Thank you so much for the reviews :)
To answer some questions: My favorite wife of Henry the 8th has to be Catherine of Aragon. Hmmm least favorite is difficult...
Regarding length of chapters- some are going to be on the shorter side like the last one while others are going to be on the longer side like the one about Amelie and King Henry dancing together- it depends on when I'm writing and if I find a good place to "leave y'all hanging"- but still at least complete the scene.
Also it has to do with the fact that when it does get long i.e. 3,500+ that does take quite some time and I wouldn't be able to update the story as often.
Currently my goal is to update it about every 7-10 days. I know I've taken several weeks to even about a month to update so I'm trying hard right now not to take that long. Alas- you'll get a menagerie in length of my chapters.
Hope you enjoy this latest update, and pretty please review!
As Anne stormed off away from Amelie and Charles, Charles looked at Amelie with wonderment.
Amelie's brazen and bold personality reminded Charles once again of Henry's younger sister, Margaret. The likeliness was heightened more by both of their dislike of Anne Boleyn.
"Not a fan of hers?" Charles said with a quip as the duo continued to make their way to the aviary.
Amelie turned her head and looked deeply into Charles' eyes as if she was attempting telepathy.
"I get it," Charles added as Amelie turned her head back to the direction they were walking in.
Amelie shrugged her shoulders, "I've heard rumors..." Amelie said quietly, to the point Charles had to put his ears closer to Amelie.
"She's forcing King Henry to get a divorce and that..." Amelie said shaking her head, surprised at how far King Henry would go to marry Lady Anne.
"Because Rome won't officially allow King Henry a divorce he's planning an extreme measure to get it...it's just so..." Amelie's voice trailed again.
Charles sighed heavily, it was true, King Henry was moving mountains in order to marry Anne Boleyn and although Charles had no right to question King Henry his actions seemed overzealous.
Charles turned his head to hear Amelie better as well as to show her that he was attentively listening to her.
"And who wouldn't want Catherine of Aragon the daughter of Isabella and Ferdinand as their Queen?" Amelie added, her voice a bit louder this time.
"She is a great Queen," Charles finally commented.
"She is," Amelie said as she glanced at Charles, the two shared each other's glances and a smile formed on each other's faces.
The depression Amelie felt earlier after her exchange with her half brother had been lifted. Despite her unease regarding Charles' reputation as a womanizer, he was a good friend and someone Amelie enjoyed being around.
"I heard you were married to the late King's sister, Princess Margaret," Amelie commented nonchalantly.
Charles nodded his head, "I was."
Charles hesitated his next words, but they seemed to fall off his tongue before he could fully understand what they meant, "You actually remind me of her."
Charles and Amelie locked eyes again.
Amelie couldn't help but scoff, "I do?" A nervous and playful chuckle left Amelie's lips.
Charles nodded his head again.
Amelie quickly asked the most obvious and subsequent question, "Pour quoi?" Amelie asked, wanting to know how and why Charles would relate her and the King's sister. Amelie noticed that when her guards were gone, despite her best intentions French was the language that was easiest on her lips.
A playful smirk left Charles' lips, "You're both very confident and strong," Charles replied, "You both don't need a man to show you your worth" Charles said as he turned his gaze back to Amelie.
A sincere smile spread on Amelie's lips, it was an honor for her to be compared to royalty and especially one that was close to King Henry. On top of that Amelie was delighted to hear Charles' last sentence,
You both don't need a man to show you your worth.
As someone who was just indirectly told by her own brother that she's not capable of becoming Queen of England because of her assumed inability to conceive, she was content that Charles saw her as an independent women. Especially as they lived in a society where a woman's status was based on what she could give her husband.
Charles carefully studied Amelie from the side of his eyes as the duo felt the fresh breeze of outside and felt the sun shining on them as they made their way to the grounds of the castle. Passersby would look at Charles and Amelie with an intrigued look, but no one said anything as it was well known Charles was a favorite of the King and that Amelie had saved the King's life.
