(Big thanks to Angel More, GreenField and MrsPhantomSylvia and to everyone who read the first chapter. Please let me know what you think of this chapter, as I'm a bit unsure about it. Ps MrsPhantomSylvia, Noa is such a cool name for a girl-thanks for the suggestions)

Dusseldorf, July 1546

'Christ, Daniel,' I laugh, putting my comb back on the dresser and picking my six mouth old son up from the floor, 'Kate's right, you really are a stinky baby!'

I held him at arm's length, the smell was so bad and went to change his nappy. Daniel looked at me with a smug smile, as if to say, 'you don't like the way I smell, mother, then change me,'

Daniel had taken us all by surprise. All of us had been expecting another little girl to added to our family. No one had thought, even for a moment that I might by carrying a boy. Me and Thomas had talked of girl names, never thinking our child could be a son. I enjoyed my time with Daniel- it had been the first pregnancy that God had granted me complete peace. I had no worries as my belly grew and could just enjoy being with my family at this important time, but out of all my labours, Daniel was by far the worse. It had lasted almost two full days and when he had come, it had been the wrong way and the physician had had to cut me to help him on his journey. By the time Daniel arrived in this world, I was so tired that as I heard my baby's cries, I fell asleep on the sweat and blood drenched bed. It was not till later, when I found the strength to open my eyes, that Thomas, with a smile, told me we had a beautiful son.

I changed Daniel and then once again dressed him for church. I always found it strange, dressing my son in the same clothes I had dress my daughters when they were babies but he seemed happy enough, kicking around in his crisp white gown.

'There, now that's better,' I said, pitching him up and holding him against me, enjoying the now nice clean baby smell that came from him, 'now are you going to be good boy in church for your mummy and dada?'

'I'll try,' came a voice from behind me. I turned round and saw Gregory was stood in the corridor, smiling.

' Gregory,' I laughed, 'how long a have you been there?'

'Just arrived,' he said, 'I've got a message from father. He's has been called to see the Duke of Cleves, he told me to tell you, he'll meet us at the church,'

I smiled, trying not to show the slight disappointment I felt. Thomas had left before dawn, after receiving having received a message, whose contents had dragged him from our bed. I had hoped he would be home for breakfast but it seemed it was too much to ask. Though whenever I cursed Thomas' work, I always managed to cheer myself by the knowledge that at least I now knew he would come home to me and our children every night and without the fear of the axe was always hanging over his neck.

'How's my little brother?' asked Gregory brightly, as he came over to us and took his brother from my arms, ( though, where Gregory must be the spitting image of his mother, Daniel took after his father). He swung Daniel up in the air and then caught him, causing Daniel to gurgle with glee.

'He's getting bigger every day,' I said with laughter, 'and stronger, throws a good right hook now,'

'Good,' said Gregory, holding Daniel up in the air and looked at him in detail, 'finally a son father can be proud of,'

'Gregory,' I sighed, confused by Gregory's words, 'your father is proud of you,'

'You have to say that, Bathsheba' he replied, looking over at me with a small smile, 'strictly speaking, you are my mother,'

I felt sorry for Gregory, though I could not understanding where his words had come from. I never knew he felt this way-Gregory always seemed so happy with his life, especially when he was with Elizabeth and their chilren. And besides, he and Thomas had always been close, I could tell that the first time I saw them together. Thomas had always spoken so proudly of his son and had never once said anything harsh about him.

'Your father is very proud of you, ,' I said, taking Daniel from Gregory, 'I could see it the first time he told me about you. Also less of the mother, I'm only a few years older than you,'

'No,' he replied quietly, looking at the floor as he did so, 'father's always wanted a son that's clever and a fighter, not one he has to employ as his secretary,'

'Gregory,' I answered, wrapping Daniel up in a shawl as I did so, 'there is nothing wrong with being a secretary, lord knows I sometimes wish your father had stayed as one. He is proud of you and I don't say this because I'm his wife, I say it because it's the truth,'

'I suppose your right,' laughed Gregory, looking back at me with cheer once again in his face. I was just about to say there was no supposing, when we suddenly heard screams and shouts coming from the front of the house, followed by footsteps rushing up the stairs and a flustered Frau Schwartz appeared at the door.

