We were able to reconcile after I had the chance to explain nothing had happened, but our relief was short-lived.

A few weeks later, I received a second summons from the King. This time he wanted me to keep a Count (Lord William) occupied, for several hours during the night. There was no room for interpretation on this occasion: Henry made it clear that I was absolutely expected to sleep with him.

I went straight to Francis, positively fuming and hoping to appeal to him. If there was even the slightest chance I could get out of it, I didn't want Catherine having to hear about it.

'This goes beyond the acceptable boundaries of anything I've done before. He's treating me like a common whore!'

'I know and I'm trying to reason with him, but it's not easy. He's trying to incite a reaction from Mother as well, not just you.' Francis pointed out.

'And I'm limited with how much I can intervene. I never have before, my sudden interest is suspicious. If I'm not careful, he'll suspect there's something between us and that's not a charade that would end well.'

I raised my eyebrow.

'Perhaps there's something to that.' I mused, briefly considering it, but sense quickly returned. 'No, what am I saying? You definitely have a point there. Besides, that could have disturbing consequences.'

I groaned in frustration.

'Damnit, Henry, I could just stab him in the eye for what he's doing to us!' I fumed. 'Francis, this is a nightmare. And Catherine will be furious when she finds out!'

'We'll talk to her together. We might be able to reason with her.'

I doubted it, somehow. But, of course, as luck would have it, but the time we reached Catherine she already knew.

'Oh yes, Henry was very quick to inform me of the new task he had required my Lady for. He took great delight in it revealing the details of his plan.'

'Please tell me you didn't react. We can't risk antagonising him.' My concern kicked-in.

'Oh, he doesn't care. He's enjoying this!'

'Mother, it's vital you don't let your emotions control you openly.'

'It's hard not to when he's toying with us like this.'

I held back while Francis tried his best to reason with her. I wanted to take her in my arms and just hold her, calm her. But I suspected that might only serve to aggravate her irritation at this moment.

Whatever Henry's game was, I hoped we would be able to endure it.

She came to see me later, Francis's attempts at calming her evidently having worn-off.

'You don't have to sleep with him, you know.'

'It's not-'

'You just have to keep him occupied. Once you're out of sight, Henry would never know what takes place.'

'Of course he would know! He's the King, he'll probably request a detailed account of our time together. I don't know what Lord William's been promised and I'll do what I can but… Catherine, I have to do whatever it takes to keep us protected!'

'This isn't right.' she argued.

'I know that.' I scoffed. 'Don't you think I know that?'

I had to make her understand.

'Do you think I want to be doing this? God, Catherine, the only person I've wanted to share my bed with for quite some time is you! Do you really think, now we've finally reached this point, that there's any part of me that feels comfortable with this?

I know our relationship terrifies you, but you have to understand that it terrifies me just as much. I've been with other women before, yes, but to fall for a Queen? I could already be beheaded for what I've done and if I was a better person…' I paused, taking a breath.

'I've never had my heart rule over my head before, not like this. But with you it's like all sense and reason flies out the window. I wish I could just walk away and save us both, but I can't. I'm not capable of doing that, not now. I'm just not.

I would refuse Henry if I thought it safe, but we can't give him any more reason to suspect us. I love you, Catherine, I can't bear the thought of anything happening to you. Especially not because of me!'

Catherine was left stunned by my outburst.

'I don't know where that came from.' I finished.

'Charity, I, I don't know what to say.'

'Don't say anything. Not now.' I insisted, rubbing my own arms for comfort.

'You should go. I need to ready myself for later.'

Catherine looked defeated, but headed for the door. She hesitated a moment, then left.

That evening I was preparing my finishing touches, when Catherine returned to my chambers. She took note of my appearance, looking as sad as I felt.

'You look stunning. He won't be able to resist you.'

'That's the idea.' I was resigned to the fact, changing my earrings.

Catherine was pacing, gearing herself up to say something.

'Try to have fun tonight, Catherine. I know you're worried, but-'

'Don't do it.' she interrupted me. 'Please. Don't do it.'

Setting the jewellery back down, I turned to her slowly. She came towards me.

'Don't sleep with him. I know I shouldn't be doing this, I know that. But I'd regret it if I didn't at least try. So I am, Charity, I'm begging you.'

I shook my head at her.

'Catherine, no. Please don't ask this of me. You know if I could think of another way, I would.'

I pulled her into my arms, desperate to ease her pain.

'It's just a night.' I told her softly. 'Just one night.'

'One night.' she repeated.

'One whole night where you'll be giving your body to someone else.'

She pulled away from me. Her scent still filled my senses, I wasn't sure I trusted myself in that moment, so I let her. I looked down, unable to meet her gaze.

'I told you, I don't want to do this.'

'Then don't. Please.' she asked once again.

I stepped back, biting my lip in an effort not to cry. I said nothing, waiting for her to leave. Then I sat down and allowed the tears to spill.

I met with Bash and Francis outside the Throne Room, awaiting my introduction with the Lord William.

