The Serpent Queen

35. The Accused

Anne stopped struggling as she let the thoughts run through her head. "Like the other Englishmen stuck in your room," which meant that not only she was remanded, but Henry and the rest of their court as well.

That meant something had to be done before otherwise there would be no reason to lock everyone up.

She went back into the room where the rest of her ladies-in-waiting looked at her expectantly. They all wanted to know what was going on, but the problem was that Anne herself didn't know what was going on and why they were locked up.

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On the other side of the long hall, Henry lay in bed with a French woman on his chest.

He had taken the opportunity to bring a French woman to his bed since he could not bed Anne.

Henry had decided long ago in their marriage that he would not remain loyal to Anne. Why would he? He was the king of England.

"You may go." Henry said as he pushed the woman off his cheat and sat up. He took a sip from the glass of wine on his bedside table and watched as the woman, whose name he couldn't even remember, get dressed, curtsy, and leave the room.

He smiled with satisfaction. He had to admit that the French whores were much easier to get rid of than the English whores who always wanted a little more money or favors.

Henry dropped himself back onto the bed and closed his eyes.

"Majesty." He heard his groom's voice. Henry made a growling noise in response.

"Your Majesty, the doors of your room are guarded by French guards who refuse to let anyone in or out of the room.The lady is still in the audience room.

Henry sat up again. "How dare those guards stand at my door! Where are my own guards!" shouted Henry angrily.

The groom backed away. "They have been sent away on the orders of King Francis." he said cautiously, fearful that the king will have a fit of rage.

As the groom had feared, Henry angrily got out of bed and angrily walked over to the door and flung it open. "Get away from my chambers right now or I'll ask for your heads!" Henry yelled angrily to the guards.

"Your Majesty, by the orders of King Francis, you are required to remain in your chambers. Would you kindly return to your chambers and await the orders of our king?" Said the guard.

Henry sniffed with his nose. Francis had the balls to lock him up in his own rooms. Henry wouldn't have that, he would show Francis what happened if you tried to imprison him, a king.

"Out of my way!" Henry yelled, shoving the guards aside and making his way down the hall.

The nagging pain in his leg continued to grow with every angry step he took, but Henry was so furious he could only ignore the feeling.

"Francis!" he shouted angrily when he saw the French king turn that corner, followed by his wife, eldest son and eldest daughter and his guards. "How dare you!"

Francis stopped and looked at Henry with a fury he had never felt before.

"How dare you, Henry? I welcome you to my country and home, treat you with respect and even talk of making a new alliance with England, and then you thank me by poisoning my daughter-in-law and cursing my grandson into his grave." he said in an angry tone.

Henry stopped. "Why would I want to poison your daughter-in-law? How dare you accuse me of such a bad thing?"

"She was poisoned in your wife's chambers with the Duchess of Longueville. They drank from a wine your wife offered, and she herself refused to drink, and fell ill soon afterwards. Will you tell me that was not done by your wife?" Eleanor said.

Henry shook his head. "Anne would never do that..." he stammered. He knew Anne wasn't so heartless as to do something like that.

"And yet she did it. And you will pay for that." Francis said "Guards! Take the king back to his chambers."

The guards grabbed the king by both arms and tried to pull him back to his own chambers but Henry struggled.
"Let go of me! I am the king of England! do you hear me? I am the king of England!" he yelled. "Francis, you will pay for this, to accuse another king of such a thing, that is a crime."

Francis glared at him. "Your wife will be questioned at the tomorrow. Obviously you didn't know about this situation but that doesn't mean it will go unpunished for either of you."

Francis continued down the corridor and his retinue followed him, without giving the king another glance.

Do you believe that Anne is guilty?