The King’s Mistress

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Charles pulled away from her, hand stroking her throat, his breathing rapid.

“Go from me, Jane. I should never have touched you so.”

His eyes were searing into her, his touch hot on her skin, and she had never felt so alive. This was what she had feared she would never know, this rush of rapture and fever of excitement throughout her body. She had torn herself away from him the night before, but to do so again, knowing that they would likely part on the morrow, called for more strength than she possessed.

“I will not go from you, Your Majesty,” she murmured, her hand trembling as she laid it on his chest. She felt his heart thudding and saw his throat move as he swallowed.

“Jane,” he whispered, nuzzling her ear. “If you stay, I cannot answer for the consequences. I’ve not been with a woman in a year and a half. My blood quite overcrows my scruples, and if I am much longer in your presence, I will lose mastery of myself entirely.”

Jane took his hand and kissed it.

“It is well lost in such a cause. I give myself to you.”

“Jane.”

His voice was husky. He pulled her to him, kissing her deeply as they sank together onto the bed. His hands were lifting her petticoats, and he was on top of her, parting her legs with his knees.

It was wrong, Jane knew, but she didn’t care. She would have let him take her though the mouth of hell gaped before her. His fingers were caressing, exploring, making his way easy. She gasped to feel the hard flesh pressing against her, entering her, driving deep within her. She pulled him into her, rising to meet his thrusts until a wave built and crashed within her, and he put a hand over her mouth to stifle her moans. A moment later he arched his head back and his whole body gave a convulsive shudder. Then he was still, and rolled to the side to hold her close, and they lay panting in each other’s arms.

“Oh, Jane, forgive me,” he whispered at last. “I should have stopped myself, no matter what you said.”

“I didn’t want you to stop,” she said into his ear, her hand stroking his sweat-soaked back. “I don’t want to lose you. After tomorrow I will see you no more, but I can always remember tonight.”

“Stay with me,” Charles said. “Don’t leave until morning, if this night is all we have.”

AS THE LIGHT OF DAYBREAK CREPT THROUGH THE WINDOW, CHARLES and Jane made love again, this time more slowly, unencumbered by clothes or hesitation. Jane looked up at Charles, memorising each detail of his face, the dark stubble of his beard on his flushed cheeks, the heavy lashes of his eyes, the fall of dark hair. She found her hands grasping him to her and marvelled at the hardness of his muscles, their tightening as he moved within her.

When they had both spent, she lay nestled in his arms, not wanting to move. But Henry or Pope the butler or someone else could come to the door at any moment.

“I must go,” she said, kissing his chest and inhaling his scent. “Before I am discovered.”

“And I will brave the kitchen,” he said, reaching for his breeches. “Perhaps I may hide better by going among the household than by staying mewed up here. But I beg you, come back in an hour or two, and tell me what news you hear.”

She pulled on her clothes hastily, and he bent to give her a last kiss before she tore herself from him and crept out the door.

JANE AND ELLEN WALKED OUT AFTER BREAKFAST, ELLEN HAPPILY showing Jane the gardens and the sweeping views downhill in all directions.

“Breathtaking,” Jane said, gazing at the shadowed fields and forests far in the distance.

“Yes,” Ellen agreed. “I do love it here, as much as I miss you and my family.” She put her arm through Jane’s. “Oh, Jane, I hope you will stay for a long visit.”

“I’d like to.” Jane smiled. “I’ve missed you more than I can tell you, and have longed for your advice.”

It was true, she reflected, though now everything seemed to have changed. A few weeks ago she had wondered if she would know love if it came to her. Now she knew without a doubt that she was in love, but she could certainly not confess it to Ellen or anyone else.

“Good.” Ellen squeezed her hand. “There will be plenty of time for confidences.”

A LITTLE LATER, CHARLES ANSWERED JANE’S SOFT KNOCK AT THE door of his little room and drew her in swiftly, holding her to him and kissing her.

“Oh, Jane, I feel so alive in your arms.”

Her head swam at the intensity of his presence, the taste and smell and feel of him.

“And I in yours.” She thought she had never felt so vibrantly aware of her body or been swept by such emotion as she felt now looking up at him.

“Come,” he said, drawing her down to sit beside him on the bed. “I must consult with you. I feel like a hare being chased by hounds, and I don’t know whether to hide in the thickets or run for it.”

“What’s happened?”

“I went down to the kitchen after you left, having a very good stomach after such a night.” He cocked an eyebrow at her and she blushed and smiled.

“The doctor saw me, and asked what news I had of Worcester. It took me by surprise and I scarce knew how to answer, and seeing my hesitation, he said, ‘I am afraid you are a Roundhead, but I will try what mettle you are made of.’ Then what should he do but takes me into the buttery and drinks me the king’s health in a glass of wine! So what could I do but drink as well, wishing myself good health, did he but know it.”

“Then he didn’t know you last night!” Jane felt a surge of relief.

“It would seem not, but things only got hotter from there. I went to the buttery hatch to get my breakfast and the butler Pope was there with two or three other fellows. We fell to eating bread and butter, along with some very good ale and sack he gave us. One, that looked like a country fellow, sat just by me, and began to talk of the fight at Worcester, giving so particular an account to the company that I concluded he must be one of Cromwell’s soldiers.”