(Thanks for the reviews - I love reading them and they are an amazing help. Sorry have taken so long with the update. Hope you enjoy)

I sat there crying, until I could not shed anymore tears. Once my eyes were dry, I got to my feet and continued my search. My baby boy was missing and he would not be found by his mother breakdown and wallowing in her own misery. No, I had to be strong. I pushed the terrifying thoughts that some bastard had sneaked into our home and stolen him, to the back of my mind and convinced myself that he was sat in some corner somewhere, waiting for his mummy and dada to find him.

I entered mine and Thomas' chamber, remembering that only a few hours ago everything had seemed so perfect. I had thought, when lying on the bed with Thomas that our lives were back to the way they were, before news of the Sweat reached us, not realising what pain the evening would bring.

Crawling around on my hands and knees, I convinced myself that Daniel had crawled in here, whilst me and Thomas had been too busy with each other to notice and was now hiding somewhere in the room. But it was no good. Every place I thought he could be, he was still nowhere to be seen. After I had climbed under the bed, search behind the curtains and emptied every clothes chest, I gave up. My little boy was not here and tears started to once again fall from my eyes, but before I could once again collapse under the pain, I felt an arm around my shoulder, causing me to jump. I hoped it was Thomas' arm that I could feel around me but as I turned round I found it was Edmund, standing before me.

'You need to come with me, Bathsheba,'


'Edmund, what's going on?' I cried, as he dragged me through the garden, 'have you found Daniel?'

'Just come with me,' he said, holding on to my wrist with one hand and a lantern with the other. I had no idea where I was being taken or why. I had asked him several times was this was to do with Daniel, panicking that he had been found but not in the state of the living.

He dragged me to the far corner of the garden, to where the giant weeping willow tree, which Kate and Lily-Anna had made into a den, was.

'Edmund, why are we...'

'Shhh!'

Has Edmund told me to be quiet I noticed that a tiny light, as if coming from a candle, shining through the branches. I knew, it couldn't be any of the girls, so who? But then, through the darkness, I heard thefaint voice of poor Katherine Culpepper.

'And then Daniel, the handsome prince married the beautiful princess and they lived happily ever after... And he never shouted at her, belittled her, hit her or bunched her-he just loved her,'


'I'm so sorry Lady Cromwell,' she cried, hugging Daniel even tighter, as I climbed under the tree to join them, 'I never meant to cause any harm,'

'I know you didn't Katherine,' I said, putting an arm round her shoulder, 'but we've all been sick with worry,'

'I...I...I,' she started, her bottom lip trembling, 'I was in the coach going home, but I just kept thinking about what you told me, about how no wife should be beaten by her husband and how we all should be loved. I just kept thinking it and thinking it. So much so, that I started to feel sick, so I asked the driver to stop the coach and let me out. I started walking and walking and walking, until the next thing I knew, I was back outside your home. I went inside but there was no one about, so I tried to find someone, but still I couldn't find anyone. Eventually, I ended up in the nursery and Daniel was sat up in his cot-he looked so pleased to see me. I gave him a cuddle and told him a story. He needed changing...I could hear you and Lord Cromwell were...busy and no one else was about, so I did it myself and then I thought I'd take him for a walk...I lost track of time...I'm so sorry...we were going to come back...I promise...I'm sorry, so, so sorry,'


'I'm never letting you out of my sight again,' I said, hugging a sleeping Daniel tightly to me, as I sat in the window seat in our chamber, leaning on Thomas, who had his arms round me.

'I second that,' whispered Thomas, kissing me on the cheek, then leaning forward to kiss his son. Thomas had been as shaken, as I, by the nights events but unlike me, he was good at controlling his emotions-unlike me.

The three of us sat there a moment longer, in complete peace, only being disturbed by a knock at the chamber door.

'Sorry to disturb you both,' said Edmund, coming into the room slowly, 'but I thought you'd like to know that the physician has see Katherine,'

Poor Katherine, despite the heartache she had caused this evening, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. She had collapsed in tears on the way back to the house, Edmund having to carry her the rest of the way. She had looked so sick and pale when we had got her indoors and to a bedroom, that I feared she had made herself seriously ill.

'How is she?'

'Sleeping now,' replied Edmund, quietly, 'the physician said she is covered in bruises and has at least two broken ribs...but is likely to make a full recovery,'

'Poor child,' said Thomas, getting to his feet, 'if I had my way, Culpepper would have been in the gallows long ago. Is the physician still here? I want him to take a look at Bathsheba before he goes,'

'I'm fine, Thomas,' I sighed, feeling sleepy, 'just tired,'

'You've had a terrible shock,' said Thomas, kneeling down in front of me and placing a hand on the side of my face, causing me to smile as I felt his skin against mine.

