Anne only returns once Cardinal Campeggio left England. He declared that the case must be tried in Rome, just as I told Catalina. "You were amazing that day," Mum tells Catalina. "The people love you."
"The people may love me, but Anne has the King's love," Catalina says.
"But we know I will lose it." Anne's hand is resting on the arm of Catalina's throne, and Catalina takes it in hers. "I do not want to die."
"I know, but everything will be well long-term," I assure her.
"I know what could cheer us up," Catalina says, standing up. She looks around her room and finds a pack of cards. "Lady Anne, Lady Jane, Lady Emma, do you want to join me in a game of cards."
"I do not know how to play cards," I admit, "so I will watch this time."
"I am not allowed to play with cards," Jane adds.
"Very well, Jane, Emma." Catalina, Anne, Mum, and Mummy sit at a table, and Catalina begins shuffling the cards. "We are going to play Primero."
"How do you play?" Mummy asks as Catalina takes out the eights, nines, and tens. Catalina explains the rules and begins dealing out the cards. "So, we just need to get the highest number possible?"
"That is the aim, yes." Catalina finishes dealing out the cards. I head to one of the stools, where I placed a book earlier, and I pick up from where I left off.

I'm just about to read about the protagonist defeating a dragon when Catalina's remark takes me out of the story. "My Lady Anne," she begins, "you have a good fortune to never stop at a King, but you are not like the others. You will either have all or none."
"You are keeping with history, I see," I say.
"You forgot to mention the card game," Mummy says.
"Well, no one mentioned that a card game would be critical."
"It might have helped if you told us."
"I, er, forgot."
"That is all right, Emma."

"Do you want us to introduce you to a modern game?" Mummy asks. "I brought a few with me."
"That is a great idea," Catalina says. "Can you go and get them, please?"
"Of course. Ruby, can you please help me?" Mum nods, and the two head out of the door to get the games.

I am about to return to my book when Jane walks over. "Emma, can we talk?" She is fiddling with her sleeves and does not meet my gaze.
"Of course."
"I meant in private."
"Sure." I put my book down and follow her out the door and down several corridors.
"Hardly anyone comes down here, so we should be safe here."
"How do you know about this?"
"I do some exploring in my free time."
"What is it you wanted to talk about?"

"Are you sure you want to wait for William?" Jane finally meets my gaze.
"Yes!"
"But surely you don't want King Henry to be your first."
"Of course, I don't! He'll be a tyrant by the time I marry him. Maybe it would've been best if I was only doing the twentieth century so I wouldn't have to wait."
"You don't mean that."
"I don't fit in here. Everywhere I go, people see me as a weirdo, a freak! Face it; I don't belong here. I probably don't belong anywhere now."
"That is not true." Jane takes my hand. "You do belong here. And for the record, I do not see you as a weirdo or a freak. I see a strong, independent woman. Sure, you are a little strange—" I chuckle at that "— But that is what I love about you. Sure, you might be half-alien, but you certainly do not let anyone stand in your way."
"Well, that is something I must do. I must keep history on the right track. I fear the consequences if I don't do that."
"What is something from Tudor times that you want to change?"
"I want to stop King Henry from marrying any of his wives. But I cannot do that. King Henry marrying Anne Boleyn changes everything in England. Besides, if it's not Anne, he could marry someone else."
"Which is why you want to keep history on the right page."
"Yeah. If someone worse than Anne gets on the throne, it could be the end for all of us."

As we talk, Anne and Catalina appear around the corner. "Sorry," Catalina says, "we did not realise you two were here."
"Actually, it is a great thing you found us," Jane says. "Emma was explaining about some of the consequences all of this has on her."
"Really?" Catalina asks and turns to me.
"One of the ideas I presented was that if King Henry doesn't marry Anne, he could marry someone far worse. If that happens, it will change England forever, and he might have a son far sooner than he does in real life."
"Something we cannot let happen. History must remain as it should."
"Yes. I fear if even the smallest thing goes off-track, then I could cease to exist."
"When would that threat stop?"
"24th December 1993."

"Then you have a long way to go," a new voice interrupts. We turn and curtsey when we realise King Henry is standing behind us. "That is several hundred years, so you need all the help you can get."
"That is right, Your Majesty," I say.
"Do not worry; I will ensure that the parts I know will stay on track."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"May I walk with you all for a bit?"
"Why, of course," Catalina agrees, and we walk back to the Queen's apartments.
"Mistress Emma, when do I get a son in real life?"
"1537, Your Majesty. Your wife at that point is Jane Seymour."
King Henry stops walking and turns to us. "So, I am in the presence of three of my wives?"
"Four, actually. I am number six. Anne is number two, and Jane is number three."
"Six is too excessive."

We all chuckle when King Henry says that. He will not think that when Prince Edward is his only living legitimate son. If anything, he will want a second son at all costs. I wish there is something I could do to change history, but as I constantly remind myself, I cannot do that.