Chapter 8

Dear Henry,

Margaret and I have arrived in Portugal safety. She is totally excited to become the new queen with all the wedding details and I am making sure that she would be protected at all times. I also want to know how are you doing? I hope that you are great and managing the kingdom just fine. I will write to you as soon as possible

Your ever-loving servant,

Charles Brandon.

Henry held the letter against the candle wax as he noticed a hidden content underneath Charles' name. Moving the letter over the flame, the ink began to become more visible as Henry smiled at the remaining content.

I want to tell you that I cannot wait to kiss those lips, feel the swaying of you inside me as well as hearing your moans and hands caressing my face.

Henry sighed deeply as the fire cracked filling the silence of the room. He sat on the edge of the bed looking on the letter once more. He was at least joyful that his sister was safe for the wedding preparations but he was happier that Charles and her were really close almost like siblings. He knew that Charles was the most upmost rightful person for the job because he trusted no other man. He took out a key that he carried at all times as he opened a secret compartment in his cupboard where he kept all his intimate letters between him and Charles and place this one neatly inside. Placing the key back on his neck hiding it among his sleepwear, he walked over to the table as he took a quilt and a blank paper. Inhaling deeply as the quilt touched the paper as he began to write.

Dear Charles,

I have longed to see you. My management of the kingdom is fine but I cannot bear to live without your presence near me. I am glad to hear that Margaret is excited for her wedding. I wish I could accompany you alone to this voyage but you know that I am king. I am laughing in my room alone with no one to share it with. I want to hear your laughter...to see your gleeful expression. When you left for your voyage, you seemed content with something. We will discuss it when you get back.

Your ever-loving servant

Henry

After finishing the letter, Henry stared on the letter, pretty satisfied with it as he placed it in his draw and then laid in his bed ready to drift his deep sleep with his hands neatly clasped on his stomach ready to close his eyes to dream about his lover and himself.

The sound of trumpets blaring through Charles' ear as he saw Margaret walking with a huge smile on her face with her arm taken by the young King of Portugal. He smiled at the new royal young couple, as they were about to take their dance. Charles thought that the king of Portugal was young perhaps twenty-one or so but he knew that king would make Margaret happy and treat her as a true queen. After the ceremonial dance, everyone in the court was to retire to the main hallway for food and more celebrations. Charles sat there with his hands neatly clasped under the table as he looked on Margaret giving the king his countless kisses. Then he recalled a sweet encounter between him and Henry that night.

'Will you stop torturing me already? And tell me the good news?" Charles asked with a smile on his face. Henry and Charles were about fifteen years of age at this time as Charles stared up into Henry eyes while he stroked Charles' short brown hair.

" I am going to be made king in a couple of days since the death of my brother came so sudden." He whispered.

"That's great news! You will be able to rule the kingdom your way with no old bastards telling you what to do..." Charles said as he kissed his cheek.

"Yes. And the first thing as king I would do is make you a knight to show my gratitude towards you..." Henry whispered.

"What have I done to deserve such gratitude? I am not saying that I am not grateful. You know I don't like surprises..." Charles said entwining his finger in Henry's hair.

"Charles, you are my friend, my most trusted and loyal lover. I look onto no one else with such devotion. Not even my future wife Katherine." Henry clasped his hands with Charles staring into his eyes. "Charles, you are my one and only and there is no one in the world not even his Holiness would be able to break us. Do you understand?" Charles immediately agreed by responding to his lips gently touching his as he and Henry embraced each other's mouth.

"Charles, what have your thoughts so fixed?" Margaret questioned as she sat in front of him.

"It's nothing. I am just concerned for what is happening back in England." He said calmly.

"Don't you mean what is happened to someone?" She winked. Charles returned in laughter as he and Margaret both raised their goblets together as the music played.

"I am little bit worried about her being with him." Charles said in a soft whisper.

"Charles there is nothing for you to be worried about. I know my brother and he would never betray the secrets of those who he loves so deeply and cares for. Trust me that gripe would never changes him." Margaret responded placing her hand onto his calming his concerns.

"Well at least tomorrow I would be closer to him once I leave for the kingdom." Charles said favorably.

"Yes. Tell my brother that I am extremely blissful. I will update him once a week." Margaret said.

As the brightness of the sun faded becoming the darkness of the skies, Charles stood in front of his cases as he anticipating for his arrival in the English court. He heard a knock on the door as he opened it to find one of Princess Margaret's ladies standing there.

