Even in her panicked state Ruxandra could feel them close behind. She headed for a cemetery in the distance. Her hope was that they might not follow her there. She was wrong. They caught her just as she touched down amongst the headstones.
She turned and eyed them fearfully. Ilona had not forgotten their last argument over her feelings for Anne. Ruxandra saw it in her eyes. She knew Ilona still had an axe to grind with her. It was no wonder they all held her in such low regard. She never gave them reason to feel any other way. Dracula too looked at her with real menace in his eyes. She had disobeyed him and he was not happy.
“What do you want with me?” she asked them.
Ilona noticed she had more steel in her than before. “Watch your tone with me.”
“You watch yours.”
Ilona bared her fangs, as she snarled. “This is what happens when we leave you to your own devices.”
“It is not your business what I do.”
“It is where Anne Boleyn is concerned,” Dracula said.
“Why is it, grandfather?” she said, turning to face him. “You have got what you wanted. England has split with Rome.”
“We warned you to stay away from her,” Ilona hissed, stepping a little closer.
“I know,” Ruxandra growled. “That was before Anne came to court. You have succeeded in what you set out to do. So I cannot see how it matters.”
“Oh it matters.”
Ruxandra glared into her hateful eyes. “Oh? Why does it?”
“Because we told you to stay away from her.”
“You are not my keeper, Ilona. I do not have to answer to you.”
“No,” Dracula said. “But you answer to me.”
“Grandfather, nothing that happens between Anne and I will affect anything you are doing. You have what you came for. Why can you not let it go? Let Anne find some happiness.”
“You cannot fraternise with mortals,” Ilona said. “It is forbidden.”
“Is it? By whom? You only want an excuse to take a stab at me. Is it any wonder we all despise you?”
Ilona motioned to attack her. Dracula met her gaze and shook his head. He sighed at Ruxandra in despair. “I do not know what to say to you any more.”
“Leave us for a while. We love each other. You know Henry will discard her.”
“Ilona is right. We cannot have relationships of this nature with mortals.”
“And you have never had sexual relations with a mortal?”
Ilona’s temper threatened to boil over. Dracula again had to stop her from reacting. “Your affair with the Boleyn girl is over. That is my final word on it.”
England. Greenwich Palace in London.
The next day. December 1532.
Henry spent the next evening alone in his bedchamber. He had not felt too well in the afternoon. The cold December air did not usually bother him. But today it had an extra bite to it and he cut the hunt short.
Anne stole into his room. She did not want anyone to see her. It was her hope that she might catch him there. Soon he would no doubt have it in his mind to seek out some other company in the palace. It was rare for him to spend a night alone. Anne had not needed Ruxandra to tell her that.
She saw the surprise on his face. “Anne? What are you doing in here?”
He was relieved that she had not found him with another. Already his mind was on the woman he had spent the previous night with. He had really enjoyed her. She knew how to please him. A repeat of that was an exciting prospect.
“You,” she said. “I wanted to see you.”
“Then come,” he said, touching his hand on the bed. “Sit by me.”
She feigned a smile and sat down. “I heard you were a little unwell today?”
“Oh, it is nothing,” he said, dismissing it with a wave of his hand. “If anything it is the effects of too much wine last night.”
“Good,” she said. “I am glad that you are well.”
“And pray tell me, how are you?”
“I am well,” she nodded, stretching out on the bed. “A little lonely.”
He felt a stir in his loins. The sight of her there dazzled him. He wiped a trace of saliva from his mouth, not wanting her to see what was on his mind. “Well, you only have to come to me if you are feeling so.”
She smiled properly now. “I have.”
“Is there anything on your mind?” he wondered.
“Hmm,” she sighed. “You could say that. Why not lie beside me?”
“Are you sure you want me to?”
“Yes, Henry. I want you to.”
Henry lay down. He went to great lengths to conceal his growing erection.
“Are you going to kiss me?” she asked. “It is a while since you have.”
“I am always worried in case I offend you,” he said. “We are not yet married.”
“We will be soon. Say no more and kiss me.”
His kiss felt pleasant enough. God knows he had had enough practise. It did not match up to that of her lover. No one could kiss as well as she. But it was a fair enough effort. When their lips parted she looked into his eyes and smiled.
“I think it is time you waited no more,” she said, trying to hide her discomfort.
His heart leapt in his chest. “You really mean that?”
“Yes,” she whispered. “You have waited long enough for me.”
“Oh, Anne. How I have wanted to hear you utter those words. I do love you.”
He pulled her into his arms. When her chin fell on his shoulder she looked to the window. “I love you also.”
Ruxandra heard her say it. Tears stung her eyes. Although she knew Anne did not mean it, it hurt her all the same. She decided then that she would not visit her lover again until Henry had cast her aside.
Anne slowly removed all his clothes. He lay there as she looked him up and down. She had not seen a man naked in such a long time. His erection caught her eye the most. It bulged and throbbed in anticipation of her. She did not feel too excited by it. There was nothing about a man that could compare with the one she truly loved.
