Later that same day I am summoned to the Queen's chambers to resume my duties as a Lady in Waiting and while I am awaiting her to greet me I fight hard to stop remembering the way her husband, the King, had cried upon me not more then a few hours before.
Her ladies assemble before me first, my eyes locking with the beautiful dark haired woman I had seen the King with in the garden as she is the last to enter the room before Queen Katherine herself appears before me.
They all curtsey deeply before they go on about their business and I follow their example with my head respectfully bowed until I am commanded to look up.
'Lady Hunsdon.' She says sternly with great authority and I get the feeling that she all ready knows what had happened in the gardens no more then a few hours ago.
'Your Majesty.' I say nervously, too ashamed to even look up at her when i suddenly feel her hand on mine and find myself pulled into a warm loving embrace.
'My sweet Isabella. Oh how I've missed you so.' She whispers in Spanish into my ear, before moving back to look at me appreciatively and embracing me once more.
I motion to the nearest servant to bring forth a few small gifts and a letter I had brought with me all the way from Ludlow under strict instructions to show no one else, not even the King himself.
'Your daughter, her Royal Highness, the Princess Mary, sends her love and wishes you continued good health and happiness. I am also asked to give you a letter written in her own hand and tell you on her behalf that she is now happily settled at Ludlow Castle, her new permanent residence.' I say taking the gifts from the servant and presenting them to her each, in turn before I give her the letter.
'I'm glad to hear it.' She says happily before opening up the letter and beginning to read it's contents.
'Do wish me to leave you, your Majesty?' I ask as her face suddenly grows sad and her eyes fill with tears.
'No, stay. Pick up the lute and play me something cheerful...As you used to.' She answers her voice breaking with emotion, pointing towards the instrument in the far corner and turns her back from me to look out of a window near by.
I go to pick it up and begin to play a sweet little melody I'd written as a child that had always pleased her.
At the sound of her crying I begin to hum along to the melody, if she had been a normal woman I would have put down the lute and held her but this was a Queen and such things were not done unless an invitation was offered.
XXXXX
Eventually, I move into the next room where her ladies in waiting are busy going about with their duties and continue to play.
No one looks at me or acknowledges I am there so I take a seat in the corner of the room still playing the lute and watch them work.
Suddenly, I am aware that I'm being watched and glance to the opposite doorway where my eyes intensely meet those of the beautiful dark haired woman I had seen the King kissing in the garden until she shyly blushes and looks away.
Boldly I approach and follow her as she retreats into the next room and close the door behind me so we are not disturbed.
'Why do you, Anne Boleyn, a commoner, think you are worthy to share kisses with the King of England?' I say coldly and she turns to me momentarily startled then smiles confidently.
'I am worthy because the King wills it so. He loves me.'
'The King loves his Queen. Not you.' I counter and see a brief flash of anger in her eyes.
'What does that matter to you?'
'It matters to me because I am loyal to the Queen.'
'And I am not?'
'You appear to be loyal to yourself and no one else.'
'In that way we are alike then. You and I.'
'I'm nothing like you.'
'No?' Anne says leaning in, her lips almost touching mine. 'Then why do they call you Princess Mary's right hand?'
'I am merely her companion. Nothing more.' I say in honest truth but I blush hard at the implications of what Anne means and she smiles confidently, taking it for acceptance of the fact.
That said, she kisses me hard then leaves as a maid chooses this moment to enter and disturb us.
I am left behind, confused.
xxxxx
Later that day I am riding alone, my hair unbound, free, out in the countryside when who should cross my path again but Anne Boleyn out riding with her brother, George who block my path so I can go no further.
'We meet again.' Anne says with a wolfish grin.
'Indeed.' I say impatiently wanting to get by.
She and George suddenly exchange a look and he turns and rides away without looking back.
I go to ride by but she then puts her own horse in my way.
'We have unfinished business, you and I.' She says confidently and eyes me as if I am some sweetened dessert she would rather like to eat.
'I have nothing to say to you. Now let me pass.'
'Not until you pay the toll.'
'Toll?'
She draws her horse up near mine and places a hand beneath my dress.
I gasp as her hand reaches the most secret part of me and I close my eyes as the most delicious sensations begin to overwhelm my senses.
'Please...Don't...' Is all I manage to say as the pleasure suddenly becomes too great to bare and I find myself wantonly crying out.
When it is over I open my eyes and see Anne smiling triumphantly.
I was her slave now.
