My Nephew, My King

Thomas Culpepper

"Hello, Thomas." Katherine's eyes sparkled as he took her proffered hand and kissed it. "It's lovely to meet you as well."

"I was just about to go for a stroll in the garden," Thomas told her. "Would you care to accompany me?"

"If the Queen has no urgent need of me now, then certainly," Katherine replied.

As it turned out, the Queen did not have urgent need of Katherine at the time, so she was free to go for a walk with Thomas in the garden, after all. Charles saw them walking together, and his heart fell.

While Thomas and Katherine were enjoying a stroll in the garden, Edward and his wife, Anne of Cleves, were enjoying a walk of their own.

"The flowers of your country are so lovely," said Anne as she stopped to pick one and hold it to her nose. "I never tire of admiring their beauty."

"Neither do I," Edward agreed.

"I'm so glad our son or daughter will be able to grow up amidst such beauty," said Anne.

Edward grinned. "Are you trying to tell me something?"

Anne nodded. "It's true. I am with child."

"Oh, Anne!" Edward exclaimed joyfully, grabbing her up into a big hug.

Katherine was enjoying her walk with Thomas so much that she didn't even notice that he was leading her into a more secluded area far from the palace until she saw that she was surrounded on all sides by tall trees and was all alone except for Thomas.

"I've never been to this section of the palace grounds," she commented.

"It's good to be adventurous, to go beyond your comfort zone," Thomas replied. "It's really beautiful here, isn't it?"

"Oh, yes!" she whispered, looking around.

"You're beautiful," said Thomas, kissing her.

"Why, Thomas!" she gasped as she felt his tongue touch hers.

"Don't you like me?" Thomas looked puzzled and a bit hurt.

"Why, of course I like you." She giggled. "It's just that you're only the second man who's ever kissed me like that."

"Who was the first man?" he demanded jealously.

"His name was Francis Dereham."

"Come here," Thomas whispered fiercely, crushing her body to his own. "I'm going to make you forget all about Francis Dereham."

Eagerly his hands wandered all over her body, caressing her breasts and buttocks. She gasped as she felt him harden against her leg, then moved to touch him there.

Suddenly she swooned as she felt her heart racing.

"I'm scared, Thomas," she whimpered. "This just seems to be going so fast..."

"There's nothing to be afraid of," Thomas told her. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"Please, Thomas," she said timidly. "I think we'd better head back to the palace now."

Thomas looked angry as he grabbed her hand roughly and headed back to the palace with her.

Several days later, Charles was strolling the palace grounds alone when he saw Katherine sitting beside a small pond, sobbing her heart out.

"What's wrong, my lady?" he asked, sitting beside her.

"It's Thomas Culpepper," she told him. "He's just been arrested for r**e and murder."