by J P Ceark
‘I too am miserable!’ he yelled. ‘I too must suffer our existence.’
Mary had manoeuvred herself ever closer to the door. She and William stared at one another, silent and sad. ‘I’m going for a walk,’ she finally said.
* * *
She reached Anne, but Anne was walking with another. Realising it was Henry Percy, Mary walked behind them. Anne turned to view the intruder but smiled when she saw it was her sister.
‘I couldn’t believe it when the King said you were to be here,’ Henry Percy spoke to Anne, then smiled weakly at her.
‘You know of the reason?’ she queried.
‘I … no?’
‘The King doth pursue me, though I make clear my honesty.’
‘Your honesty?’ he smiled but then sighed with deep forlorn.
‘Percy, I cannot bear your sadness. If I had such power to make right the wrong done to us, I would. As it is, we must bear what fortune dictates.’
‘And so you go to the King’s bed?’
‘Why do people judge me so lowly?’ Her anger became ignited. ‘I may be a woman but I know better conduct than seduction or base vanity! I see it for what it is, a passing fancy, but it may see me married eventually to a good husband.’
‘I hope the risk brings reward. If your name be linked with the King’s, it’ll not bring the happy alliance you ask for.’
‘Then I shall not marry and the King shall never know of me. If his desire is maintained, only I can win.’ She paused to observe her past love and felt pity. ‘If only this had been two years ago …’ She began but Percy shook his head.
‘Play games with the King, you can only lose,’ he cautioned her.
‘I don’t see how? Mary was wed before being encouraged into his bed; I only ask for the same consideration and with a greater suiter.’
‘Anne, you’re deceived. The King would’ve had Mary; be wed or no, it wouldn’t have figured into his conduct to act any other way than to conquer.’
‘You think me a fool?’
‘I fear for you …’
‘Where is the King?’
‘With the Bishop of Chichester. It will be some time before you see him.’
‘Let us change the subject and walk some more.’ She turned to view her sister once more. ‘Mary, are you to join us or to linger behind?’
Mary hurried to be beside Anne, comforted with her inclusion. ‘This is how life could have been for you both,’ said Mary.
‘Aye, I wish it was so,’ replied Percy.
Anne bowed her head.
* * *
As the day gave way to the night, the royal court returned to Petworth. They had dined together and now parted to retire. Anne’s rooms were close to her father’s and she bid him goodnight and entered into her own private room.
William grabbed at Mary’s arm as she went to follow Anne.
‘I demand you retire with me.’
‘Father has ordered I retire with Anne. Do you wish to lower yourself before my father? To ask permission to sleep with your wife? … No, I thought not.’
Anne stood staring at them, waiting for Mary, but as William let go of Mary’s arm, Anne disappeared into her chamber.
‘I’ll return to Essex tomorrow,’ William informed Mary. ‘Do not follow, there is no welcome there for you.’
‘Aye, My Lord, I’m contented to be away from you.’
‘And see your family’s scheme fail? You’ll be depended once more upon your father,’ William stated.
‘Aye and you be just like him … I’ve no haven from underhand men.’
Mary departed and moved into the antechamber of Anne’s rooms. She then heard Anne’s voice, filled with impatience.
‘Are you quite done?’ Anne spoke. ‘I would prefer a female servant in future.’
‘I am your servant always, Mistress,’ spoke the retainer with a familiar voice Mary knew to be the King’s.
‘I have no need of a servant,’ Anne replied, playing along.
‘Yet I declare whatever you desire, I shall make it so …’ He approached her carefully and on confident ground she wouldn’t flee, then made to kiss her. ‘Only a few know I am here. Your name will never be known wrongfully, I give my promise to you. Let me know of you carnally.’
‘Bring me words of love but deeds of temptation, emotions of deceit and actions of ruin. I thank you indeed, Sire, for harming me!’
‘Harm! Harm! Woman, I mean not to harm you!’
‘Sire, you’re as harassing as a winter’s cough. Constant, persistent and without relief. Be gone from my chamber, you beast!’