"Sir Brandon, something is wrong with Princess Margaret. Come quickly!" She said with a hurry. Charles rushed as he could; he loved Margaret like a sister and saw her as nothing more.

"Where is his Majesty?" He asked.

"He is with her. I don't know what has caused her illness. She seemed to be fine today." Charles arrived into the room, as all the important officials as well as the king were all standing concerned. Margaret looked ill, blood was all over her face and her attire. Charles could not grasp what could have caused this. She was perfectly well from the voyage until now.

"Your Majesty, what has happened? Was the food contaminated?" Charles asked. The king looked on him with disbelief.

"Sir Brandon, all of us had the same food and we show no signs of illness. I am so confused. I do not want you to die, my beleza." The King knelt beside her as he held her hand. The rest of the people in the room followed as they continued pray including Charles.

To: His Majesty

I have imperative and severe news. Princess Margaret has fallen sick. By the doctor's analysis she is having signs of consumption and nothing can be done except prayer. Her illness has delayed by my travel for a couple days. I apologize for this. I will seek that she is thriving and I will always be there for her. Margaret is just like my sister as you know and I know that you would have done the same if you had my place. I will notify her progress in a matter of three days.

Your ever-loving servant,

Charles Brandon

Duke of Suffolk

Henry stared on the letter once more in disbelief. He could not believe that just within a few hours of being queen, it did not make any comprehensible sense. Judging by Charles' report she seemed fine, Henry stood there looking at his kingdom. He did not know what to do. He loved his sister dearly even though he could not show such feelings since he was a king but he would do anything for her. He knew that he could not send any recommendations in time to make her live since the journey would take a few weeks. All he could do was pray. Without thinking, he decided to head to the church and listen to the choir and prayed for the well being of his sister.

"Lord, please do not take her away from my family. She is the only one that I have left to bear the family name. I know that you and I have not spoken like this in such a long time. But please guide your hands to her body and extract whatever she is suffering. Please take care of her and…Charles." He mumbled under his breath.

Suddenly Katherine sat beside him as she clasped her hands with his. Henry looked on Katherine as he smiled onto her.

"I heard the news about Princess Margaret. I am deeply sorry, Henry." Katherine whispered. The choir's vocals began to rise as they reached the bridge of the melody. Henry held her hand tighter as he sighed looking on the huge gold cross.

Anne sat there staring at the letter that she had received; she had a huge smile on her face. She could not believe that the plan worked. Now all she had to do is wait for another opportunity to arise to make the king become her servant. She knew that sacrifices had to be made in order for her to strive to the top as her past relatives have done.

"Poor Margaret...She had what was coming to her." Anne whispered as she began to laugh. She threw the letter into the fireplace to burn the evidence. Anne stood there as she began to think another way to see the king. She knew that she had to give him a period of mourning and this would be the best time that he would be vulnerable.

Anne stood there in the crowd of the court as she awaited to see his majesty, the Cardinal came out shocked to see her there.

"Lady Anne, what are you doing here?" He asked.

"I have an audience with his Majesty." She replied.

"What would a silly girl like you have to say to a king?" He said as he walked in hurriedly pace.

Anne stood there with her arms out looking on the king who was staring into the fire.

"Your majesty. I know that I should not have seen you but I heard the news of your sister." Anne said as she wrapped her arms around him.

"Thank you, Lady Anne. Your consideration is the upmost appreciated." He took her hands and gently brushed his lips on each of them.

"What arrangements would you have for her?" Anne asked. Henry looked on her baffled.

"What I mean is since I care for your majesty and your well being, I was just concerned for your sister's arrangements..." Anne said giving a sympathetic look.

"Sorry Lady Anne, I am still mourning for her. The arrangement is to have her buried here beside my mother." He said calmly.

"Did they find the culprit?" She asked.

"Yes. It was one of her ladies who had been put to death immediately. After serving her most of her life, I cannot understand why." Henry placed his hand on his chin.

"Maybe she was just jealous of the lifestyle that Princess Margaret was about to endure. People have many reasons to kill someone and some of those reasons cannot be explained." Anne said calmly. Henry listened carefully to her words as he walked towards the window staring into the grey skies. 'I hope Charles is okay.'

After countless weeks upon the sea, Charles was grateful that he had returned to the English court. Even though Charles was not able to attend the funeral service, he rode on his horse towards her burial ground. The coolness of wind gently caressed Charles' hair as he knelt down in front of her grave with tears in his eyes.

