Anne Boleyn, a King's Obsession by Alison Weir

Author:Alison Weir
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2017-05-16T04:00:00+00:00

1530

At Hever, Anne could think only of what she was missing at court, and fretting at the thought of Henry being with Katherine and their daughter, sharing in the festivities, while she was left out. As soon as Twelfth Night was over, she hastened back to London.

She found Henry despondent. “It has been hellish without you,” he told her. “When I think of how long I have waited for a ruling, I confess that I find myself in such perplexity that I can no longer live in it.”

Anne rested her hand on his. “Let us put our faith in the universities.”

Henry hesitated. “If there remains a chance that the Pope will judge in my favor, I will not look for a solution elsewhere.”

Anne gave way to despair. He had been a good son of the Church for too long, and its champion against heresy. He might bluster and threaten, yet his heart was orthodox. But what was Henry’s loyalty to the Church worth against Clement’s fear of provoking the Emperor? One day he would finally accept that the man beneath the triple crown was as weak and fallible as the rest of mortality.

—

Anne hastened to Henry’s privy chamber, wondering why he wanted to see her so urgently.

“His Grace is upset,” Norris warned, admitting her. Their eyes met for a moment, and there was that old, familiar recognition. She looked away and joined Henry, who was with Dr. Butts. The doctor bowed at her approach.

“The Cardinal is very ill,” Henry said, lifting a stricken face. “I sent Dr. Butts to see him, and in truth, I am very sorry to hear what he has to say. God forbid that Wolsey should die, for I would not lose him for twenty thousand pounds!”

Anne stiffened. He would never stop loving Wolsey. She had feared it all along. But it mattered little now, if Wolsey was dying.

Dr. Butts spoke. “I fear, Lady Anne, that he could be dead within four days if he receives no comfort from His Grace and you.”

There were tears in Henry’s eyes. “I am sending him this ring.” He took it off his finger and gave it to the doctor. “He knows it well, for he gave it to me. Tell him that I am not offended with him in my heart. Bid him be of good cheer. God send him life!” He seized Anne’s hand. “Good sweetheart, I pray you, as you love me, send the Cardinal a token with some comfortable words.”

It could not hurt, not now. And one must show charity to the dying, even to one’s enemies. She detached a small gold tablet book from her girdle and handed it to Dr. Butts. “I wish him well too,” she said.

Whether it was down to the comfortable words and tokens, or the skill of Dr. Butts, Wolsey mended daily, and Anne’s brief flowering of sympathy withered. Again she began reminding Henry that the Cardinal was responsible for their present intolerable situation, insinuating his offenses into their conversations whenever possible, stoking the King’s anger.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.