Anne's lovers are phantom gentlemen, flitting by night with adulterous intent. They come and go by night, unchallenged. They skim over the river like midges, flicker against the dark, their doublets sewn with diamonds. The moon sees them, peering from her hood of bone, and Thames water reflects them, glimmering like fish, like pearls.
In Hilary Mantel's "Bring Up the Bodies," Anne's lovers are depicted as elusive figures, appearing at night with intentions of infidelity. These gentlemen move stealthily, unopposed, and their presence is both ghostly and enchanting. They glide over the Thames, their luxurious attire adorned with diamonds, creating an otherworldly image against the night sky.
The moon watches over these secretive encounters, with its pale light illuminating the scene as the river reflects...