The Queen's Gambit tells the story of a rekindled obsession as King Henry VIII reunites with his childhood companion, the captivating Princess Eleanor, who has just returned to England from Italy. Once close, their bond now ignites into a dangerous...
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The Servant's Revelation
Later that afternoon, as the sun dipped lower in the sky, a servant hurried through the palace halls, his heart pounding with fear. He had witnessed the interaction between Princess Eleanor and Lord Charles Brandon in the gardens. While it might have seemed innocent, the servant knew how such things were perceived at court. His loyalty was to the king, and he knew he had to tell Henry what he had seen.
Approaching the king's private chambers, the servant knocked cautiously. The door creaked open, and to his surprise, Lady Bessie Blount slipped quietly out, adjusting her gown as she left the king's chambers. Her presence there was no secret, but it added to the tension in the air.
The servant entered the room nervously, his head bowed. Henry was reclining in his chair, clearly in a relaxed mood after his time with Bessie. But that calm quickly faded when he saw the servant's anxious expression.
"What is it?" Henry asked, his voice sharp with irritation.
The servant knelt before him. "Your Majesty, I come with news that I thought you must hear."
Henry's brow furrowed, his impatience growing. "Speak."
"It concerns Princess Eleanor and Lord Charles Brandon, Your Majesty," the servant said, his voice trembling slightly.
At the mention of Eleanor's name, Henry's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing. "Go on," he ordered.
The servant swallowed hard before continuing. "I saw them together in the gardens earlier today. They were... very close, Your Majesty. The princess's hand lingered on his arm, and their conversation seemed... more intimate than it should have been."
Henry's face tightened, his jaw clenching as jealousy flared within him. Charles—his most trusted friend—and Eleanor? The thought made his blood boil. He had trusted Charles with everything, and Eleanor belonged to him, not to anyone else.
"Get out," Henry snapped, his voice low and dangerous.
With Cathrine
After the heated council meeting, Queen Catherine found herself increasingly isolated in court. She had heard whispers of Eleanor's presence at the meeting, but the sight of her walking arm-in-arm with Henry afterward had stung far worse than any rumor. Catherine had long fought to be by Henry's side during matters of state, to offer her counsel, her wisdom, but time and time again, she was pushed aside. Now, it seemed, she was being replaced.
It had started subtly. Henry had grown colder toward her in recent months. Their conversations, once warm and filled with mutual respect, had become curt and dismissive. Now, even her attempts to be involved in politics were rebuffed. Catherine had always prided herself on her knowledge of European politics, particularly the Spanish ties she had maintained as a daughter of the powerful Ferdinand and Isabella. But Henry no longer sought her counsel. Instead, he now listened to Eleanor, the young, vibrant princess whose influence over the king seemed to grow with each passing day.
