It is twilight when Master Kingston asks us to come to the Chapel of Saint Peter Ad Vincula. Anne and her ladies are already there. "My ladies," he says, "the King has declared his marriage to you, Lady Anne, null and void."
Anne nods. "I understand. But why are we here?"
"While it is illegal, I have asked the priest if he would conduct a marriage ceremony between you and Catalina."
Anne and Catalina look at each other. "I am not opposed to it," Anne says.
Catalina smiles. "I would love to take you as my wife, even if it is only for a few hours." She rubs the skin above her heart.
Master Kingston beams. "Then I have a surprise for you both." He walks towards the entrance of the chapel. "You may come in now." We turn to find the double doors opening and many people who served Catalina and Anne walking in. At the head of the procession are Mary and Elizabeth.
Even Anne's cousin, Katheryn Howard, is there.
Anne goes to her family and greets them, while Mary stands beside Catalina.
I need to say something to Katheryn. She might not recognise me, but I may be able to help. Why am I here if I cannot help? I walk over to Katheryn. "Excuse me?" I ask. "Are you Katheryn Howard?"
"I am, my lady." She curtsies.
"Please, do not curtsey." Katheryn rises. "Is it true that you live in the household of the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk?"
"It is, my lady."
"Please, call me Emma."
Katheryn beams, and begins telling me about her life at Chesworth House, and that she is taking music lessons with a Master Mannox. "This Mannox," I say, "has he done anything untoward? Given you attention that you might not like?"
Katheryn thinks for a moment, and her smile falls. "He wants to touch me, but I kept turning him away."
"Good. Is there anyone at Chesworth House that you trust? Anyone you can tell?"
Katheryn shakes her head. "I am the ward of the Duchess, but she takes little interest in us."
"The little she-devil! Sorry, sorry!" I call out when I remember we are in a place of worship. The group laughs.
"It must be serious if you are swearing in a place of worship," Anne says. "What's going on?"
I look at Katheryn. "Do you want to tell her, or are you happy for me to?"
Katheryn tells them everything that is going on at Chesworth House. "Mannox keeps pressuring me, but I do not want it."
"She is a child," I add, "she shouldn't be going through this."
Catalina looks at Katheryn. "How old are you?"
"Twelve."
"And Mannox?"
"Thirty-six."
"I will take you in," Mummy says.
We turn to her in surprise. "Mummy, are you sure?" I ask.
Mummy nods. "I will do whatever I can to protect you," she says to Katheryn.
"Thank you, Mistress...?"
"Please, call me Sarah Jane."
If Katheryn is here, does that mean the Dowager Duchess and her household are, too? I look around, but cannot tell who she is. I've never seen an image of the Dowager Duchess, so how can I tell who it is? I turn back to Katheryn. "Is the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk here?" I ask. Katheryn nods. "Can you point her out to me?"
Katheryn points to an elderly woman wearing a green gown. I approach the woman. "Are you Agnes Tilney, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk?" I ask.
"I am indeed. Who are you?"
"Emma Smith-White. I believe we served together."
Agnes blinks. "I do not associate myself with the maids." She turns away, but I grab her arm.
"I must talk to you about your household."
"My household is no concern of you."
"You are letting children get raped!" I shriek. Everyone falls silent and turns towards us.
Agnes' gaze hardens, and she pulls her arm away. "You are getting me confused with someone else."
"I believe not. I am from the future, and one of your wards will become Queen of England. If you want her to stay there, focus on your household and not what's happening at Court!"
Agnes strikes my cheek. "The cheek of you! I will not have a girl tell me what to do."
I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone. "We will see what you have to say when you discover what will happen to everyone related to you." I call Mr Smith.
"What witchcraft is this?!"
"Technology, not witchcraft."
Mr Smith answers. "Emma, what can I do for you?"
"I am currently in 1536 with the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, Agnes Tilney. I need you to tell her what happens to one of her wards, Katheryn Howard." I put the phone on speaker.
