Anne Boleyn (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
happyfalcon) wrote2014-09-16 08:45 pm
happyfalcon) wrote2014-09-16 08:45 pm
[For Thomas] Changing Seasons
There was no doubt, it had been hard. In the weeks that followed, Anne only got a few fleeting looks at Thomas Wyatt. Every once in a while they were able to steal fleeting kisses of the briefest touch of fingers at banquets. The letters they wrote were far more significant. Poetic verses, promises, sweet words - both were exchanged in equal passion.
But recently, Anne's happiness had taken a drastic drop. Henry had been pressuring her lately, wanting to make his relationship with Anne more public. She had refused, coyly at first, then logically. Her argument had been that, while he was married, it wouldn't do to have them both seen in public together. Henry had agreed at first without question. Recently though, he had started to grow annoyed. This would have been fine, except that Thomas Boleyn was beginning to feel the pressure as well, and was pressuring Anne to accept the king's public advances.
What else could she do? As the days grew darker, Anne turned to the only person she could trust without question: Thomas.
Anne wrote a letter, quickly and carefully when she finally had a free moment:
Dearest Poet:
Would that I could write of my fondness for you now; to tell you, as I often have these past days, that it is you that I love more than any. Alas, today I write to you with the gravest matter - The Lion seeks to show off his prize to the jackals that surround him. To show that the falcon is his, and belongs to no other.
What shall the falcon do, dear heart? You know well of the others that surround it, and the dangers the falcon faces should it refuse The Lion - though it wants nothing more than to do so.
I hope, dearest love, that you and your most brilliant mind are able to manifest some solution.
Until then, Poet, as always you have my heart, and my happiness lies with you alone.
Sincerest love,
~Brunet
Hopefully, Thomas's crafty mind would identify the new characters she developed to avoid dropping names. The Falcon, herself; The Lion, the king. What could she do? What should she do?
Slipping out of her chamber, folded letter in hand, Anne stepped down to their designated spot. No guards, no prying eyes in sight. Still, Anne kept the letter in her sleeve until she reached the left urn. Pretending to drop a bracelet, Anne dipped down to retrieve it, slipping the letter into the urn swiftly in the time it took to grab the bracelet and stand up. She continued on without a word.
Hopefully, Thomas could reply to her soon.
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Anne had indeed figured that such a reaction might occur. As much as she may have wanted to take advantage of the opportunity, as they got them so rarely, she knew rest was probably the best thing for him. But it didn't mean that her desire was so easily held back. It took quite a bit of effort on her part not to let her hands wander south.
But no, they stayed where they were - one beneath her own body, the other draped across his chest. Anne chuckled at his words and at the movement of his tongue. She tipped her head a bit to brush a trail of kisses from his jaw to his ear.
"You've been issued a challenge, my dear Thomas," Anne whispered, letting her tongue tease against the lobe of his ear. "The attention of a falcon is not so easily won."
Of course she wouldn't make it too terribly difficult for him. He wouldn't have to do anything strenuous. Just a bit of fun, a little more risk to make the reward that much sweeter.
((ooc: It's fine! I appreciate you writing after a long day (because God knows we've all had those) and it was a good tag!!))
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"But when she catches sight of her prey, the falcon will not give up until she's got what she wanted, is that not so? That is where I'm putting my faith in," he teased back.
"I hope I'm still able to surprise you. I had plenty of time to think about you when I journeyed across the country and slept in lonely beds."
Wyatt sighed deeply, his body sinking into the bed. "I'm tired, but there's satisfaction in knowing I did what I was sent out to do and got back to you before the old year ended."
He was looking forward to spending the next day and the next night in her company. What more could he want?
"Are you going to be gone by morning?"
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"That's true, but there are special cases - and you my dear are the most special case of all," Anne chuckled. "I look forward to seeing what you have in store. You're brilliant even when you only have a few moments. I can only imagine what you think up when you have a few days to plan."
Her eyes drifted closed, sleep numbing her senses and making her drowsy. "I am glad you came when you did. My bed and body have been terribly lonely without you, my love."
Still she nodded slowly, very slowly, at his question.
