CHAPTER 14

Old Lovers, Old Memories

...

FEBRUARY 28, 1541

10:00 A.M.

...

Jenna and her friends looked out the window from the top floor as a carriage pulled up in the crisp, cold air of Winter. The snow covered the road, making it difficult for the carriage to move properly. When it stopped, a man with dark hair got out and they saw that Joan and Katherine were down there, looking distraught and angry at this man for showing up.

"That must be Max," Andrew pointed out

"Well, now we know that the affair is about to end soon," Robert added. "I just hope Henry is smarter about beheading Katherine this time. She's innocent."

"Only time will tell," Jenna said quietly, "but I have a feeling that if the King does find out about the affair, we'll end up getting hurt also."

They all turned to look at her, "What do you mean, Jenna?" Victoria asked, "Do you know something that we don't?"

She took a deep breath, visions of the dream from a few weeks ago popped up in her head. "No, but I think that the King knows something that we don't. I believe that he is suspicious of us. I don't know, it's just a feeling. I may be wrong."

"No, I sense it also," Emma added. "Not going to lie, I'm scared about the affair being out in the open. What if people think we have something to do with it? We are close to Thomas and the King, and Katherine. They'll suspect something."

"Not if we tell Henry,"

"Robert, I wouldn't advise that we do that." Andrew said "That'll get us into trouble. Look, if it bothers you guys that much, the ball is in a couple of hours—let's just speak to Max and see what he tells us."

"He'll be suspicious of us, one of us needs to talk to him, alone." Jenna suggested and they all stared at her, "Oh no, not me...fine." she gave in and they smiled at her. Why is it always me? she thought to herself.

"I'll do it," Andrew volunteered, "I think it's better if I do it, he might tell me more."

"Thanks, Andrew." Jenna smiled

...

12:00 P.M.

BALLROOM

Jenna felt warm body heat around her as people were singing, dancing, eating, and talking at the ball. Henry is talking to Charles and Thomas quietly disappeared with Lady Rochford. Victoria was dragged onto the dance floor by Robert who forced her to dance with him, she decided to stop fighting against him and they were enjoying themselves. Andrew is with some men, talking and laughing with them as Emma sat at a table by herself, watching everyone have fun—which is something that she did often and then would quietly disappear like she wasn't around in the first place.

"Jenna," a voice said, she turned to see Andrew.

"Oh, hey Andrew. What's up?"

"Those guys I were talking too told me everything." he said, "Joan wrote to Max and told him to come here because she wronged them both, she told him that it's a great way to get revenge on Katherine."

"What did she do to them?"

"I have no idea, but she is being set up."

"We need to be careful," Jenna said. "They know that we have found out too much and may use it against us."

Andrew nodded and patted her arm, "Don't worry, if anything, I must tell Henry."

"No!" she raised her voice but it went unnoticed by the people in the room, who were having too much fun and oblivious to everything. "We can't, Andrew."

"We have enough evidence to have them executed and keep Katherine safe."

"And what about Mary? We don't have enough on her."

"Yes we do, she cursed Katherine so she can't produce a male heir."

"But there's more—" Jenna began, "she has her part in something, I know she does. Let's just find out what else she's been up too and I promise that we'll tell Henry."

Andrew nodded, "Alright, I'll see you later." he whispered into her ear, "Be careful of Thomas, I heard him talking to his friends about doing something with you later. Knowing him, it isn't good."

Then, he walked away, leaving Jenna to turn and see Thomas and his friends talking, but they kept looking at her and smirking. She knows that it isn't anything good and decided to avoid him. Jenna scanned the room and saw Katherine leave the middle of the room, crowded with people, sweat dripping down her forehead.

Jenna walked up to her, "Your Majesty,"

"Oh, Jenna—it's so great to hear from you! It's been a while." she smiled

Jenna gave a fake smile, "Yeah, um—" she began, not knowing where to begin until she saw Max talking to a girl, "—my friends and I saw that man come by earlier. Who is he?"

