Chapter 2: Duty
With brisk and solid strides he paced the darkened confines of his chamber, seething raw with anger. "Duty" he spat "Honor." he seethed. "Bound to that succubus, a jailer in all but name". His fingers clenched the solid goblet within his grasp, metal digging into his tender flesh. Silently he brought the warm ale to his lips and devoured the content. "It is not as if you have not sampled the Kings cast offs before Charles" the deep voice sneered in the darkness. Humorlessly Charles laughed " That was a very different beverage" he smirked. "Matrimonial obligations are not as sweet".
His dark eyes fell to the man seated before him, ensconced in the fine chair before the fire. "What am I to do, Anthony?" he sighed. "The King has decreed and you must follow '' the words fell easily from Anthony's lips. A simple proclamation, a task to be performed "Wed her and bed her Charles. It is not as if she is ill favoured".
Grimacing Charles bristled "That I can not do" His statement fell hard and heavy, he emphasised each word in hopes of conveying his explanation "Our King has all but forced me into matrimonial celibacy" The quiet crackling of the fire was his only reply. He turned and walked in silence, his fingers finding the cold strength of the mantle as he rested himself upon it "For the want of the King" he grumbled. The finality of the command edged with bitterness.
"Consummation has been forbidden?" Anthony whispered. The question hung heavy in the air "He does not willingly give up that which he possesses" intently Charles paused, his face, a mask of derision "I am to be her keeper and ensure her loyalty". Exhaling loudly Anthony raised his eyebrows. "And does your intended know of the King's plans? He asked. "She is not a woman to comply once willingly forsaken". Charles clasped his forehead and groaned in frustration,dragging his hand down to squeeze his chin " I am to inform her" he whispered.
Laughter thundered around the silent room. In vexation Charles turned his head and glared "Murder is a sin" Anthony laughed. " So is envy" replied Charles, his eyes full of mirth "still begrudge me my position?" He smirked. Bringing his hand to his heart Anthony grinned "What is friendship when I have such companions" he mocked. Charles rolled his eyes and sighed, Anthony had a jovial disposition and amiable character. He could happily marry the courtesan and enjoy the benefits bestowed.
"I should have married Katherine," murmured Charles.
Inhaling deeply he closed his eyes, he had considered the beautiful young heiress but decided against it. Katherine would make a fine bride, It was he who was not equipped for matrimony "Your love is most generous where it is most hurtful". Charles shivered and ran his hands through his chestnut hair, the haunting taunt still echoing in his mind. It stood unchangeable now. Katherine intended for his heir and the harlot to be locked at his side. Unaware of his darkening mood Anthony smiled "Thirty five years more youth and a fortune. Yes I can see the appeal" he chortled. "Better than a merciless viper" Charles jeered "A cheap nothing, that's what Margret used to call her".
The open repugnance for his intended pierced the veil of comradery, Anthony sat in silence the air thick with oppression. "She is to be your wife, perhaps it might be worth discarding your prejudice" his clear disgust at his friend's hypocrisy evident "If she has relinquished her place it will not have been done lightly. A decade beneath her notice should have taught you that" Charles bristled "A concubine in all but name" he spat "I imagine once the King renews his interest she'll comply readily enough" Anthony rubbed the bridge of his nose "I have not hated her wilfully you have" he said. Pausing he drained his goblet "Perhaps you should evaluate the woman and not your own jealous sentiment" he jeered. Charles scoffed in disbelief.
Anthony sighed his patience slowly ebbing "Anne Boleyn has both determination and intelligence. Enough to evade the passions of a King for several years and claim the crown" Charles turned "ensnared a King" he mocked. "You truly are a fool" Anthony breathed. Quietly he pushed on the solid wooden frame of the chair and heaved himself forward "In survival you may have found your match Charles" he said as he steadily strode towards his companion and grasped his shoulder "Can you say no to the King?". The words echoed in the darkness as Charles' mind recoiled "Then what makes you think she could" he whispered.
They stood in deafening silence. The minutes abated and their emotions fraught. "I envy you not my friend" Anthony's deep monotone voice brash in the still of the night. Hesitantly his hand fell heavily to his side. He could think of no alternative to breach the void. He pinched the bridge of his nose. Married to his enemy and enslaved to his King Charles had little recourse for success "She will not return readily to her discarded husband" Anthony muttered. Charles nodded "A decade long battle of wills has been won" he replied as he turned and looked to Anthony "But the war has just begun".
