A Jewel in Henry's Crown
Chapter Thirty-Nine: Treasonous Affairs
.::*::.
As Whitehall Palace came to view, Charlotte grew anxious. How would the king react to her sudden return? She was not completely ready to face the young, haughty queen. She hated Katherine beyond measure.
"My love," Charles asked, softly, "are you ill?"
"I fear the king and his judgment. Has Katherine told him anything of me?"
"No, His Majesty would have announced it to me directly." Charles responded. "Why do you despise the queen?"
"She cannot stand the sight of me, Charles! She would say anything to convince His Majesty to execute me! And otherwise," Charlotte cried.
"I will not allow that to happen." Charles exclaimed, taking her hands into his rough calloused ones.
"Once the king's mind has been set, he will not alter it."
"God, Charlotte, you are still the king's favourite!" he said, sharply.
"Favouritism has nothing to do with his!" she snapped. "Of course the king would choose the queen's word over mine even if I am innocent and free from treason!"
"Stop being ridiculous, Charlotte. The king has not anything to me. Katherine has been relatively quiet."
"She believes she has gotten rid of me. I am not finished here yet!"
The carriages came to a stop and the footmen came to help Charlotte, her maid and children out first. Charles followed her footsteps, receiving welcomes.
"Welcome home, Your Grace,"
She carried the baby Rupert in her arms and walked through the large mahogany doors. Harry followed close behind, often clutching the skirt of her silk, navy blue gown. Katherine was walking to the Great Hall to meet the king for small merriment of Charles' return. To Katherine's surprise, Charlotte had come completely unannounced…and with two more children. She stopped walking and stood there, her brows furrowing with confusion and displeasure.
"Oh," she said, "I did not know Your Grace would be returning to Whitehall."
Charlotte smirked and curtsied for the queen.
"Your Majesty, though I come unannounced…I have every intention of returning," she replied, cunningly. Katherine's brows furrowed into anger and her thin lips pursed. "I hope Your Majesty is well?"
"Yes, thank you," she gritted. Katherine walked off, her chest heaving with irritation. This left Charlotte smiling victoriously. Oh yes, she was, indeed, back and would fight until she won this match between queen and duchess. Charlotte had a notion that she would finally win and something great and terrible would happen to the young queen, though, she could not precisely put her finger on it. When Charlotte decided to go through the doors of the celebration hall, she gave Rupert to another maid who had come to her aid. Philippa had Eleanor in her arms and asked Harry to go with the maids as they went to Charlotte's chambers.
Charles came to her side and offered her his arm. Gladly, she accepted and they came into the celebration hall. The king was sitting on his throne with Katherine beside him. The Lady Mary was not present for she had fled Whitehall due to some unpleasant encounters with the queen. The Lady Elizabeth, though, was present…waiting for the arrival of Charlotte. Her fiery red hair fell past her shoulders and she sat elegantly beside her father, the king. She smiled as she saw the familiar face of the beautiful duchess.
When Charlotte came to the king, she went on her knees, bowing. She kept her gaze on the fabric of her dress, waiting for Henry to say something to her. He studied her fine features. Her chest had grown since the last time he had seen her and her hips were larger…or was it just the dress? Henry chuckled, stood up and took Charlotte's hands into his. He lifted her up and kissed her cheeks.
"Welcome home, Your Grace, you have been terribly missed. Please, continue with music!"
Charlotte sighed with relief and smiled at the king. Yes, Charles had been correct, she was still his favourite.
"How has Your Majesty been? Are you feeling any better?" she asked. Henry smiled and gave another chuckle.
"Much, yes, now that you are here…my spirits are lifted. Why did you leave, Charlotte?" he asked, solemnly. "The air here at Whitehall has been dismal because of your sudden departures."
"Your Majesty must accept my apology. I left for my own reasons and it was rather selfish. I needed to visit my mother in Norfolk and she wished to see her grandson…and well, grandsons and granddaughter now."
Henry raised a brow.
"You conceived while you were away?" he asked, surprised.
"Yes, I had twins; a son and a daughter."
"I offer my congratulations," he sighed. "Your Graces are very lucky to be so fertile."
Charlotte gave him a small smile.
"I suppose we have been blessed, but you are too, Your Majesty. You have two beautiful daughters and a handsome young crown prince."
Henry kissed her cheeks and put his arm around her shoulder.
"Come dine with me and Katherine this evening. Bring Charles, Lord Norfolk and the new Lady Norfolk."
"The new Lady Norfolk?" Charlotte inquired, flabbergasted.
"Yes, Your Grace, while you were in Norfolk…Thomas and Jane had a little ceremony. The Lady Norfolk is also with child now."
"Is she here, Your Majesty?" she asked, anxiously. "Oh, how I wish to see her!"
"Yes, Your Grace, she is in their apartments as we speak. You may go and visit her."
.::*::.
Charlotte was led by a maid to see, who Boleyn, Jane Wallace was formerly. Charlotte could not contain her continuous smile as she came to the doors. The maid announced her arrival and she was immediately let in. Jane was by the windows, rubbing her hands across her slightly swollen womb. Her red dress could hide very well her pregnancy. Charlotte quickly came up to her, wrapping her arms around her new sister-in-law. Both of them laughed and smiled.
