In The Shadow

– Ah, did you see me? I shone like a polished gold coin! – Alienor said dreamily to her friend as they went into her large, lavishly furnished room to discuss the past fun and guests.

– You are always shining. And this evening even Miss Boleyn paled beside your glow," Brigid smiled. – I wish the King and Queen had been there with us… I would have liked to see Catherine. I have never seen her, but my father told me a lot about her.

The girl delicately kept silent about the fact that her father did not miss a single opportunity to insult the name of England's favourite Spaniard: "She looks like an old goose. Just about to croak!", "It's high time she went to her grave!", "Let her make way for a decent English lady!" "Henry cares nothing for her. "He is wrapped up in the sharp vines of another Boleyn girl, and she is only happy about it.

– And what did he say? – Alienor responded with interest. She sat down on the scarlet velvet bed and gladly took off her new high-heeled boots made of soft leather.

– She loves her husband and he doesn't love her," Brigid said quietly and sighed heavily: she didn't know the woman or what she looked like, but she felt sorry for her.

It must be hard for a Queen to see her husband openly despise her and favour the court beauties… Both Boleyn sisters had been in his bed, and Miss Mary had even borne him two children. Yet these girls were just one of the unfortunate ones, in Brigid's opinion, who had no luck in attracting the king's attention. After all, if he wants to call a girl into his bedchamber, she cannot refuse him. He is a king. King of England.

– She's older than he is. What do you want? Of course he wants a younger, sweeter body," Alienor shrugged indifferently. – I wish he'd come down. I could have got him to ask me to dance.

– Oh, I have no doubt about that," Brigid said warmly. She went over to her friend, sat down beside her on the bed, and lovingly patted her cheek, ruddy from the wine and dancing. – 'Only I don't think Miss Boleyn would let him.

– She is only his mistress! – Alienor said ironically and squeezed Brigid in her arms. – You had better tell me, what of William? Has he already asked your father for your hand?

– I honestly do not know… I have not yet had a conversation with him on the subject… But he danced with me! He held my palms in his… I would have stayed with him in that hall, dancing and not saying a word! – whispered Brigid passionately. – Did he dance with you? I had to leave the hall… My mother called me: she said my face had become too ruddy.

– Your mother is a heartless woman, forgive me for saying it so plainly… But to make you leave the hall because you blushed with excitement after dancing with your beloved? And your future betrothed, as well! – Alienor grumbled unhappily.

– She cares for my reputation," Brigid said bitterly, and as her friend released her from her embrace, she rested her copper-haired head on Alienor's bare shoulder. – 'But did you dance with him?

– Just one dance. The fastest. He is as clumsy as a bear! – Alienor hastened to lie: she knew what love for William lurked in Brigid's heart, and she did not wish to provoke her jealousy. Besides, she was indifferent to the young man.

– And I thought we were floating in the clouds! – Brigid smiled and closed her eyes, once again seeing the beautiful proud face of her dear William in front of her. – I can't wait for the moment when he calls me his own!

– While you were dancing with the other men, William never took his eyes off you," Alienor smiled too. – Would you like some hot wine? Shall we call a maid?

– No need. It's so late… Do you think he loves me? – Brigid asked with a sinking heart.

– Of course he does! – Alienor squeezed her friend's palm with force. – Of course he loves you, and he's jealous of other men!

– I won't sleep tonight… I definitely won't sleep! – whispered Brigid.

Every cell of her body trembled at the thought that William Tury, the son of a rich nobleman and the chosen one of her young, pure heart, was reciprocating her love. Even if he did not show it as openly as she would have liked, even if he flirted with other ladies and danced with Miss Boleyn… He loved her and would make her his wife in the sight of God.

What happiness! What sweetness awaits her!

After kissing her friend on the forehead, Brigid wished her good night, took one of the candleholders, left the chambers and, lighting the corridor with the dancing light of a single candle, headed for her father's chambers: she had had enough of hearing him say that he was marrying her to William. She needed to hear it before she went to bed.

As she approached the door of her father's bedchamber, Brigid knocked timidly and immediately heard a sharp, "Come in!" This gave the girl courage, and, gathering more air into her lungs, she opened the door and entered the chamber.

Sir Richard had no thought of going to bed: he was sitting at an oak table, on which a candlestick with two candles burned dimly, writing a letter. The creak of a sharpened quill being pressed with force against the yellow parchment could be heard.

– Are you still awake? – Brigid smiled affectionately, standing in the doorway, hesitating to approach her father.

– As you can see," he said briefly, not even looking at his daughter. – What do you want?

– Father, I… I heard that William Tury has asked for a girl's hand in marriage today…" Brigid's breath came in short gasps of excitement, and the words she had so carefully chosen on her way to her father stuck in her throat.

– Asked," was her answer.

– When will we be married? – The girl's soul was filled with a divine light: it had happened! Soon she would marry the man she loved, and he would take her to his father's castle!

– Yours? – Sir Richard asked with a sneer in his voice.

The quill in his fingers froze.

– He has asked for my hand! – Brigid reminded him in a trembling and solemn tone.

– He asked for one girl`s hand. But not yours.

– Not mine? But… Whose?

– William had not spoken to me, but to Sir Norton. He asked for his daughter's hand.

– Alienor?! – The girl gasped, and a pain shot through her chest as if she had been pierced by the sharp sword that William Tury sometimes wore on his belt, in its gold-embellished scabbard. – And what… What did her father reply?

– He was pleased. The wedding is to be.

Chapter 3

– My daughter, what have you been thinking? – Sir Richard frowned. – What nonsense lives in your empty head? Why would William Tury want you for a wife? I am poor! All the fault of that witch Anne Boleyn!

– But how? It cannot be, Father, you are mistaken! – burst from the poor girl's breast. Her lips trembled, and tears of disappointment and deceived hope came to her eyes.

How cruelly she had been mistaken!

– I have had enough of your foolishness! Go to your chambers! – Sir Richard threw irritably.

– 'Father, he could not ask for Alienor's hand…'

– I said out!

– Please…I love him! I love him with all my heart! – Brigid cried out in despair. – I think he was drunk… He got drunk and mistook Alienor for me!