A Jewel in Henry's Crown

Author's Note: At last! Some inspiration kicked in! : ) I have no idea how, but that's beside the point! I'm so sorry for not updating since summer. : ( Please, don't hate me! I've been caught up with personal stuff and school. Anyway, enough ranting! I hope you enjoy the next chapter. Is there any music you guys listen to while reading AJIHC? Strange question… but I always listen to music when I write. It helps throw in a little more inspiration.

Chapter Forty-seven: Nothing to Forgive

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Christmas 1543 — Hampton Court

Musicians played Christmas carols in the balcony above the Hampton Palace grand hall. Many couples were dancing, standing to the sides chattering away and laughing. Women wore the holly wreaths on their heads and extravagant gowns. The entire Hampton Court had been decorated with candles, gold fabric and even one or two mistletoes had been hung up. Henry sat on his throne, admiring his court and smiling over at Catherine, his wonderful new queen. Charles Brandon stood on his right near the doors to the King's chambers watching the dancers earnestly. His wife had currently been dancing with the Earl of Hertford and once the dance had ended, she curtsied to the Earl and returned to her place with her husband.

"If you are so wary, why did you give the Earl of Hertford dance with me?" Charlotte asked, noticing Charles' grim appearance.

"I am a fool, if you must know." Charles responded.

"Why do you not dance with me?"

"I am a bitter and old now," Charles teased. "Or have you forgotten that already as well?"

Charlotte had to hide her snort with a giggle as she shook her head.

"You are positively intolerable sometimes, my love. Your vexing may be the death of me." Charlotte exclaimed, whilst laughing.

"Hmm, well, that may be but you love me all the same for it anyway." Charles added, kissing her sweetly after.

"Dance with me," she urged, pouring herself another chalice of wine.

"Very well,"

The instruments tuned into another dance just as the partners gathered together again. Charles had never felt more in love with his wife as he was now. He watched her as she danced the allemande with him. Even for a young woman of twenty-two, she still looked like a helpless child at times, as well as being burdened with the loss of several loved ones. She had suffered too much here and Charles knew it. If he could have, he would have prevented all that suffering. Once the allemande had ended, Charles and Charlotte returned to their place beside the king at the long table. There had been set before them trays of delicacies ranged from roast goose stuffed with nuts and berries, sweet meat pies dipped in honey, gooseberry tarts, venison, pheasant, and spiced wine. Charlotte only picked at the food that was in front of her and she sipped the wine frequently. Charles took hold of her hand, entwining his fingers with hers. She looked over at her husband and noticed the concerned look etched across his face.

"Charlotte, why are you not eating?" he asked, softly.

"I want nothing more than to sit here and drink my wine. Do not bother with me, Charles." Charlotte snapped.

"Charlotte—,"

His brows furrowed as he sent her a look.

"Do not 'Charlotte' me, Your Grace. Now, if you would excuse me, I would like to retire to my chambers."

Charlotte stood up and glanced at the king. She finally met his gaze and asked to be excused. She was granted her request and left the hall with her chalice of wine. Charles watched her worriedly as she left.

"Is everything alright, Charles?" Henry asked, snapping his attention back.

"I fear something is not right with Charlotte."

"Go and see to your wife, then, Your Grace."

Charles bowed his head before leaving. Once he was out of sight of the king, he quickened his pace to their chambers. Once he arrived, he found the door had been locked from the inside.

"Charlotte, open the door!"

There was no reply.

"Charlotte!" he yelled again, shaking the door handle. "Damn it, open the door!"

"I told you I wish to be left alone!" she shouted, vehemently.

Charles slammed the palm of his hand against the wooden double doors.

"Open it, now, Charlotte!" he demanded.

"You are not my father!" she snapped.

"Charlotte!" Charles yelled again. "Open. The. Door."

Inside their chambers, he could hear her laughing then the clattering of a wine chalice. He wondered if she'd thrown it or knocked it over. Then he heard crying and soft singing.

"Charlotte, please," he begged her.

"I want nothing to do with you, Charles. Go back to your king. Play, romp with women, drink some more wine and forget the pain."

