's suspicions of his consort's regard for Norris had been roused did not at the time appear.Whatever he felt in secret, he took care that no outward manifestation should betray him.On the contrary he loaded Norris, who had always been a favourite with him, with new marks of regard, and encouraged rather than interdicted his approach to the queen.
Things were in this state when the court proceeded to Windsor, as before related, on Saint George's day.
II.How Anne Boleyn received Proof of Henry's Passion for Jane Seymour.
On the day after the solemnisation of the Grand Feast of the Order of the Garter, a masqued fete of great splendour and magnificence was held within the castle.The whole of the state apartments were thrown open to the distinguished guests, and universal gaiety prevailed.No restraint was offered to the festivity by the king, for though he was known to be present, he did not choose to declare himself.
The queen sat apart on a fauteuil in the deep embrasure of a window;and as various companies of fantastic characters advanced towards her, she more than once fancied she detected amongst them the king, but the voices convinced her of her mistake.As the evening was wearing, a mask in a blue domino drew near her, and whispered in a devoted and familiar tone, "My queen!""Is it you, Norris?" demanded Anne, under her breath.
