Behind the Castle Wall

By G.C. Howard

James Ashworth, ruled under the thumb of his cold, abusive, father, King, Henry Ashworth. James heard over the years, the rumors, and tales of Henry’s first family. The rumors told of a tale of women disappearing and murder. Beautiful, Isabella Wellington catches James’s eye and wins his heart. Isabella causes a rift between the king and the young Prince.

• Language: English
• Publisher: G.C. Howard
• Release date: Oct 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370412983

G.C. Howard

I am a mother and a grandmother. Family is everything to me . When I was younger i wrote stories and poetry. Writing has been a passion of mine since i was 13 years old. I currently work a full time job, help take care of my grandchildren and serve in my community. Writing is my passion and my goal is to bring each character alive in the readers mind.

Book preview

Behind the castle wall

BY G.C.Howard

Edited by: Morgan Stefanoff

TITLE Copyright © 2016 by G.C. Howard

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Book and Cover design by G.C. Howard

ISBN:978-1537412672

First Edition: Month 2016

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Dedicated To:

Mary Howard, a loving mother who gave me strength and hope. (1934-2015)

Tammy Mayberry, a loving sister who gave me courage and inspiration.

(1960-2016)

Arthur Gene Fender, a cousin who gave me encouragement and vision.

(1961-2016)

May you all rest in the heavenly realms until we meet again.

Special Thanks to those who made this book possible:

Bonnie Sauer, Ada Howard, Chirsty Coleman, Tamara Howard, Crystal Gurule, Sandra Howard and Morgan Stefanoff.

Chapter One

Behind The Castle Wall

Tessie, wake up.

Tessie Brown flew out of bed when she recognized Queen Anna’s voice. My Lady, what are you doing here?

I need your help, she begged.

You should not be here. This is the servants’ quarters, Tessie said, as she approached the Queen. And in your condition!

Tessie, the baby is coming!

My Lady, you must go back to the castle. Tessie steadied the Queen’s arm and guided her to the door. Suddenly Queen Anna bent over and stifled a scream. Tessie nervously turned her around and helped her lie gently on the bed. She made the Queen comfortable as panic rose within her.

I will fetch the midwife, Tessie said, as she headed towards the door.

The Queen stopped Tessie by grabbing her hand with such force that Tessie cried out.

Tessie, you can’t do that. The baby must be born first. If it’s a girl, the King will not be pleased and there is no telling what harm he would do to me and my child.

Tessie’s heart broke as she bore witness to the mental and physical pain the Queen was enduring. During the short time she had been working at the castle, Queen Anna had always treated her with kindness and compassion. They had become more like friends, and Tessie felt that she must do what the Queen asked even if it would put her in danger.

Tessie heard rumors about the King’s cruel and ruthless behavior and knew the Queen had every reason to fear her husband. The King of England, Henry Ashworth, made no secret of his cruel opinion of women, including his own wife. He wanted a son, and this obsession ruled his heart.

Henry appalled women. He kept them at bay as though they were some kind of threat to his wellbeing. He never allowed anyone close enough to love him. But he desperately wanted an heir to inherit his title and ensure his legacy. These circumstances forced him to choose a bride.

He married Catherine Barrier, Duchess of Laceland for the soul purpose of having a male child. If something happened to the King, the firstborn male child would gain the crown. If the King died before the male child reached the suitable age, the oldest female child could become the next ruler.

Anna was King Henry’s second wife. The first Queen, Catherine Ashworth disappeared years earlier. King Henry and Queen Catherine had been on good terms until the birth of their firstborn child, Mary Ashworth.

When Mary was born, the King swore that no women would rule his kingdom. He assured the whole country that he would produce a male heir, a son worthy of the throne. He thought he could control every aspect of his life, including the determination of the sex of his own child.

King Henry saw Mary as a royal disappointment. His desire for a son consumed his heart and gave way to a father that neglected his own child. He spent very little time with his little Princess.

As time went by it seemed as though Queen Catherine would not conceive another child, so the King grew angrier by the day. His fury grew like a raging fire that spread throughout the castle. It devoured anyone in its path, including the Queen. This rage carried on for two years until the Queen announced she was pregnant again.

But, the King continued to intimidate and threaten the Queen. He repeatedly reminded her what was at risk if she failed to give him a son. He showed no mercy and frequently left his pregnant wife weeping in her quarters. Servants overheard his threats to Queen Catherine, warning her of the consequences if the baby was another girl.

Queen Catherine named her second born daughter Elizabeth Belle Ashworth. Not long after her birth, the servants attending to the royal family were abuzz repeating the maniacal ravings of the King to one another. They pitied Queen Catherine as she suffered under his wrath.

Her inability to give him a son made her feel inadequate and she was often seen with a tear-streaked face. Queen Catherine became the enemy of the King. He moved out of the east wing they had shared since their wedding day. Their already-strained relationship turned to bitter hatred on the part of the King. She became lifeless as she confided herself to her quarters with her two daughters.