‘I cannot know you! I offer much, our time is ours. Should you love me as I you, you would indeed lie with me, for love should knock sense and reason from us. None from you I fear.’
‘None from me,’ she clarified.
‘Anne, Anne, end my torture,’ he began, but a knock came at the door. Anne went to answer it, first noticing her sister in the antechamber she walked to, and then her father beyond it.
Henry pouted at the interruption.
‘I heard shouting, Daughter,’ said Thomas, peering into the room and catching sight of the King. ‘Sire, may I accompany you back to your suite?’ he enquired.
‘Aye,’ spoke Henry, now deflated. ‘I just come to ask if Anne would like to join the hunt tomorrow,’ he explained, justifying his presence with an innocent proposal.
‘Aye, she will join you tomorrow, with the rest of the court and her sister as chaperone.’ He grabbed at Mary’s wrist, pulling her into Anne’s bedchamber. ‘Mary will be with Anne every night.’
‘So be it,’ he replied and began to leave with Thomas.
There was silence for some time as Thomas walked beside the King, but eventually Henry spoke.
‘What must be done, for your daughter to be a friend to me?’
Thomas knew that Henry spoke with tact but he would not offer salvation. ‘I believe she is a friend, Your Majesty. I think her protest is that you are not being a friend to her. You wish to damage her honour and I cannot allow that and she knows it. I would cast her aside. However, if I were to return to court … to dispel any rumour of impropriety, I would be less reluctant to see her … in accord with you.’ He observed Henry carefully but he made no reply. It unsettled Thomas. They reached the suite of rooms given to the King, the guards standing upright but trying not to view them. Thomas bowed low. ‘Or perhaps it’s time to abandon hope,’ he stabbed, as though to wound the King into a reaction, but Henry turned without an answer.
Thomas let out a breath of frustration and the King went into his chamber. He still had not proposed Thomas return to court and, worse still, his passion for Anne could ebb at any time. His mind would not settle all night as the King continued to thwart his attempts to manage him.
* * *
Early the following morning, the small court attended Mass. Henry’s eyes went directly to Anne; he smiled upon her appearance and she in turn could do little to hide her own pleasant emotions on seeing him. The family soon separated and broke their fast after prayers.
‘Are you to join the hunt, William?’ enquired Thomas, though he knew from his servants that his son-in-law was leaving.
‘No, I must return to work, and besides, Mary is here to guide her sister.’
Thomas nodded and gave orders that Mary would stay beside or behind Anne throughout the hunt.
‘What is the reason for all this?’ enquired Mary with frustration. ‘You request Anne to see the King, now you request she does not. What scheme are you concocting?’
‘That I regain a position at court,’ he began. ‘I’m hopeful …’
Anne stood up, her eyes dancing with mischief. ‘The King is to marry me!’
The three of them stared at her as though she was crazed.
‘Your ambitions are far overreached,’ said William, stunned by the ease of which Anne spoke. ‘It almost sounds traitorous, to blackmail the King for his weakness.’
‘Silenc
e,’ said Thomas with controlled anger. ‘Daughter, why would you harbour this thought?’
‘I can provide more happiness than a moment of love … sons and heirs. For every time he begs for my passion, the answer will be that I wish to fulfil all he desires. His absolute desire … for a son.’
Thomas thought on his daughter’s words but deemed the enterprise overreaching. ‘To plant the seed perhaps, but he will not consider it seriously.’
‘I think differently; I think he will, for I want marriage and children. He wants children and me.’
Thomas nodded. ‘Think of that!’ he spoke cheerfully. ‘A Boleyn, King of England.’
‘If we delay much longer, we will be late for the hunt,’ Mary interrupted before she could ridicule her father’s delusion.
* * *
They gathered outside, some waiting on horseback and all for the King to appear.
When he met with them, he threw himself into the saddle and smiled at Anne. She saw how merry he appeared and knew herself to be the reason.
