August 13th, 1558

Whitehall Palace

Isabella sat beside her husband, cradling her newest child, Alexander, in her arms. The plot to assassinate Edward had been uncovered and at the helm of it all, Thomas Howard. Under normal circumstances, Ruth would have been implicated as well, but Isabella had pleaded with Edward, assuring him that Ruth and Thomas had not spoken for months prior to the plot. So instead, Ruth was sitting beside the royal pair watching the proceedings of court as the peers of England tried her husband. Another of Isabella's ladies, Lady Catherine and her illegitimate daughter by Norfolk had not escaped prosecution. Ruth felt no pity for the French woman as she cried under the intense gaze of William Cecil, who had recently been raised to the Duke of Pembroke after he caught the conspirators in action.

"Lady Catherine, is it true that you have unlawfully cohabited with Lord Howard while he is married to the Lady Norfolk, which resulted in issue?" He inquired, his gaze reproachful as he was an ally of both Isabella and Ruth.

Catherine sniffled a bit. "It is true. I have a daughter named Angelique with Lord Norfolk."

"Has Lord Norfolk given you gifts?" Cecil circled Catherine as if she were his prey.

Ruth felt that she was receiving retribution for Thomas's infidelity and smiled at Catherine from her perch beside the queen.

Catherine appeared more defiant. "Has Lady Norfolk employed you to ask these questions of me?"

Cecil remained calm and replied. "I am only asking the questions that I should be asking a whore. You are nothing more than a common whore, are you not?"

Ruth heard Isabella gasp beside her.

"It is the truth." Ruth muttered.

"I am a French noblewoman!" Catherine snapped.

"A French noblewoman, but an English concubine. Too bad we are not in France. Now answer what I ask, does the Lord Norfolk give gifts?"

Defeated, Catherine leaned back in her chair. "Yes, His Grace provides me with gifts of jewelry."

"Are you aware that the jewelry you received were stolen from the Lady Norfolk?" The Earl of Cumberland, Henry Clifford rose to take Cecil's place, sensing the escalation between the two would continue.

Catherine shook her head. "The jewelry was not stolen. He paid for it, for he loves me very much so."

Ruth caught the smirk that Catherine flashed her.

The earl chuckled. "Lord Norfolk, you love this woman?"

Ruth turned her gaze to her estranged husband, who was watching the proceeds on a bench with his co-conspirators.

"She is a mistress. Nothing more, I married Lady Norfolk because I loved her. Catherine is a serpent, she is the one who spoke ills of my wife, the king, and the queen. She is a witch." Norfolk spat the word "witch" with hatred.

Cumberland's face grew alight. "Lady Catherine have you used sorcery in seducing Lord Norfolk into leading a rebellion against the king?"

Ruth chuckled coldly and took a sip of her wine.

Witchcraft, eh?

"I never used witchcraft!" Catherine was indignant.

"Your Majesty, shall we continue with the trial for the rebels or begin the prosecution of the witch?" Cumberland inquired.

Edward looked over to Ruth. "Lady Norfolk, would you life to intercede for your husband?"

Ruth paused and stared at Thomas. If the trial were to continue Thomas would be executed and his titles would be lost, leaving her completely poor, however, it would be imprudent to ask for the forgiveness when her husband had tried to rebel against the king. She wasn't sure if she wanted to save a husband that had left her alone and taken a mistress.

"Your Majesty, deal with Lord Norfolk as you see fit." Ruth glared at Thomas, after the pain of his betrayal she could not ask for Edward to save him.

Edward nodded. "I pardon you all, as you were under the spell of witchcraft."

August 17th, 1558

Whitehall Palace

Marie was moping about, as her sister had been convicted as a witch and burned. Alone, she tried to reconcile with the other ladies at court, although none of them were interested. Marie had a stain on her, her sister was a witch and instigated a rebellion against the king, no one wanted to be associated with her. As for Thomas, he was desperately trying to find a way back into Ruth's arms. As she was stitching a shirt for Isabella's younger child, Alexander, the Duke of York, a serving boy approached her, carrying a necklace.

"Lady Norfolk, a gift from you true and loving husband." He bowed as he presented it to her.

Ruth scowled. "Tell my husband that I do not want left over trinkets from his dead mistress."

Thomas then appeared from around the corner. "There are no left overs. That is a newly made necklace and all traces of Catherine are gone, save for her daughter, who is being brought up by my brother and Lady Northampton."

"It is a pity that you force your bastard on your brother." Ruth shook her head.

Thomas sighed. "What do you want from me woman? I have been trying to reconcile with you since you discovered Catherine was pregnant and nothing works."

Ruth laughed, it was dark and echoed off the walls. "Perhaps it is because nothing will change the fact that you fathered a bastard outside of our marriage."

As she stood to make her retreat, he pinned her against the wall and kissed her, more deeply and passionate than they ever had. The suppressed feelings for Thomas surfaced and she allowed herself to be guided by her desires, rather than her mind.

"I promise you that I can be a good husband." He whispered.

Ruth said nothing, but grabbed his hands and led him into her chamber. He slipped her out of her dress and pressed her down onto the bed. Within an instant, he was inside of her, grinding and moaning in her ear as she allowed all of her anger and her passion to be released. She clawed at him, hissed and by the time he groaned his release, she wasn't angry anymore. In fact, she was more vulnerable than ever.