Three weeks after Elizabeth’s birth, Queen Catherine along with her two daughters disappeared in the middle of the night. No one believed Queen Catherine could have fled on her own because the King’s guards were always with her. Some conspired that a guard must have helped her in her get away from the castle. King Henry must have shared this conclusion as well.

The King ordered his men to turn every stone in the country to find the missing royal family. He offered a reward for information leading to the whereabouts or to anyone that had aided in the Queens disappearance.

The Captain of the guards questioned each person residing in the castle that night, including the Queen’s personal guard. He claimed he stayed at his post outside her door. He swore before the King that she never left that room. The other guards testified that during their patrols, they had seen him all night at his post.

They searched the Queen’s quarters for weeks. The only way out of her room was through the same door leading into her quarters. Later, her personal guard received orders to report to the front line where a battle raged nonstop. Everyone knew this meant certain death to any guardsmen assigned to this area.

The King acted as though he were not involved in their disappearance. Many of the servants believed it was a ploy to throw the suspicion from himself. King Henry was highly intelligent and did not want his subjects believing him capable of murdering his own children.

Queen Catherine’s family eventually stopped looking for her and her daughters believing the worse had happen to them. The family held King Henry responsible for their fate. To avoid their resentment from spreading throughout the land, he tainting their reputation and anyone who associated with them. They left the country and escaped to France to be far away from the reach of King Henry Ashworth.

In the midst of this scandal, servants became aware of King Henry’s ever-growing fear. He became increasingly afraid of a curse believed to have plagued previous Ashworth men, who all died at an early age. The King, now in his early thirties, was terrified he would share their fate and began regretting not marrying in his youth. It became apparent that King Henry would soon be seeking a new wife.

Queen Anna screamed, bringing Tessie out of her thoughts. She grabbed her stomach and cried out with pain. Anna was worried, considering the baby was coming two weeks early. She feared something was terribly wrong and screamed once more before blacking out from the pain.

Hours later, Anna awoke and adjusted her eyes to identify her surroundings. Tessie was sitting by her side with her eyes closed and the child sleeping peacefully in her arms. Anna gently reached out and tapped Tessie’s leg, waking her with a slight jolt. Tessie smiled at the Queen and stood up with the baby.

Meet your son, she cooed as she handed Queen Anna the child, Anna took the baby and saw that he favored his father with the shape of his facial features and the color of his hair. He opened his blue eyes, the one feature he inherited from her, and cried out as she put him on her breast to satisfy his hunger.

Queen Anna breathed a sigh of relief. For the first time, she felt safe. She was pleased to have someone to love. She was happy as she cuddled and talked to her newborn son. He ate his fill as he lay warm and content in his mother’s arms. She was amazed how life had been created from her very own body.

Tessie, the King will be so happy. I can only pray this child will soften him and bring great joy and love to his heart, she said, as she grabbed Tessie’s hand. I am forever in your debt. If you ever need anything, Tessie, promise you will come to me.

Tessie’s expression changed as she said,My Queen, you owe me nothing. Tonight has been a night that must be our secret, and we will protect what happened here with our lives. My Lady, the King must never know you came here to a mere servant for help, for he would kill us both.

Both women knew what was at stake if the King found out the secrets that took place outside the castle walls. The two women made a promise they would never share with anyone the event that took place in the servant’s quarters that morning.

Tessie shared with the Queen what had occurred when she had lost consciousness during childbirth and expressed her fears about getting back into the castle without the guards seeing them and immediately reporting the incident to the King.

The Queen told Tessie they could regain entry to the castle the same way she had arrived to the servant’s quarters. Tessie listened with disbelief as Anna shared how she had left the castle without being seen. However, it still worried Tessie that someone had already noticed the Queen was missing from the east wing.

Tessie sighed with relief when they reached the Queen’s quarters without detection. She settled her on the bed and placed the baby at the foot.

Get the King, the baby is coming! Tessie yelled down the corridor.

The guards ran to get the King. The night servants heard the commotion as the bustle of feet headed towards the Queen’s quarters. By the time the King had arrived, Anna was holding the child. Tessie stood back out of the way and bowed as he entered the room. She stood up, and the King struck her across the face, knocking her back a few feet.

Why did you not get me and the midwife before the birth of the child?

Henry, Anna cried out, You have a son!

Anna looked at Tessie with sad eyes, feeling awful about the cruelty Tessie had endured because of her Tessie moved to the foot of the bed and began cleaning up the Queen. Anna turned her focus on the King as he picked his child and checked him from head to toe.

Anna had never loved the king, nor did she wish to marry him. However, King Henry was in a rush to find another wife to bear him a son. He frequently traveled in the countryside and one day, he stopped to watch a delicate woman as she was picking flowers in the fields. Her beauty caught his eye as she danced and sang through the meadows that lead to her home.

