Anne Boleyn stared at the bowl of sugar glazed vanilla kisses and was amazed to see drops of water falling on them. Spoiling her perfectly good snack. The only thing left of perfection in her life. When she looked upwards to find the source of rain she realized there was none. Just rain from her eyes in a locked cell within the Tower. She supposed she was growing crazy in her last hours of death. Many had the ability to grow old and lose their minds gradually. Her...she had minutes only. She thought of many swear words that she had always said in her head, but never aloud. What were those words she had uttered at the King in the dark? Never anymore, there was only one swear word that she knew of now: "ambition."
That was what had gotten her into this mess. A smile was produced through the rain of her fury. What a queen she had been and what a puppet she had made that ridiculous king before she married him. There were moments when she thought his lust might destroy her, but somehow it never did and she won a very long battle indeed. How she had stayed stable through his childish temper and wandering eyes she would never know again. As she began to cry, she asked herself if it was really all worth it. And the answer was, of course it was. It was worth it to have people bow at her feet, to wear that very heavy crown, to know she had part of the King's power, and that no other woman could compare to her. All above that was Elizabeth. Her dear daughter....one of the only things that she almost loved above herself. Never did she give him a son, but it was not her fault if he couldn't create a male worth living.
Cupcake TowerMaybe she had lovers, but his Majesty was a hypocrite and she had always told him so with all the wrath that she could muster. He had strong passion for everything and that included women. Lots of them. It never bugged her, after all she had everything she wanted, a daughter, the crown, and tons of people to wait on her. She had to admit that when she was alone in her regal solitude she felt a bit of sadness. After all, she had gotten what she wanted, but once you strive all your life for that one little thing and it comes true, you are left with an emptiness. What did she have to fight for, strive for, or feel for once everything is accomplished?
So, she went to her death, a little afraid for the after life and at the same time happy for the end of all the emptiness. Her Elizabeth was the only one that she thought about before she went to the block. That and the fact that although sent to the executioner in disgrace she was all to willing to do so just so she could take the crown from her bed. That cankerous crown studded with anger and stubbornness. Let the weak little Jane Seymour do so, for she would not know a snake if carried its name on its back. Her one joy would be thinking of how Queen Seymour would deal with that tyrant.
"Your Majesty, it is time. Never mind, it hurts not a bit. Over in a second."
"Thank you, carry on."
She really lost her head this time. Her only thought as that direct sunlight hit her face was the face of her happy Elizabeth free from cares. A daughter of no consequence.
"Glazed Sugar Kisses"*
Ingredients: 2 cups of all purpose flour, 10 candied cherries cut in half, 1 and ½ tsp of baking powder, 1 tbs of boiling water plus more if needed, ¼ tsp of salt, 1 cup of confectioners' sugar, 1 cup of softened margarine, ½ cup of strawberry preserves, ¾ cup of sugar, ¾ cup of Splenda, 1 tsp of vanilla extract, and 1 egg.
Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Beat the margarine, sugar, and Splenda in a bowl on medium speed until creamy. Add the egg and vanilla, beating just until blended. Add the floured mixture gradually. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. Press into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter two cookie sheets. Roll out the dough to ¼ inch thick. Use a 1 and ½ inch cookie cutter to cut out the cookies. Gather the dough scraps, re-roll, and cut out the cookies until all the dough is used. Transfer the cookies to the cookie sheets spacing well. Bake for about 10 minutes. Cool on the sheets for about 3 minutes. Transfer to racks to finish cooling. Warm the preserves in a saucepan over low heat. Stick the cookies together with the preserves. Mix the confectioners' sugar with enough water to make a soft glaze. Spread the cookies with the frosting and top with half a cherry.
Enjoy the sweetness of this most delicate cookie.
* Base of this recipe from Cookies and then I molded it from there.
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