A Jewel in Henry's Crown
Chapter Twenty-Two: Suspicions Arise
It was a few days after Charles and Charlotte's wedding. Charlotte had decided to go and visit the queen since she had been bed-trodden since the birth of her son, the future Edward the VI. By privilege of the king and queen, Charles and Charlotte were made to be Edward's godparents instead of the Lady Mary. One of Queen Jane's ladies-in-waiting opened the door for Charlotte. "Your Grace," the lady-in-waiting greeted with a curtsy. Charlotte acknowledged the woman and entered Queen Jane's chambers. Charlotte curtsied in respect.
Queen Jane sat up weakly and she smiled at Charlotte. "Welcome, Your Grace," Jane said, warmly. Charlotte took this as cue to stand. "Please, before you say anything, I wanted to apologize for not attending your wedding."
"Do not apologize, Majesty. Your heir was more important." Charlotte reminded. Jane chuckled and urged Charlotte to sit next to her. She walked up to the queen's bed side and sat on the available chair.
"Does Charles make you happy?" Jane inquired. Charlotte nodded, blushing as Her Majesty asked that question.
"He makes me very happy, Your Majesty." She answered, smiling as she thought of Charles. Now she was freely able to call him 'husband' and he was allowed to call her 'his wife'. Charles was hers and none others. Queen Jane smiled and coughed. Charlotte got up to pour Queen Jane a goblet of water. "Here, Majesty,"
Charlotte helped her drink from the goblet. "Thank you, dear Charlotte."
Unbeknownst to them, Henry had been standing well hidden behind the doorway. He was watching Jane and Charlotte and listening to the conversation. He smiled as he watched two of the most important women in his life. Jane was dear to him and so was Charlotte. With Charlotte, it was a different sort of love. Henry was in love with Charlotte but from a distance. She was a beautiful woman now; caring, honest and loving. Charles was a lucky man to have such a woman to be his. Henry was completely infatuated with Jane, of course. She was the only wife so far to have given him the son he so craved. He was so distracted by the two women; he hadn't heard Charles come up to him. "Your Majesty, have you seen the Duchess?" Charles inquired. Henry was startled, but he smiled at Charles and showed the two women. Charles peered in through the door way and saw Charlotte with the queen. They were laughing and talking, as though they had been friends their whole life. "Come, Charles, walk with me and tell me about your new wife." Henry exclaimed, smacking a hand on Charles' back. Charles chuckled and took a walk with the king outdoors in the gardens. "How is the Duchess?"
"She is well; and with child."
Henry stopped walking and looked at Charles with fury developing. "With child?" he demanded. Charles looked at the fountain and cleared his throat. "How can she already be with child?"
"Your Majesty, we had the child out of wedlock. It was during our engagement." Charles answered, hesitantly.
Henry's features changed to utter rage; but, then seeing as though they were married now—he thought it best to let it pass. He did not wish for their happiness to be ruined over some silly game. Charles noticed the change in Henry's features and relaxed—fearing for Charlotte's life and his child's life.
Henry also saw the worried expression in Charles' eyes and put a hand on his shoulder. "I would do no harm to your wife or child, Your Grace." Henry whispered before billowing off back to Whitehall. Henry then paused to turn around. "Your Grace, make arrangements to travel to Hampton Palace in honour of your marriage and to your wife."
Charles bowed and Henry went inside Whitehall. He stared up into the heavens, thanking God for His Majesties' understanding. Truth be told, Henry was only behaving so kindly and generously because Her Majesty has had a son. Charles knew otherwise that if he were to have announced it before Prince Edward's birth, Charlotte would have been sent to the Tower and he would have been stripped from his title and lost everything he held dear. As he returned indoors, he was stopped by Sir Francis. "Your Grace, may I have a word with you?" Sir Francis asked. Charles glowered at the man. "In private?"
Reluctantly, Sir Francis and Charles walked into the library where Charles dismissed the doormen. "I have heard of your marriage to The Lady Wallace. Her mother spoke to me recently that she was distressed that Charlotte did not invite her to the wedding."
"Her Grace had every intention of inviting her mother. Her Majesty, as well, had given birth to the future king of England. My mother-in-law had tended to the Queen."
Sir Francis chuckled and shook his head. "You should be wise to keep Her Grace close at hand and in sharp eyes—and that mother-in-law of yours."
"Are you threatening my wife?" Charles snarled. Sir Francis laughed again and rolled his eye before responding to Charles.
"Well, if you put it that way—"
Charles grabbed a fistful of his shirt and shoved him against the bookshelf. "If you do anything to harm my wife I swear by the will of God, I'll hang you." Charles hissed. "If you lay a hand on her or even think lustfully of her—"
"It's not your whore I want, Your Grace—it's her mother."
Charles was stunned. How dare he? "Charlotte is not a whore. Let me tell you something, Sir Francis; the Lady Wallace is in mourning. If you so think as to bed-hop across the King's court, it shall be known to His Majesty at once and you will be removed from court. Get out!" Charles growled, shoving Sir Francis roughly aside. Once Sir Francis was gone, Charles sat down angrily. "Bastard,"
A few moments later, the door opened. Charles grew furious—but then his gaze softened as he saw it was Charlotte. "What's happened? I just saw Sir Francis—"
"It was nothing; do not worry, my love." Charles insisted. Charlotte sent him a look. She knew he was bothered by something. "I have it under control. Come,"
Charlotte came closer and sat on his knee. Charles smiled and ran his fingers through her soft brown hair before kissing her. He put his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her closer. "Mm, I love you." She murmured, pulling away. She gently pressed her forehead against his. "I have to tend to Her Majesty again. I shall see you tonight."
"The Royals can wait a little can't they?"
Charlotte giggled and he nuzzled her neck. "Charles, really, I mustn't! I need to go!" she exclaimed, with laughter. She pushed his hand down as he found his way up the skirts of her blood-red dress. "Not here!"
He chuckled and got up as she did. She backed away towards the door but Charles placed his hands above her head, trapping her. "We have a little time…"
"I'm also with child and—"
"Please, Charlotte?" he begged. She almost gave into his charm.
"We have the rest of our lives to be with one another! I promise, my darling, that I will see you tonight before I go to bed!" she pleaded back. He grinned and kissed her. After, he let her go and tend to the Queen.
AN: Okay, so this is not my favourite chapter to write, but please bear with me. It'll get better in the next chapter. I promise. Thank you for the reviews! =) They most certainly help. Please, feel free to shoot out some ideas and I'll take note of them! Thanks a bunch!