Chapter Sixteen: In Jane's Power
"Your Majesty, the Queen would like to see you."
"Eh? What? Is Jane back already?" When the smartly dressed footman made his announcement, King Henry was peacefully snoring away in a deep reclining chair, resting after a huge lunch. He didn't even have time to sit up and rub his eyes before the slim young queen slipped into the room, kissing him on both cheeks.
"My dearest love!" The sound of Jane's voice and the scent of her perfume jarred Henry from his tranquil slumber. Instinctively, the king responded to her kiss, trying to drag her into his arms and down onto the soft-cushioned chair where he had been resting.
"Thought you were coming home Friday." Henry scowled, because instead of falling into his arms Jane had somehow slipped out of his grasp and crossed to the other side of the room.
"My goodness, Harry, how can you keep the curtains drawn on such a lovely spring day?" It was actually a damp and chilly day, but the queen's enticing figure was outlined by the watery light as she yanked back the thick, heavy curtains in the king's study.
"Jane, I asked you a question. Why did you come home early?" Henry was feeling cross and in no mood for games. Jane's kiss had awakened him, and spoiled a very good nap. Yet instead of letting him kiss her back she was tidying up his private study, teasing him like a chambermaid instead of acting like a queen.
"Well, I suppose you've seen this." Queen Jane held out the tabloid newspaper for the king's inspection. She knelt down by Henry's chair, her beautiful blue eyes full of royal indignation. "While I was visiting factories and mines, cheering the working people of your kingdom, your daughter was caught kissing some cheap photographer in the public eye!"
"Oh, that's damned nonsense," the king objected. "Mary's not like that. I'll wager someone sent that photo to the newspaper just to make trouble for Mary."
"I sent that photo to the tabloids." Jane's slim white hand gripped the king's knee with surprising strength. "Mary has been struggling with her royal role, and I wanted her to see what could happen if she wasn't more careful."
"Then she isn't really interested in this Maxie person?" Henry felt a bit bewildered by it all. Jane was kneeling beside him, her hand casually rubbing his inner thigh. It felt good, and very soothing. Henry found it hard to concentrate on Mary and her problems.
"Mary wants to be a scientist," Jane was saying. "There's a research laboratory in southern France, run by this woman, Daphne Dumont. Apparently she's quite famous. I thought if Mary was to go and study with her for a few weeks, it might give her more confidence. And it would keep her out of trouble with boys."
"Boys!" King Henry felt even more bewildered. "But you said . . ."
"The real reason Mary and I came home early is because of a young officer on our security detachment. His name is Rory something or other. I didn't like the way he was looking at her. See in this picture, he's the one holding the umbrella over her head while she talks to the crowd about global warming."
"I'll take care of him! I'll send him to bloody Antarctica!"
"Yes, of course." Jane put down the newspaper and went back to stroking the king's thigh, exciting him more and more. "Only since you're too powerful and strong to be swayed by rumors, you might have him transferred right here to London. Put him in the police repair shop, cleaning filthy patrol car engines every day. No woman will want him when he's dirty and greasy and in disgrace!"
"Yes, you're right. Whatever you say," Henry panted hoarsely. Something about Jane's soothing touch made him forget all about being strong and powerful. The king fumbled for his fly, blind to everything else, wanting only release from unbearable need.
"You are so wise and good! Allow me to serve you, Your Majesty." Jane's hands were too quick for him. But it was her mouth that was truly the king's undoing. The moment Henry's aching hardness was within her warm red lips, he was truly in her power.