Katherine's smile dropped, "Oh, that's Max—a childhood friend."

Jenna could feel the tension, "You don't seem to like him very much."

Katherine sighed and dragged her out of the room, but not before Jenna shot Emma a look, who quietly followed behind them. Katherine dragged her into an empty hallway and began to sob, "I hate him! I don't know why he's here! Joan just told me he wrote to her, saying he was going to visit, and there he was."

"Why would he come to visit you?"

"There's a reason why I made Joan my maid." she began to whisper, "The Dowager Duchess of Norfolk was where the ladies would sleep around with men, and I used to sleep with Max. Joan knows everything and has a big mouth, so I let her stay here to keep her from opening her mouth about me. She wouldn't leave, I didn't have a choice—I just wanted to start fresh, but Thomas Culpeper came along and loves me in a way that no man has, not even his Majesty, and I feel horrible for it." she cried

"Katherine, they said that you wronged them in many ways. What are the ways that you have wronged them?"

"Well, I left Max to come here and he wanted to marry me, but I didn't like him in that way. We just had a deal, the sex wasn't anything serious. Joan, however, the men liked me more than they liked her. She was in love with this boy, but I had sex with him because she didn't want too, and he wouldn't leave until he got what he wanted so I had sex with him to make him leave. I saved that bitch's life, and she still holds it above me. Maybe it's because he said after the sex that he likes me better than her and came daily for intercourse."

"Katherine...did you ever think that maybe Joan wrote to Max?"

Katherine shot her a look, "What makes you think that?"

"Well, I've seen a lot of things, we won't get into it but my friends and I believe that Joan and the Lady Rochford are setting you up. I've heard them talk about you, and I also believe that Mary may have something to do with it."

"What do you mean?"

She lifted up her hand, "Thomas gave this ring to me for Christmas. However, Victoria thought that she saw Mary enchanting it, but Mary told her that Thomas went to a witch and had it hexed with a curse and a love spell."

Katherine gasped, "Oh no, so then we're both being set up."

Jenna then realized something, "Katherine, I just realized something that I haven't before. What if they're trying to get rid of all of us? I mean, they hate you, Mary participates in witchcraft—"

"Witchcraft?"

"—we visited the witch that she goes too. When Victoria found out, Mary threatened and made her join her, they both have cuts on their palms, signifying their pact-and Thomas had my ring cursed. They are up to something. Please, Katherine, you have to believe me when I tell you that Thomas isn't who you think he is."

Katherine took a deep breath and was silent for a moment, "I believe you, but my love for him is strong. I cannot leave him."

"Katherine, that's what he wants! He wants you to think that he loves you! I know about your stupid affair, he doesn't love you!" Jenna shouted, anger boiling so high she felt like punching the wall and throwing something.

"He might not, but I love him for some reason, it's as if something is forcing me to love him!"

Jenna then realized something, Mary or Thomas must have used witchcraft to make Katherine fall in love with Thomas. Jenna looked at Katherine, who is sobbing uncontrollably, and ran off, leaving the distressed Queen alone in agony—calling her name over and over again. Jenna can't take this anymore. There has to be something that she can do but then realized that there isn't and stormed into her room and closed the door, dismissing herself for the rest of the day.

...

MARCH 5, 1541

10:00 A.M.

Joan and Max are in her bedroom, catching up on current events. Max informed her about what's been going on at the Dowager Duchess and Joan has updated him about Jenna and her friends, Katherine being married to the King, and her plan to sabotage Katherine. She told him how Lady Rochford doesn't like the Queen and the two of them are using Thomas to get rid of her. However, Max sees the plan as a failure because if Henry finds out, anyone involved will be beheaded, including Thomas-even if he is an innocent participant. Perhaps he's not, maybe he knows of the plan and is involved for his own reasons.

"Wait, but if the King finds out, won't Thomas get executed also?"

"Who do you think the people will believe, a slut like Katherine or a charming highly trusted King's man?"

"You might have a point, but you mention that Jenna and her friends know something. Won't the King believe them also, especially if two of them work with his Majesty daily?"