"I shall be gone before the sun rises," to avoid getting caught. "Have no fear, you shall see me again come morning."
Despite her fatigue a mischievous smirk played across her face. "If you succeed in wooing me, dear Sir Thomas, you shall indeed see me again here in your bed."
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Regardless, Wyatt still hoped he'd be able to steal Anne away from the other guests during the day. A private moment here and there, to give her glimpses of the pleasures he would grant her when the night fell again.
"I look forward to morning, my love." He gathered her close.
He intended to say something else, just as soon he was done soaking in her nearness. He considered telling her about visiting her beloved France.
But the bed was soft and sleep was taking over. Wyatt found himself under a warm summer sun. Light flickered through the canopy of trees and Anne was lying next to him, plucking petals of a flower. A steady knocking sound made by a woodpecker mixed in with the buzzing of bees.
"Master Wyatt!" the woodpecker called. The knocking intensified. "Master Wyatt?"
He startled awake, revealing his head from below the blankets. "Yes?!" he called back, not yet aware of his true surroundings.
The door was opened and a male servant stepped in. Wyatt quickly got up to a sitting position and glanced around. He was alone in the bed. Anne was gone. Relieved of that fact, he turned to face the servant.
"Yes?" Wyatt rubbed his face. His hair stuck out in all directions.
"Breakfast is served, Master Wyatt, if you would like." The man placed a clean white shirt at the foot of the bed.
"Um, ah... thank you," he replied, still half-asleep. The servant disappeared.
Wyatt fell back on the bed, streching his body and getting his thoughts straight. Then he got up to dress himself. He wondered if the clean shirt was something that Anne had asked for him or if was by the orders of her mother. It was a nice gesture regardless.
Wyatt could see from the windows that there was still snow on the ground but the wind had calmed. There was some promise of a sunny day. He enterd the dining room, greeting everyone present, hoping to see Anne.
"Wyatt! Here, I've been saving a chair for you. You must be hungry." George waved his hand at him.
((OOC: I had to give him a clean shirt :P. You can decide who is responsible for it.))
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Anne could hear the servants bustling in the kitchen and the dining room below, but no such stirring upstairs. Quickly she slipped from his room and started for her own. There came the voice of her father from down the hall, and it was all Anne could do to duck into her room and shut the door before she heard his approach. She leaned against the door, her hand over her mouth to silence her breathing.
But he was passing her room, barking orders to a servant who no doubt followed him. Instructions on what to prepare for breakfast for his guests. As their voices faded, Anne breathed again and slipped into bed. Some hour or two later her own servants knocked and entered her chamber. They roused their still-drowsy mistress and got her dressed in a fine blue gown with a band of sapphires and pearls to decorate her hair. Anne then made her way downstairs and found her sister and parents already seated at the great table as the servants set tray upon tray of food upon it. George joined them shortly after Anne and sat across from her. As she plucked a pastry from one of the trays Anne pointed out the sorry state of Thomas's clothes that she had noticed yesterday, indirectly putting the suggestion in her mother's head that he should have a clean shirt. Elizabeth took the bait and sent a servant to fetch their guest a clean shirt and take it to him. As the servant left to obey, more guests began assembling at the table.
There was much to eat at the table: bread, ale, even beef considering the Boleyn wealth. The pastries were a favorite of Anne and Mary, who had developed a liking for them in France, thus many guests were surprised to see that particular menu item. Elizabeth was whispering business to her husband when Wyatt approached - Anne, in an effort to make it seem as though his presence was nothing special, continued nibbling her pastry.
"Good morning Master Wyatt!" Mary greeted him cheerfully. "Did you sleep well?"
Anne looked up as anyone would look up to hear his response, though she knew what the answer was likely to be. But already she noticed that several guests were summoning servants to ready their horses, as they were preparing to leave. Which made sense, the weather had improved a great deal.
This suited Anne fine - it meant a much more intimate gathering later that evening. And less guests to catch her with Thomas.
((Had to look up breakfast of the Tudor era since I had NO idea - if you want to add a menu item feel free!))
