cfboleyn:
“ I believe I have never heard such blasphemes being spoken on sacred ground. ” The former countess genglected towards the altar, eyes low with a tilt of her head but fixated upon the crucifix upon the wall, before rising once again to tread careful and quiet footsteps upon the marble ground to take a place of her own at a pew. “ I beseech you forgive my intrusion, alas you seem extremely distressed and I could not forgive myself if I were to pass by without offering aid. ” The dark gaze of Anne Boleyn remained focused upon the religious shrine throughout, nimble fingers moving to make the sign of the cross upon herself before hands joined together as though in prayer. “ Has someone here present upset, your Grace? A particular person of the protestant faith, I suppose? ”
elisabeth wondered at her new companion— wondered if she welcomed the intrusion, or would rather have been left alone. madame boleyn was a well-noted figure at court, one elisabeth could admire for her courtly elegance. her delicate hands clutched the prayer bench in front of her, white-knuckled in her grip. she thought again of her words, knew that if her parents had been alive and present that they would have scolded her for them. but her temper was known to reach feverish heights, and no one or no place was spared, even hallowed ground.
so she bowed her head again, sending up a silent prayer for forgiveness. such obscenities neither benefited nor befit a woman of her class and breeding. “lady northumberland— i hope you will forgive my brief slip of composure.” loathe as she was to admit it, elisabeth was deeply rattled. “my home and coronet have become deeply disturbed by the violent protestant and lutheran states surrounding it.” elisabeth pressed her lips together into a thin line. “i now begin to wonder if god is testing me and my conviction in our holy mother church.”