Joan thought for a moment and leaned in, "You have a point, but if they are to say anything, they will reach the same fate as Katherine. In the end, the lost both ways."

Max nodded, "Why are we getting revenge?"

"Well, you love her and she chose the King and power over you, over someone that only wants her as a child bearer, and for me, I still hate her for saving sex with the man that I love."

"Seriously, Joan, you need to get over that! She did it so he'd leave you alone, he just wanted sex from you and Katherine gave it to him because your virginity is the most precious thing you have."

"I don't believe that for a second, I hate her. We need to do this."

Max shrugged, giving a smile, "Sure, I'm down for it. Besides, a lot of the girls hated her. This should be fun," he laughed.

...

2:00 P.M.

Jenna is in her bedroom, reading Mary's diary and making sure that she doesn't miss anything when she heard Thomas' door open and close. She closed the book and hid it in her usual hiding place and entered his room, seeing a look of anger on his face. When she asked him what's wrong, he told her that he went up to Katherine and asked her about Max and she got mad and said that she has a store of other lovers and that he isn't her only lover, then left him alone as she stormed off huffing and puffing. Jenna rolled her eyes at how dramatic Katherine is.

"Wow, that's a nasty thing to say." Jenna countered, "She really said that to you?" Though Jenna doesn't blame Katherine for saying what she said, Thomas hasn't been honest with her, no one has. Though she's happy that Katherine didn't tell Thomas what she told her because if Katherine mentioned anything, Jenna would be in huge trouble, she knew that.

Thomas nodded, "But it's quite alright. I'm not offended in the slightest by what my sweet little fool said." He emphasized 'sweet little fool'. Something isn't right here.

"Thomas, you need to stop pretending that you like her. It isn't getting you anywhere, and I feel as people have begun to notice the way that you two act around each other. You don't want the King to get suspicious and—"

Thomas put a finger to her lips and leaned in, "Don't be nosy, my sweet Hazel."

"My name is Jenna, Thomas—you know that," she began to feel nervous. Something's going to happen. I need to leave.

He leaned in, inches from her lips. "I know."

"You...you had my ring cursed," she whispered and he looked down and sneered at her. "Katherine said that she loves you because she feels that something is making her love you. You...you cursed her also..." Jenna kept pausing, scared for what will happen next. He stepped up, but she stepped back. "You...why?...why do that to her? Why do this to me?" she whispered the last part.

He stepped closer to her, and then he kissed her lightly.

Jenna jumped away and felt his arms slither around her waist. "Thomas, this isn't right. You're dating Lady Rochford, and you're having an affair with the Queen!"

"Oh, please. Rochford takes our relationship too seriously—and Katherine is a fool."

"So you don't like her then," she concluded. "Why trick Katherine into liking you? What did she ever do to you? What did she..."

"You're...different," He ignored her statement and ran a hand through her hair, his hand gently resting against her cheek. "You're very polite, well mannered, kind, smart, beautiful and have a great adequate. Not many girls treasure what you have and carry. Don't lose that."

"I won't," She promised and Thomas leaned back in as she moved back. His arms held her in place and she began to squirm as he tried to hold her in place. "Thomas, stop!"

Thomas stared at her, "Don't you think I'm handsome and charming? Don't you think I'm a gentleman?"

"Yes, you're all those things—"

"—So why won't you let me kiss you? Why are you going against me?"

She gawked, never seeing this side of him before. He's usually nice and polite and gentle, and now all of a sudden he just snapped and turned aggressive and manipulative. This may be why he cursed Katherine into loving him, because he uses his good looks as an advantage, or because Joan and Lady Rochford told him too.

"I don't like you in that way, Thomas. I'm sorry for the inconvenience," Jenna felt her heart pulsate out of her chest. Would Thomas force himself onto me, just as he almost did to the lady in the village?

"The love spell was supposed to work already," Thomas muttered to himself, then spoke louder, "why hasn't it worked?"