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Wyatt laughed apologetically and patted his stomach. "I am starving, that is true. And thank you for asking, Mary, I couldn't have slept better. I doubt I had woken up even if there had been a thunderstorm." His dreams had been a little wild but that was a minor detail.
He got seated and finally managed to cast a direct look at Anne; a friendly smile and a nod.
"There's a healthy color at your face again. You were quite a sight last night," George noted while pushing plates of meat in Wyatt's direction. A servant filled a cup for him.
"I must have been," he admitted, "but the bed was so warm, I swear it felt like the frost was kissed off from my face." Wyatt moved his hands under the table to make sure that the little ring Anne had given him was turned the right way in his finger, the gems facing his palm. After that he took hold of the knife and cut himself some bread.
"This is the whitest bread I have seen in a long time," he praised, bringing the piece close to his nose.
"Make sure you leave room for our special treat, pears preserved in mead," Mary cut in, eyes bright. "The recipe has been passed on through the generations."
"I will be sure to try them, then. And you, miss Anne, is there something you'd like to recommend?"
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The soft sweetness of the bread and the saltiness of the pork was indeed delicious. Anne always did feel privileged to have such luxuries.
Mary bragged about the pears, but Anne had never cared for them. As much as she enjoyed sweets, the mead-preserved pears had always been a bit too sweet for her palate. Her dark eyes glanced up as Thomas posed the question to her. Anne looked thoughtful for a moment before pushing the plate of pastries towards him. Delicately iced, they each had various fillings in the centers, some were cherry while others, Anne's favorite, were apple.
"If it's something sweet you'd like, these are my favorites, always have been," Anne replied. "The apple pastries there are particularly good."
As if to prove her point, Anne bit into her own pastry and chewed slowly, taking a moment to lick the icing from her lips.
"Take care not to eat too many Nan, you'll either get a terrible toothache or you'll grow rounder than Saint Nicholas himself!" Mary laughed as she teased.
Anne had been mid-bite when Mary had started speaking and froze in her place when the sentence was finished. She glared at her sister before taking her bite and chewing slowly again.
"You eat just as many as I, Mary. Take care to mind your own advice dear sister," Anne teased her sister right back. Though Mary didn't take kindly to it and took a long sip of her drink.
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Thomas Boleyn cleared his throat as Anne and Mary picked on each other, making George, who was just about to join his sisters with the insults, change his mind. Wyatt would have wanted to take Anne's side but he too realized this was not the time for it. He did glance at her quickly before sinking his teeth into the pork. Battling the weather the previous day had been well worth it to be able to feast at this table. Wyatt couldn't help but sigh as the greasy piece of meat traveled down to his stomach.
"Thank you for such a warm welcome to your home, Sir Thomas," he started before swallowing properly. "I'd like to offer the invitation for you, and to your wife, to visit Allington at your chosen time. Father would no doubt be pleased to entertain good friends."
"Thank you, Master Wyatt. Let's hope there comes such a time soon."
"And may I also thank whoever was kind enough to ask a servant to bring me a new shirt this morning. It was very thoughtful indeed."
"It was mother," Mary was quick to say. Elizabeth Boleyn simply smiled at the end of the table and Wyatt nodded at her direction. Still, he did wonder if that was the whole truth. Mayhaps it was the truth that Mary was aware of.
George was wiping his plate with a piece of bread and then going for a second round with the food. "We had plans to go riding after breakfast. Me and William here," he said, meaning a dark haired man sitting next to him. "You must come along." William was the youngest son of a minor noble, a shy young man who would probably not amount to much in his own right but who was a friendly sort all the same. Wyatt knew little of him but had of course seen the man at court at times.
"Sounds like I can't say no," he replied, yet thinking that George's aim was to get rid of the ladies. He really could not say no. Thankfully the day had just began and he was sure there would be enough opportunities to be with Anne as well.
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Mary may have chirped up and given their mother all the credit for delivery of the clean shirt to Thomas, but Anne's mouth gave a slight twitch. Of course she wouldn't outright call her out. But her eyes did flicker up to Thomas, winking quickly before Anne bit into her pastry again - a bit of sweetness to combat the saltiness of the pork.
