Henry and Anne by Barb Jones

Author:Barb Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: World Castle Publishing, LLC
Published: 2022-05-27T00:09:52+00:00

Chapter Nine

Impulses—May 1542

Henry

I sat in my rooms trying to stay away from the constant urges of my council, wanting to know my intentions now that it had been three months since Catherine met her executioner. There were days I regretted knowing about her infidelity and treacherous past, and then there were days where I missed her vivacious youth and young firm body. I was growing older, and I knew it. I just didn’t want to admit it. I sought Charles’s advice, and as a loyal friend, he provided it. It was like he said. “We were once boys with the world at our feet and our thoughts to manifest change in the world, but as we get older, we must take our place in the world and find a way for our legacies to be remembered.” What would I be remembered as?

I took council in the church. God owed me some answers, as I had served him mercilessly and done his will. Once my servants saw me leave the chambers, it was like the entire court was on me for impending decisions. But my heart wasn’t in it right now. This was my fifth wife, but none were a more true wife than my sweet Jane. And how she finally fulfilled a duty that was stripped away from me by all the others, except Anne, my beloved sister. I had my heir to continue the Tudor legacy. And deep down, I had reconciled with both princesses. Each different in their own way, but my Elizabeth was so determined—like her mother, but there was a zest for learning that came from me. This I knew from my mother. As of late, my legs had not troubled me, but I knew that was temporary.

I took my leave, and was almost trampled by what looked like a running monkey wearing a suit of armor without the helmet. A small monkey, but he seemed to have a sheepish grin and a certain boyish charm I recognized. Before I knew it, this monkey barreled into the tapestry, tearing it from the ceiling, and seemed to have crashed ahead of me. I couldn’t help but laugh. The sight of my young friend was invigorating. I approached him to help him up, and as I did, I saw what he was running from. My servants were chasing him, and from what it looked like, they were covered in flour and what seemed like honey. I helped my young friend up and showed him a secret passage to my rooms from where we were. Once we arrived, we both laughed so hard that my servants came knocking on the door.

Looking at each other as if we were caught doing something we shouldn’t have, I shouted, “What is it? I am indisposed.”

The voice on the other side replied, “Your Majesty, we are searching for the kitchen troublemaker. Not a thief, but he caused a bit of a commotion with some of the soldiers by pouring honey on them to make their suits of armor tight, and…well, sticky.

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