"The Katheryn Howard that becomes Queen of England?"
"I become Queen of England?" Katheryn breathes.
Agnes boxes her ear. "Foolish girl! There are plenty of Howard girls called Katherine!"
"No, the Katheryn that becomes Queen and this Katheryn are the same person," I say. "Mr Smith, tell us what happens between May 1536 and February 1542."
Mr Smith tells everyone everything, and the only sound we can hear is his voice and the wind howling outside.
"This cannot be true!" Katheryn wails. "I am avoiding Mannox, and yet..." She bursts into tears.
Mummy pulls her into a hug. "I will do everything I can to protect you."
"She is my ward!" Agnes roars, and she starts towards Mummy and Katheryn.
I step in front of Agnes. "You heard what Mr Smith said, and since he is from the future, he knows what he is talking about. Believe whatever you like, but Katheryn Howard will not suffer due to you being a lax caregiver!"
Agnes looks around the room. "I am not a lax caregiver. Everyone knows I better the lives of the people in my care."
Anne shakes her head. "You are at Court so often that there is no way you can look after a household or know everything going on under your own roof."
"Katheryn Howard is mine!"
"She's not yours."
Agnes strides over to Anne. "You are no longer Queen. I will do with my household as I please since you die in the morning."
"If you keep going down the path you have chosen, an innocent child will die."
Agnes turns around. "We are going. Come, Katheryn." She walks towards the doors, but Katheryn doesn't follow. She grips Mummy's gown.
Agnes turns. "Katheryn Howard!"
The others gather around, creating a barrier between Agnes and Katheryn. Even the priest has joined us at the head of the human barrier. "Leave, now," he says. "You have done enough damage."
"I am not leaving without my ward."
"Focus on your other wards and pray that no harm befalls them."
Agnes looks at each of us before glaring at Mummy and me. "I will never forgive you for this. I will petition the King for the return of my ward." She sweeps out of the chapel, knocking over one of the tall candlesticks by the doorway.
Master Kingston shakes his head and turns to me. "Was that necessary?"
"Yes." I look at Katheryn. "Katheryn is also related to Jane Seymour, so she might help us protect her. Besides, she might be able to serve at Court now."
"I am twelve," Katheryn reminds me, "and not trained in music."
Oh, if only this was simple!
Everyone settles, and Katheryn sits next to Mummy. Catalina and Anne walk towards the altar, and the priest joins them at the front. "We are gathered here today, to witness the marriage of Catalina Trastamara and Anne Boleyn. These women have found a love that spans for eternity and will never be forgotten by those present."
It does not seem like a normal Tudor wedding. Catalina and Anne say their own vows, and there are no rings. However, the wedding is successful, and we start applauding after the priest says that they may kiss. Master Kingston approaches the priest and whispers something in his ear. The priest nods and whispers back. Catalina and Anne walk down the aisle, their dresses glowing in the candlelight.
When we reach Tower Green, Anne grabs Catalina's arm. Anne's scaffold is finished and seems to tower above us in the moonlight. "I'm scared," Anne whispers.
"At least we have tonight," Catalina says, "and we are going to make the best of it."
The two of them go to Anne's apartments, while Mummy and I take Katheryn back to Catalina's.
"It was a beautiful wedding," Katheryn says as we climb the winding stairs. "Thank you for protecting me."
"I only did what anyone should do," Mummy says.
"People don't do that in this time," I say, "but I'm glad you did. There's no way we can face Tilney alone."
"The hybrids will help." Mummy pushes open the heavy wooden door, and we step inside. The fire has died down, emitting a small glow into the room. We settle on the chairs and begin dozing.
It is the nineteenth of May 1536. There is nothing more I can do for Anne. Mummy is dressing Catalina in a red kirtle and grey gown, matching what Anne will wear to her execution. "Anne is innocent," Catalina declares. "The men who were tried with us did not deserve to die."
