For the first time since last night my thoughts wandered to Anne Boleyn as Henry sat on his horse as Charles, Catherine and I as we rode through the English countryside. She was still his queen and wife. I knew that my love for Henry was wrong since he was still married. But I let my feelings cloud my judgment. I felt like a whore for immediately agreeing to be his wife when he was still married. I fingered the necklace around my throat. It was a constant reminder of his current marriage. I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to see Catherine riding next to me. Henry and Charles were on my other side.
"We are stopping to give the horses a rest," Catherine said. I nodded and got off Brego. Catherine noticed my change in behavior but said nothing. I went over and sat myself down under a tree while waiting for the others. Catherine and Charles sat closer to the horses giving Henry and I some privacy. I couldn't bear to look at him. He was another woman's husband and I was the other woman. If my parents were here now they'd flay me alive.
"Dearest what's the matter," Henry asked as he put his fingers on my chin forcing me gently to look at him. I looked at him deciding just to speak the truth even if he didn't like it.
"Henry what about your wife," I asked him. His eyes darkened and he dropped his fingers and took my hand.
"She is might have some idea that I plan to divorce her. There has been evidence that she has had many lovers and had dealings with witchcraft," Henry said. I held my tongue knowing that the many lovers part was true. But still it would cost so many lives due to her deception.
"Henry are you divorcing Anne because you truly love me and that the evidence against Anne Boleyn is all true," I asked him. He looked at me and smiled.
"Andrea, I love you with all of my heart you are the light in my dark world. The purest goodness I have ever known. I truly love you," Henry said as he bent his head slightly to kiss me. I felt myself smile into his kiss and he sensing my smile did the same and pulled me closer to his body.
When we returned to Hampton Court Palace Henry never let me out of his sight. He wanted to spend every moment with me and I couldn't be happier for that fact. But his duties interfered and he had to leave for council for a short while. I found myself walking in the garden waiting for Henry to meet me. I kept smiling like a fool as I walked. My life was finally turning around. I had the most amazing family and the most loving fiancé. My life was turning out okay I just hope not to disappoint the people. The Court I think might know but Henry was sure that when we were together I had my family with me.
"Andrea come on in we have to get ready for the evening meal," Catherine said as she came out.
"You seem happy sister," I asked her. She just laughed and we walked inside only to be met by the furious Anne Boleyn. If looks could kill I would be dead fifty times over.
"Well if it isn't the Brandon whores," Anne said much to the laughter of her ladies.
"Coming from one of the Boleyn whores," Catherine retorted. Anne's anger multiplied.
"What did you say to me? I am the Queen of England you could be thrown into the Tower for your words," Anne retorted venom dripping in her voice.
"Catherine let us leave," I said taking her arm as I tried to pull her away.
"Go on leave you are both cowards anyway and your brother is no better," Anne said.
"What about yours Anne? His lover is a man and yet you ignore his own wife your sister by marriage in her attempts to leave him," I snapped at her. No one insults Charles. The Lady Jane Rochford stared at me.
"How dare you speak of such things," Anne said pointing her finger at me.
"I will speak how I like," I replied getting angrier by the second.
"Leave us alone Boleyn," Catherine snapped.
"Catherine come on she's not worth it," I said. I suddenly felt hands around my neck. I couldn't breathe. I looked to see Catherine staring in horror.
"Go get Charles and Henry," I choked out. Anne kept her grip. Catherine ran to fetch Charles and Henry for help.
"No one takes Henry from me," Anne said. The ladies in her household were appalled by her actions; their hands were to their mouths in shock. The chain of the necklace Henry gave to me was leaving marks on my neck for sure. I felt the chain digging into my neck hopefully not hard enough to break the skin. I tried to remove her hands but to no avail. Black spots started to cloud my vision. I felt as if I was having an asthma attack. My heart was pounding trying to get oxygen to my brain.
"He will not save you. You are nothing but a whore to him," Anne spat out. I shook my head small tears escaping my eyes at the lack of oxygen.
"You think he loves you. You are just another conquest. You are someone who needs to be destroyed. You have made it so that Mary is in front of my daughter Elizabeth in the line of succession. You have stolen my husband and that I can not allow," Anne said as she gripped tighter. I felt my head go light and felt as if I weighed nothing. The last thing I saw was Henry and Charles running towards the scene and Henry's shouts of my name before all went black.
I groaned hoarsely at the sunlight streaming through the window. I tried to block the sunlight by my hand but it was being held down by something. I opened my eyes to see Charles looking at me in relief.
"What happened," I asked him.
"Don't you remember," Charles asked.
"I remember being choked then everything went dark," I replied. I looked around and saw many gifts around the room. I rose my eyebrow in confusion. Charles noticed the look and did not look amused at the gifts.
"After we heard the news and we got to you. Henry carried you by himself to our room and people figured out that Anne was falling in favor so they are trying to win yours," Charles said. I glanced at all of the stuff and sighed.
"Where is Henry," I asked.
"He had to go settle the situation from yesterday. Anne was claiming self defense but her ladies confessed otherwise," Charles replied, "He would never leave you in this state unless he was forced to." I nodded and sat up slowly. Charles watched me in case I needed help.
"So how long was I unconscious," I asked him.
"Almost four days the physician almost thought you were not going to make it. Henry looked murderous when he said that," Charles replied.
"Where is Catherine," I asked.
"We saw signs that you might wake so she went to go retrieve Henry," Charles said. I nodded.
"When can I get up I feel like an invalid just sitting here," I said. Just then the door burst open and Henry's face was plain as day. I smiled at him.
"Leave us please," Henry asked. Charles got up and nodded taking Catherine's hand and closing the door behind them. When it was closed Henry walked towards me and kissed me. He kneeled down next to the bed and held my hand.
"I thought I lost you," Henry said.
"You'll never lose me as long as you'll have me," I told him. He just laughed and smiled.
"Cromwell tells me that the trial was finished this morning with a guilty verdict. The divorce has been granted and Anne Boleyn has been sentenced to death her family however is now missing. Their homes have been abandoned. However Lady Jane Rochford was left behind," Henry said.
"Why would they just leave her," I asked him.
"I do not know sweetheart. All I know is that what is done is done and now we can marry," Henry said kissing my knuckles. I smiled.
"Does that mean I can get out of this bed and walk around?" I asked. He laughed.
"As long as I may escort you sweetheart," Henry replied.
"No guards," I asked him. He shook his head. I groaned.
"After yesterday I want you to be protected at all times. I have employed Sir Francis Bryan to search for the Boleyns. Once they are captured will I lessen the guard around you," Henry said.
"Very Well but no more than five," I said.
"Eight," Henry replied.
"Six," I replied.
"Seven and no debate sweetheart I do not want to lose you," Henry said looking at me with eyes full of worry. I couldn't resist and nodded. We ended up talking until two hours before the evening meal. Henry decided that it was tomorrow night that he would announce our engagement to the court. The thought made me nervous and happy all at the same time. His eldest daughter Mary would be there and I hope she approved of me.