'You better coming outside, Lady Cromwell,'

'Congratulations, Lord Cromwell!' I said sharply to Thomas, as we met him on the steps of the church. He lent forward to kiss me on the cheek but soon thought better of it, as he saw the look of thunder on my face, 'your daughter has just committed her first murder!'

'Pardon,' answered Thomas, looking confused, as with my free hand I pulled Kate forward. She tried to struggle from my grip but despite holding Daniel in one hand, I managed to stop her escaping.

'Your daughter, after being told she was not allowed out of our garden, has shot one of our neighbours deer's,' I was trying to keep my voice level but it was not working, 'I have just had to spend an hour persuading them not to sue us,'

'Kate,' sighed Thomas, shaking his head from side to side, 'how many times have I told you, your only allowed to use the bow and arrows when I'm there with you,'

'I'm sorry, dada,' answered Kate, all wide eyed and innocent, 'but Hans said that because I'm a girl, I must be a rubbish shot, so I wanted to prove him wrong and technically, I was still in our garden-I shot the deer whilst hanging out of one of our trees!'

'Kate...'

'Morning, dada,' chirped Lily-Anna, coming along with Gregory and holding on to her nephew Henry's hand. There was only a month between the two of them, with Henry being the older of the two and when the two of them were together, they were inseparable.

'Good morning, grandfather,' joined in Henry, looking how I imagined Gregory must have looked at his age.

'Morning little one and my favourite grandson,' said Thomas, with a smile, as he ruffled Lily-Anna auburn curls. Lily-Anna kissed her father on the cheek, before her, Henry and Gregory went into the church.

'I hear someone's been causing trouble,' Elizabeth smiled, as she and her daughters, Frances and Catherine, who was sleeping in her mother's arms, joined us on the steps.

'I'll give you one guess, who it is?' I said, casting a sharp look at Kate, who was still looking the picture of innocence in her fine little green dress and hood, but it was her wide dark eyes that always did the trick.

'I didn't mean to Lizzie,' she pleaded, 'I was just standing up for myself...I don't see why it matters mummy, both you and dada hate Baron Fatface!'

'Kate!'

'Lady Cromwell!' cried an English voice, from the crowds of people making their way to the Sunday service. A very pretty young woman, in her early twenties, came rushing through the mass of people towards us, waving her hands frantically as she did so. She had a very small frame, which was clothed in a dress that seemed more suited for a party, then church and her hair was hanging wildly around her. I didn't recognize her at first, though she seem familiar, especially the way she played with her lose hair.

'Lady Cromwell,' she squeaked, 'don't you recognize me? I'm Katherine Howard, remember...well I'm Katherine Culpepper now!'

Katherine Howard, yes I did remember. The girl, who when barely a woman, had caught the King's eye, almost causing him to end his marriage with Queen Anne and Thomas' life with it. I held nothing against the poor girl, but certainly had no desire to be her friend.

'Of course,' I said trying to smile, as once again Daniel and Kate tried to escape my grasp. Thomas, thankfully, took Daniel from my arms, 'what are you doing here?'

'Well,' she giggled, 'my husband has been instructed by the King to make sure every comfort is in place for when the Queen and Prince Arthur and Princess Margaret visit...I must say I don't very much like it here, everyone in so dower and they all speak strangely,'

'They're speaking German,' said Elizabeth, very harshly, her eyes shooting darts at this woman.

'Yes, German,' she laughed, producing a fan and tapping Daniel on the nose, much to his annoyance, 'Your baby is so cute, Lady Cromwell. I hope we can be great friends, while I stuck here!'

'I see your wife's got you well trained, Lord Cromwell,' said a man, joining our little group. I guessed this man must be Culpepper. He was very handsome, that was true-he and Katherine seemed well suited in looks but he, unlike Katherine, who seemed naive more than anything, was very smug and his eyes oozed with arrogance . As he stood with us, I felt Thomas' arm round my waist and he pulled me and Kate towards him, causing me to sense that something was not right.