Her words stung his heart and he realized then she had been drinking too often since the Yule-tide celebrations began. Charlotte had never been one who had taken in so much wine. Charles sighed and pounded on the door.

"Charlotte! I will use force if I need to."

He could hear her footsteps coming closer and the sound of the door unlocking from the inside. Once she had done that, Charles forced himself in, gripping her arms.

"You are hurting me, Charles."

"What is happening to you to act this way?"

"All I feel is pain, Charles, pain for the loss of my first child — even if it had been a bastard, pain for the loss of my father, my sister-in-law, the exile of my brother…my mother is in Norfolk and I have not seen her since that bitch Katherine Howard was queen. And, I was even tormented by her and Sir Francis Bryan." Charlotte seethed.

"I know it—,"

"You do not know anything about the pain I am suffering through!"

Charlotte let her tears fall freely as she sobbed.

"Charlotte, my love, look at me. Do not just hear me, listen. I love you. No matter what obstacles we may yet go through together, I am going to be here at your side until I die. For better or for worse,"

Charlotte's tears had stopped and she sniffled as she roughly wiped away her tears.

"I cannot do this anymore, Charles. I cannot stay in court. I do not know how I managed to push through for the past seven years—,"

"Because you had me, your mother and your sister-in-law to protect you,"

Charles bent down and kissed her forehead before wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into his embrace. She buried her face into the fur of his coat and sighed. After several moments of silence, she looked up at him.

"I am a horrid wife, I should not have said those things to you…about romping—,"

"There is nothing to forgive, my love."

Charles pulled a velvet cloth out from the inside of his coat and gave it to Charlotte.

"Happy Christmas, Charlotte,"

He kissed her cheek as she opened the velvet wrappings and saw a beautiful, pearl necklace with a light blue diamond pendant and a tear drop shaped pearl attached to a smaller diamond the same colour. Charlotte smiled and put it around her neck.

"It looks stunning on you." Charles said.

Charlotte blushed and pulled herself up to kiss him on the mouth. She grabbed hold of his coat to hold herself up. Charles gripped her waist to steady her. To his surprise, she began pushing off his coat and with his help; he discarded it on the floor beside them. Charlotte pulled off the next layer of clothing until he was only in his shirt and trousers. Charles lifted her up and sat her down on the desk before pushing off papers to the floor. He began tugging roughly at the drawstrings on the back of Charlotte's bodice. Charlotte felt her skin tingling as his lips left trails of kisses down her jaw, down her neck and to her chest. Charlotte yelped as his hands went up her skirts and pushed them up to her waist.

"I hope you are not taking advantage of me just because you have had too much to drink."

Charlotte giggled as they shared another passionate moment together. Charles let out a small growl as her nails dug into his back when he had her. His jaw clenched. Before he could spill his seed in her, Charlotte pushed him off her and he sat down on the wingchair beside the desk. She straddled his waist and kissed him. Charles realized that she was teasing him and he chuckled at her.

"This is new," he commented.

"Shut up," she hissed, as he brought her hand to his trousers to help ease his lust.

Charles fought the urge to groan as his own wife seduced him. He failed miserably to keep his composure and Charlotte had a playful smile on her face. She kissed him lightly before pushing away from him.

"There," she murmured, against his lips.

Charlotte fixed her appearance before leaving their apartments, leaving Charles completely dumbfounded, wide-eyed and breathless. He often wondered what had gotten into Charlotte recently.

.:::*:::.

The Duchess of Suffolk had found her children with her ladies maids out in the gardens, walking and playing in the winter's snow. Rupert and Eleanor both have grown up quickly, they were two now. Rupert had dark curly hair like his father and green eyes. Eleanor had inherited the blonde curly hair from Charlotte's mothers' family and brown eyes she got from her mother and father. Harry was eight already and looked more and more like Charles every day.

"Mama!" all her children exclaimed, as they ran towards her.

Charlotte bent down and laughed as they all hugged her at once. She kissed all of them on the cheeks and lifted Eleanor into her arms.

"Where is Papa?" Harry asked.

"He is in our apartments, busy with his work." Charlotte answered. "Right then, my darlings, let us go inside to warm up."

"But, Mama!" they cried.