'How are you holding-up?' Bash asked.

'Trying not to think about it, if I'm honest. But better than Catherine, at least.' I admitted.

'She came to see me earlier, actually begged me not to go through with it. She's dreading it even more than I am. I didn't think that was even possible.'

'Her feelings have hit her with a vengeance.' Francis pointed out. 'They didn't have time to grow in the same way yours did. It's making her feel everything more acutely.'

'Still, I'm surprised she resorted to begging.' Bash joked, light-heartedly. 'That's not at all like Catherine.'

'Leave it, Bash. This isn't easy for anyone.'

I only had to wait until he was sleeping before I snuck out of his chambers. It was hours later, long since dark, when I escaped and came across Catherine. I saw from her expression that she wasn't entirely sure if she'd wanted to find me.

'You're out late. Is our friend, Lord William, sleeping soundly?'

'I felt the need to clear my head before returning to my chambers.' My words tailed-off as she turned to walk away.

'Catherine, wait!' I grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop. I turned her to face me. 'Just let me explain!'

'Did you do it? Did you sleep with him?' she asked me directly. 'Did you give yourself to him, even after I begged you not to?'

The coldness in her voice ran through me, shocking me right to my core.

'I-.'

'Begged you.' she repeated.

'The one thing I have always maintained a Queen does not do. NEVER does. And yet I did. Tonight, I put aside everything I stand for as a Queen and came to you as a woman, an equal, a…' she licked her lips, 'as a lover, and I begged you not to go through with it. So tell me, Charity, did you?'

I couldn't have hidden the truth if I'd wanted to, my guilt was etched all over my face. Though it paled in comparison to the pain on hers, tears rolling down her cheeks. I took her face in my hands, wiping them away.

'I'm sorry, Catherine. I had no choice but I am sorry. I didn't want to put you through that. The last thing I could ever want is to cause you pain.'

'I just… I can't…' She couldn't find the words because the truth is, there weren't any. She felt I'd betrayed her and, in a way, I had. The fact I'd had no choice was of little comfort to either of us.

I moved close and kissed her softly, just on the cheek. I wanted to believe I could bring her back to me, to forgive me.

As my lips brushed her cheek, I felt hers against mine, searching until we found each other. Our lips met and we kissed, a passion slowly building-up inside me. She didn't resist, matching mine and spurring me on further. We were being reckless, we knew this. These halls were officially private, but that didn't stop any of the night guards from finding us together.

I pulled her into a dark corner, pushing her against a wall. I kept expecting her to stop me, but she didn't. Instead, she drew me in closer, back to the softness of her lips. Her response triggered something in me. I tilted her head, giving me access to her neck, burying my lips in her soft skin. She was breathless, small moans of pleasure building-up inside her as I ran my lips along her collarbone. Unable to stop myself, I reached for the strings of her dress, pulling them loose. I opened the fastening, pulling it down over her shoulders. Kissing a trail down to her breasts.

I could have lost myself in the moment completely, I wanted to but I forced myself to stop for a moment. My instincts of self-preservation kicked-in, reminding me we had to be hidden. Not a moment too soon. Footsteps. Someone was not-too-distantly approaching the corridor.

Grabbing Catherine's hand, I pulled her around the corner, feeling along the edges of the hanging tapestries. She checked behind us, looking for our potential witness, then asked.

'What exactly is it you're doing?'

'I've not been in this corridor for quite some time, so it's possible I'm wrong,' Moving my way from one to the next.

'But if my memory serves me, there's an entrance to the secret passageways behind one of these.'

Catherine looked worried. 'Wouldn't we be safer just-'

'Found it!' I exclaimed, locating the catch. I snapped it open and pulled her through, closing it just as the guards rounded the corner.

'Is this safe?'

'Shh!' I clamped my hand over her mouth. We held each other close, in an effort to keep calm, quiet. The guards were just outside and they seemed in no hurry to continue their rounds.

Relaxing my hand over her mouth, I caressed her lips with my thumb. I'd pulled her close to me and suddenly became so aware of our physical proximity in the darkened space. My other hand was holding the opening of her dress, my fingers nestled just inside the fabric. Her arms were around me, one holding my shoulder, the other settled on my waist. Our chests breathed heavily against each other, our lips barely inches apart.

I had perhaps made an error in dragging us in here. I wasn't sure either of us were capable of self control in this situation. All I knew was that I wanted her.

I let the opening of her dress loose, as she moved to push me against the wall, kissing me deeply, using her tongue to part my lips. Meanwhile her hands were busy exploring their way through the loose fabric of my robe. We were incensed by the privacy of our surroundings, though we knew we couldn't stay there long, We needed each other in this moment, needed to claim each other back.

I held her tightly as her lips released mine, reclaiming my cheeks. Earlobes. Neck, before continuing to follow down to the exposure of my breasts. Everything she could until I was breathless, moaning softly and losing all sense of myself.

She reclaimed me that night. Every last part of me.