I returned to William's chambers after the ride (I still couldn't bring myself to think of them as our chambers) to find him sitting on the bed, his hands fiddling with something. His mood was a state of unease and he appeared to have been waiting for me, but beyond that I found myself unable to read him.

'William? Is everything alright?' I asked tentatively. He looked at me and held out his hand, my ring resting in it.

'Oh, my ring! You found it!' I cried out in relief and reached out to take it, but he withdrew his hand again quickly.

'A servant found it. She came looking for you to return it a short while ago.' His voice grew darker as he spoke.

'I told you they were trustworthy.' I commented with a smile, trying to lighten the mood. I held out my hand. 'May I have it back? I have an idea that will ensure it's more secure.' I promised, mistaking his reluctance for my failure to keep it safe.

''She was rather hesitant to return it when she couldn't find you, that much was obvious.' He continued, behaving as though I hadn't spoken. 'I had to practically insist on it, but I was so relieved I didn't want to let it out of my sight. I couldn't stop thinking about how easily it flew off your finger last night.'

'I knew how loose it was. I should have been more careful with it.' I said with remorse, slightly nervous at his reluctance to return it to me.

'Then I thought about how we noticed it missing this morning, when we'd not yet had a chance to leave for breakfast.

'Yes, I was quite upset about it.' I reminded him. 'I still am sorry for misplacing it.'

'So tell me, Charity. How - when you had the ring last night in this very room and we noticed its disappearance only moments before we'd even left our chambers - How exactly did it come to be found in the Queen's chambers?'

I froze. I felt my chest tighten with the fear rising in it. I tried to ignore it, tried to swallow it down.

'William, I can explain.'

'Explain? This should be interesting.' he scoffed. 'What explanation is there for this, other than you couldn't even manage to stay faithful for our first night of marriage?'

'I- I didn't… I mean, I wasn't…' I stammered.

'I was so willing to make this easier for you. We agreed you'd make an effort, Charity. You promised me you'd try!'

'I did try, I-'

'You spent our wedding night in the Queen of France's chambers! In Catherine's bed! HOW is that TRYING?!'

I was shaking, stunned with fright by the heights his anger had reached.

'I'm sorry! I am so so sorry!' I could barely speak through my tears. He had every right to be furious but the volume of his yells shook me completely. I was terrified what would happen if anyone heard him. 'William, please, calm down-'

'I was willing to help you!' He reminded me. 'I was willing to be patient and look the other way, but you- you couldn't even grant me the courtesy of our wedding night. How can I trust you if you can't keep to your end of the bargain for one night?'

He grabbed his things and headed for the door.

'Where are you going?' I asked, panicking.

'I don't know, anywhere that isn't here. I can't even look at you right now.'

'Please. William, please don't say anything.' I tried to grab his arm but he shook me off. 'If Henry finds out about this...' I could find the words, but I didn't need to. We both knew what the cost was.

William looked at me, his expression a mix of anger, pity and intense disappointment. Then he walked out and something inside me broke.

I was left in a state of shock, panic and absolutely no idea how to fix this. The servants nervously asked if they could help me at all and I told them to find Bash.

'Charity, what's going?' he asked as he walked through the door. 'I'm told Lord William left court and no one's seen or heard from you all day. Shouldn't you be preparing to leave for your tour by now?'

He took in my demeanor. 'Good Lord, Charity, what's happened? I know you didn't want to tell me earlier, but look at the state you're in.'

I couldn't settle. My whole body was shaking and I was wringing my hands with nervous energy.

'He's left. I don't know where he's gone or when he's coming back.' I was pacing the room frantically. 'That's if he even plans to return at all, of course!'

'Charity, you're not making any sense.' Bash took hold of me, bringing me to a halt and forced me to sit. 'Why did he leave?'

I still wasn't sure I could tell him. I could barely bring myself to look at him. I had screwed-up severely and I knew it.

'I've made a mess of everything.'

'I'm sure it can't be that bad.' he tried to comfort me, placing a reassuring hand to rub my back. Bracing myself, I told him.

'I spent my wedding night with Catherine.'

Bash froze into a stunned silence. I turned to him, tears forming in my eyes.

'And Lord William knows about this.' A statement, not a question.

'I lost my ring. The servant who found it... it was in Catherine's chambers.' My eyes closed for a moment, imagining the exchange that took place. 'When she returned it, I was elsewhere and he insisted she tell him where it was found.'

'Oh, Charity, what were you thinking?'

'I wasn't! Bash, everything I did that night… my instincts took over, my body acted on impulse.'

I relayed the night's events to him, desperate for someone to understand my actions, even if I couldn't understand them myself.

'You need to tell Catherine.' Bash said, pointing out what should have been obvious.

'No, it's better if she doesn't know.' I argued. 'Then she can feign innocence.'

'Charity, your ring was found in her room. I'm not sure how feigning anything is even an option anymore. She needs to know about this.'

Bash was right, of course, but regardless of whether Catherine needed to know or not, telling her proved entirely futile. She was actively avoiding me, the simple fact of which told me she already knew. Not that I had much time to worry about that, truthfully, as William reaffirmed my faith in his word by returning the next day.