Once the duo were away from others, Amelie finally opened her lips again. "So you're saying that I remind you of the late Princess Margaret, the King's sister, yet King Henry wants to sleep with me?" Amelie said in what had the undertone of being playful yet her words were sharp and questioning.
Charles looked at her again with his eyebrows raised. Despite Amelie's soft physical features as a women, she had a candid and straight forward way of talking.
Unsure of how to respond, Charles cleared his throat as Amelie looked in his direction waiting for him to respond.
The duo walked several more steps in silence till Charles responded. When he finally did he was unsure if his words would suffice Amelie's curiosity.
"I am just a humble servant of King Henry and was married to her royal highness the late Princess Margaret. I cannot speak to if King Henry sees the similarity between you and his sister the late Princess Margaret," Charles said his voice soft at first but then gaining courage by the end of his sentence.
Amelie carefully studied Charles and then proceeded to ask him the next question, "You were married to her, so you were the King's brother-in-law," Amelie said in a way that was both questioning as well as making a statement.
Charles nodded his head, "I was, she was a lovely women and I miss her everyday," Charles said sincerely. He had already married Catherine Willoughby who was much younger than him as well as the late Princess Margaret which was exciting for Charles. Yet, he knew he was not a fair and truly loving husband to the late Princess Margaret which he regretted. For whatever reason Charles refused to admit, infidelity plagued his relationships as he found sex both the greatest pleasure in his life as well as the best escape.
Amelie smiled at Charles' sincerely, mourning the loss of Princess Margaret with him. "I heard the King was not happy about the marriage," Amelie said her voice slightly unsteady.
Charles nodded his head, "He was not."
"I would have thought he would be, you are one of King Henry's oldest friends and you married his sister, someone I'm sure he loved very much," Amelie commented. "But, I've been told marriages aren't about love," Amelie said with a tinge of cynicism and sadness. Amelie knew her own marriage would never be out of love, how can a man ever love a woman who could bear him no children.
Amelie quickly changed the subject, "You've known King Henry since childhood?" Amelie asked as her eyes went look around the large vast lands of the Palace.
Charles nodded his head, "I have known his Majesty for a while," Charles said with a big smile and a gentle scoff as he recalled growing up together.
"Yet you are not blue-blooded and were given a dukedom from his Majesty," Amelie said bluntly.
Charles cleared his throat, "That is right, I was born a commoner. It is only by his Majesty's good graces I am where I am right now."
Amelie smiled at Charles, "Well I can see why," Amelie said as she looked up at the large vast sky.
A gentle laugh left Charles' lips, "Can you?"
Amelie nodded her head, "You're a loyal man and despite your well known philandering ways, you are quite the gentleman." Amelie said with a playful smile.
Charles gave her a friendly smile as well, "Well thank you, Lady Amelie de Saint-Remy." There was something foreign and intoxicating about saying Amelie's full name and he relished every last syllable.
Amelie smiled as Charles said her name. She was sure she was not attracted to Charles, his philandering ways were too well known for her to seriously admire him.
Yet, she was intrigued with him and most importantly with the relationship he had with King Henry. Despite Charles not having any great noble blood running through his veins, King Henry kept him close and gave him his own dukedom. It showed Amelie how much the King valued loyalty.
Perhaps it was because of Charles' lack of being blue blooded that allowed King Henry to trust him. Amelie knew Lady Anne Boleyn had no right to threaten Amelie's brother. yet it was not unheard of, having the blood of the Plantagenet was an easy target for present Kings to fear and thus execute.
"Well I can see why the King has a liking towards you," Charles said boldly a bit of trepidation in his voice as he wondered if he was even allowed to say such a statement.
A faint chuckle left Amelie's lips, "Other than the fact that I am a beautiful lady whose maidenhead has not yet been claimed?" Amelie said in a serious yet teasing manner.
A gentle scoff left Charles' lips, he was not usually in the presence of virgins. He had already known this about Amelie but her telling him again made his manhood even more jealous that the King of England was the only one with a real chance to sleep with her before she left the English court.
"When are you leaving?" Charles blurted out as he cocked his head gently to the side.