"If only the king saw it that way," I say as I place a red cloak around her shoulders.
Catalina places a hand over her heart and rubs the area. "I do not think I am long for this world either."
"Do not say that, Your Majesty," Katheryn says.
Catalina offers Katheryn a sad smile. "At least you will be protected. Sarah Jane and Emma will see to that."
"We will," I promise.
Catalina breathes out a sigh. "One of you should stay here with Katheryn. I do not want her to witness it."
I do not think I can witness the execution, but I also don't want Mummy to see it. "Mummy, will you stay with Katheryn?" I ask.
"But this will give you nightmares!" Mummy says. "I can handle it."
"Please, I need to be there."
Catalina sighs. "If we keep going at this, we are going to miss it." She rests her head in her hands. "All right, both of you can come. Katheryn, will you be okay with staying here alone?"
Katheryn nods, and the three of us walk out of the room and wait at the scaffold. As the clock strikes nine, we see Anne and her ladies approaching the scaffold. Anne is wearing a gable hood, her signature B necklace, a red cloak, and a grey dress and kirtle underneath. Mary and Elizabeth are following her. Anne slows so she can pass out alms for the people attending her execution, leaving some money for the executioner.
It is sick that someone must pay the wage of their executioner. What makes the matter worse is that Elizabeth has been paying for her mother's stay at the Tower. It is disgusting. Henry will pay for this once I become his wife.
Anne slowly approaches the scaffold and climbs he few steps. The crowd, which has previously been shouting, falls silent. "Good Christian people," Anne says. Her voice rings out over the green, and the people look up at her. "I have come here to die, for according to the law, and by the law, I am judged to die, and therefore I will speak nothing against it."
Anne looks over at Catalina, and Catalina bows her head, trying to stop herself from crying. Mary walks over to Catalina and places an arm around her. Elizabeth continues standing by the steps, watching Anne.
Anne turns back to the crowd. "I have come here to accuse no man, nor speak anything of that, whereof I am accused and condemned to die, but I pray God save the king and send him long reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never." Anne's voice falters as she tries to form the next words. Anne's ladies start crying, and one of them moves Elizabeth away from the steps.
"And to me he was ever a good, a gentle and sovereign lord. And if any person will meddle of my cause, I require them to judge the best."
Anne signals to her ladies, and they remove her cloak and gable hood. I walk behind Anne and unclasp her necklace. "Give it to Elizabeth," she says, "so she may always remember me."
"Yes, Your Majesty." I curtsey and take Elizabeth from one of the ladies. I turn to the executioner. "Will you give us enough time to leave? The Princesses should not have to witness this."
"Of course, my lady." The executioner nods.
"And thus I take my leave of the world, and of you all. I heartily desire you all to pray for me." Anne kneels in the straw. I pick up Elizabeth and walk towards the steps. Mary joins us.
Catalina screams. We turn back to find her lying on the scaffold, hand over her heart. Anne jumps up and cradles Catalina in her arms. "It is going to be okay," Anne whispers, "we are going to have eternity in paradise."
"My heart," Catalina sobs, "it... I..." Catalina closes her eyes, and her heart stops beating.
"MAMA!" Mary screams, and she runs over to Catalina. I keep a tight grip on Elizabeth as she starts kicking and screaming.
"Put me down!" Elizabeth shouts. "I demand you put me down!"
Mummy grabs Elizabeth's hand. "We need to go, Emma. There's nothing more we can do here."
I nod and hurry down the steps. Mummy runs back for Mary.
"My Lady, we have to go."
Mary looks at Anne. "Go with them," Anne says. "I have my ladies here. They will look after both of us."
The crowd parts for us as the five of us walk away from the scaffold. Mary and I look back a couple of times to see Anne kneeling in the straw, facing away from Catalina's body. We turn away and walk back into the Tower.
A canon fires when we enter Catalina's chambers.
