It is strange being back at Court. Jane barely makes eye contact with me, but Queen Anne and the others gather around me. "I'm pregnant again," Anne announces, "so I am afraid I will not see you at the joust today."
"That is all right," I assure her. "You and the baby must come first."
She takes me to one side. "Do you know what will happen to my child?"
I close my eyes and nod. "You will lose the child soon."
Anne nods. "Thank you." She turns to Catalina. "Catalina, will you go and support Emma on my behalf?"
"Of course, Your Majesty," Catalina says.
"We agreed that you will not call me that when we are alone!" We start laughing.
That afternoon, I get in my armour and see Mummy and Esther talking. I walk over to them. "Mummy, Esther."
"Emma!" Esther beams. "I almost didn't recognise you in your armour."
I grin back. "It does change things, doesn't it?"
"Yes, it does. Good luck today."
Mummy fishes a blue and silver ribbon with silver trim from her pocket. "Will you wear my favour today?"
"Of course." I take the ribbon and put it in the cuff of my gauntlet. "I better go. The crowds are waiting."
"We'll be watching," Esther promises, and they walk towards the stands.
The King and I climb onto our horses and do a lap around the tiltyard before we receive our helmets, shields and lances. "You ready?" King Henry calls over to me.
"You bet!" I call back and lower the visor on my helmet. Someone lowers the flag, and we charge.
Just as I pass the King and hit my lance on his shield, he falls from his horse onto my side of the field, taking his horse with him. His horse gets up and trots off. His Majesty lies still. "MOVE!" Catalina screams. "Move!" She and members of the Privy Council, including Thomas and George Boleyn, run over. Mummy helps me down from the horse, and I hurry over.
"Remove his armour. It won't help with his breathing," Catalina says.
"Be careful," I say. "The King is unconscious."
Doctor Butts arrives. "Carefully take the King into the pavilion. I can serve him better there."
"Right," I say. "You heard Doctor Butts. Boleyn, Seymour, help me!"
Thomas Boleyn walks over to the other side, while Edward Seymour takes the King's legs. "We need another man here!" Edward yells.
Mummy hurries over. "I can help."
"Very well. Take his other leg."
Mummy positions herself. I look down at the King. I hope I'm right and I haven't killed him. "On three," I say. "One, two, three, lift!" We lift the King up and carry him into the pavilion. Once he is settled there, Mummy and I withdraw so the doctor can do his work.
"How is he?" Esther asks.
"Unconscious," I reply. "The best we can do is let the experts do their work." I hear the beginnings of a prayer inside the pavilion. "I guess that means his life is now in the Higher Authority's hands if they are listening."
"We should pray for him," Mummy says. I nod, and we kneel in the dust and pray.
Emergency measures must be in place in case the worst happens.
"I hear him breathing," Esther says, "he just woke up."
"He did?" I rise to my feet.
"I believe so, yes."
"Oh, thank god!" We hear someone inside yell. "He's alive!"
King Henry sends for me. "Do you want us to come with you?" Mummy asks.
"I'll be okay," I assure her, and go into the pavilion.
King Henry is lying on the table where we left him, clasping a blue ribbon in his hand. "Your Majesty." I curtsey, and he moves his eyes so he can see me.
"Mistress Emma. You are here."
"Of course I am. Mummy, Esther, and I were waiting outside for news."
He smiles at me. "I guess this is the end of my jousting career."
"I am afraid so, Your Majesty, but you can partake in other sports."
As the days wear on, I cannot find any way that the King's personality changes. During this time, Mummy receives a letter from the hybrids. "The priest is killing them," she says, "I must return to them."
"Of course," I agree. "I will not stop you."
"Can I come with you?" Esther asks.
"Yes," Mummy agrees. She looks at me. "Will you be okay on your own?"
"Yeah." I nod and close my eyes. I can make it through on my own.
"My old carefree days are gone," King Henry tells me during a feast. "I cannot behave as I used to."
"That is a wise decision, Your Majesty."
"And with you by my side, I hope to make wiser decisions still. However, that may be difficult. The Queen has seen me with Mistress Seymour."
"The Queen is pregnant with your son, but I fear she will lose it."
King Henry nods, sadness pooling into his eyes. "I see. I guess God will not grant me any male heirs by her."
"She can still bear children."
"Is she happy with me?"
My head shoots up when he asks the question. "I beg your pardon?"
"Is she happy with me, with the arrangement we have?"
"I believe she is, yes, Sire."
King Henry smiles. "Then I have no reason to let her go."
That night, I am in my room when Catalina arrives. "The queen has had a miscarriage," she whispers. "What should we do?"
"We will do everything we can for Anne," I promise, "but this is the beginning of the end. I'm sorry, Catalina."