"We couldn't have you walking around in those damp clothes of yours all day again, Master Wyatt," Anne added. "You'd catch your death of cold!"
Anne pitied Wyatt's poor horse, having to endure the traveling yesterday only to have to run about with her brother's steed again today. But she said nothing and her expression betrayed no displeasure. Mary had already expressed interest in wandering the snow-covered gardens. Anne didn't care for the cold, but coming in from it usually meant hot mulled wine afterwards, which Anne enjoyed immensely.
Besides, and this brought a smirk to Anne's face, she had plans of her own - there would be plenty of time to spend with Thomas later.
"Let the boys have their fun, we'll have a snowball fight of our own, won't we Nan?" Mary giggled.
"Not in those dresses you won't!" Elizabeth Boleyn snapped.
"Of course not, mother," Anne smiled diplomatically at her mother but glanced to Mary with pure mischief glowing in her eyes.
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"Son, you should let Master Wyatt have your horse. You can... take mine." So he did hesitate a little, valuing his own horse highly and not wanting anything to come to it on the frozen roads. However, there was no need to drive Wyatt's animal to exhaustion again. "Do not be reckless, though. Promise me."
"I promise, father. We just can't be cooped up here all day."
"Nothing against the present company, of course," Wyatt made sure to say. He could well hide himself to that nice little room all day with Anne but it wasn't an option.
The rest of the meal was spent in a pleasant atmosphere with topics ranging from weather and food to court gossip. Wyatt got a description of the Christmas festivities that he had missed and he himself revealed to have been delivering King's messages and travelling along the coast. That he had visited France was something he was not yet comfortable to tell.
Some guests had indeed decided to leave now that the weather was favourable, but a small group was still staying until next day. Dancing and games, as planned by the hosts, were still going to happen.
Afterwards the young men got dressed up warm and vanished to the stables. Wyatt saw that his horse had been well taken care of already and not suffered from the journey. Nevertheless he was happy to be riding George's horse today instead. They took of towards west, to the small village of Edenbridge, but decided against venturing quite that far. However, they did stop to visit a couple of neighbors nearby and to wish them all the best for the new year.
Wyatt couldn't completely shake off his thoughts of Anne, even if George and William were perfectly fine company. Upon returning to Hever, he thought he heard voices and laughter near the stables. Mary had mentioned wanting to frolic in the snow-covered gardens. Maybe Anne was out and about, too.
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Once breakfast had concluded, Anne and Mary rinsed their hands and set about doing needlework and reading by the fire for a bit. But this didn't amuse them for long. The sisters soon ran to their rooms and changed into warmer clothing. Mary wore light-colored furs while Anne wore darker furs. The elder Boleyn sister wanted to walk through the gardens, while Anne retrieved apples from the kitchen to take down to the horses.
Anne indulged Mary, joining her in the walk through the gardens, admiring the snow and ice-covered plants. Soon Mary became bored again and wanted to go inside to warm up. Anne waved her sister off and turned to the stables, apples in hand. Removing her gloves, Anne held one apple up for her horse, flat on her palm for him. Eagerly he gobbled the apple up out of her hand.
There was a snort from behind her and Anne saw a familiar horse in one of the stalls behind her. Thomas's horse. Looking healthy but still a little weary. Anne had faith that the stable boys were taking care of him, but she saw no harm in giving him a little extra attention.
"There, there now," she spoke softly, stepping up to his stall and holding an apple up for him. The horse sniffed a bit at her hand but soon was just as eager as her own horse to eat the apple. Anne reached up with her fingers to rub against the horse's velvet nose. "I'm here."
His fur was soft beneath her palm as she stroked down from his forehead to his nose. The horse nudged his snout gently against her arm, smelling another apple Anne had stashed in her cloak. Anne gave a soft laugh as she reached for the other apple.
"You want this, eh? Very well, here you are then," Anne held it out for the horse to again eat greedily. "I'm rather fond of them myself."
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"Especially when made into a delicious little pastry, is that not so?" Hand on the reins, he stopped by Anne's side, letting the boy pass them. "I am envious of good ol' Flyer here, to be pampered with sweet apples."
