Chapter 36

CHAPTER 36

For the first time since she was imprisoned, the guards came and led Anna out of the tower.

“Where we going?”

“Lord Denby says you may walk in the garden.”

Something fishy was going on. But she was grateful to be out in the sun and see the sky for the first time in a week, so she didn’t complain. They took her to the garden adjoining one of the towers. There was a chill in the air but she didn’t care. Anna slipped off her shoes, feeling the grass between her toes. She touched the flowers and the leaves, tilting her face to the sun.

Maybe this was a good sign. Could John’s brothers be inside securing their release? As much as she had been inside over the past years, she was grateful for any chance to go outside. Whenever she got a break at work, Anna would slip out to enjoy the sun and the breeze on her skin.

In a much better mood, she followed the guards back inside and down the corridors to her cell. Wait. His cell was empty again.

“Has John been taken back to the physician? I thought he looked a little bit better when I woke. ”

Instead of answering, they pushed her in the cell and locked the door without meeting her eyes. Her heart started to beat erratically.

“Where is he? Please. Tell me.”

Fear reached up and wrapped itself around her heart and throat, making it hard to breathe.

“Did you enjoy your time in the garden?”

Anna whirled around to see Lord Denby.

“Is John with the physician again? Surely that’s good.”

“You do not know?”

His voice sounded funny. As if it were muffled.

“Let me be the first to tell you. John is dead.”

She blinked, turning the words over and over in her mind. No, that couldn’t be right. He must’ve meant something else.

“No. He’s sick but he seemed better this morn.”

“It is a good day. The bandit of the wood is dead.”

Little black spots danced before her eyes and the sound of wind filled her ears. Then there was nothing.

Anna woke to find herself on the floor. Had she fainted? Her head felt like it was full of cotton.

“What a horrible dream.” She turned to tell John about the awful nightmare and saw the empty cell. But it wasn’t a nightmare. It was true. He was gone.

She pulled her knees to her chest, rocking back and forth. Horrible noises came from deep within her chest, the sounds more animal than human.

One of the guards shouted at her, “Hush, wench.”

Anna lifted her head. “Please send for his brothers. They must know.”

The guard shook his head. “There is naught I can do.”

Anna screamed and cried until her voice gave out. Unseeing, she rocked back and forth, the grief penetrating every cell of her body. Somehow, she’d had the ridiculous thought she would be prepared if it came to this. If he didn’t get better. When her mother died, Anna thought she’d never smile again, but losing John…

If it was possible, his death ripped her insides apart. Just when she’d come to accept her love for him, to know he loved her in return…he was stolen away. How could life be so incredibly cruel?

Dinner came and went. She refused to move or eat. Didn’t feel the cold seeping through the stone or hear anything. No, she was focused inward. Remembering every look on his face. Every word he’d spoken to her. How could he be gone? No one was as full of life as he.

“Dry your eyes, wench. I’m to take you to Lord Denby.”

Anna no longer cared what they did with her. The guards had to pick her up and carry her. Her legs wouldn’t support her.

“She’s here, my lord.”

The door opened and she found herself in the same room as before.

“I will not be disturbed.”

The guards left, shutting the door behind them.

“Why do you cry? He is not worth your tears. Do you think he cried when my Letitia died? No, he did not. And he would not cry for you.”

She looked up to see two of him. Blinked several times, and the two compressed into one hideous man.

“My family will be the greatest family in history to serve my sire. Edward Thornton squandered his chance. I made sure of it. I knew Letitia would cause trouble over John to the king. That the embarrassment would make him cast the Thorntons out of favor. So I bided my time and made sure the new king would have need of me.” He shrugged and drank his wine. She watched the red liquid dribble from the corner of his mouth, down his chin, and onto his tunic.

“’Tis the way of the world. ”

He handed her a cup. She sat in the chair looking at it, the words washing over her, not making sense.

“There is something about you which pleases me. John took from me and I will take from him. Your ugliness will not matter in the dark. I will have you. And when I tire of you I will have you drowned in the Thames.”

“You will never have me. I despise you.”

He grabbed her by the arms, making her cry out. “I will laugh as they drown you.”

She struggled and tried to pull away, but he held tight. Anna kicked out at him and he backhanded her so hard she fell to the floor, seeing spots. The taste of copper filled her mouth.

She shook her head, trying to clear it. And then he was pushing her down, his knees between her legs, fumbling at his waist.

She cried out, “No. Do not do this.”

The door banged open and suddenly he was no longer on top of her. Anna scrambled to her feet, pulling her skirts down.

Robert Thornton stood over Denby, who cowered on the floor. Anna looked behind him to see a man so richly dressed he could only be the king.

The king took in the situation and scowled. “We have heard more than enough. You have much to answer for, Denby.”