The King sent his servant to bring her before him. Anna’s mother had taught her the proper way to behave in the presence of royalty in the unlikely event that they ever crossed paths. She mostly remembered the fun side of those lessons - dressing up and practicing curtseying. They would pretend as though they were at the ball, dancing with a handsome and charming prince. But, the fairytale they enacted was nothing like the realty she would experience.

Anna knew that it would not be polite to deny visiting with King Henry, so she went with the servant willingly. She was shy and scared as she approached his carriage. A dozen of the king’s guards surrounded him. He took in her long, dark, brownish-red hair that shimmered in the sunlight. Her blue eyes were breathtaking and revealed her innocence.

Anna spoke with a soft, pleasant voice. It was English sounding, with Irish undertones. The sweet sound was pleasing to his ears. Her slim build and fair skin attracted him to her appearance. He was impressed by her shyness because he was used to women throwing themselves at him.

Anna kept her head slightly down without looking directly into the King's eyes. She stole glances at his dark hair, brown eyes, and flawless skin. She also sensed a coldness that surrounded his appearance even though he spoke pleasantly enough.

The encounter was brief, and Anna sighed thankfully when the carriage pulled away and left her to continue her short journey home. She could not wait to tell her mother she had met the King. Little did she know, the King would use his power to make her his Queen and give her a place in history for centuries to come.

After their grand marriage ceremony, Anna noticed that Henry kept his distance from her. He built an emotional wall to separate them. When they had consummated their marriage, He was more patient and gentle than she had expected. However, outside the bedroom, he kept conversation to a minimum and impersonal.

Anna became lonely at the castle, so she was as happy as Henry was when she found out that she was pregnant. Then suddenly his mood changed, he stopped sleeping with Anna. Their only connection became about the welfare of the child. He pressured her on how important it was that she bore him a son.

Anna had heard the stories of Queen Catherine and the treatment she received from the king. Anna feared that if the child was a little girl, that she would suffer the neglect and coldness just like his firstborn daughter, Mary Ashworth. She looked down at her little boy and smiled as those fears faded away as she gazed up at her husband.

For the first time since Anna had known the King, his smile lit up his eyes. For a moment she recognized the pleasant King she had encountered years ago. I shall name him Prince James Edward Ashworth after his great grandfather, Henry declared. Anna smiled at him in agreement as though she had a choice in the matter.

Anna began to lose consciousness as she barely heard Tessie’s panicked voice say to the midwife, "Help me! She is bleeding, and I cannot get it to stop!

Chapter Two

Prince James Ashworth walked through the courtyard of the castle. His sixteenth birthday was coming up in less than a week and preparations for the royal ball had taken over. The bustle of excitement was new to him, for it was his first appearance at a ball.

His father, Henry, the King of England, had never allowed such nonsense, which was the way he had referred to past events such as this. He was only allowing this dance to introduce the young Prince to the kingdom.

James had become a strong-willed, independent young man. He and the King had butted heads many times, but James still had a respectful fear of his father. He had seen firsthand how ruthless his father could be and could not recall ever receiving a kind word or a loving gesture from him.

James often wondered what his life would have been like had his mother lived. Queen Anna died after giving birth to the Prince. When he asked his father about her, he scoffed and remarked that she had been a peasant's daughter, and that the only good thing she did was birth him a son. James could not understand why his father spoke with such cold bitterness against his mother.

James had seen a portrait of his mother once when he was about seven years old. There had been an old servant's quarters outside the castle in the wooded area near the wall. After his birth, his father had the area shut and sealed off. The building had aged, and the deterioration caused damage to the structure.

One day James out maneuvered his guard detail and went exploring. He found a way into the old quarters. It was empty, cold, and dirty. As he was pretending to be a musketeer, he roamed through the building and went into each room with his imaginary sword in hand.

He entered one chamber and noticed an old cot and trash blowing around on the floor. In the corner, he saw a portrait of someone staring up at him. He picked it up and saw the damage time had inflicted over the years. It had faded and there were various tears and marks across the unprotected paper.

Nevertheless, James was still able to make out the face. As he stared at it, the same sky blue eyes he had seen the mirror stared back at him and he knew this was his mother. He rolled up the portrait and hid it in his shirt. When he came out of the old building, his father was hastily approaching him.

Burn this building to the ground! he ordered the guards as he snatched James up by his ear and dragged him back to the castle.

King Henry had given him a beating that day. However, James was able to keep the portrait hidden long enough to safely hide it in his room later that evening. He would often take it out and wonder about the woman his mother had been.

James’ curiosity gnawed at him as the years passed. He continued to ask his father about his mother. King Henry always told James he would not have his son dwelling on the past. His mother had no family left to speak of, and could not contribute to his future. He eventually forbade James to speak of her again.