His horse, Flyer, let out a loud neighing sound at the sight of Wyatt and craned its neck toward him. "Missed me already, boy? Even with your new-found lady friend here?" He reached out to stoke his gelding.
"He looks fine. I'm relieved," he turned to say to Anne. Then he guided George's horse to its own stall. The boy would see to it once he was done with the others. Wyatt glanced around. Nobody else seemed to be snooping around.
"I was hoping to see you alone," he said quietly, leaning a little closer and brushed his hand against hers. "Can we talk here?"
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"I doubt your dear Flyer would enjoy the pastry as much as the apple filling - whereas I enjoy the whole pastry itself," Anne chuckled. "And after his journey with you yesterday, he deserves a little pampering, does he not?"
Then Thomas was closer, sparks traveled up Anne's fingers when his hand touched hers. She nodded slowly, her eyes glancing about to take role call of the stableboys. Two at least were around somewhere, though Anne couldn't see them at present. Giving Flyer's nose one last stroke, she turned and glanced about for a moment.
"There," she tilted her head towards a small walled-in section of the stable. It was where spare reins and saddle blankets were kept. As it was full, there'd be no need for the boys to look in there; thus it would be a fine hiding spot for them.
Anne crossed the aisle of the stable, glancing to Thomas playfully over her shoulder, bidding him to follow her. She stepped behind the wall into the little nook. She gathered her skirts behind her to make sure she didn't give them away. Once he joined her, Anne's reaction was automatic, to smile as she leaned into him.
"Alone again," she chuckled. "Did you enjoy your ride?"
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Wyatt followed with long lazy steps. Once hidden from the open areas of the stables, his hands immediately found their way under Anne's warm fur cape and around that slim waist. He couldn't help but smile wide, forever astonished that he was truly here with her. Wyatt pulled her hips to his, leaning back enough that he could watch her in the eyes.
"Yes, my love. I enjoyed the ride with your brother, and William, but I would have enjoyed it more with you. We followed the river towards Edenbridge and saw some deer. Everything looked beautiful."
Wyatt tilted his head to the side and frowned a little. He tapped the floor with the tip of his boot and twisted his ankle. "Um, I apologize... as if... now what is that bothering my leg?"
Loosening the grip of her but not totally letting go, he bent down to feel inside his boot. "Hmh, isn't this strange..." He glanced up, and smirked.
"Close your eyes." When he was sure Anne wasn't peeking, Wyatt stood up straight again, a step away from her and placed a long delicate object in her hands.
It was a silver hat pin that had a pearl at the end and some decorative swirls around it. He had kept it safe between the linings of his boot.
He kissed her gently. "You can open now."
((OOc: I'm pretty sure he stroked, not stoked his horse :D. In my previous tag.
For the hat pin, see this post:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/186572076/vintage-candace-stolley-bindu-jewelry?ref=shop_home_active_23
Not the first image, but the 4th one, with 8 hat pins. On the far right, there's one with blue stone. Something resembling that, but with a pearl.))
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"Mary and I did precisely as she said: We walked about the snow-kissed gardens, though they were lovely I would have preferred to go riding with you. I can see the gardens anytime."
At his sudden strange expression and the movements of his foot, Anne tipped her head curiously as well. She glanced down - nothing seemed odd or out of the ordinary about his leg. But then she looked up, oh, there was that smirk of his. She knew what that meant. With a smirk of her own, Anne obeyed and closed her eyes. Because of its secure location in his boot, the metal of the pin was warm in her palm as he gave it to her. Curious, Anne's brow furrowed, but she did not open her eyes until she had been instructed to do so.
The awe was evident in her eyes. It was lovely, and unnecessary - he hadn't needed to give her a gift. Anne leaned up to kiss him again, a bit deeper than he just had. Even when she broke the kiss after a moment, Anne kept her face close to his, just far enough away that she could meet his gaze.
"You spoil me so," she smiled. "It's beautiful Thomas, thank you. Wherever did you get it?"
