Months are passing, and late spring arrives. The gardens bloom, and I enjoy walking out there early in the morning. Mummy joins me one morning. "Anne is asking me to return to Court for the coronation," she says.
"Then you must go."
Mummy shakes her head. "I cannot leave you here alone."
"I am not alone; I told you that before."
"But I will leave you without either of your parents."
I sigh. This conversation never gets easier. "It won't be for long. We'll be back together before you know it."
"But the time before that..."
I put an arm around Mummy's shoulders. "We'll be okay."
"I know, but I don't want to leave you without support. If I go, I'll be involved in the coronation, and... I can't do it. Not if you aren't there."

So that is what the problem is. "Mummy, I need to learn how to stand up for myself. How else can we go ahead with the changes we are making to history?"
Mummy sighs and nods.
"I need to be strong for when I become Queen. While there should be six of us ruling, that isn't guaranteed now. I need you at the coronation to be my eyes and ears at Court. Mum is already there, as is most of our group. Besides, out here, you can barely hear anything from Court."
"I guess you are right."

Mummy packs up that night and sets off the next morning. I watch her go until she is out of sight. Before I turn to go in, I see a horse coming towards us. It's not Mummy, that I can easily tell. The horse isn't the same. My limbs lock into place as I see Thomas Cromwell riding towards me. He climbs off the horse and pushes past me to enter the courtyard. "Um, excuse me?" I demand, turning in his direction.
Cromwell turns to me. "I beg your pardon, Mistress Smith-White. I am afraid I am on official business on the order of the King."
"Is it to command Queen Catalina to attend Court?"
"It is. I am here with Archbishop Cranmer to sort out everything. It is a delicate business, which I am sure you can understand."
"Yes, I can. As you are going to be second after the King, you will want to keep your head."

He winces. "Did you have to use such words?"
I facepalm and groan. "Sorry, I forgot I told you about that." That is when I remember the name he just mentioned. "Did you say Cranmer? Is he here?"
"He is, yes. He will be here in a few minutes."
I nod and smile. "Then I want to bring him into the group. He will be critical with helping us pretend to keep history on the right track."
"Very well. I shall inform Queen Catalina of what you have said. Do you know where she is?"
I give him directions to Catalina's chambers, and he walks away.

It doesn't take long for Thomas Cranmer to arrive. I am the first one to greet him, and he smiles at me as he climbs off his horse. "Is Cromwell already here?"
"He is, Your Grace. May I speak to you alone? It is a delicate matter."
"Of course, my child. Lead the way."

I keep on forgetting how patronising priests in these times can be. It sometimes makes me think I shouldn't associate too closely with men of the Church. However, I shake that thought from my mind and lead him into the gardens. No one is out here, but if someone looks out of Catalina's chambers, they can see us. "Your Grace, we are planning something that could benefit thousands of people."
"What is it?"
This conversation never gets easier. Until we reveal what we are planning, we cannot be certain that we are trusting the right people. So far, I've trusted my instincts, and I haven't been wrong. I listen to my body now. I've barely interacted with Cranmer before now, but he could be a useful ally. "Can I trust you?"
"Of course, my child. What is the matter?"

I drop my voice to a whisper and tell him of the plot. "But if it succeeds, who will the throne go to?" He asks.
"Most likely Princess Mary or Princess Elizabeth."
"Who is Princess Elizabeth?"
"The child Anne Boleyn is currently pregnant with."

Cranmer's eyes grow wide. "You must be using witchcraft."
"No witchcraft involved, but I can show you how I know." He nods, and I lead him inside. "Please wait for me in Catalina's rooms. I would rather show you when we have company."
"I understand." He waits in Catalina's rooms while I get my computer and K-9. We head back, and many of the ladies still eye K-9 wearily. "I remember the dog," Archbishop Cranmer says. "I used to see him around Court. What is it?"
"I am K-9 Mark IV," K-9 says.

Catalina heads out of her bedchamber and welcomes Archbishop Cranmer, Cromwell, K-9 and me into her bedchamber. We head inside and get comfortable. As we do, I show Cranmer how I do my research, and his eyes light up. "Can you really research whatever you want on this?"
"Yes," I smile. "This type of technology is almost worldwide in my time." We spend a few minutes researching some silly things. However, we both find something that makes us stop laughing.

He is executed in 1556 during the reign of Princess Mary.

"Some of these things will have to happen," I say. "But if we succeed, we can at least lessen the number of deaths that take place."
"What is the plan?"
"We have people who know at Court as well as here," Catalina says, then looks at me. "We need to have some sort of symbol to show we are part of the same group."
"But it will need to be something most will not pick up on, like embroidery on a sleeve or something."

Making a physical symbol will unite us all—but it could be far too dangerous. Proclaiming we're part of a group that wants to kill the king is asking for our executions. Catalina and Maria will be safe, but the rest of us are not. "I am not so sure that is a good idea."
"What do you mean?"
I sigh. "Think about it. If word gets out that we're all wearing something that could link us, everyone part of the plot will be implicated. It's easier to pass things through word of mouth or letters we can burn. As soon as it gets to other items or clothing, someone else could easily identify us as being part of the same group. It's too risky."
"But if it is small—"
"NO!"

It's the first time I am raising my voice to a queen. However, our safety is at stake. King Henry doesn't know we're part of the group because there is nothing to link us. As soon as there is something linking us to a plot to kill him, he could kill us all, including his own flesh and blood. "If we do something like this and King Henry finds out, he could kill Henry Fitzroy and Princess Mary. Hell, what's to stop him from even killing you or Maria if he finds out? None of us will be safe!"

"I am afraid Emma is right," Cromwell says. "If we do something to bind us together, it could be the end of us all."
Catalina closes my eyes. "All right, that is a stupid idea."

Thank goodness we made Catalina see sense! "Maybe we can do it after we succeeded," I suggest. "But not before."
She nods and leaves the matter alone.

Finally, Cromwell and Cranmer talk about what they are here for. "We are here to investigate your marriage with the King," Cromwell says, "although we all know how it will turn out, so this is just a formality. We request that you arrive at Court."
"And you know my answer. I will not."
"I thought you would say that. Well, Catalina, Emma, we will not waste more of your time." Cromwell stands up.
Cranmer remains sitting. "If you do not mind, Emma, I would like to talk to you more."
"All right." I am happy to do that. "But I hope we do not take long. I still have my usual duties to attend to."
"Of course, I understand."