"We have not even had the chance to play with the snow!" Harry exclaimed.

"But you all are frozen! I do not think your little sister will be able to handle the cold much longer either!"

Eleanor curled up closer in her mother's arms to warm up. Charlotte laughed as her sons played and threw snow at one another, chasing each other around in the gardens.

"Henry! Rupert, come along now,"

"Fine," they both whined.

"You boys," Charlotte exclaimed, shaking her head. Once they entered the palace, the warmth had engulfed them. Eleanor slid down from her mother's arms and skipped towards her brothers just as the king and queen came down the corridor from the banquet hall.

"Your Majesties," Charlotte greeted.

Many of the menservants and ladies-in-waiting also curtsied and bowed. Eleanor stood behind her mothers' skirts as her twin brother did. Harry Brandon stood beside his mother and his little brother with Charlotte's arm wrapped around his shoulders. He bowed to the king and queen when they stopped.

"Your Grace, Happy Christmas," Henry said to Charlotte.

She curtsied again and smiled.

"Happy Christmas, Your Majesties,"

"And who is this young lady?" Henry asked, as Eleanor peeked out from behind Charlotte. He bent down so Eleanor could see him properly. Catherine smiled at Charlotte and her children.

"Eleanor, good king sir," came the shy voice of the little girl.

"You look just like your mother, Eleanor. Happy Christmas, my dear countess,"

Charlotte played with her daughter's blonde hair.

"What do you say, Ella?"

"Happy Christmas,"

Both Henry and Catherine smiled and chuckled at Eleanor's shyness.

"I trust Your Majesty is in good health?" Charlotte asked Catherine.

She gave a small nod gracefully and took Henry's hand into hers.

"I am in quite splendid spirits this Yule tide. I do wish for you to come under my services and be one of my ladies, Your Grace."

"I would be most honoured, Your Majesty, thank you."

"Your Grace, who is this young man? I hardly recognize him anymore." Henry exclaimed, after.

"Harry, Your Majesty,"

Charlotte smiled at her eldest son.

"And you have grown taller," Henry noted, "and you look so like your father."

"Much thanks, Your Majesty,"

Henry placed his hand on Harry's shoulder and then looked at Charlotte.

"Inform His Grace that I have urgent matters to discuss with him. An envoy brings news of the uprising in Calais." Henry said, excitedly.

"Do you have means to go to war with France, Your Majesty?"

"Women should not be discussing the issues of war and what is at hand, forgive me, Your Grace. Go now and tell your husband to come and see me."

"Very well, Your Majesty," Charlotte replied, curtsying.

Hastening herself, Charlotte led her children to their apartments where Charles had apparently readjusted himself and was already speaking with the Earl of Hertford.

"Keep your siblings preoccupied." Charlotte said to Harry.

He nodded and sat down with his siblings on the floor and gave them some toys. The Earl of Hertford bowed to Charlotte when he saw her.

"Your Grace,"

"Lord Hertford, if you would excuse us a moment?"

"Charlotte, I am in the middle of—,"

"Now, my lord?"

Reluctantly, Edward Seymour left their apartments and Charlotte turned to her husband.

"Is it true?"

"What is?"

"His Majesty has planned a war with France? He has received news on an uprising in Calais and wishes you to go to him."

"Charlotte—,"

"Answer me, Charles,"

"I am not certain if he will wager a war, my love."

"Will you go if he does?"

"That is not for me to decide upon, Charlotte." Charles answered.

"Charles!" Charlotte cried.

"I cannot! If His Majesty asks me to go to war with him in Calais, then I must do his bidding."

"And I cannot afford to lose you, Charles. What of your sons and your daughter?"

"You should not have to go. You have duty first to your family."

"I want to stay here with you with all my heart, Charlotte, I do. That is not my choice to make!" Charles snapped. "His Majesty has confidence with me more than anyone on his council."

"Very well, then," Charlotte sighed; she knew she had been defeated. "Then you best make haste to return to His Majesties' council if he seeks your advice over all the others."

Charles put his hand on the small of her back and kissed her forehead before leaving.

"Father, where are you going?" Harry asked.

"To the king's council, once I return I shall spend time with you all."

.:::*:::.