Eternal Flame

Miscarriage-1536

       A month later, when I was about 4 months pregnant, the King had a jousting tournament. But he got injured and was now in treatment in his bedchamber. A week later, I heard he was all better. I was not sure if this was true or just a rumor so I decided to check up on him. I opened the door and smiled.
"Henry, I came here to ask you if you were--"
The King was not laying down in his bed. No, not at all. In fact, he was sitting down in a chair. Mistress Jane Seymour was on his lap. Showering him with affectionate kisses. And he seemed to enjoy them.
"Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God! What on earth is this? What is happening?" The King and Jane stopped kissing each other abruptly for I interrupted them. She stood up, frightened, and hid behind the chair. The King stood up, knowing I saw what happened. I slam the door shut. "JUST WHEN MY BELLY IS DOING ITS BUSINESS, I FIND YOU WENCHING WITH MISTRESS SEYMOUR?!"
      He holds me in his arms. "Jane, it is best you leave right this instant."
"Yes, your Majesty." She curtsies and leaves the room, gently closing the door behind her.
"Shh....Sweetheart....."
    I let go of his grasp and set my closed fists down on a table. "Why are you doing this? Why did you have to do this?" I hit him in the chest with my fist and pointed at him with my finger. "You! How dare you! Whilst I carry your son!"
      He walks up to me with his arms out as if he were about to embrace me. "Anne, please...."
"No. No. No. No!" I back away as fast I can and as close to the door as possible  to escape him but he was too quick and wrapped his arms above my belly behind me. Tears of rage filled my eyes and fell.
"Shh....stop! Stop it!"
        I stop crying and stop the effort to escape his grasp.
"Stop." He gently rubs my belly with one hand and still holds me with the other. "Go to bed and rest, my dearest."        
     I nod and he lets go of me. I walk to the door and open it to walk out of the room, slamming the door behind me.
     I enter my bedchamber and change into a white linen nightgown and sit on my bed. I was about to lie down and rest when a sharp pain from my belly hits me. I hold my belly and wince in pain, tears falling from my eyes.
      Suddenly, I felt a surge of liquid escape me. I look down to see it was not clear liquid. It was blood. "No. No. No. No! This cannot be happening! NO!" Blood kept trickling down and I knew what happened. I lost my child a second time. The King would be disappointed. I just hoped he would not find out soon. But it was too late.
      My screams of agony were really loud. The King entered my bedchamber, annoyed I disturbed his peace and quiet. He notices my legs, nightgown, blanket, and the bed were covered in blood. He looks at me as if he were about to cry. "My boy....you lost my boy....." His grieving face quickly turned to an angry one. "And come to speak of it, a loss too great. But I see now that God will not grant me any male children! When you are up, I will speak with you." A tear fell out of his eye. He turns to walk away from me but I huffed and puffed.
"It is not all my fault. You have no one to blame but yourself for this, I was distressed to see you with that wench, Jane Seymour!" I hear loud sniffles come out of him. "Because the love I bear you is so great!" Tears fall out of my eyes. "It broke my heart to see you loved others." He leaves me so I could sulk in agonizing guilt.