((ooc: I figured as much :P
But oh God I loooooove etsy!! So many prettiful things :3 ))
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Drawing back a smidge, he looked at the hat pin in her hands. "Hm, it might need polishing, having travelled all the way from Dieppe inside my boot."
He did expect another curious expression from her at that admission, so Wyatt simply smiled and took hold of her shoulders before continuing.
"Brought to you from your beloved France. I believe I can confess that much now. When I left Arundel, I travelled to Seaford and took a ship across the Channel. On King's business."
He reached for her hand that held the pin. "I wanted to find something fashionable for you but Dieppe is no Paris. Thankfully there were some peddlers selling goods. I wasn't able to buy you velvet for your dresses or hats with peacock feathers because you couldn't explain them to other people."
His mind created an image of Anne at the breakfast table, pearls in her hair. "When I saw this hat pin, I thought to myself, she likes pearls, does she not?, and this gift is inconspicuous and she can wear it without questions."
((OOC: I admire all those clothes people make. Such talent.))
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Then indeed she gives a curious expression when he mentions Dieppe. Anne tipped her head, but before she can ask, he already explains. Her teasing smile is back again - this time there's no need to be quiet.
"Ahh, so you not only missed my performance and your sister's, but you also went to my beloved France without me," Anne pursed her lips a bit, tilting a brow. "Thomas Wyatt, what on earth am I to do with you?"
But she was already answering her own question, leaning forward to press a soft kiss upon his lips. After a moment she leaned back to hear him explain how he'd thought of her in Dieppe and procured her present. With a smile she reached up to draw her fingers along his jaw.
"You're far too kind, my love. You needn't have gotten me anything at all," Her arms wrapped around his neck again. "Having you back in my arms again is gift enough."
Not wanting to appear ungrateful, Anne leaned forward again, bringing her lips to press against his. This kiss lasts a bit longer, conveying all of her passion, all of her love. When she pulls away she doesn't move far, just far enough to look into his eyes.
"But it's wonderful, I do love it."
((Makes me absolutely envious - makes me wish I had half the talent to make those things. A lot of my jewelry is actually from Etsy, come to think!))
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"I wanted to bring you something. It felt wrong to go without you and I could have used a companion who speaks French as well as you do. I fear the Inn keeper charged me more for the room than he would have done if you had been with me." Saying that made him wish he could travel with Anne. To see different places and to stop at picturesque locations.
"Not that I would ever take you to Seaford. That place is not for ladies such as you." There lived women, of course, even respectable ones, but a small, yet visible group of whores loitered about the docks among the drunk sailors.
She was eager to kiss him more and he had nothing against it. Like so many times before, his hands traveled lower, then lifted her leg up. He ran his hand along her thigh, trying to find a way under her skirts.
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"In Dieppe and Seaford? My dear Thomas, if you didn't come back with coin to spare then you were indeed cheated," Anne chuckled. He knew just how to stroke her ego. None spoke French better than her, or so she boasted. "But I doubt any bargain you'd get from me being with you would have anything to do with my skill in French."
She shuddered though to think on it, so instead she focused on just touching and being touched. On impulse she allowed him to move and touch her thigh. Anne seized his lips in another kiss, pulling him that little bit closer.
Ah, but she had challenged him, had she not? Was she really about to make it so easy for him to seduce her? Certainly not!
Slowly Anne broke the kiss and leaned away, bringing two fingers up to tease against his lower lip. A slow smile crept across her face.
"Ah, ah, ah - a lady's not so easily won, Sir Thomas," she tipped her head, taking a moment to lick and nip at his earlobe. Then she whispered: "It'll take a bit more than that to seduce me."
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He tilted his head forward in order to get another kiss but all she offered was a smile and fingers teasing his lips. Very well, he playfully captured those fingers between his teeth with the intention of not letting go... but she was at his ear again. He sighed and lost the game right there.
"Anne... who's seducing whom here?" he chuckled but not at all ungrateful. He brought up both hands to hold her face, his long fingers stroking the side of her neck. Wyatt was quiet for a moment, then not giving her a chance to flee from a kiss, made sure their lips and tongue met until his needs were fulfilled.