"I have a poem for you that I wrote. Margaret you were like a sister that I have never had and wish for your happiness. When I saw that smile upon your face as you graced the court of coming of age, dancing with the young gents and ladies at that time...I knew that you would be a good queen someday. Here goes..." Charles cleared his throat as he took another deep breath.

'Sweet lusty lusum lady clere, Most myghty kyngis dochter dere, Borne of a princess most serene, Welcum of Portugal to be quene.'

"That was beautiful..." He heard Henry commented in a soft whisper. Charles saw Henry's eyes were filled with tears. Henry never cried in front of anyone since he was crowned king except for Charles. Charles stood up before him as he placed his hand upon Henry's shoulder. Charles' eyes diverted to the guards that were around them and knew that he could not console his loveable passion and concern for Henry's time of mourning.

"I wrote it while I was aboard on the ship. I wanted to say this at the burial but I could not make it for obvious reasons. Your Majesty, it was just perplexing that her servant of many years decided to poison her." Charles said.

"I am glad that you wrote this. I am sure Margaret would approve it and us. I find it hard to believe myself Charles. You sound that you wish to probe more…" Henry said with a hint of concern.

"If Your Majesty desires to search the bottom of the pot. I would do so for Margaret's sake." Charles said with a smile.

"No. She would not wish for you to meddle in things that no longer our control. Let us head back to court." Henry said as he began to walk alongside with Charles. "Your touch has been missed." Henry whispered under his breath in Charles' ear.

Charles walked along the familiar walls of the court as he could hear music become faded. He really felt like he could use some more wine as his throat quenched for more. Opening the door to his quarters, he looked forward to his bed but the person standing before him was not who he thought would be there.

Anne sat calmly with her hands coifed as she tuned into the fire cracking in the distance. With her ankles crossed as she continued to turn the page of the book in her hand. The content intrigued her immensely, received by Mr. Cromwell, her religious beliefs were always to the new reformation.

"The king has the right under God to rule his kingdom anyway he see fit since that his word is God's law..." Anne whispered under her breath. She knew that this would put the kingdom in utter uproar with the people and Rome. She giggled at the thought of the chaos when she decided to show this book to the king.

"I will bring fire and chaos to the English kingdom that no one has ever seen..." She rose from her chair as she strolled towards the window panel staring into the lush green gardens of the courtyard. Smile brought upon her cheeks, as she could not wait to seek an audience with his majesty.

"What are you doing here, your majesty?" Charles asked as he shut the door behind him. He would never think that she would be here in front of him. Looking into the sadness of her eyes, she stood there with her hands clasped in front of her.

"Mister Brandon, I am come to seek your council..." Katherine said as she sat down before him. Charles immediately sat before her offering her a cup of wine as she refused his offer.

"Your majesty...I do not know why you need my council..." Charles seemed a bit worried about her. He did not see Katherine as just a queen but also a motherly figure towards him since he did not know his mother.

"I have heard of what had happened to Margaret...Poor girl. I know she was high spirited young woman who desired nothing but something is troubling me..." She said. Charles read through her eyes that they needed to be alone so he told his servants in his quarters to leave.

"What is it, my queen?" Charles questioned.

"How was she killed? According to Henry, she was poisoned by her servants of many years..." She responded.

"I know. I find it bewildering myself to the matter. But what does this have to with me?" Charles inquired.

"Days before her travel, she came to ask my advice on some female servants that she wished to take with her. I recommended Lady Turell who had nurse her as well as Mary as a child. I believe that Lady Turell was forced to do it." Katherine said calmly.

"And you think that someone would purposely want to harm Margaret? But the question is why? I cannot comprehend the act. However, my queen, I had discussed this with His Majesty and he wished to not pursue the matter further. You as well as I know that Margaret would not wish so." Charles said.

Katherine smiled at him. "I know. I just wanted to speak to someone who is loyal to Henry as well as I. Farewell Mister Brandon. I will take my leave."

Charles bowed in response as the door closed behind him, he began to ponder on the circumstances that were brought upon Margaret. But he remembered that Henry did not wish to interfere with the matter.

Author note: The poem I just researched in its original version. I was looking for poem to describe Princess Margaret in this version of her in my story. I am sorry that it almost been two years since I last updated but with work, masters and life all gathered. I had lost track of time. I hope that you who still follow story I have not given up on it. Thank you for your patience

Keep Reviewing and Reading

Rushie19