A Jewel in Henry's Crown

Chapter Nine

A/N: Thanks guys for all the reviews! I'm so glad that you all keep on reviewing even though I haven't been updating often. Here is chapter nine. Enjoy! Read, review, tell your friends ;) LOL

And I don't own the Tudors. I wish I did. *sniff, tear* but I do own my OC Charlotte and her family and Charlotte's child

**….:*:….**

Spits of Venom and Passion

Charlotte stood in front of Charles Brandon, completely mesmerized at what truth he had told her. There was no lie in his eyes; as far as Charlotte could see. Did he just say "I love you"? Yes, he most certainly did. Charlotte opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out. Having the same haughty nature as her father, instead of responding in words—Charlotte crashed her mouth on his. Charles was taken by surprise but soon responded by kissing her back and wrapping his arms slowly around her thin frame. This is treason. A voice hissed in Charlotte's mind. As the few heated kisses progressed, Charles moved her and pinned her on the wall. He gently caressed her skin as they broke away, their chests pounding furiously. "No one must know." He told her. She nodded in response.

How she wanted the kiss to continue but she knew Charles had to tend to the King. "I love you Charles."

She smiled as he walked out of her chambers. Charlotte had never encountered a kiss like that. If every man in the kingdom were like Charles Brandon, it would be a whole different world. Charlotte realized the mess she had made overturning tables and smashing two vases. She sighed and picked up the two tables and called for two maids to clean up the shards of marble.

While this was occurring; outside, Henry had called to see Jane Seymour. They were taking a turn about in the gardens of Whitehall Palace. Charlotte was watching them closely. At least he found someone else to preoccupy his time with for now. She was in relief that His Majesty was infatuated with Lady Jane Seymour. He wrapped his arm lovingly around her waist and drew her close to him. "May I kiss you, Jane?" he whispered. She smiled, looked at the ground for a moment and then met Henry's passion-filled eyes.

"Aren't you the King of England?" she returned. Henry chuckled and planted a passionate kiss on her lips. Not far away from them, Jane Seymour's father and brother were watching the lovers contently. This would be their turn to rule the kingdom. Charlotte gripped her fists tight until her knuckles turned white. "This is the king of England, let him have it his way." She told herself. "Let my father have his mistresses and let me have my lover."

.::*::.

Lord Wallace was in the King's study when his wife stepped into the office. She closed the door behind her. Lord Wallace immediately look up; shocked to see his wife standing in front of him—for he had hoped for his little mistress "Little Aphrodite" as he would call her. Lady Wallace remained quiet, hoping he'd say something about what had been going on with him and his mistress; for they had spent night after night together, frolicking; spending money on treats and delights. "Why have you not come to see me, Rupert?"

He fixed his spectacles and continued to write letters for His Majesty. Lady Wallace sat down on a chair across from him, her chest heaving. "Charlotte has been talking to me about how you will not greet her ever."

"Lady Wallace, I am a busy man. I am making a profit for this family. Do not speak to me now." Lord Wallace shot at his wife.

Lady Wallace stood up offended and walked to the door. She stopped before opening it, "If you wish to keep your family, I suggest then you rid yourself of that mistress." Replied she coolly and left the study. Lord Wallace stopped his writing and looked at the door; thinking over his wife's words. She had been nothing but benevolent and loyal to him all these long years and now here he was, shunning her away from him and caring not for his daughter who was carrying the King's Son. He had betrayed his wife—whom he had loved since they first were introduced. Lord Wallace lowered his quill and let out a sigh of annoyance and sank back into the thick leather chair. Not long after his encounter with his wife, his mistress, Annabelle came to his office with a sweet smile. He smiled weakly in return. "Oh, come now, what is the matter—my darling Lord Wallace?" Annabelle inquired, walking over to him and tracing her hand across his back.

"Sit on my knee," he urged. Annabelle did. He was seducing a woman behind his wife's back. "Come to our secret chamber tonight."

She giggled and nodded, planting a kiss on Lord Wallace's forehead. He traced a finger over her bosom before she left.

.::*::.

Later that night, Charlotte had been woken from her sleep. It was in the chambers near her own where she could hear shrieking laughter and giggling coming from down the hall. Charlotte over turned her covers, slipped on her robe and quietly crept down the hall to her father's chambers. A light slithered out from a crack in the doorway. Holding her breath, she allowed herself to move ever so slowly to peek into the doorway. There was a fire in the mantel and plates of delicacies scattered along a table. As she pressed her ear against the wall, she could hear a woman's moans of ecstasy; and the bed creaking. The creaking of the bed became louder. A shrill delight in the woman's voice caused Charlotte to jump as they were making "love". She knew it was her father and his mistress. The floorboard under her foot creaked and she froze in her spot. Charlotte caught her breath. Movement in the chambers quieted. "Someone's outside our door." The girl whispered. The bed creaked as a large body got off. Charlotte was in deep trouble now, after catching her father sleeping with another woman. She saw her father slip on a robe and the door flew open. Charlotte tried to quickly leave the scene but her father grabbed her shoulder and pushed her against the wall. "What are you doing here you wench?" he roared, and a smack across Charlotte's face. She dropped on her knees, trembling.

"I—I'm sorry, father," she whispered, as tears fell from her eyes. Lord Wallace pulled her up by gripping on her shoulder and turned her around fiercely.

"If I ever catch you spying on me again, you will regret it. Get out!" he snarled, shoving his daughter against the wall again. Charlotte fled from the scene and to her chambers and slammed the door. Her whole body was trembling with fear.

Tears fell from her eyes. There was no one else awake at this hour to comfort her. Perhaps there was a certain person who could. She slid quietly out of her chambers and ran down the opposite way of her father's chambers and gently knocked on Charles Brandon's office. Footsteps came to the door and he opened the door; shocked to see Charlotte. Her bottom lip was bleeding after her father smacked her. "Charlotte, what—are you hurt?"

Instead of words, she burst into more tears. Charles pulled her close and held her in his arms. He kissed her forehead gently and she wept into his chest. Once her tears quieted down, she looked up at him, wiping her bleeding lip with her hand. "My father—I had woken up from hearing him and his mistress together. I went to spy on him and he caught me—so he struck me." Charlotte told, after taking in several deep breaths.

Charles rang for some hot drink and he sat down; pulling Charlotte onto his lap. She huddled herself close and rested her head on his shoulder. "That will be his last time from hurting you. I promise. Nothing will happen to you."

"How can you say that?" she asked. Charles lifted her chin and wiped away her tears. He pressed his mouth on hers warmly. Charlotte had always felt safe with Charles. She loved him. As His Majesty and her father turned their backs on her; Charles Brandon always kept her close and protected. She was grateful and always would be.

There would be another time to deal with what happened to her encounter with her father but Charlotte decided it would not be tonight. As Charlotte continued to kiss Charles, she felt an urge of wanting. It was desire…desire to be with him.

After a few heated kisses, they pulled apart simultaneously. "Stay with me," she whispered. "Come with me."

As the night continued to drawl onward, moments were shared with Charles and Charlotte in the chambers—passionate throes and thrusts; every moment was filled with Charlotte's desire for more. She had wanted this. This is how it should have been from the start. God have mercy on my father and Henry.

A/N: I hope you all enjoy and I tried to make this longer than my other few chapters =) you got to see the different views of Lord and Lady Wallace; Lord Wallace and his mistress and of course to top it all off, a passion-filled moment with Charles and Charlotte (not getting into too much detail) :P R/R!