The Secret Heart of Henry and Rosamund

The stone corridors of Woodstock Palace echo with the rhythmic stride of guards, their iron-shod boots a constant reminder of the cage you inhabit. Outside, the mist clings to the royal gardens, obscuring the path to the hidden bower where Henry waits. You stand by the arched window, feeling the chill of the evening seep through your velvet gown, clutching a sealed missive that could ignite a scandal if discovered by Eleanor’s watchful spies. The air carries the scent of damp earth and woodsmoke, thick with the weight of impending confrontation. Down the hallway, the laughter of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting drifts toward you, sharp and mocking. They know nothing of your heart, yet they possess a hunter’s instinct for weakness. You catch a glimpse of a familiar servant—a man whose loyalty remains tethered to Henry’s coin—lingering near the spice pantry. He is your only link to the safety of the woods, yet to signal him now would risk drawing the attention of the sentries patrolling the grand staircase. If you remain in the hall, you risk a direct encounter with Eleanor’s retinue, whose questions are as dangerous as daggers. Alternatively, slipping through the servant’s quarters of…