Hampton Court Palace (November 1530)
"I have longed for you all week," Edward whispered imploringly against Bessie's mouth.
His lips travelled downwards to trail soft kisses over the exposed skin of her neck, collarbones and chest. From her position seated on the rickety, oak wooden desk, Edward stood between her legs, providing her with the usual breathless pleasure that came with their meetings.
Bessie's hands tangled in Edward's hair and her head tilted back in ecstasy. His touch and kisses were like a drug that she just could not get enough of.
She moved his face back up to hers, and their mouths continued their ferocious dance. His hands continued a desperate exploration of her clothed body.
An old clerk's room of Hampton Court Palace had provided the couple with a secret meeting room for months. After their passionate trip together at Sudeley Castle, Edward had made good of his word that he would find a way to spend time alone with Bessie again. As soon as the court had moved to Hampton Court for the foreseeable future, he had sent Tom to scout the large palace for a suitable place to meet.
The room was located towards the older section of the palace, which was used to house only the most minor nobles of Henry's court. Whilst it was a dangerous game, they had been so far undetected. Tom would often slip Bessie small notes from Edward with a suitable time to meet, and they would only be together for half an hour at a time.
Sometimes, the couple would simply talk to each other during the time they had together. They shared their thoughts, hopes and feelings, but also discussed the latest matters of the court. Other times, they could not resist giving in to the temptation that they drew from each other.
Yet, they never went too far. They knew the risks of an illegitimate pregnancy, and how much that would completely ruin Bessie's reputation. It took all their power to resist, and thus kisses and embraces had to suffice.
Bessie often wondered how Anne had been able to be with the King so long, and not give in to making love with him. Oh, how she desired Edward. She wished she could give herself completely to him.
A gentle pattern of four knocks on the door broke the atmosphere of the room. Edward continued to kiss Bessie for a moment before she pulled away with all her might and placed a hand on his cheek.
Edward sighed and rested his forehead against Bessie's own.
"Tom's signal," Bessie whispered, "We have but two minutes left together."
Edward nodded and moved away from her, running his hand through his hair. She also saw him readjust his trousers and hose as if he were in discomfort.
"Are you glad about Wolsey's arrest?" asked Bessie, moving off from the table and coming closer to speak to Edward.
Wolsey had been banished from court in disgrace a few weeks ago, on charges of high treason. He was due to be moved to the Tower imminently.
Edward's lips turned up in a grim smile. "Indeed. If there is one thing that I agree with your family on, it is that that man should pay for his arrogance and greed. Mistress Anne must be thrilled."
"She is," Bessie agreed, "And so is my father, who now holds a greater position in the King's government."
"Aye, that is one drawback," Edward remarked, and Bessie nodded. "Though I would not complain about the appointment of Thomas Cromwell. He is an astute worker, with a reformative mindset on matters of religion."
As they had grown closer, Bessie had slowly realised that Edward, like Anne, held a reformative mindset. She wondered, and hoped, if the two would get along if they heard each other's views.
Tom knocked on the door twice more, and the couple's time together had to come to an end. Edward kissed Bessie once more, and after lingering a few extra seconds, she made her way out of the room alone to avoid notice.
…
If Anne knew or harboured any suspicion that Bessie had spent the last half an hour with Edward Seymour, she did not remark upon it when Bessie entered her private chamber.
The friends greeted each other as Bessie sat down to help Anne stitch the intricate tapestry that they were working on together.
"How does your maid fare?" Anne asked.
Bessie hesitated.
Bessie's excuse for her random absences was that her maid Maggie had recently given birth and that she occasionally visited her. It was true that Maggie had recently had a baby at Hampton Court, and Bessie did see her often in the servant's quarters, but Anne's question still caught Bessie off guard after she had just been with Edward.
"She is well thank you, and little Mary is thriving," Bessie replied.
Anne smiled in return, and the two women worked on the tapestry in silence for a while, until Anne broke the quiet atmosphere.
"I know you are lying to me, Bess. I do not know who you are meeting so frequently, nor do I wish to know considering you deem it something you can lie about to me."
