In The Shadow

Alienor could feel the tension in the dining hall and the falseness of the entourage's smiles with all her being. She knew that, by fate, she was in the centre of royal court intrigues and the struggle for the right to possess a tall, broad-shouldered, red-haired man, to whom England belonged, to share power with him. Brigid knew one thing: Catherine of Aragon's calm smile hid her pain and disappointment, and she watched in silence as her own beloved husband preferred the pretty face of the young favourite to hers. Unwillingly meeting her gaze with the Queen, Brigid flashed and smiled, and when Catherine smiled back at her, the girl thought with delight: "You and only you are our true Queen! May God bless you! I will pray to Him to return to you happiness and peace!".

Alienor smiled, thinking of how naive and i

"As soon as he is rid of his old wife, I will ask my father to send me to court, and let him make every effort to make me A

– Miss Boleyn will be a beautiful Queen. All of Europe will envy our king!

– That's not going to happen! Catherine, that's who was, is and will be Queen of England! – barely audible, with indignation in her breast, replied Brigid. – 'Alienor, I thought it would not be right if you talk to William about me and tell him of my love. I do not wish him to marry me out of compassion.

– As your heart desires. I promise I won't say a word to him," Alienor agreed. – But if he doesn't marry you, he'll be the biggest fool in the world! But I think I should explain myself to him: this morning, before breakfast, my father told his father that there would be no wedding.

– And what did he say? – Brigid asked.

– He was furious. But my father is in the King's favour, so Sir Tury had to swallow his resentment and accept my decision… Brigid? – Alienor looked worriedly into her friend's pale face and her wide-open violet eyes.

– I have to leave! – Brigid squeaked and wanted to leave her seat, but Alienor grabbed her by the wide, embroidered sleeve of her dress.

– Leave? It would be disrespectful to the King! What if he sees me?

– Tell him I felt sick… I'll explain it all to you later! – Brigid forcibly wrenched her sleeve from her friend's palm, ducked, backed up, freed herself from the crowd and hurried to the door.

Sir Guise, Brigid's father, guarded the door like a chain dog, hiding from A

Alienor was so disturbed by her friend's sudden departure that she waited for the opportune moment when everyone would be seated at the table to follow and help Brigid. Hardly had she taken a step towards the door, however Lady Norton, who was suddenly at her daughter's side, took her gently but tenaciously under her arm and whispered in her ear: "Let her go. You don't wish the King to notice her and not you, do you? This is your chance to draw attention to yourself!"

Alienor sighed heavily, but her mother's fair words made her change her mind, and, together, the ladies made their way gracefully to the table.

Chapter 4

She knew her father had seen her, knew what he thought and how angry he was. But Brigid didn't care how long her father would humiliate and insult her for leaving the dining hall so suddenly; all she wanted to do was lock herself in her chambers, lie in bed, and cover herself with a blanket. She had done this when she was a little girl, when there was a thunderstorm, but this time the storm had caught her on a fine summer's day, and she had instinctively wished to hide herself away, to protect herself by voluntary seclusion.

Now Brigid knew who the accidental witnesses to her disgrace were. The lady and her husband on the back stairs. In the hall the girl recognised their voices, and her heart beat as fast as a rabbit fleeing from vicious hunting dogs.

Did the Queen recognise her? Perhaps. But she would hardly have admonished her, for she was so kind and sweet.

The King and Queen saw her covered in mud from head to toe. They laughed at her, good-naturedly, but still… Brigid did not want to accidentally catch His Majesty's eye and listen to his jokes about that unexpected meeting… She did not want to hear his voice at all: remembering how cruelly and insultingly he had spoken to his wife on the stairs, and how openly he humiliated her at his own court, the girl hated him, and it became unpleasant for her even to be in the same room with him. No, she could no longer bear the neglect and rudeness that Henry was so pleased to throw in the face of his legitimate wife, the Queen of England.

To watch the smug smiles of the Boleyns, whom Miss Guise had seen before when she had last visited her father and mother in London, in the days when he had been the king's counsellor, was beyond her. She remembered this power-hungry family, who by then had already managed to put another Boleyn, A

How fortunate that the Guises had been forgotten at court. Even though Brigid's father and mother were embittered by this and sought to return, the girl herself swore to herself that her foot will never again set foot where Catherine is offended, and where weave their dark intrigues Boleyn family.

When Brigid entered her chamber, she hurriedly took off her hood, lay down on her bed, and closed her eyes tiredly.

– Please, Heavenly Father, I beg you to free the Queen from her suffering! Give the king back his mind and turn him away from the sin of adultery! – The girl whispered fervently and kissed the small gold cross adorning her neck. She was seized by emotion, and she covered her face with her palms and wept silently. Her body was burning, she felt hot, but inside the girl was gripped by coldness.