Anthnoy grimaced "And you must comply" he whispered "for the love of our King". Silently Chales nodded. Nothing more could be said or done to alter the King's will. Charles would be bound in matrimony with as much joy and effusion as the bride herself.
"Brandon" she groaned her heart aflutter with fear "You can not be serious Henry". Her dark eyes sought the deep blue of his and beeseached him to reason". "Be grateful for my diligence madam" he snarled "lest you find yourself married to a pauper". Seething she turned and walked towards the fire. Her hands clenching the hard frame of the timber chair before the mantle as her fingers pressed into the soothing velvet, the firm strength of the wood cutting into the soft padding of her hand. "You might as well marry me to Spain itself, for I am no less loathed by the Emperor than I am your dog" she spat. Her scathing words ricocheted around the bedchamber.
Henry smirked, his lust rising as her passion boiled. Anne incited his fervour as no one else, her fine dark eyes, ebony hair and petite frame aroused him, but it was her intensity and spirit that consumed him. Truly she was enchanting and when her blood simmered and fire ignited within her soul she was positively bewitching. " Brandon is my choice" he paused, smiling as her silhouette was illuminated by the flames " and you will marry where I bid" he jeered. Twisting she glared, her breathing steady as she paced towards him "Thank for explaining it so sufficiently Your Majesty". Her eyes burned with scorn as she stopped and grasped the thick wooden bed post.
Leering Henry laughed as he closed the distance between them. His figure towering above her as he leaned down and allowed his breath to mingle with her own "You are mine to command madam. Be sure you remember it". Henry's words echoed, a battle cry in the solitude of the chamber. "After everything we have been to each other, after everything we were. This is how I am to be condemned? Married to that lecherous mongol. She sobbed, her breath catching " What have I done to make you treat me this way?".
His eyes locked with her own conflicted orbs "Charles is loyal to his King" he taunted "Immune to your allurements" Her face contorted in anger, his statement penetrated the protective barriers erected in haste around her heart, she recognised the spark of lust within his eyes, his gaze washing over her tantalising figure. Her lips twitched in a quiet response as her mind targeted his weakness "I promise you I will not heel as your mutt does" she jeered. Temptingly she leaned forward "I told you once that my maiden head was for my husband alone" she whispered her lips mear inches from his own "and I vow to you now my body is bound to my husband alone" silently she smirked and tilted her head as she withdrew "no other".
Quietly she stared, his face a mask of frustration as his eyes found hers and she recoiled at the dark glint of fury that burned in the deep blue orbs. "To whom do you think you are currently bound madam" his frame enveloped her own as his hand lashed out to coil around her arm. "You are my wife…..for the moment " he sneered. "I may claim my conjugal rights at any time" His lips brushed against hers as his hand tangled in the dark trestles of her hair and pulled her closer. Anne placed her hand flat against the hard warmth of his chest and pushed herself back "And delay begetting your heir" she questioned.
Henry snarled "What delay you have already agreed to a separation" his lips quickly reclaiming her own and began to trail a burning path of passion down her neck. "Awaiting the months to confirm if I have conceived" she whispered in his ear, her voice alight with desire "You could not risk our son's legitimacy". The cold splash of reality consumed his adore "our son" Henry stammered "If you claimed your rights I could not refuse you" Anne murmured "But neither could we depart out marriage until we ensured absolute knowledge we had not conceived and if we had" she whispered "we would be bound irrevocably".
Anne sighed and turned away, every fiber of her being called out to him. How she longed to be held within his arms, loved by him even if only for a moment. She wrapped her arms around her waist and grasped her sides, she could not deny the truth. If she conceived his child and brought forth his son, she would be safe, a daughter would buy her time but did not guarantee survival. If she did not find herself with child or worse endured the misfortune of loss once more she would be destroyed and for the love of Elizabeth she could not take the chance. "I would wish for such a fate" she murmured "but I have not the strength to share you with others"
Turning Anne walked towards the door "Tell Brandon I accept your terms'' she whispered, tears of pain dripped down her smooth pale skin. Her eyes flashed with tempest as her voice strained for normality "You are ever a good, kind and sovereign lord Henry and to me you were always kind and gentle" bile rose in her throat as she struggled to enforce control and regulation of her turbulent emotions "I pray God grant you a prosperous reign and the good fortune of a strong heir" Straightening her posture Anne curtsied "Your Majesty". Refusing to remain with him a moment longer she hurried quickly though the archway never looking back. Lest she defy her appointed fate.