'You see Culpepper,' answered Thomas, his tone flat, 'I have not seen my family this morning, as I was dragged from my bed at first light, to sort out an incident between you and a tavern keeper!'

'I'd have thought you'd have been use to dealing with tavern brawls, Cromwell,' he smiled, his face suddenly seeming sinister, 'given your background...come Katherine,'

'Bye, bye,' waved Katherine with her white lace fan, as her husband clicked his fingers and she followed him like a puppy dog, 'you must come and visit soon,'

'I hate that man,' mumbled Thomas, his eyes darkening as they followed the couple into the church.

'You can tell she not had three children!' snapped Elizabeth, before marching into the church with Kate sneaking off behind her, hoping that she had escaped her parents, forgetting that we have eyes in the back of our heads.

'Kate,' called Thomas, causing her to stop, 'we'll have a little talk later,'

'Ok, dada,' she smiled, doing a little bob of a curtsey before disappearing into the church. I laughed. I knew Thomas would not tell her off. He never told any off our children off- well not what I would class as a telling off, anyway.

'Who was that, mummy?' asked Maddie, coming up the stair, in the company of William Lacy, the son of a well off English merchant, who had much business in the city. He was the same age as Maddie, which was now thirteen, but Maddie over the past few month's had started to change into a woman, making both me and Thomas very protective off her.

'Master Lacy,' asked Thomas, his voice still sounding cold and hard, 'I don't recall giving you permission to see my daughter. I trust your parents have been with the two of you the whole time?'

'O....of....co...course....Lor...d....Crom...well,' stuttered the poor young lad, clearly trembling with fear, 'the...their...over...the..re,'

'Well, I suggest you go and join them,' remarked Thomas, handing me back Daniel. William did what he was told, running back to his parents as fast as his legs would let him without even saying goodbye to poor Maddie, who was now scowling at me and Thomas.

'Father,' said Maddie, trying to sound grown up, 'he's my friend!'

'He is also a thirteen year old boy,' answered Thomas, leading the four of us up the stairs, 'and having been one, I know I do not want my daughter round one!'

'So, Thomas,' I remarked, as we got to the church door, 'what do thirteen year old boys get up to,'

'Thomas,' I said, undoing the ribbons of my dress and letting it fall to the floor, 'I think you need to speak with your son,'

Thomas looked up from our bed, where he was sat reading through some papers, with Daniel lying next to him, his face mimicking Thomas' expression of concentration as he tried to stick his little foot in his mouth.

'Do we Daniel?' Thomas smiled, raising an eyebrow, as he put down his papers and picked up his young son, 'and what do we need to discuss? The political situation in Scotland perhaps?'

'Gregory, Thomas,' I sighed, slipping my night gown over my head and pulling the cotton grown down around me.

'Gregory,' asked Thomas, looking over at me, his face full of concern in the candle light 'why?'

'He thinks you're not proud of him?' I answered, sitting down at my dresser and running a comb through my hair. I wasn't sure if it was right breaking Gregory's confidence like this but I felt bad that he should think that his father respecting him less, just because he hadn't set the world alight.

'Not proud of him,' repeat Thomas, getting off the bed and still holding Daniel in his arms, came to stand behind me. In the reflection of the glass, I could see the look of worry in Thomas' eyes, 'of course I'm proud of him. Why would he think otherwise?'

'Well, it can't be easy having Thomas Cromwell for a father,' I smiled, getting to my feet. I took Daniel from Thomas' arms and placed him down in his cot, 'just promise me you'll talk to him,

'I promise,' answered Thomas, placing an arm round my hip and kissing me gently on the head. I snuggled against him as we watched our baby son drift off to sleep. Then from down the corridor, came an ear piercing scream, that made my blood run cold.