Prince James knew the servants had information about his mother, but their fear of King Henry prevented them from speaking of her. James had tried several times to pry information from the servants for more details about his mother. But the servants only gossiped with one another and would never dare to breathe a word of their knowledge in front of a royal member or outside the castle walls.

Their punishment would be too severe to think about such betrayal to the King. However, James would still occasionally ask the castle staff questions about his mother in hopes that they would eventually give him the information he so desperately needed to know.

Prince James, Beasley, the Grand Steward, said as he approached. It is time for your fitting. The tailor is waiting in the drawing room for you.

Thanks, Beasley, James responded, heading towards the castle. Beasley, did you know my mother?

James asked the question before he could stop himself. He saw the color drain from Beasley's face. Beasley had been James steward for as long as he could remember and had more love for him than he did for his own father.

Master James, we should not speak of such things. It is better to leave the past in the past. he answered, mimicking one of King Henry’s mantras.

Beasley, that is not an answer to my question.

Sir, I do not have the answers you seek, I only saw the Queen in passing, he answered truthfully.

Yes, but I know servants talk to one another, and I want to know what my mother was like.

Ask your father, Beasley stated as he advanced, forcing the Prince to move forward and thus closer to the castle.

This conversation is not over, the Prince stated as he passed Beasley and headed through the castle door.

Inside the castle walls, servants were bustling around. The castle was growing a new life. James looked into the ballroom and noticed the array of colors that had transformed the once dreary looking room into a beautiful display, bringing it alive beyond his wildest imagination.

Prince James entered the drawing room where a wiry, older gentleman stood with a tape measure.

Please, come in Sir, I must hurry if I am to finish with your attire before for the ball, he urged as he began to measure James’ waist circumference.

Beasley escaped the young Prince’s presence to avoid his questioning eyes. When the Prince was younger, Beasley could divert his attention away from talking about his mother. But Prince James was older now, and Beasley knew he needed answers about his mother. He, of all people, understood the need for answers.

The Prince’s questions today brought back memories of a time Beasley had tried to forget. Almost all of the memories during his time revolved around a beautiful young servant girl named Tessie Brown. She and Beasley shared so much during their years there together. For sixteen years, Beasley had tried to forget his one true love.

He and Tessie had started working in the castle the same year. He was sixteen, and she was fourteen. He remembered his awkwardness and stuttering voice as he introduced himself to her. But from that moment on, they were inseparable.

Tessie was a quick learner and had the patience of a saint. She prepared the rooms for the royal guests before their arrivals. The ladies – in – waiting took care of the royals personal needs and Tessie was grateful she was not in that positon. She had always feared being close to royalty.

Tessie's mother had worked in the kitchen for over twenty years. She would hide two biscuits in the pantry each day, for Tessie and Beasley. The pair would meet in the kitchen late at night and share their biscuits as well as stories of their day. They shared their frustrations, heartaches, and their dreams for their future.

Tessie wanted to become a dancer and perform on stage. Beasley had the eye of an artist and loved drawing beautiful things. They talked about saving enough to move to France where their dreams could come true. Their wages were modest while working and living at the castle. Servants worked out of honor and service to their king.

At one time, they were almost ready to move forward with their plans. Then a war broke out between England and France and traveling to France had become impossible. The war lasted longer than anyone could have expected and their dreams eventually faded away.

Years flew by as they continued in their service to the king. Being together every day was what mattered to them. Late at night, they rendezvoused in the kitchen and Tessie would make Beasley dance with her. In return, she would pose for him.

He could draw her for hours, but never felt he quite captured her beauty. He could trace each line on her face from memory. He could see her long black hair, light brown eyes, and ivory skin. But even his recollection of her features, no matter how detailed, was not comparable to seeing her in the flesh. When he drew her, he would tease her about being his enchanting muse. Tessie would laugh and her cheeks would turn bright red.

Beasley had wanted to marry Tessie, but he felt he had nothing to offer her. He wanted her to have the life she deserved, even if it meant it was not with him. Like Tessie, Beasley came from a poor village. He had grown up in the town of Portsmouth and had received the privilege of serving in the castle only because his great uncle was the Grand Steward in charge of staffing. His mother begged her uncle to allow Beasley a chance to work at the castle.

Beasley started out working with the grounds keepers. He was content with his position and loved working outside. During his breaks, he would draw the flowers as they blossomed before him. A few years went by and his uncle made him a steward. When his uncle passed away, Beasley became the Grand Steward.

Beasley remembered how scared Tessie was when Queen Anna had chosen her to be her lady- in -waiting. The two of them had met in the kitchen and was having one of their late night moments when Tessie spoke up with anxiety.

"Beasley, what if I bungle this job? I am a chamber maid, and I have no experience waiting on