When Alienor and Brigid, accompanied by her parents, entered the hall, which was already packed with at least a hundred guests who were part of the retinue of His and Her Majesties the King and Queen of England, their beauty was immediately noticed, and in a few moments the girls were surrounded by Henry's young retainers, including Anne Boleyn's older brother George. This nobleman hovered around Brigid, but quickly found her dull and dreary and turned his attention to her friend. Soon the copper-haired Miss Guise, despite her unique appearance, was standing against the wall, next to Queen Catherine's Spanish ladies-in-waiting, and Alienor was laughing and joking in the crowd of admirers. Indeed: Lady Norton had not lied when she said that Alienor always gets the upper hand over her almost-sister. Who needs a beautiful but dim jewel when you can have another, less beautiful but shining one?

Flirting with George Boleyn, who, however, was already tied to Jane Parker, the Queen's lady in waiting, Alienor discreetly sought out King Henry with her eyes. She knew that the king was tall and had a loud voice, but there was no man of that description among the guests.

The king did not appear. Neither did the Queen. And, hearing from one of the ladies in waiting that Their Majesties had decided to rest and would not join their hosts at the hospitable Norton Castle until tomorrow at breakfast, the diners in the dining room whispered. Some of the courtiers looked rather displeased, while an understanding smile shone on the faces of some, including the Boleyn family. The Boleyns knew: the king and Queen had had a big fight. For the umpteenth time. But it seems that Catherine of Aragon had hurt her husband so much with her endurance and firmness that he did not want to see anyone, not even his dear Anne, who, however, did not see fit to stay in her chambers either and was enjoying herself as much as all the other members of the royal retinue.

Some of the ladies close to Anne Boleyn were laughing and whispering so loudly that both Brigid and Alienor could easily hear their conversations, which even the musicians playing the lute, flute, rebecca and block flute could not drown out.

"Father's not happy… He's bound to break something out of anger!" she chuckled to herself. – Alienor chuckled to herself. She was not at all disappointed that she had not seen Henry the Eighth this evening, for the circle of admirers, who had written sonnets in her honour, had kept her busy. – But look at Miss Boleyn! What grace, what majestic posture, and the look of a she-wolf! But I wouldn't say she was beautiful. Yes, she's pretty. She has nice features, but that's all. Why did the King find her so fascinating? Her sister Mary is much prettier… That hair burning gold! Not without reason she was in his bed and bore him two bastards… Which, however, he never recognised. Two sisters, and both of them managed to win Henry over!

It must hurt Miss Mary to see her younger sister succeed… It must make her heart bleed that the father of her children chose her over her own sister!"

Alienor was right: Miss Boleyn, favourite of the King of England, rival of Queen Catherine, was not a beauty, but something in her was mystical, attractive, even witchy. Her eyes, graceful movements, high milk-white breasts, black hair … And the French accent, which she shamelessly used, not without reason she spent her young years at the court of the French Queen! This woman knew her worth and knew how to keep the king. She was stroppy and passionate, just as Henry wanted her to be. Anne saw how the King was irritated by his wife's obedience and calmness and played on it. Did she love him? Only she herself knew that.