The screams came from Maddie's chamber and by the time me and Thomas had made it to her room, Kate and Lily-Anna were stood in the corridor. Lily-Anna was half asleep, her sleepy head resting on the door frame, but Kate was fully awake and jumping around on the spot.

'Kate, what's happened!' I almost screamed at her, as I ran down the corridor to them.

'Maddie's bleeding,' she cried, a mixture of concern and excitement in her voice. I with Thomas, made it towards the bedroom door, terror filling my veins as we did so-what had happened to our little girl?

'Lady Cromwell,' said Frau Schwartz, meeting us at Maddie's chamber door, a small smile on her red lips, 'you better come with me...No, Lord Cromwell, I think you should go back to bed. These things are not for the likes of men,'

I found Maddie sat up in bed, hugging her knees as she rocked back and forwards crying. I ran over to her, heart skipping a beat as I saw my daughter in so much distress. I threw my arms round her should, pulling her to me and kissed her on the top of her head.

'Maddie,' I said, trying to sound calm, 'what's happened?'

'You promised, mummy,' she cried on to my shoulder, 'you promised that there would only be a little bit of blood. You said I would hardly notice it, but it's everywhere, mummy and it won't stop,'

I looked down at my daughter and then at the bed sheets, blots of red all over them, leading in a trail to my daughter. Gently, I pushed down her knees and saw her night dress also had large stains of blood on.

'Oh, Maddie,' I smiled, realising my eldest daughter was no longer simply a child and hugged her, 'everything will be fine, I promise you,'

'Everything ok,' asked Thomas, as I came back to our chamber, wiping tears from my eyes. I had managed to calm Maddie down, and with Frau Schwartz's help, we had cleaned Maddie, changed the bed linen and put her back to bed. As I watched her fall asleep, I had felt tears start to well up in my eyes as I found it hard to believe where the years had gone-was my little girl really almost a woman? I also cried because I missed Alys, who had stayed in England to be with her family, as she would know the right thing to say and because I recalled the day my courses started, remembering my mother shaking in terror over what my father would do, if he found out.

'Our little girl just growing up,' I smiled, getting into bed beside him. Thomas look at me confused for a moment but as it dawned on him what had happened, he banged his head, which had gone slightly green, (why do men find these matters of nature so repulsive?), on the headboard.

'Christ,' he groan, putting his head in his hands, 'right from now on, no boy is allowed within a mile of her and if that Lacy boy comes anywhere near her again, I'll kill him,'

'Thomas,' I laughed, putting my arms round his neck, 'she's a sensible girl,'

'I know that. It's men I do not trust!'

'I doubt very much any boy would even so much as breath within ten miles of one of our daughters. Poor William, starts shaking at even the mention of your name,'

'Good!'

'Thomas!'

'Sorry,' he sighed, 'I'm just not use to handling daughters. Sons are easy to deal with. You just drum it into them that they are responsible for their actions. That women are not playthings,'

'So,' I said, playing with a small curl of his hair that hanged just by his ear, 'you told Gregory that it was wrong to sleep with the maids?'

'Of course,' answered Thomas, firmly, before it dawned on him what I had just said. He smiled, as he put his arms round my waist and pulled me on to his lap, 'but what happened between us was different. I was not some irresponsible youth and more importantly, I did ad still do love you,'

He put his lips on top of my mine and I welcomed him, hungrily, as passion ran through me and I felt goose bumps spring up over my body.

'You never answered my question from this morning,' I teased as our lips parted, 'what do thirteen year old boys think about?'

'It's probably best you don't know,' he smiled. With one of my hands, I took one of Thomas arms away from waist, placed his hand on my knee, before guiding it up to the top of my thigh, pulling my night dress away with it.

'Maybe,' I whispered, 'but do you know what I'm think, Lord Cromwell?'

'Bathsheba, we can't,' he laughed, ' Daniel,'

'He's fast asleep, Thomas. We'll just have to be quiet, that's all,' I said, as any protest Thomas had, suddenly went with him pulling off my night grown and laying me down on the bed, returning his lips to mine as I pulled him down on top of me.