‘Prepared for the chase, Mistress Boleyn?’ asked Henry with his brow already damp.
‘Indeed, Sire! Are you?’ She smiled in such a way that Henry knew his challenge. He felt the arousal of her flirtation; the energy tingled throughout him. He needed the exerting sport to tire his impulsive vigour.
The hooves were heavy on the ground and sweat was quick to come in the summer heat. Anne and Mary stayed from the main group, instead keeping chase far behind the dogs. The men were breaking apart to follow different leads. Mary instinctively went towards her sister, and Anne to the King. The horses pounded the ground, going over easy terrain for a distance, but then the sight of a deer scurrying into the forest meant a diversion into the woodland. It slowed the horses down but not the hounds, as they jumped bracken and avoided low branches.
Henry was up ahead. He had managed to keep pace but the deer had wounded itself in its fear. The dogs were about it, barking loud and jumping upon it to knock its balance. Henry saw the creature’s weakened state and pulled his arrow, making a direct hit. Still the doe fought for her freedom and stumbled onwards with dying energy. Henry rode for it and jumped from his horse onto the doe, piercing it with a dagger. The animal screamed in terror, its eyes full, wide with shock. The blood began to ooze from its side and Henry’s hands revealed his deed. He smiled broadly, proud that Anne had witnessed his strength.
‘I shall send this doe to Hever, for your mother,’ he announced to Anne.
‘Most kind, Sire.’ Anne replied.
He threw himself back into the saddle and came beside Anne. Servants behind them began to carry the creature back to the palace. ‘We leave here in a few days …’ he started while observing her face. ‘I should like you to stay with the progress. We ride north through Winchester; the final stop will be Grafton, Northamptonshire … where I will meet with Katherine.’
Anne remained silent, unnerving her companion.
‘Tell me your doubts and I should like to reassure them,’ he explained.
‘I shall join you, Sire,’ she spoke finally. ‘We’ll share a wonderful summer together.’
‘Splendid! This is my absolute desire.’
‘As it is mine, Sire.’
March 1539
Hever Castle
Late in the afternoon Thomas woke. His eyes blurred the scene around him but he sensed himself well. The fever had broken and a ravenous hunger was upon him. Robson stepped forward and placed a hand over his master’s forehead.
‘Aye, you’re cooler now.’
‘I’m hungry, I could eat a feast for seven!’
‘I’ll bring you some pottage,’ suggested Robson but Thomas screwed up his nose.
‘Do we not have venison? And some sweet wafers? And perhaps some pies?’
‘My Lord, the servants are gone, ‘tis just me and a washer woman … I can go about the village to buy …’
Thomas held his hands aloft. ‘Enough said. Aye, go about the village, buy bread and pies and whatever else … nothing substandard though. If this be my last meal, be sure to make it good.’
‘Aye, My Lord.’ Robson went over to Thomas and took the key for the money cabinet. The doors opened to reveal drawers, another central door and accounts books at the bottom. He unlocked the central door and saw the different denominations stacked into tall piles. He took some grouts and crowns, a few pennies and then went to shut the door but Thomas halted him.
‘Take enough to feed us all well. Write down your spend and send the girl up … I wish to speak to someone while you’re away.’
Robson nodded in confirmation and took another handful of coins and made out of the chamber.
There was a moment of silence in the house but then the girl appeared, so young and frightened. Thomas motioned for her to come in and sit where Robson had sat but it was far away, far at the other end of the room. ‘Bring the chair closer,’ he encouraged, so she did.
‘How long have you been here?’ he asked with interest.
‘Just a week, Sir, I’m fourteen.’ She spoke as if to protest her ignorance.
‘Well I thank you for your service. Robson is to buy food. Any leftovers can be taken home to your family,’ he offered.
She beamed with happiness. ‘My parents will be most grateful,’ she said.
Thomas gave a laugh as if tickled by something funny. ‘I wish my daughters were more like you … do you know of my daughters?’ She shook her head. ‘No, too young. You’ve heard of Queen Anne?’
