Enjoying the rarity of a peaceful day, Catherine and I were playing a game of chess in her chambers.

'Are you letting me win?' I asked, looking at the board with some confusion. Something was off.

'I'm trying to, but you're not making it very easy for me.' She said with a glint in her eye. I barely reacted to the tease.

'Charity, where is your head today?'

'I'm out of practice, that's all. It's been a while since we've had time to play.'

We shared a look, the now silent agreement of what we were not discussing hanging firmly between us. I went back to the board, but continued to stare for several minutes, not making a move.

'Charity?' She prompted me again.

I sighed and sat back in my chair.

'It's no good, Catherine. My mind won't settle. Things have been running too quiet of late.'

'Isn't that a good thing?' she smiled. 'Should we not just enjoy the chance to be happy?'

I returned her smile.

'I am happy.' I said. 'Perhaps you're right, I'm just overthinking it.'

She released the chess piece she'd been holding and placed a comforting hand on mine. I looked at her, my eyes unsettled.

'I thought you'd resolved not to be concerned about our situation anymore?'

'My concern isn't for us, Catherine. It is, and always has been, for you.' I reminded her as she sighed and sat back in her chair. 'Should anything-'

'No. Don't.' Her hand went up, silencing me. 'I refuse to worry about that now. We can't control everything, we tried and it didn't work. But how we spend our time together now, that we can control. Let's not spoil it.'

She was right, of course. I was too, but I'd long since accepted there was no sense living in fear. Not while I'd found everything I'd wanted. We might as well enjoy it while we could.

We returned to the game and I even managed to give her some competition.

'Right, well, I'm definitely not letting you win now.' She complained after I took her piece for a third move running. I laughed.

'Maybe we should-'

Bash burst through the door without introduction.

'Sebastian!' Catherine exclaimed in anger.

'I'm sorry, Catherine, but this is urgent.'

He turned his attention to me.

'Charity, we need to get you out of here. You have to hide.'

I sprang to my feet, fearful. I knew what was coming.

'Bash, what's happened?'

'I don't know all the details, but Father found the guard who discovered you and heard his witness. He claims he also has further proof, in addition to this. How much truth there is to that, I can't be certain, but he's not relenting and we're not wasting time hanging around to find out. He's on the warpath.'

'Please god, no.' Catherine reacted, her eyes glazed with horror.

'This cannot be happening.' I was nearly frozen by the shock of it.

'Francis is trying to placate him, but he's only buying us time.' Bash continued. 'Charity, we have to get you out of here. Out of the castle.' He stressed this again. 'Now!'

'No, she can't!' Catherine shouted. Bash glared at her.

'If she runs, it's an admittance of defeat. Henry would hunt her down and execute her without need for evidence or a trial. Her fate would be sealed. At least if she stays here we can try and build some sort of defence.'

'Catherine, I'm not so sure.' I began but Bash grabbed my arm.

'We don't have time to argue about this!' He snapped, herding me towards the secret passageway entrance. 'Whatever the truth, if Henry finds you in here now, there'll be no chance of reasoning with him.'

'We weren't even doing anything!' I protested.

'You think that will matter to him? We just have to get you out of here. Literally anywhere else in the castle would be a better location for him to find you than these chambers.'

I turned back. 'Catherine, when Henry arrives, don't antagonise him.'

'Just be careful!' She called after us as Bash closed the door behind us.

'It's about time you started showing some concern for your safety.' He muttered as we raced through the dark tunnels.

'It's Catherine's safety that concerns me, not mine.' I pointed-out.

'For god's sake, Charity, your life is on the line here! Why do you continue to think only of Catherine?'

'Because I love her, Bash! Nothing else will ever matter more!'

He glared at me now. His relationship with Catherine would always be icy at best. As my friend he would always fight to protect me, always put my safety above hers, without question. But even despite knowing the depths of my feelings, he would never really understand I bore the same allegiance to her.

'I know it's baffling to you, but she's everything to me and I'm the one who got us into this mess.'

He held his glare just a moment longer, before remembering there was little precious and accepting defeat.

'The sooner we get you away from here, the better.' He said, finally. But I'd stopped. 'Charity?!'

'Bash, where are you taking me?'

'I told you, we have to get you out of the castle.'

'I can't go! You heard what Catherine said: if I run we lose our chance to build a defence.'

'You think Father will listen to any arguments you make? If you stay, you sign your death warrant!'

'And hers!' I yelled. I shook my head, backing away. 'Bash, I'm sorry, I know you're just trying to protect me, but this entire situation is my own doing. I won't let Catherine go down for this. Not alone.'

He groaned in frustration but redirected us to my chambers. We arrived out of breath, but with time not to be caught.

'Just remember,' Bash advised me, 'Don't show your emotions either. No hint of weakness.'

I pulled myself together just as Henry barged in, accompanied by two guards.

'Lady Charity, so good to see you. Bash, I'm afraid I have to break-up what I'm sure was a thrilling escape plan, but Lady Charity is under arrest.' The expression on Henry's face as he said this was sickening, he was so victorious.

'Father, please, be reasonable!' Bash implored him.

'Don't. Even. Try.' Henry's voice was cold and hard, but his eyes glinted as he looked at me dead on.

'Lady Charity is under arrest for adultery and will face a trial for her treason.'

I couldn't have argued even if I'd wanted to. I was too panicked to find the words. His eyes still squarely on me, he gave his command.

'Guards, take her down to the dungeon.'

I turned back as they grabbed me and hauled me through the door.

'Bash?' I tried but in that moment, it was impossible to hide my fear.

'We'll fix this, Charity!' He told me. I didn't know who he was trying to fool, but he couldn't hide his fear either.