'I'll get straight to the point: I don't know how we move forward from this.' he began. 'In any other circumstance I would suggest an annulment, which I'd certainly be entitled to, but we both know that's as good as signing your death warrant.'

I was surprised this factor might stop him.

'Don't misinterpret that, Charity, I feel no compassion towards you for your actions. But I'm not keen to have your blood on my hands either.'

'That's certainly reasonable of you, far more than I deserve. And I do appreciate your willingness to discuss this with me.' I told him.

'I have no intention of mentioning this to the King.' He reassured me. 'I was disappointed and humiliated yesterday, but it is clear to me we need to rethink our future with this marriage.'

'I understand, William, but please allow me to apologise.' He nodded, gesturing for us to take a seat. 'I am truly sorry for my actions, but I need you to understand: everything I did, it happened without my thinking. I know it doesn't excuse my actions, nor does it ease the sting of humiliation, but it's all I have to offer for the moment.'

Reminded me of his earlier words I asked, hesitantly. 'You mentioned rethinking our future?'

'Let's not worry about that at this moment. Something we can discuss together on the tour.' He patted my knee reassuringly.

'The tour?' I was surprised. 'You still want to go?'

'I don't think we have much choice, Charity. Our marriage cannot be undone without an annulment - and while I have the grounds to request one, it would be the death of you. So, we need to appear as though we're continuing as normal, whether that's an accurate representation of our situation or not. Going on the tour will give us time to establish how we proceed from here.'

'William, not to risk my own safety here,' I hesitated. 'But why are you being so noble about this? What I did to you was awful and I know I don't deserve your compassion. I certainly wouldn't get Henry's.'

'You've been struck unlucky in love on two accounts, Charity. We all know what denying the heart's true path can do to a marriage and those around it. I won't tread that path without caution.'

My intuition told me this was unlikely to be the end of it - I felt in my bones - but I had to take moments of opportunity where I found them. However small they may seem. I had been incredibly lucky so far, but I couldn't place full trust where things seemed too good to be true. That being said, we prepared to go on the tour as planned - he was right, any deviating from this plan was far too risky.

Meanwhile, Catherine still seemed intent on avoiding me, so I had to acquiesce and resorted to leaving a note with Francis.

'I don't suppose leaving it with one of her servants was an option?' He asked.

'No part of me is even slightly comfortable leaving this with any of them. I daren't take the risk of it not reaching her. At least not without being intercepted.' Francis contemplated the note in his hand. 'Please, Francis. I'd ask Bash but she's clearly already out of sorts about this. His presence won't help.' I implored him, my eyes ripe with desperation. He placed a reassuring hand on my arm.

'Of course. I'll see to it that she gets this.' I mouthed my thanks and left.

I found William in the courtyard, waiting patiently as he oversaw our luggage being loaded onto the carriage.

'How did you leave things?' He asked. He knew of my intentions to bid Catherine farewell.

'I didn't. She wasn't there so I had to leave a message with Francis.' William rubbed my arm as he drew me in for a hug.

'It will be alright, Charity. The time apart will do you both good, in the long run. And we'll be back before you know it.'

I nodded as I pulled away. Then my eyes were drawn up to one of the many windows overlooking the castle courtyard. I don't believe that was pure chance, I think the universe was pulling me, guiding my eyes to the stone wall that framed Catherine's face. The look of melancholy on her face was enough to stop me in my tracks. I didn't want to leave her and I prayed she would read my note and take comfort in its simple reminder that this would not be for long.

Farewell for now, my love. I wish we could have parted properly, but we'll be together again soon. My heart remains yours and I will do whatever it takes to protect yours. You have my word.

I willed her to believe that nothing would change, that nothing would need to. To trust that I would return and ensure her safety. Our eyes locked and I begged her to read the sentiment in mine. She nodded in response but the defeat of sadness remained. William, noticing the moment and not wanting to draw unwanted attention to it, nudged me along. I took his hand as he helped me into the carriage.

As the carriage ambled along, we made pleasant but meaningless conversation. To any outsider it would appear as though nothing was amiss. William leaned towards me, lowering his voice slightly as he did so.

'I realise you're still feeling guilty about what happened, Charity, but I also know seeing Catherine like that just as we were leaving will have upset you.' Placing his hand comfortingly on mine, he added. 'It wasn't the goodbye you were hoping for. It's okay to talk about it.'

'It's not okay, William. You have been entirely too reasonable about all this and far more understanding than any man would care to be. I don't know what I can promise you, not yet, not realistically, but I will find a way to make things right. I will make it up to you.'

We shared looks of hope, but the insincerity was not lost on either one of us. We both knew how empty my words were. I would find a way to earn his forgiveness and trust. If nothing else, I could guarantee him that much, but making proper amends? Somehow, I couldn't quite convince myself that might be possible. Certainly not in any way that could compensate adequately for the loss of his wedding night.

Still, as he wrapped one arm around me and we relaxed into the rhythm of the carriage-ride, I felt a sense of relief that I need not be concerned. I couldn't escape the fact that I was now married, but my husband was an honourable man and he would do his best to keep me safe. Whatever yet may still go wrong, whatever might come to pass, it wouldn't be his doing. I had to trust that.