The girl meekly nodded.
‘Aye, you’ve heard of her execution, of her accusations and perceived guilt. It’s all a falsehood, a traitorous trap … Love blossomed over the summer of 1526 and then into Christmas. I thought it would patter out, I had doubts; I tried to dissuade her. But Anne wanted to gift a gold boat to Henry which she did. I had to pay a horrible amount of money for it … they had this strange private jest between them. Always making meaning from nonsense. I hope you’re wiser when marrying,’ he cautioned her, causing her to blush. ‘To tell the truth, I did encourage it but I was against it … There wasn’t much I could do, he would marry her and she would be Queen. But I only encouraged it because she wanted it. If she said ‘Father, take me from all of this’, I would have done. I never forced her, I never schemed for riches and titles at her expense.’ He regarded the young girl who sat patiently listening. He felt foolish for confiding. ‘Forgive me, I’ve a troubled mind … perhaps you could read to me?’
The girl blushed. ‘I can’t read, Sir, but I can sing?’
‘Aye, that be well.’
January 1527
Greenwich Palace
Thomas had received his summons to return to court; he had waited for fear of appearing too eager but after two days and no other messages communicated, he thought it unwise to delay the King further. Though he knew the purpose, much had been indicated that Henry sought Anne. The King wanted her for his wife and Thomas was the first who could achieve his dream. And he would find himself returned to court.
He rode for seven hours to be at Greenwich and to be back among his peers.
The corridors of the palace were busy, more so as an audience within the council chamber was gathering. The King was to hear complaints and to give judgement.
Thomas waited. He had timed it well, for Thomas Wolman was neatly stacking his papers as he joined the chamber. He saw Wolman make some comment to the King. The King laughed. Wolman continued to conduct the cases; any discrepancy was brought to the King’s ears with concise instruction and advice.
Thomas regarded Wolman’s skill of explanation until the end and with sly hope made a comment of introduction to him as he made to leave the chamber.
‘Excellent work, Sir. You serve the King most loyally,’ Thomas voiced.
‘I seek to do my best,’ Wolman began. ‘Though I be a deprived lawyer,’ he smirked.
‘Aye,’ smirked Thomas back. ‘It is on that very need I would like to engage your council.
Be assured, deprivation will be far from your experience if you should aid me.’
‘I should be glad to. What is the case?’
‘A great matter indeed, but first I must see the King. Come to my rooms when convenient and I shall divulge all to you of our cause.’
Wolman doffed his cap. Thomas regarded where the King had sat only to see his throne empty. He lumbered over to the King’s apartment and went through a number of rooms, to finally be admitted to Henry’s antechamber.
‘Your Majesty, please forgive my delay,’ he began, while bowing low.
‘Not at all,’ Henry replied jovially. ‘Is the family well?’ he enquired with interest.
‘Good health, Sire.’
‘I have seen less of Anne since Christmas; her duties keep me from her.’
Thomas smiled but made no reply.
‘Aye, well I should proceed with the business of state,’ Henry said, dismissing his thoughts of Anne. ‘This is why I’ve summoned you. A suggestion of marriage has been put forward for my daughter Mary to be wed to the Duke of Orleans.’
‘A Frenchman,’ Thomas said.
Henry furrowed his brow. ‘Indeed, what can be done?’ he asked, though expected another silence. ‘For their visit,’ he continued. ‘I wish for good diplomatic relations. If you could assist Thomas More in these endeavours as you have much experience with the French.’
‘As you wish, Sire,’ he bowed.
‘A French banqueting house is to be built, a fine affair, grand and costly. It’s to strengthen our peace alliance and renewed friendship,’ Thomas More spoke as he took some designs out.
‘She is my only heir,’ Henry explained as though explanation was needed.
‘I understand, Sire, you need a gentleman worthy enough to sit in your place,’ Thomas spoke slowly as to inject a poisoned serum steadily into the vein.
Henry winced. ‘Spanish and French, upon the English throne, God’s blood!’