Bessie gulped and looked down at the tapestry in her hands. The tension in the room was thick.
"Anne, I-," she started, but was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a messenger in the King's royal livery in the doorway of the chamber.
"Mistress Anne, I come bearing important news," he announced. He glanced at Bessie hesitantly.
Anne's eyebrows drew together. "Please share, Richard. Lady Elizabeth is a trusted friend."
Bessie noted the loaded meaning behind Anne's emphasis on the word 'trusted'.
He cleared his throat. "Mistress Anne, I come with the news of the death of Cardinal Wolsey."
Bessie's hand went to her mouth in shock.
"Dead? You are quite certain?" Anne asked, a glimmer of hope upon her face.
"Yes, my lady. After his arrest, he was being transferred to the tower, where he suffered a malady and died."
"A shame he did not die a traitor's death," Anne remarked. But her expression soon switched to a triumphant smile as she turned to Bessie. "But my prayers have been answered- this is God's will."
Bessie was still too shocked to remark. She had held no warm feelings for Wolsey, but he had been around for such a long time by the King's side.
As Anne quickly readied herself to see the King, Bessie quietly crossed herself and sent up a prayer for his troubled and unkind soul.
…..
The King and Anne had outdone themselves with the court events that followed the death of Cardinal Wolsey. There were balls, jousting tournaments, and even a play about the Cardinal burning in hell. Anne, and the Boleyn faction, were triumphant through it all.
Bessie had noticed, however, that despite the King's desire to have had Wolsey executed, he was surprisingly subdued throughout the proceedings. He had smiled occasionally, and still doted on Anne, but had watched the dances that evening with an odd expression upon his face.
Anne was busy dancing and socialising, and thus Bessie came to stand by the King's side, as he gloomily watched over the proceedings.
She tentatively approached his throne and curtsied.
"Sire, may I have a word?"
He looked up at her, startled. She watched him look over her appearance appreciatively, before smiling at her.
"Of course, Bess."
"I noticed you looked forlorn this evening, and I wondered if you needed someone to speak to."
He hesitated for a moment, but then he began to speak in a low tone.
"I cannot help but feel sad about Wolsey's death, Bess, he was a great friend to me once."
"It is not unusual to feel sad about one whom you used to regard as a close confidant, and who was by your side for so long."
The King nodded. "Though he also angered me and betrayed me."
Bessie felt enough confidence to continue. "Indeed, my Lord. He grew greedy, and that caused him to commit treason. Yet it is still acceptable for you to mourn the friendship you once shared with him."
The king processed her words for a second. "Thank you, Bess, it has been a long time since I had such balanced and caring advice."
She smiled at him and inclined her head. She made to leave, but he grabbed her hand for a moment and studied her face.
"I have never truly noticed how you have blossomed into such a lovely woman."
Bessie blushed. "Thank you, your grace, you flatter me. I only wish for the best for you and Anne."
He continued to appraise her with a strange expression and placed a kiss on her hand that he still held in his grip.
"You will be a great prize for a man one day, Bess. Excuse me."
And with that, he headed over to Anne, who welcomed him warmly to join her in the next dance.
Bessie tried to process her odd interaction with the King. She hadn't intended for the conversation to turn in such a way. He was just being kind, she thought.
A servant walked past her and offered her a glass of wine, to which she readily accepted.
Surveying the rest of the great hall, she witnessed couples dancing merrily; many likely forgetting just how many glasses of wine they had consumed across the evening. The hatred for Wolsey in the court was so strong that his death had turned into a raucous celebration.
Her heart dropped, however, when her gaze landed upon a familiar figure dancing closely with her fellow lady-in-waiting, Anne Stanhope.
She watched for a moment, knowing that she had no right to be jealous. The sight nevertheless made her feel like her heart was shattering into tiny fragments.
As if sensing her gaze upon him, Edward looked up, and their eyes met for a fraction of a second, before Bessie quickly tore her eyes from him and walked away.
A/N- Hello to all readers of this story! Just wanted to say this story is rated M for a reason that will become more apparent over later chapters…