Circle of Time by Debra Shiveley Welch

Author:Debra Shiveley Welch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Tudor, Henry VIII, Time Travel, Science Fiction, Historical Romance
Publisher: Red Road Books
Published: 2017-11-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

The time will come, I Anne Boleyn

__________

Written in her own hand on a page

in her Book of Hours

__________

Sweet cousin! You are more fair than last we met,” Henry exclaimed, pulling Bridge into a bear hug.

“And this is John. Fair Bridge,” Henry said, turning to beam a smile in her direction, “A handsome stallion, for a lusty mare,” Henry bellowed.

“Your Majesty.” “Majesty.” Bridge curtsied and John bowed. Henry laughed again, and slapping John on the shoulder, led him to a table by the fire.

“Come, take your ease. You have endured strenuous exercise, I warrant!” Henry again laughed and poured them each a goblet of wine.

Sobering, Henry sighed and became serious.

“Sweet cousin, you are well in your marriage? Are you as much in love as the queen and I?”

Bridge felt a pain pass through her heart. Yes, Henry and Anne were in love, right now, but she knew that in just seven, short months that would end. The Damoclean sword hung above Anne’s head, and soon it would fall. It would end abruptly, unbelievably and violently. Bridge shook the feeling free.

“Aye, Cousin. We are deeply in love,” Bridge answered, reaching for John’s hand.

“The queen is anxious to see you, Bridge. John, bide here with me whilst our wives reunite. There will be much telling of tales,” Henry guffawed. Catching the double meaning of the word tale, John blushed.

Bridge excused herself and made her way to Anne’s chamber. Upon entering, she was pleased to see that the Lady Elizabeth, soon to turn two, was playing with her mother. Anne looked up, recognized Bridge and rushed to her, hands extended in welcome. Kissing Bridge on the cheek, she drew her into the center of the room to where Elizabeth stood.

“See here the babe you so tenderly cared for whilst she was still in my womb. Is she not fair?” Anne cried, joy filling her voice as she admired her child.

“Most fair, Your Highness,” Bridge replied with joy.

“What is this highness talk? For I am Anne and you are my dear Bridge, and here you see is my sweet Elizabeth. Come, get to know each other.

Bridge knelt to come into eye contact with the toddler.

“She is indeed fair!” Bridge exclaimed.

Elizabeth gave a saucy smile and threw her arms around Bridge’s neck. “Pwetty!” she exclaimed.

“Oh, the dear love!” Anne crowed, obviously very proud of her daughter.

“Well, what shall we play?”

“Queen!” shouted the precocious child. Anne and Bridge laughed and curtsied. “Aye, Your Majesty.”

Elizabeth ran to a minuscule cradle where her poppet was “sleeping.” The doll was made out of bleached wool and was dressed in a silk gown, her face embroidered by Anne, an accomplished needlewoman. Elizabeth withdrew a small crown made of glass jewels and placed it on her red-gold locks.

Anne pulled a coverlet from the window seat and draped it around Elizabeth’s shoulders, and Elizabeth paraded up and down the room, nodding and smiling as if walking through a great crowd. Anne and Bridge suppressed their giggles as the tiny mite played out the role of queen to perfection.

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.