'Please Thomas, I just want to be with you and Daniel,'

Thomas nodded his head and got to his feet, turning to face Edmund, who looked almost as tired and as stressed as me.

'Edmund can you pay the physician for me. I will repay you tomorrow. And...' as Thomas spoke, he offered his hand to Edmund, 'and thank you for all your help this evening, especially in finding Daniel,'

I watch with a tired smile as Thomas and Edmund shook hands, putting aside their differences, after weeks of arguing. After Edmund had left, Thomas came back over to me and Daniel.

'I think it's time that we put Daniel down in his cot,'

'Please, just let me have one more cuddle,' I said, before handing Thomas his baby son. In truth, the moment I handed Daniel to Thomas, I started to panic and felt as though part of me was missing, but as soon as I saw Thomas craddling his son, I knew everything would be alright.

'Come, Daniel, let's put you down, then I think it's time we got your poor mother to bed,'

But by the time Thomas had put Daniel to bed, I had fallen fast asleep in the window seat.


'I'm going to make you a deal, Bathsheba,' said Thomas, pulling me against him and running his fingers through my hair, 'I'll be nice to Edmund and you...'

'And I what, Lord Cromwell?' I smiled, resting my head against his shoulder. It was early morning and it was baking hot. So hot, in fact, that I had persuaded Thomas to have breakfast outside, which was why the two of us were now sat on blanket under a tree, watching Daniel crawl around it.

'And you can stop talking to Elizabeth and the Queen about what goes on in our bedroom,'

'And on your desk,' I added, innocently, as I watch a look of horror appear on Thomas' face.

'You told them that? What else?' exclaimed Thomas, 'wait, I do not want to know...just let's make a deal,'

I sat there and pretended to think about it for a moment, trying desperately not to laugh at my poor husband. Was it possible that Lord Cromwell really that easily embarrassed?

'As long as you promise,' I finally answered, pulling Daniel on to my lap, 'that you stop letting the Sweat bother you. I promise, no I know, God is not going to take any of us away...well not for a good few years yet,'

'I swear,' said Thomas, taking Daniel off my lap and holding him up, 'now Daniel, if your mother swears to keep her part, will you make sure she does for me,'

Daniel looked at his father and nodded his little head up and down, before looking at me seriously.

'Hey!' I cried, fanning shock, 'don't turn my son against me,'

'I need some allies round here,' said Thomas, kissing his baby son on the head, 'lord even Gregory seems to have take his step-mother's over his own father's,'

'That's because he knows only too well what you're like to live with,' I smiled, leaning over and kissing him on the cheek, 'that's why he took my side when I had that bloody desk of yours removed from our bedroom...besides you've always got Kate to defend you...talk of the devil,'

As we spoke both Kate and Lily-Anna came running down the garden towards us, Lily-Anna stopping occasionally as she was wearing one of Kate's hoods and it kept falling off as she ran. When they finally reached us and they both kissed us good morning, before tucking into the bread, cheese and meat that was laid out on the blanket.

'Kate!' I cried, seeing how she wolfed down her food, whilst Lily-Anna just nibbled daintily on some bread, 'could you at least try to eat like a lady,'

'Sorry, mummy,' she said, still crewing on her food, causing Thomas to laugh and me to roll my eyes.

'Where's Maddie?'

'She doesn't want to eat with us,' chirped Lily-Anna, 'she says she's not going to leave her room until you two grow up and kick that dirty trollop out of our house,'

'Lily-Anna! Where did you learn such words?'

'I'm just saying what Maddie said?' she smiled innocently, before hanging her head, 'I'm sorry mummy and dada,'

'I've had enough of this!' I said, getting to my feet and placing my hands on hips. I couldn't believe Maddie would say such things, especially knowing what Katherine had been through, 'I'm going to have a word with her,'

'Bathsheba,' said Thomas, catching hold of my hand, 'just leave her be from the moment,'

'Grandfather! Auntie Bathsheba!' cried Henry and Frances, running through the garden with Elizabeth following, carrying Catherine in her arms. I sat back down as they joined us on the rug for breakfast.

'We were not expecting you this morning, Elizabeth,' smiled Thomas, putting an arm round my shoulder-I could sense this was a hint to keep my part of our deal.

