I received confirmation that Henry was willing to give me an audience, when the guards came and bound me in shackles. It was unnecessary but demeaning, which undoubtedly was the point.

'Is this not a bit much?' I asked. 'It's hardly like I'm going anywhere.'

'I can't afford to risk any more attempts to escape. The public are eager for an execution.' Henry explained.

'The public.' I repeated, one eyebrow raised in indignation. 'Right.'

'Besides,' he continued 'it's not like you're in much of a position to complain.'

Defeated, I groaned and let my hands drop. But he had a point. As battles went, this was not the one to pick.

'Anyway, you asked to see me? I assume this is a last attempt to save yourself, so let me save you the trouble-'

'Actually, it's not.'

He was surprised by my interruption. Clearly he'd been waiting eagerly to grind my hopes into dust, but he'd underestimated me.

'I won't try to save myself. I know I don't deserve that. But Catherine does. She was an innocent in this, right from the start.'

Henry was sceptical. 'Go on.'

Now I'd piqued his interest, I couldn't let Catherine down.

'When I arrived at court, I had nothing but a colourful reputation and money. The money would have secured me a good marriage, except my reputation kept getting in the way of things. My friendship with Catherine went some way in overcoming that, but it wasn't enough. A fact made clear to me when Robert Valentine chose to blame his decision to end our courtship on my supposed feelings for her. But the rumours did their damage and I realised my only way to gain higher standing was to use them to my advantage.' Henry rolled his eyes, but I pressed on.

'Think about it! Until then, neither of you had taken any notice of those rumours - if you were even aware of them at all - because I had shown no evidence of there being any truth to them.

My skills of manipulation had been honed long before I arrived here. It was just a matter of making a choice. Admittedly, Catherine wasn't the wisest of choices, but she was the logical one and not just because of my predilections. We were the closest of friends by then, I couldn't have known her more intimately without crossing that boundary into being lovers. It was an obvious step, but not one that didn't require some long-term planning on my part. It would have taken even longer had Robert not intervened with poisoning me, thereby forcing her to confront what her feelings were, if she had indeed fallen for me.'

'But she DID fall for you.' Henry yelled angrily. 'She is still guilty of adultery! Of treason!'

'Because I manipulated her, every step of the way.'

'I commend your efforts, I really do. But you're wasting your breath.' Henry smirked. 'Catherine would never be so easily fooled. Besides, everyone saw you were in love.'

'Don't be so sure, she put up a good resistance. Besides, if she'd returned my feelings, as you say, she never would have been willing to allow my engagements. She probably would have taken the heads of every servant I'd bedded as well.

As for my being in love, people saw what I wanted them to see.' I paused, hating myself for uttering these words. If it worked, it would be worth it, but it pained me just the same. 'I told you, I was skilled in the art of manipulation, long before I came to court. Your Grace, the Queen shouldn't be made to suffer for my choices.'

'And what about her choices? She allowed you into her bed on your wedding night, did she not? Or did you manipulate her then, too?'

'I did, actually.' At least I could be truthful about that. 'I wasn't even particularly subtle on the matter. Catherine knew my actions were incredibly foolish that night and she would have dismissed me, but I pushed the issue. I knew how she'd be struggling with her emotions that night. I had to do little more than tug at her heartstrings to get her to yield.'

'Catherine has many flaws.' Henry sneered as I bristled, gripping my hands in an effort to stop myself striking him. 'Being gullible is not one of them.'

'You really are unbelievable.' I seethed. 'Not to mention misguided.'

My anger now sparked by bravery, I took a step towards him, no attempt to hide my fierceness.

'Do you have any idea how easy it is to break down a person's walls, just by showing them some compassion? You may not be capable of kindness but we're not all made of stone.'

There was a pause while Henry seemed to let the value of those words sink in. I knew the danger I risked by antagonizing him now, but I needed to find some way of appealing to his better nature, if indeed there was one. But he was not done toying with me just yet.

'And what of this?' He asked, reaching into a pocket and pulling out… my necklace! The sapphire necklace Catherine had gifted me.

'Where did you get that?' I asked, trying to control my rage at seeing it in his hand.

