Affair with the King

Part 20

Juan had remained in Sarah's chambers for five days straight, refusing to allow anyone other than his mother, Sarah or Manuel access to him. One the third day, Sarah returned to Caterina's service, after insisting his mother replace her to care for him, and make sure he ate and rested. 

Caterina was livid. The entire castle buzzed with gossip about her husband seeking comfort in the arms of a woman other than his wife. There had been no coronation yet, simply because Juan refused to leave the woman behind, and everyone knew. It was humiliating. She tolerated it the first two days, but by the fifth she could no longer contain her rage. When Sarah arrived that morning, she dismissed everyone else in the room. 

Sarah kept her eyes to the floor, as the ladies filed past her.

"You could not tear yourself away from my husband to attend to your duties?".

"Your Grace -"

"Shut up!" Caterina exploded. "You whore!".

She went to Sarah, slapping her hard across the face. Sarah gasped, holding her stinging cheek, but said nothing. Caterina was not wrong to be angry with her, and Sarah wished she was not in love with her husband.

"Speak!", Caterina demanded.

"Your...your Grace", Sarah began, unsure of what the she wanted to hear. "I do not lay with His Majesty to spite or hurt you. It is simply a matter of love".

"Love?!", Caterina spat out, laughing. "You think he can love a low born whore, like you? No. It is not you he loves. He only loves what you carry between your legs, and how freely you give it to him. I know your type. You think you can charm him with youthfulness and beauty, and that you will take my place upon the throne!".

Sarah gripped the apron of her dress. "I assure you, your Grace. I want none of your position. I wish I did not love him as I do, but that cannot be helped. I am of no threat to you or anything you hold".

"No", Caterina said, slowly circling Sarah. "No threat. Until his seed takes hold inside of you, and you bear him a son. God knows he spends far more time trying with you than he does me. No. We can't have that. I will have the physician concoct a mixture of herbs. If my husband insists on sullying himself with a common whore, I will ensure no bastard children enter this world for it".

Sarah was humiliated, but she nodded in obedience. She made the choice to lay with a married man. This was one of the many consequences of that. She would take everything the Queen had to give her, without a single complaint.

"As a matter of fact", Caterina continued. "I'll send you to the physician. You can explain that you are a harlot and the King is not to create a child with you, for fear of said child being an image of their mother. A pathetic, worthless Jezebel! Go to him. Now!".

Sarah curtsied, then left the room. As soon as she turned the corner of the hall, she collapsed against the wall. She cried, tears pouring down her cheeks. She loved Juan, with all her heart, but the humiliation his wife subjected her too was too much to bear. 

With her face buried in her hands, her sobs loud, she did not see or hear Juan approach. It wasn't until she felt the familiar hands upon her that she looked up. She turned her face from him, sniffing away the tears.

He took her chin between his thumb and finger, forcing her to face him. "Who has hurt you?", he softly demanded. "I will have their head".

She shook her head, forcing a smile. "No one, my lord. I am just tired. But, you? You are up and looking well. I am glad!".

"It is not a kind thing, to lie to the one who loves you so". He gazed into her eyes, his own filled with concern. He kissed her on the forehead, hugging her tightly.

She collapsed against him, crying, his touch reminding her why she would take whatever Caterina could give her, so she could feel the way she felt this moment. He stroked her back, comforting her. When the tears were finally stopped, she looked to him. "I adore you, my lord. If it weren't for you, for your touch, your kindness...".

"I was just coming to inform Caterina that you are now my official mistress, and you are to be afforded every respect and hospitality a woman of your position deserves".

Sarah cringed at the idea. "I must go", she said, reluctantly. "Your Queen has sent me to speak to the physician".

"Is she ill?", Juan asked, running his fingers down her arm. "You are so beautiful".

She giggled, her smile now genuine. "You speak of concern for your wife with one breath, and flatter me in the next?. I am so happy to see you in good spirits, my love".

"You've bewitched me", he teased. "I cannot think of anything but your beauty when you stand before me".

She reached up, placing a hand on his cheek, so happy he was feeling well enough to joke with her. He closed his eyes, rubbing his face against her palm. "I must go", she repeated. "I have already angered the Queen by being late this morning".

"Is she still so unkind to you?", he asked, before pressing his lips against her palm. "I know how cold she can be, and can't bear the idea of that harshness touching you".

"She is your wife. She knows of us. You can imagine how that makes her feel". She stroked his face a moment longer, standing on her tip toes, so her lips were close to his. "But, the way you make me feel more than makes up for any of her unkindness".

His hands moved from her back, to cup her ass. "And, when can I make up for that unkindness again?", he murmured, his lips grazing hers.

"You are my lord and King", she whispered, provocatively. "I am yours to command".

He pressed her against the wall, kissing her hungrily. "I must have you now".

"You are insatiable!", she giggled, kissing his neck. She pushed him away. "But, keep me in your thoughts. Tonight, I shall do all your bidding. Anything you want. Now? I serve your wife".

He shook his head, smiling at her. He took her face in his hands, gently biting her lip. "I will try to survive this day, thoughts of you filling my mind. I may find you prove a dangerous distraction. If I do, I shall seek you out to quell the fires you have stirred inside me".

She rolled her eyes at him, but smiled, truly happy to see him back to his old self. "You can quell your fires on your own. Or, better yet, quell them with your wife. You are the dangerous distraction to me, not the other way around. Now, go, before you change from dangerous to lethal".

He bit his lip, stirring her desire for him. But, she resisted. She broke free of his grasp, starting down the hall. "The physician awaits!".

He watched her leave, smiling to himself. She had been a godsend these past few days and he really didn't think he would have pulled through his darkness without her. He didn't think it possible to love her more than he already had, but he did. And, he would longer love her in secret. He would proudly sit beside her, as king, and let everyone know his heart was hers. 

He went into Caterina's suites, telling her of his plan to announce Sarah as his mistress. 

"Juan, you can't!", she pleaded. "You haven't even had your coronation!".

"That is when I will announce it. You may be my queen by contract, but she is queen of my heart, and you are to treat her as such". 

"I have been kind", she insisted. "Even though I know that she steals you from my bed, denying me a child - "

"She does no such thing!", Juan roared, annoyed. 

"Then please", she begged, grabbing at his pants, "Fill me with your seed. Give me our prince".

He gripped her wrist, looking at her with disgust. "You are a queen", he reminded. "Have some dignity".

He left her, without another word. She gripped her hair, pacing the room. She needed to get pregnant, and quickly, before Sarah did. Or, force Juan's affections back to her in some other way. Otherwise, her entire existence could be in jeopardy.