"Because unlike most of the girls in this castle, I'm not stupid. I see you for who you are and not who you choose for others to see. You can't force someone to love you, Thomas. I don't love you and I see your flaws, that's why I haven't been affected by the curse. Sooner or later, his Majesty will find out, and you'll be in big trouble for what you've done, including what you've done to me."

Thomas stared at her, then pushed her onto the bed and jumped on top of her. Jenna thrashed and screamed but realized that no one would help her. Thomas began to slowly kiss her neck, leaving a trail. He then went lower to her cleavage and began to slowly untie the laces that secured her bosoms to her dress. Her heart pounded and she felt like crying, but all that was important is finding a way out from under him and away from his room. Jenna struggled underneath him as he cradled her hips with his legs. She won't let him take advantage of her. He finished untying the laces and began to kiss her chest, and saw this as an opportunity. She gently lifted his head up, only to punch him in the face. He held onto his left side of his face as she punched him in the gut, got free of his grasp and then leaped and ran out of the room as fast as she could, not looking back.

...

MARCH 10, 1541

9:00 P.M.

Victoria led Mary down the dark and empty halls of the basement, their feet echoing as they stepped, and weird noises can be heard. Victoria held the candle close to her, her heart pounding in angst, but happiness. Mary followed behind quietly, glancing at the younger girl—wondering what Victoria has to show her during this time at night.

Victoria stopped at a door and turned to Mary, the large cut on her left palm visible with the dim light of the candle, but invisible as it is fading away and leaving a scar. "You cannot tell anyone about what I am about to tell you."

Mary smiled, "I won't. You can trust me, why do you think I bonded us? Together, we're unstoppable."

Victoria raised an eyebrow, not knowing what they meant, then realized something. It all makes sense now. Emma disappearing bonded her to Charles, my scar makes me bonded to Mary and Jenna's ring makes her part of Thomas. But what about Robert and Andrew? What bond could they have? She ignored her thoughts and opened the door and lit another candle in the room, making it dim. She turned to the closet door, "Sir, you may come out now," she said as Mary closed the door.

Mary gasped as the familiar figure came out, Duke Philip of Bavaria! She fell to the floor and sobbed, "Ph...Philip! You're...you're..."

He quickly ran over and gently lifted her up, hugging her in the process. "My Lady,"

Mary sobbed into his arms and he whispered gently and warmly to her. All Victoria could do was watch, she is satisfied with her work.

Mary looked up at him, "How are you here?"

"Lady Victoria and I sent letters to one another for quite some time now." he ran a hand through her hair, "I wanted to see you."

"Philip, you...you must stay! Please!"

"My Lady, I wish I could, but my apologies are given in advance-for his Majesty doesn't support our comfort towards one another."

"I do," Victoria added and they looked at her. Victoria turned to him, "You can stay in this room. No one comes down here unless they're getting busy—if you catch my drift." he nodded "I'll have one of the cooks bring you food, the King won't know anything. You two can leave together and have a family."

Philip smiled, "I'd like that." He turned to look down at Mary, "I'll see you in the morning, love. Get some sleep."

"I shall stay in here with you after I talk to my maid outside."

He nodded, "Of course." he bowed and walked over to the bed.

Mary quickly dragged Victoria out of the room and closed the door-tightly wrapping her arms around the younger girl. "Thank you," she whispered "Thank you so much!" she sobbed "You don't know how much this means to me."

Victoria hugged her back, "You deserve to be happy, Mary. Now, go back in and spend some time with him."

Mary smiled, tears staining her face and went back in—and it was silent after that. Victoria walked down the dark and eerie hallway without her candle. The cold and demented air surrounded her, and she felt darkness within her-her own darkness to never finding true love but is happy for Mary. She kept walking, slowly but smiled happily to herself. You deserve to be happy, Mary. Remember that. she thought to herself. Henry has no say in your life, you do. Spend it with the person that you love; maybe it'll change the future you and your future choices as Queen. She walked up the staircase, darkness and gloom surrounding her-oblivious to the scar on her palm lightly glowing.