"I just can't believe that it isn't a dream, that you're really and truly here with me." It was the morning after their wedding night, and George and Mary lay cuddling together in bed. George laughed affectionately, and his arms around Mary tightened as he kissed the tip of her nose. She felt his fingers softly caress her back, and she stretched her body and curled and then straightened her toes. She loved the way he smelled, sweetly musky and a little bit wild.

"I wish I could just stay like this forever," she sighed.

"You can stay like this for as long as you want. There's no hurry," George murmured.

"When I'm lying here with you like this, I just can't help but feel that everything's going to be all right." George's fingers were gently massaging the muscles in the back of her neck now, and it felt simply marvelous.

"Everything will be all right, darling." George chuckled softly. "Just be patient and have faith."

King Henry had given George Beaulieu Palace as a primary residence, and Mary also had a new title, Viscountess of Rochford. Mary was thrilled to be the mistress of the lush manor. It was such a marked contrast to her former station as servant in Hatfield House. George and Mary spent many happy hours roaming the grounds of their new home and exploring its many wonders.

One day not long after her marriage, Mary noticed a nagging thought in the back of her mind that wouldn't go away no matter how hard she tried to replace it with other thoughts. By the end of the day, she knew that she wouldn't be able to ignore it any longer. The following morning she gathered the prettiest flowers she could find, journeyed to Hatfield House, and presented them to Anne.

"Why, thank you, Mary." Anne seemed surprised but delighted.

"I never expressed my regrets over your unfortunate miscarriage," Mary said.

"Your kindness is much appreciated," Anne told her.

"Anne told me what you did today," George said to Mary when she saw him later that afternoon. "I just want to let you know how much I appreciate your kindness toward my sister."

"The child she lost would have been my niece or nephew, and also my half sibling," Mary replied. "I considered it only appropriate that I express my sorrow at its loss."

George came to her and embraced her. "I do love you so," he whispered. That she had put 'niece or nephew' before 'half sibling' hadn't been lost to him.

Several weeks later, George returned home after a day in the field to find Mary with a deeply troubled expression on her face.

"What troubles you, my love?" His voice was soft with concern as his fingers softly stroked her cheek.

"I had a visit from Eustace Chapuys today." George could tell by the tone of her voice that the visit hadn't gone well at all.

"It is rumored that unless I relent and sign the oath, my father may have me arrested for treason and sent to the Tower."

"No!" George whispered, shocked.

"Eustace has advised me to sign the oath for the sake of expediency. He said that I can always recant later." George looked at his wife's brow furrowed with concern and felt sad for her. "What do you think, George?"

"You know that you have my full support in whatever decision you make," George said, after giving the matter some thought. "However, if you do end up in the Tower, I shall miss you sorely." The corners of his mouth twitched as if he wanted to smile but didn't dare.

"You're right, George." Mary sighed reluctantly. "Although I am much grieved at the thought of hurting my dear mother's memory so."

"Nothing on earth would break your mother's heart as much as the thought of your being thrown into the Tower," George said gently.

"I suppose you're right," Mary sighed.

Mary felt so nervous as she waited to be admitted to her father's chambers. She hadn't seen him in such a long time, and she wondered how much he had changed since the last time she had seen him.

Finally she was admitted to the King's chambers, where she found her father looking very happy and much the same as he had always looked to her.

"Your Majesty." Mary curtsied.

"Father," Henry corrected, kissing her cheek.

They passed several minutes in pleasant conversation, and Henry handed Mary a small package. Mary looked at it and gasped in shock.

Mary and George were silent as they returned to their temporary bedchambers inside the Palace. Once they were alone, Mary showed George what her father had given her, and he gave a low whistle.

"That's a lot of money," he said quietly. Mary didn't reply. He saw that there were tears in her eyes and took her face into his hands, gently wiping the tears away with his thumbs.

Mary curled up into a tight ball on the bed. George sat beside her for a long time, rubbing her back. At last he tenderly kissed her cheek and got into bed beside her.