The Seventh Queen (On Hold: Revising)

talks

As they rode, Anine kept her eyes on Charles, tracking his actions, every glance he threw at her, and every smile he grew as he did.

"Do you fancy Charles?" Anne asked, causing Anine to blush out of embarrassment. Three hundred years ago she would have been discreet in her observing. When Anine failed to answer Anne continued. "With all the staring others would think so." Anne chuckling gave Anine a warm smile. "If you do not I know that Charles does, though he should not."

She'd known the reason, told herself that he only fancied her as a mistress. Though it seemed the fancying was deeper then that.

"I do not fancy him as such," she responded slowing her horse to match up with Anne.

"I suppose I knew that of you," Anne said adjusting on her horse.

They'd been riding for hours and Anne's legs were aching. Anine laughed inwardly. Carriages were few and far between in her first few years here and the riding of horses were normal. She adjusted as well to make it seem she was not used to such labored hours.

"I consider his feelings have gone deeper," she glanced ahead catching the way the rolling green hills sparkled in the sunlight and the grass swayed in the wind. "But I have never fancied him in anyway but as a friend."

"Do not say that to Charles," Anne stifled a laugh, yet she seemed to a little distant to the thought of protecting Charles from broken hearts. She covered the feeling quickly and glanced at anine with her dark gaze. "Not that it matters if Charles' heart is broken the man has done nothing but confer behind my back in the cause of Katherine and having me cast aside."

Anine heard the rumors. Avoided Charles and his wanton attention because of it.

"But never mind my silly fears," Anne said.

Anine could see Henry and Charles racing side by side like young brothers, low on their horses necks, shouting joyfully at each other. Then Henry rose from his saddle to point ahead, from where come the sound of a pig squealing. Without a thought to their two women, they vanished into the trees.

"Henry enjoys the thrills of the hunt," Anne said slowing her horse to a stop. Anine followed hopeful to start their way home. It was hard enough to keep her thoughts off of Henry when everyone was around, but when she was alone with Anne all she could do was feel guilty for loving the same man. "I used to chase after with him but I wanted to talk to ye."

"Have I upset you?" She asked. Had Anne figured it out? Does she know I love Henry and have for ten years?

"No," Anne smiled. "This is a matter about your mother."

"How has she displeased you?" Anine asked feeling her chest ease slightly.

"She tells people in the court that I am not right for the King- she paused thinking of how to word things about Anine's mother- And that I will not bare him a son."

"My mother has always been a cunning and vile thing," Anne's eyes widened and she opened her mouth to reply but closed it shortly. "I have never been on the same terms with my mother and do not think fondly of her."

"She does seem to be manipulative and cunning like my father. He secretly asked Cardinal Wosley to banish Lord Percy because both he and the King fancied me. He tried to make me a mistress, used and shamed, like he did with my sister." She looked troubled, like a child that had been beaten too many times. "And when I caught the King's fancy in such a way he cursed me, told me that I play I dangerous game."

The wind shifted blowing harder to the east bringing the smell of blood with it. Anine glanced at Anne. Anne held her head in her lap, blood pooled into her skirt as the stump of her neck turned toward Anine. Anine stifled a scream and turned her gaze towards the tree line.

"My mother once tried to marry me off to a man that could give me a great title and a bundle of small wealth," Anine said trying to calm her nerves with a lie. "I found him to be unappealing and vile. He was older then I by at least thirty years and the years of wealth and indulgence had made him fat. Like a grand apple that was rotting." Anne had leaned in, completely lost in the story. "So when I met him I showed him how a welsh bride would truly be like and he never returned."

Anne blinked a couple of times and chuckled, "And your mother did not punish you?"

"Oh she did, severely, but the end result was worth it," she eased a smile on her face, glad that the vision had gone away.

(C) Kelcey Winn