He watched as she then removed her own clothes. She looked stunning to him in every way. Never before had he desired a woman the way he desired her now. For years she had spurned him. Now she was giving herself to him of her own free will. He had never felt so excited. His erection throbbed against the lower half of his stomach. More than anything he needed to know what it felt to be inside her.
As if reading his mind she hooked a leg over him. She gripped his manhood in one of her small hands. Guiding it to her opening she eased down gently.
She gasped a little as he parted her labia a touch. He looked up at her and smiled. His breath caught in his throat. He never imagined a woman could look as beautiful as she did to him in that moment. His need for her was stronger than with anyone he had ever known. For the first time in years he felt butterflies in his stomach. He needed her to want and love him. For that he knew it would have to be the best it could be.
He reached up to gently fondle her breasts. They were small, but perfect. She let out a slight gasp again. He knew what he was doing. The way he tweaked her nipples between his fingers gave her a pleasant surprise.
She reached forward with her hands as he parted her thighs further with his. It knocked her a little off balance. The result saw her palms press down against his chest. Their noses almost touched as their faces came together. It also caused her to slide all the way down on his penis.
Although she had not wanted to, she groaned hard. He filled her inside. It felt so good. Not since Percy had she felt a man inside her. That was almost ten years ago now. Henry groaned in the very same moment. The joy of her warmth sucked the air right out of his lungs.
Ruxandra closed her eyes. The worst feeling filled her inside. Not since her son had died had she felt so distraught. This almost equated to the dread she had known back then. He was inside the woman she loved. For a few moments a real hatred of him consumed her. She wanted
to fly into the room and kill him there and then.
But she did not. She held her breath and listened to the sound coming from the back of Anne’s throat. Her lover was enjoying it. She never thought it could happen, but it was. It felt like a knife in her heart. She could bear it no longer. Looking up at the dark skies, she rose up and left. She flew for hours until she was well away from London. Her and Anne would not meet again. It was over.
Anne closed her eyes. She used her legs to push herself up a touch. Then she eased back down on him a second time. She groaned hard again. He pulled her body down against his. The next time she pushed down, he met it with a gentle thrust of his own. They both groaned this time. He held her there and strained his penis against her insides. It had the effect he wanted.
Her mind succumbed to the needs of her body. She gave herself to him completely. The intensity of the act increased with the ache in both of them to reach orgasm. When they did they both cried out before she collapsed in his arms.
As she lay there she thought of Ruxandra. Had she heard them? Anne felt a tinge of panic. To lose her lover would crush her inside. This should not have happened. Not for a moment had she thought she could have enjoyed this act with Henry. But she had.
It worried her too that he had enjoyed it. By the look in his eyes she could see he wanted more. She was sure about what Ruxandra had said. Once he had had his way he would lose interest. But she knew now the opposite was true.
Over the next week he proved this. He made love to her day and night. In truth she enjoyed it too. But she missed Ruxandra. Her lover had not shown her face again in all this time. In her heart she knew why.
On the day before Christmas Anne walked alone in the gardens. She had left Henry in their bed. It felt cold outside. Dawn was still an hour away. A strong wind whistled about her and it tossed her hair about her face.
She called several times to her lover. But she received no answer. She dropped her head in dismay. Is she ever coming back? For the first time in her life she felt totally alone. A tear trickled from her eye and down the curve of her nose.
“I love you, Ruxandra,” she whispered. “Please come back to me.”
Anne suddenly felt giddy. She wavered and fell against the bench close by. Her head grew cloudy before she felt her stomach tighten. She reached out with one hand for support while rubbing the other over her belly. Another pain stabbed at her before she bent over and vomited.
Her eyes watered. She had to wipe them with a sleeve to clear her vision. Another wave of nausea passed over her. It caused her to vomit again. After a few moments she rested against the bench to wipe the muck from her nose and mouth.
Anne was ill throughout the course of the day. It worried Henry, who sent for the physician. The man spent almost an hour examining her. Henry waited outside the room until he emerged.
“What is wrong with her?” the king asked him.
“Your Majesty,” he said. “Lady Boleyn is with child.”
The news stunned him. “With child you say?”
“Yes, Majesty.”
“When?”
“I beg your pardon, Majesty.”
“When will she have the child?”
“At the very end of the summer.”
Henry walked away. He felt elated. Anne truly was a godsend. Soon she would give him a son. But the reality hit him like a fist in the face. They were still not married. If she gave birth before they were, then the child would be illegitimate and unable to rule.
He went in search of Cranmer. The divorce had to go through now without delay. Whatever it took, he had to marry Anne. Anne was not so happy. For her this was the very worst thing that could have happened.
She walked the gardens alone again. Away from the prying eyes in the palace her tears flowed. Henry would never let her go now. That meant Ruxandra would never come back. The prospect of that broke her heart in two. Her destiny was sure now to be queen.
