Katheryn Howard, the Scandalous Queen by Alison Weir

Author:Alison Weir [Weir, Alison]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2020-05-12T00:00:00+00:00

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She was awoken by Henry kissing her, his beard rough against her chin, his breath sour. His hands were exploring her body. Obediently, she let him do as he wished, and soon he rolled over on his back and pulled her on top of him.

“Mount me, like a horse!” he commanded, and she climbed astride him, guiding him inside her. The sight of her body in motion held him spellbound, and then his eyes closed in ecstasy.

Afterward, he pleasured her as before, and then, when they had rested a little, he kissed her and heaved himself out of the bed.

“I have something for you,” he said, like a child eager to reveal a wonderful surprise. She sat up, the sheet falling down to her waist, and watched him unlock a small carved chest on the table under the window. Then he carried it over to the bed, opened it, and tipped the contents into her lap.

“The jewels of the queens of England!” he said triumphantly, watching avidly for her reaction.

She gasped at the cascade of riches that lay before her. There must be well over a hundred pieces, she thought, all gleaming gold and precious stones. Her fingers rifled through gems of uncalculated price, ropes of pearls, watches, pendants, brooches, rings…and all hers to wear.

“They are fabulous!” she cried. “Oh, thank you, thank you, Henry!”

He was almost beside himself with happiness. “Some of these were given by my ancestors to their beloved consorts. They come with my love. I am so glad you like them.”

“How could I not?” she asked, her eyes wide with wonder.

“And these I have had made especially for you,” he said, laying a bulging velvet pouch on top of the jewels and opening it to reveal yet more. She picked up, in turn, a gold brooch with scenes from the life of Noah crafted in diamonds and rubies, a gold ship garnished with diamonds, and a rich collar with her initial set in diamonds. There were gem-studded crosses, a necklace of table diamonds, pomanders, girdles, and jeweled books and purses. There was even a gold tablet depicting the Pope lamenting the King’s break with Rome.

“Oh, Henry!” she breathed and kissed him lovingly.

She spent a very happy hour with him, admiring the jewels and trying them on, all naked as she was, until the sight of her became too much for him and he claimed her again, although with less vigor this time.

Afterward, he grinned at her. “We should be celebrating your uprising as a wife! It is traditional for a husband to give his wife a gift.”

“But you have given me so many already. The jewels…”

“Those are but your due, as my Queen. These are your morning gift.” He bent down and retrieved a silk-wrapped bundle he must have had placed on the step of the bed the day before, concealed beneath the curtains. Katheryn sat up and undid the ribbon that bound it, and the silk fell away to reveal four books, exquisitely bound and tooled in purple and crimson velvet, leather, silver, and gilt.

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