Amelie shrugged her shoulders, "Je ne sais pas. Whenever my father decides to go back to France." Amelie replied letting him know she was unsure of her plans. "Although, when I first arrived at court I couldn't wait to get back home, yet now..." Amelie said with a sincere smile the dimple on her left cheek making its appearance. "I'm more than happy to stay here as long as I can."
Charles smiled at Amelie's reply, "Well I can't speak for all of England," Charles said teasingly, "but we are honored to have you here and I'm glad you are enjoying your stay. And I know I shouldn't speak for the King," Charles said with a smug look on his face as he knew this would be what King Henry would have wanted to say to Amelie, "I'm sure King Henry is happy to have you here as well."
Amelie gave Charles a playful smile and she then looked around the land the English palace occupied, her eyes glaring for a moment as they passed over the sun.
Her eyes then found one of the many rose bushes decorating the garden. She took her hand away from Charles and made her way over to one of them that brightly shined with red.
Making sure her slender hands wouldn't get cut by the sharp thorns, Amelie took one of the large red petaled rose. She instinctively pressed her nose against the fragrant soft petals and smiled big. Charles watched admiringly, "Pretty, aren't they?" Charles commented trying to keep the conversation going between them.
Amelie nodded, "Oui, they are. My grandmother made sure our chateau has an extensive garden. I miss it very much. And we have a farm on the land, I miss it, oh so very much." Amelie said as she took in the floral scent of the rose. Her blue eyes sparkled with delight as she picked another rose. Her fingers couldn't help touching the soft delicate petals and she smiled big as she took another whiff of the beautiful flowers.
Amelie's eyes then found a white rose. She walked over to it and she carefully picked that one as well. She then carefully placed the white rose in between the two red roses she had picked. The duo then continued to their walk to the aviary. Once they arrived to their destination Amelie carefully looked at the roses in her hand and handed the largest and the least flawed red rose to Charles.
"Thank you for accompanying me to the aviary," Amelie said with a curtsy.
Charles smiled and gave Amelie a formal bow, "Anytime m'lady, it was my pleasure." Charles furrowed his eyebrows unsure of what to do with the roses.
"Please give this to the King." Amelie said with a smile as Charles' eyes carefully studied the fragrant flower.
"Tell his Majesty that they reminded me of him and that..." Amelie blushed as she attempted to string her words together.
Charles nodded his head, waiting for Amelie to finish her sentence. "And that, I thank him for his friendship." Amelie finished her thought. She was weary if those were the right words she wanted Charles to relay to the King. Yet, they seemed the most appropriate for now. She originally intended to say something about their supposed rendezvous tonight but she couldn't think of the right words to string together.
Charles nodded his head and bowed his head to Amelie. The duo shared a final smile and Amelie took several steps away from Charles as he also made his way back to the Palace. But then Amelie quickly moved her feet back to Charles, "Your Grace, Sir Brandon," Amelie's voice rang deep in Charles' ear even in the gravel lining the ground.
Charles quickly turned his head and cocked his head to the side, curious as to what caught Amelie's attention.
"Yes, Lady Amelie?" Charles asked with a concerned look.
"Also, tell his Majesty that I can't wait and that I look forward...," Amelie felt her heart beat loudly in her chest as she admitted to herself that she did indeed treasure the time she spent with King Henry the 8th.
"That I look forward in seeing him when the stars are the only thing lighting the night," Amelie said remembering the words King Henry wrote in his letter with a genuine content smile, the left dimple in her cheek just barely making its appearance.
Charles nodded his head, "As you wish, I shall relay your message to his Majesty," Charles said as he bowed to Amelie who gave him a deep curtsy.
Amelie was still unsure in many ways in how she felt about King Henry. Sadly, her brother was right. She couldn't be Queen, she had no right to even want herself to be Queen as she was supposedly infertile. The main duty of a Queen is to give her husband, the King male heirs for their throne. It was the duty of a woman to give her husband male children...a role Amelie was told she would be unable to fulfill.
Yet, her heart fluttered and her lips moved to a smile when she thought of King Henry the 8th. She knew very well about his philandering ways which always unsettled the virtuous Amelie. Nevertheless, she understood that this was the norm when it came to wealthy and powerful men. She disliked this but as her relationship with the King was out of the bedroom, she had no desire to change it or speak ill about it.