“I am sorry, baby,” she whispered to the night breeze. “I am so sorry.”
Ruxandra had returned. She sat high in a tree and watched her lover weep. Her heart ached for Anne. She shed the very same tears. Anne’s words touched every fibre in her body, but she could not respond. It was too late for that. Anne had only done what she had advised, but she had enjoyed it. Now she was carrying his child. He would never let her go. What they had was dead.
“Goodbye, Anne,” she said back, but only faintly. “I will never forget you.”
“Anne?”
She turned to see the king standing there. He walked slowly towards her. She did not want him to see her crying. So she turned her back on him and quickly wiped her eyes. He saw that she was upset despite her best efforts to conceal it.
“What is the matter?” he asked.
“It is nothing,” she said, putting up a hand.
“You would not lie to me I hope?”
“No, no, of course not, my Lord.”
“Do not call me that. You are not beneath me.”
She forced a smile. But her tears only flowed more.
He held her in his arms. “Talk to me, Anne. Tell me what ails you.”
“It is nothing,” she said again. “A problem only women have.”
“Because you are with child?”
“Yes,” she nodded.
“Are you not happy?”
“I am scared.”
“But you are to be the mother of the future king.”
“You should know how it is. How women are when they are with child.”
“Yes I know how it is.”
“Good. Then appreciate that it frightens me. I have never had a child.”
“But you will,” he said, cupping her face in his hands.
She tried to lower her head, but he would not allow her to. He held her face firm. “Anne,” he said. “Will you marry me?”
“But we cannot. You are still married.”
“Cranmer is about to dissolve the marriage. We are free to wed at last.”
The revelation scared her. There was no getting away from it now. She weighed up her options quickly. He would not allow her any time to think it over. She knew Ruxandra was not coming back. For that reason she had to say yes.
“Well?”
She could not find the words to answer him, so nodded instead.
“Oh, Anne,” he cried, holding her close. “I will make you the happiest woman in all the world.”
She grabbed onto his arms. With the side of her face pressed against his chest she looked to the darkness. She had never felt so miserable.
England. Catherine’s residence at Ampthill.
April 9, 1533.
Henry decided that he and Anne should marry in secret. He had to do so until Cromwell could push through a new Act that abolished any appeals to Rome. But that could take time he did not have. They married on the twenty-fifth day of January. Only a handful of witnesses attended.
Cromwell soon moved Catherine again. This time he sent her to Ampthill. There she found life even less comfortable than usual.
On the first day of April the Convocation met. They voted on a single issue. If the queen consummated her first marriage to Arthur then her marriage to Henry was against God’s law. That made it invalid. They carried the motion by fourteen votes to seven.
Leviticus stated that no man should marry his brother’s wife. The same twenty-one men discussed this issue. They ruled four days later that the Pope did not have the authority to overrule this. Then the Act in Restraint of Appeals became law. It forbade any appeal to a foreign body in all spiritual, revenue and testamentary cases.
Only the king could rule in matters of a spiritual or secular nature. The Pope no longer had any right to interfere. This bill took weeks to pass. Many spoke out against it. The powers that be had to amend it before it was accepted. But all could see the sole purpose of it was to stop Catherine from appealing again to Rome.
Two days after this Henry sent a party to visit his former queen. Norfolk and
Suffolk led the group. They rode to Ampthill where they knew they would receive a frosty reception.
Catherine’s maid, Maria, was the first to see them riding up the road. “What is it, Maria?” she asked.
“There are men riding towards the house, my Lady.”
“Do you know who?”
“They look like the King’s men.”
Catherine stood up at once. She ran to the window to see for herself. “I do not want to see them,” she said. “Send them away.”
The two noblemen dismounted at the front of the house. Maria went outside to meet them.
“We have come to see Lady Catherine,” Suffolk informed her.
“Her Highness does not wish to see you.”
“We have a message from the King,” he said icily. “She will see us.”
Catherine watched from inside. Her hands shook both with nerves and anger. Norfolk saw her through the window. He pushed past Maria and into the house.
“You cannot go in there!” she screamed at them.
One of the soldiers grabbed her. When she tussled with him he threw her to the ground. Catherine ran past Norfolk. “Keep your hands off her!”
Suffolk nodded to the soldier to step away. Maria got to her feet. She rubbed her elbow gingerly where it bled from her fall. A few of the other servants walked into the house at the rear. They stood close to the former queen, feeling a strong need to protect her.
Catherine put an arm around Maria when she returned inside. She then looked to her visitors. “You are nothing but thugs. What do you want here?”
Suffolk walked in behind his friend. He acted with an air that might suggest he actually lived in the house. “We have a message from the King,” he said, in answer to her question.
“I am not interested in anything he has to say. So be gone.”
“Well you will listen to what we have to say.”
“You have the manners of a gutter rat. I should not even speak to you.”
Suffolk shrugged. He did not care much about her opinion of him.
The Dracula Chronicles: Bound By Blood - Volume 2 Page 28
