* * *
She found Henry in the gardens late that night, his sleepless nights more frequent. “What troubles you tonight, sire?”
As he embraced her, his arms beneath the velvet cloak obliterated every trace of the brisk autumn chill. “The usual. What about you?”
“I am just very apprehensive of how the kingdom would react to me if I did become your queen someday.” She smoothed her skirts and sat with him.
“Any woman who displaces Catherine will suffer a bit of disfavor throughout the kingdom,” he said. “But you do not have to live to please the kingdom. I must, of course, but you do not have to.”
“Still, my lord, it is quite beautiful the way it is.” She leaned into him and he wrapped his arm round her shoulders.
“I must agree with that. But you realize I must have a wife who will bless m