And to her, the King was warmhearted, attentive and a delightful companion. Despite his status as King, he never made Amelie feel unworthy of his time. In addition, there was nothing Amelie could complain when it came to the King's looks. He was a handsome and a well built man. Being in King Henry the 8th's presence was something Amelie looked forward to.
Yet as the sun was making its descent and night was not so far away, Amelie's wariness in seeing the King again came back. Her half brother John, invited Amelie to dinner with his family but Amelie declined citing she was feeling under the weather. She knew the only reason why John sent the invitation was so he could escort her to her rendezvous with the King despite his insistence it was because he loved and cared for his half sister. Amelie knew John never intended to hurt Amelie's feelings, yet he had and she was not ready to forgive him.
With Amelie's father off to a dinner meeting with a noblemen desperate to be in Philip de Saint-Remy's good graces, Amelie had no plans for dinner. Going to dinner with her brother would have been the most productive choice but as Amelie had declined it with the lie of unfeeling well Amelie decided to head to bed early. Amelie feeling unwell was not unheard of by either the Daubeney or the Saint-Remy family as it was a frequent occurrence while her body was incapacitated by her appendicitis and later her menses.
By the time the sun was ready to set, Amelie was already in her night gown and laying in her bed reading a book. She left King Henry's navy blue hued cape on her nightstand. The large pearl brooch surrounded by sparkling sapphires shimmering in the candlelight. The red and white rose she picked from the garden today carefully resting in a vase by her bedside table. The red and white an homage to the Tudor dynasty and the Plantagenet for the latter. She intended to give King Henry the white rose as well, but with the remarks the Lady Anne made earlier about her brother being a possible traitor, she feared anything that would raise suspicion to her family.
Along with her book in her hand was the letter King Henry addressed to her.
To the Most Beautiful Creature I've Ever Laid My Eyes On
Amelie carefully traced the words King Henry had written and she couldn't help herself but look out the draped windows in her room, both wanting and not wanting night to fall.
Tears started to fall from Amelie's eyes as the exchange she had with her brother earlier in the day haunted her memories.
You don't want to be Queen.
You mean I can't be Queen.
The thought of Amelie becoming close with a royal, with King Henry of England never crossed her mind so now that she was in his good graces and exchanging letters along with arranging rendezvous was surreal to her and she was unsure of what to do.
She wanted to go, she wanted to see him again.
But what would be the use?
She would never be Queen, she could never be Queen of England. She would only be just another "lady" he spent time with.
But the time they spent together wasn't in the bedroom. She wasn't just "another lady" he bedded. She was someone he...she was someone he...
Amelie was unsure how to finish her thoughts and before she knew it her eyes closed with her thoughts still heavily muddled. By the time her eyes opened again, the night sky was pitch black aside from the stars sparkling in the night sky.
While Amelie had just woken up from her nap, King Henry of England was standing out on the balcony he spent the previous night embracing Lady Amelie de Saint-Remy. He was holding a delicate white lily, in honor of the fleur de lis of the French royal family.
When King Henry received the red rose from Charles, sent to him by Lady Amelie, he was intrigued. It was universally known that the red rose was the symbol of the Tudor dynasty so it wasn't unusual for him to receive a rose, but receiving it from Amelie is what intrigued him. He assumed from Charles' words that Amelie would be waiting for him at the balcony.
But her presence was not to be seen and he had waited for some time as the night breeze was starting to feel more than just cool on his skin. King Henry the 8th had never been stood up thus the feeling of rejection overwhelmed him. He was unsure of how long he should wait and he was still confused as to why Amelie had not yet shown up.
Wasn't it clear from her actions that she would show up?
Then why hadn't she?
Was there someone else in her life?
All of King Henry's insecurities came boiling up and he glanced at his guard, eyeing him, letting him know he was done waiting.
Hope you guys enjoyed this new update!
As stated above- I'm really going to try and update this story as frequently as possible!
Pretty please review! They keep me writing! :)
xoxo