"Such rosy lips," he said smiling after that kiss and brushed their noses together.
"I have a gift for your mother, too, to thank for the hospitality. It's just a small portion of spices and herbs but hopefully they'll be useful. They are still in my saddle bag actually. I didn't remember them last night."
((ooc: When I was considering Anne's gift, I came across this site that had ostrich feather hat pins. One of them is called 'Anne' but I'm not sure if it means your Anne.
http://sapphireandsage.com/featherhatpins.html))
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His kisses are divine. So hot and sweet. As his lips pressed to hers, Anne parted her lips to let her tongue slip free to meet his. When he pulled away and nuzzled his nose against hers she couldn't help but giggle a bit.
"And such a sweet tongue," she teased.
So thoughtful and considerate was it any wonder why she loved him? Anne couldn't help but smile and nod slowly when when he spoke of the gift for her mother.
"I'm certain she'll love them," Anne replied. "If nothing else, she'll appreciate the thought put into the gift. All the same, I would retrieve them while you're here, lest they go missing or the cold affect them."
((ooc: Oooh, they're all so pretty!!))
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However, discussing his gift to Anne's mother was a sure way to redirect the conversation to safer waters.
"Aye, we should be heading back anyway, lest your family starts to question our whereabouts. The saddles must be in the usual place?" He had visited Hever enough of times to know the stables inside and out, but it didn't hurt to ask. He had not paid much attention to what had happened to his belongings the previous night.
Wyatt leaned backwards from their secret nook and since the road was clear he gestured Anne to follow. He didn't think they couldn't be seen together at all. Being long-time family friends and all, it ought to be alright to walk back to the castle with her.
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But he was right, and she nodded in agreement. Mary in particular would likely come snooping about soon enough if she didn't head back. Anne glanced over her shoulder, though there was a wall separating her from the main aisle.
"Yes, around the corner of this nook in the little holding room - the usual place," she nodded to affirm his thought.
When he gestured for her to come Anne was quick to follow, tucking her pin into a small pocket inside her cloak to keep it hidden until she was able to stash it in her bedroom inside the castle. She walked with him through the stable at a respectable distance for two friends to have between them.
"So you will indeed be staying the night with us again?" She asked, just to be absolutely sure. With all the apples she'd brought to the stable gone, Anne began pulling on her gloves again.
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"Yes, Miss Anne. I believe you heard your father very kindly offering that opportunity last night. He might have been thinking more of my horse than me," he laughed, "but that does seem to run in the family. Flyer will not forget the pretty lady with apples."
Wyatt found his saddlebag among all the others and flung it over his shoulder. "I better take the whole thing inside. I bought enough spices to give to my mother as well, though I dare say that if the weather did them harm, the damage is already done." While not being an expert on dried herbs, he was fairly sure they were still fine, not having gotten wet at any stage.
"Did you and Mary have your snowball fight?" he asked as they exited the stables and walked the short distance towards the castle.
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"What a shameless flatterer you are, Sir Thomas!" Anne exclaimed with an almost haughty laugh. "I can spoil my horse with apples any day - it's not often the stable is graced with Flyer's presence."
While Wyatt goes for his saddlebag, Anne goes back to Flyer, stroking the horse's velvet nose again and laughing softly at his warm breath on her hand, even through her glove. "My Hirondelle is spoiled enough, and so is my Gringolet."
Hirondelle, Anne's swift and crafty mare, stomped her hoof against the door to her stable, as if protesting Anne's statement. Gringolet, the large and hardy gelding, just munched his straw and paid his mistress no mind. But Flyer seemed plenty happy to have the woman pay attention to him.
Anne turned though when Wyatt spoke again. For a moment she pursed her lips in thought and offered the suggestion: "Perhaps you might inquire of the kitchen staff? Surely if there was indeed any damage done at all, they can instruct you on how to correct it."
Anne herself was certainly no kitchen master and knew nothing about herbs. But she figured the kitchen staff would know something at least.
"No - Mary decided against it. Likely she didn't want to have me as her opponent, as you well know I can indeed be a crafty and clever strategist in my own right," Anne smirked as she boasted.
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