"It is such a joy to have you here again! I have missed you so. I did not wish to rush your coming home so I let you be in Norfolk. Though, I could have at least written you and my mother-in-law that Thomas and I are married and soon to have a child." Jane said.
"Oh, Jane," said Charlotte, "I am not angry with you for not inviting me. I am so excited that finally I may call you my sister! I have also had my children. I have twins! Charles Rupert Brandon and Eleanor Philippa Brandon,"
"I think they are such beautiful names. If I have a daughter, I am to name her Charlotte. She will be as beautiful as her aunt, I am sure!"
"What scandals have I missed hearing of since I have been away?" Charlotte inquired, still giddy and hyper, "you must tell me everything!"
Jane smirked and they went into her bedroom and sat down.
"You will not believe this. The queen has slept with two men before her marriage to the king. She was nearly betrothed to one man. The other is currently positioned with the king…Thomas Culpepper."
Charlotte raised her brows, though she was not surprised.
"Who was this other man?" she asked.
"Francis Dereham…Her Majesty had been acquainted with both of them during her stay with the Dowager Duchess in Lambeth. Apparently, he would often call her wife and she would call him husband. Several months ago, he left for Ireland before he could give an offer of marriage."
"Is that so?" Charlotte said, with a mischievous grin.
"But, I have sworn to the queen I would not tell a soul. You must make that promise to me. You cannot even say this to Charles. For he will take it directly to the king, and then it may very well end badly for us all."
"You have my word, Lady Wallace." Charlotte said, smiling. "Has Katherine been having any affairs with Culpepper since he has been here?"
Jane averted her eyes and fiddled with the flowers that were in the vase.
"You must not be furious with me, dearest Charlotte. But," she paused and sighed. "I…I have helped Her Majesty secretly visit Culpepper at night in her chambers. They romp together and before I married your brother, I grew envious of them because George he would never visit my bedchamber and consummate."
"But, you despised George!"
"Yes, that did not mean I wished to…well,"
"Jane Wallace!" Charlotte exclaimed. "You must stop allowing Katherine to see Culpepper. You realize you are committing treason? I do not wish for His Majesty to execute you because of this! You know what happens to people who go against the king."
"How can I deny the queen's request? If I do, she would say I suggested the idea to her and take it to the king personally and I would be beheaded anyway! There is no right way for this, Charlotte. I have no choice."
"Then I pray to God the king does not find this valuable evidence of the whore he so calls his wife." Charlotte gasped. Tears flooded down Jane's light grey eyes and she sobbed, covering her face with her hands. Gently, Charlotte rubbed her back and sighed. "The queen is a she-devil,"
"Do not say such horrendous things here!" Jane cried, sharply. "She is only a little girl! Inexperienced, as you once were…"
"She is determined to ruin my life!" Charlotte screamed. "She has already succeeded in ruining the Lady Mary's! This life will destroy us all!"
"Charlotte, bite your tongue!" Jane snapped. "Be careful of what you say, please! I do not wish you to lose your head!"
"We will all die someday soon, and if I am to die, then I die for my freedom."
"Charlotte, please do not say such things in front of me!" Jane sobbed. "It is as though the queen has driven you mad!"
"I cannot stand this any longer!"
Charlotte burst into angry tears and nearly had an anxiety attack from being overwhelmed. She stormed out of the room to her chambers and dropped on her knees. Jane was right; Queen Katherine was driving Charlotte mad with rage and guilt. She felt as though the world was turning against her once again.
Charles came in quickly after he had spoken with Jane Wallace and lifted his wife into his arms.
"Charlotte, my love," he murmured against her neck. "You must rest, please, for your own sake. The King and Queen will be leaving Whitehall and visiting the north for a little while. You need not weigh yourself down."
"Please, Charles," she begged, "I need you here with me now more than ever! You are the one friend I truly give my confidence to! I need you to stay by my side and love me."
"I do love you, Charlotte Brandon, with all my heart."
He wiped the tears away from her cheeks and kissed her passionately. Charlotte smiled and allowed her heart to beat wildly against her chest.
"Oh my God, I have missed you so much," she murmured. "Make love to me again, Charles."
"Charlotte, you have just conceived—"
"That was a month ago. I am well again."
He looked concerned and brushed her long dark hair from her eyes. Charlotte had grown too accustomed to court life. It had stained her innocence and desires. Curse you, Henry. Charles thought.
"Tonight, I shall visit your chambers again, Charlotte."
She smiled and embraced him warmly before he went off again. Charlotte felt something inside her tingle…she wanted Charles to possess her again. Thinking of the moments they shared made her knees weaken under her and feel something warm between her thighs.
She shrugged the feeling away and sighed. Tonight, Charles, tonight again we will consummate.
AN: Please, don't hate me for the long delay. I've been grounded for a while, applying for scholarships and colleges. But, please review! I'm thrilled soon to write the execution of Katherine Howard! LOL =) Thank you everyone for your support!