'How it came to be in my possession is not of relevance. What matters here is its significance.' Henry said smugly. 'This was a gift to you, from Catherine.'

'And that's a crime now, is it?' I spat.

'Careful, Lady Charity. Losing your temper wouldn't be a wise move. Not when you're wishing to seek a favour.'

I took a deep breath, the desperation of needing to save Catherine winning over my desire to continue this verbal onslaught. Such a tactic was one thing when you had nothing left to lose, but Catherine's life was not nothing.

'Your argument is with me. Your objection is with me. Ever since it became clear that my presence here distracted the Queen, your feud was with me. I committed the crime, I committed treason. If I hadn't convinced myself I had grounds to seduce the Queen, none of this would ever have happened. She shouldn't be sentenced for my crimes! She deserves the chance to seek redemption.' Now that my anger had slowly dissipated, it gave way to the swell of emotion rising in my chest. If I wasn't able to convince Henry, there was a good chance I might actually stop breathing.

'So speaks a woman in love. Desperate to save the object of her affections.' Henry sneered.

My throat tightened as it held back the tears now threatening to spill. I used that emotion to add weight to my next words.

'The fact that I happened to fall in love with Catherine, doesn't change the deceit it stemmed from.'

'And the fact that you claim you made her your prey, doesn't excuse her from her own sins.' He spat. With a final display of desperation, I let the tears flow.

'Henry, you know Catherine doesn't deserve this. Please just… let me carry the punishment for the both of us.' And finally, he seemed to be considering my words, weighing-up the options of what I was actually requesting of him.

'If I agree to this, there'll be no opportunity for you to plead for your life.' He acquiesced.

'You'll be sentenced without trial.'

I choked out a deep breath. 'I know the risk.'

'It's a death sentence.' As if there was ever any doubt.

'It's a death sentence for me regardless. And I'll take it gladly, if you promise to pardon Catherine. Please, Henry, just let me do this. Let me save her.' I couldn't believe that he would really be so willing to kill his wife. Even knowing she was guilty. He had loved her once, I was appealing to that small part of him.

'Very well, I'll take your request into consideration. I'll think on it.'

He made for the door. Before leaving, he turned back to me, adding.

'You know, if I agree to your terms, she'll fight you on this.'

'It won't matter anymore.' I replied simply.

At least she'd be alive to fight.

Bash came to inform me of Henry's decision for my request. He hesitated to speak.

'Bash?' For a brief moment, I worried my plea had fallen on deaf ears. 'Oh no! He hasn't-'

'Father has agreed to your terms.' He confirmed, reassuring me. I smiled in relief.

'But that's good news, Bash! Why-?'

'There's a caveat, Charity.' he interrupted.

'Of course there is, because heaven knows my public execution isn't enough.' I muttered, rolling my eyes in response. I sighed. 'Tell me.'

'Henry is demanding Catherine be there to witness your execution. He feels it will impress upon her that she hasn't escaped retribution.'

'Escaped it? Bash, she'll be completely traumatised if she sees it!'

He looked at me with a heavy heart. 'I imagine that's the caveat. Not that she witnesses your death, but that she lives with the memory of it, the trauma to accompany her grief. It's meant to serve as her penance.' He said all this with disapproval.

'But they will be releasing her.'

The door opened to Francis.

'I must say, I can't decide whether this was incredibly brave or foolish of you.'

'And there we seem to have the theme of our entire relationship.' I commented ruefully.

'But thanks to you, my mothers life has been spared. For that, I am eternally grateful to you.' I was rather overcome by his words.

'I am rather surprised Father went for it.' Bash noted. 'It's not like there's any part of him that could actually have believed your words.'

'I don't think he cares too much about the truth behind it. He just wants us both to suffer. What better way than forcing his wife to watch her lover's beheading, while her lover knows she's the one responsible for putting her in that position. It's the perfect revenge, knowing Catherine will live with this forever.' My bitterness at this was strong.

'Francis, is there nothing you can do to spare Catherine being there?'

'Believe me, I'm working on it. I don't want her there any more than you do. But you may have bigger problems to deal with, when Mother learns of your part in this.'

'I can handle it.' I told him. As though we had a choice.