Garden

"Charles kissed her back holding her tightly in his arms. He removed slowly his lips from hers and smile"

So...shall we go back to Palace, now? We can...doing privately what we just did...publibly...

"He whispered into her ear"

"Charles shrugged with an amused smile"

I don't care...but maybe yours is better. What do you think?

"He smiled and bit her lips again"

Elizabeth was taking a walk taking in the last of the September sun before the leafs started to fall and the palace garden would be full of children collecting chestnuts. Elizabeth looked around to see if lady Anne was anywhere

Alice went out into the breezy autumn day, her dark blue cloak trailing along the ground, bits of dried leaves of scarlet and gold swept into the hem. She saw Elizabeth Wykes just up ahead and smiled, calling out to her. "Lady Elizabeth! How glad I am to see you! How do you fare this day?"

Elizabeth pulled her cloak tighter around her and smiled at Lady Alice. I would of choosen somewhere else too meet had i known it was this cold but come dear how is your husband fairing after that ghastly ordeal"

When she spoke Alice's breath came out in puffs of smoke. "I don't think he has quite gotten over it. But he says such things are necessary to avoid this realm heading to the wrong direction. Nobody wants to see the king split from the Catholic Church."

Elizabeth sighed "I think Thomas gets ahead of himself their is very little he will be wiling to tell me Life before court wad so much easier for me I hope your husband will feel more of himself soon" She said with genuine emoition

"That is my hope too," she said earnestly. "My Thomas wants to save the world, but it seems everything is against him. But how is your own Thomas? From what I hear you are not entirely happy." She gave a sad smiled and reached for her friend's hand to console her.

Elizabeth shrugged. "When power is giving to man they seem to neglect their wife and concentrate more on their duties. For me life was so sweet and intimate before court life it's alot to get used too." Elizabeth gave a warm smile to Alice "I would just like one day with my husband where he can forget about court life just one day the that gives him 6 more days to work and do all he likes"

She tilted her head as she listened to all this. "But Elizabeth, haven't you told him such?"

"No as all women I still want him to find me desirable and not to write it in his diary! I also crave more children too we lost a son and that is a most heart shattering thing any person can go through" Elizabeth sighed she felt like a failure as a wife.

"I am sorry for your loss," she said, placing a hand on her friend's arm. "Perhaps if you simply communicate this wish to him, your husband may understand. But I'm sure he still finds you desirable. Be glad that it is only his work taking him away at times, and not another woman," she said with a harsh little laugh. "Cromwell already has a reputation for keeping his nose in his accounting books."

"We have not even kissed for months but I have conveyed my wishes to him I suspose he is like every man at court he does it for the family he says" Elizabeth rolled her eyes why men were so difficult. "but if he ever seeked lust or desire elsewhere he knows only to well what would happen he would never see his children again nor I then I would die of a broken heart! My son Gregory is a lover of studies and books too sometimes I rather he would go out and have some fun jousting or something that young men do"

"Gregory is very well he has just recently joined us here at court I think he wishes to follow in his Farthers footsteps" As the weather grew colder Elizabeth wrapped her shawl around her "We have agreed to let Gregory enjoy his youth before marrying him off I do wish to have my daughters here with me how are your children and Sir Thomas'"

"I am sure you will have no trouble finding a wife for Gregory, but I agree, it is best to let him be himself before he enters into marriage." They walked along, and Alice drew her cloak tighter about her. "How old are your daughters now? I haven't seen them in so long either. Oh, you know Margaret is Thomas' favorite, though I know he won't admit it. She is very well, still clever and she seeks to do the right thing, just like her father."

Elizabeth felt a pang if longing fir her daughters "5 and 4 they are my angels do you think I am too old to bare another child" Elizabeth wanted the truth and knew Alice would give it her. "Maybe Margaret reminds him of his late wife do you two get on well"

Alice placed an arm on her friend's back. "Hardly, you are hardly too old to give Thomas another child. In my opinion it would be a wonderful idea." She sighed, thinking on the closeness between Margaret and Thomas. "She has Thomas' quiet persistence, and probably her mother's looks. I never met the woman, God rest her soul. And do not misinterpret my words for envy, I love them both, I only wish I could have given Thomas a child of our own."

"But weren't you all mutual friends with each other that is why he had choosen you as his wife" Now Elizabeth was confused "He adopted your children on as his own not many men do that as they only care fir their lineage! You both are not that old maybe you two should spend some time alone together things can get hectic at court but taking time out with your loved one is a much needed thing that must be done at least your husband can switch his mind of in private time"

"We lost contact after much time, and when we saw each other again we became inseparable. In fact, if I may tell a secret: I have loved him since the moment I first saw him," Alice said with a twinkle in her eye.

Elizabeth found this rather interesting and loved to hear new and delightful things "Why have you not told Thomas! This is a wonderful thing to tell him it's true love maybe one day you will tell him this and I know he shall treasure it" Elizabeth said rather excited learning new things was a wonder but to learn them from Alice was a special little treat a snippet into her life.

She smiled. "Oh, he is such a serious man. Can you imagine what he would think of such a thing if I told him? Me, in love with him even while I was married to another. Scandalous," she said, but she still retained the twinkle in her eye. "What about your Thomas? How did you know that love was blossoming between you two?" She found a bench nearby and patted it for Elizabeth to sit.

Kindly Elizabeth laughed. "Oh I think your husband has a great sense of humour he is serious about his work Alice I do not know how you kept it a secret for so long I would of told him straight away when married" Elizabeth sat down on the bench the weather still cold but the sun was breaking through. "Oh he was very much romantic the time we spent alone together the more I fell in love with him. He made me feel like the center of his world I was so happy Alice to love freely and the early days of marriage are a joy too when you are still getting to know each other such fun. But your story sounds more interesting a love you had always admired from afar then to end up with him"