'I thought I'd see how you all were doing after last night,' she replied, putting Catherine down on the rug and taking Daniel from Thomas, 'plus I said I'd help Bathsheba look after Katherine,'

'I thought you did not like her,'

'We're not friends, father,' said Elizabeth, reaching for some bread and cheese, as Daniel wiggled on her lap, 'but women, unlike men, rally round each other when one is in trouble,'

'That's a very harsh assessment, Elizabeth,'

'But true,' I added, picking up Catherine and looking at my husband with a smile, 'the Queen in her last letter told me that Brandon's wife as left him and that he spends every hour of the days wallowing in self pity,'

'So she finally saw sense,' said Thomas cheerfully, getting to his feet, 'could not have happened to a more deserving man...well I should be off,'

Thomas kissed his children and grandchildren goodbye and I got to my feet as well and walked a little way back towards the house with him, still holding Catherine in my arms. When we got a little way away from the group, we stopped and Thomas put his arms round my waist and pulled towards him.

'Remember your promise,' smiled Thomas, nodding his head in the direction of Elizabeth, who was chatting with Kate, as Lily-Anna and Henry played 'it' round the tree.

'If you remember yours, Lord Cromwell,' I replied, returning his smile.


'So,' whispered Elizabeth, as we walked down the corridor, free of children now, except Daniel, who Elizabeth was still holding, 'things seem to be a lot better between you and father,'

'We talked,'

'You talked?' she said slowly, as if not understanding my words, 'you talked,'

'We talked,' I smiled, remembering my promise but having watch Thomas around court over the years, I knew there were always ways to bend the rules, 'twice...well three, if you included this morning,'

'So everything is back to normal, then,' smiled Elizabeth, slipping an arm through one of mine, 'you and father are happy. Gregory is happy, so I'm happy. Everyone is happy, except...'

'Except poor Katherine,'

'Yes, except poor Katherine,'

We stopped in the hall, just by the staircase. We were both on our way to see Katherine, but I suspect, neither of us really knew what to say to comfort her. She had left that bastard, which was a good thing, but what would happen to her now. She had no family to go to and no money of her own. All I could hope, was that Queen Anne would take pity on her and let her remain at Court-but was that really for the best, knowing how close Culpepper was to the King.

'Excuse miss, I'm looking for Lord Cromwell,'

An unknown voice, spoken in a strong South London accent, brought me and Elizabeth out of our thoughts. We both turned and saw a rather elderly man, though he seemed to be in good health, stood in my door way. I looked him up and down, trying to figure out who this stranger was. We often got beggars at our door, asking for help, as well as travellers from England, looking for a place to stay. He had no luggage with him and his clothes, while they were very well worn, were not the clothes of a beggar-and what would a bagger from London, be doing in Dusseldorf?

'Lord Cromwell is at court today,' I replied, approaching the stranger, 'I'm his wife, maybe I can be of some help?'

'His wife,' replied the man, with a wide smile, looking me up and down, 'so you're the infamous Lady Cromwell,'

'I wouldn't describe me as infamous, sir,' I snapped, slightly unnerve by this man and his manor, 'now what do you want?'

'I'm sorry, miss...Lady Cromwell,' he said, his manor a bit softer, 'please forgive me, but I am an old merchant friend of Lord Cromwell, from the days when he was a money lender. I have fallen on hard times and was looking for some aide, as you can see I am too old to work and start again. Are you expecting him home this evening?'

'Yes,' I answered, but I didn't want this shifty man in my house any longer than needs be, 'but not till much later, I'm afraid. It would be best for you to go to court and get a message to him, see if he can see you. I will get our coach to take you as far as the palace,'


After I'd giving orders to the stables, to take this man into the city and return as soon as he stepped foot out of the coach, me and Elizabeth went up to see Katherine.

Katherine was sat on the window seat of the study, listening to Edmund who was talking away to her. She seemed to have greatly recovered from the night before, though her body still bore the damages her husband had inflicted on her.

'Bathsheba,' she smiled as I came into the room and waved at me.

'You looking better today Katherine,' I said, sitting down next to her and handing her Daniel, who she hugged, 'Daniel's been worried about you,'

'Oh, has he, the sweetie,' she gushed, kissing him on the head, 'Bathsheba, Edmund has just been telling me about how God is all around us. That you do not have to go to church for him to hear your prayers. You can prayer to him anytime and anywhere and he will answer you, as long as you have him in your heart,'

I smiled as she spoke, but now felt more uneasy than before. The words Edmund had told Katherine, were those of the Reformation, of Lutheranism. They were the words Thomas had spoken to me on our first night together-but Edmund, since his arrival, had told me how deeply he held to the old faith. So why was he comforting Katherine with the words of Luther.