Jane's pregnancy is progressing well, but neither Mum nor I can see her. Doctor Butts meets us outside Jane's rooms. "After what happened, the queen sees anyone who is even remotely Qetesh as a threat," he explains. "That is why she screams whenever she senses one in the Palace."
"We cannot be in the same palace as her?" I ask, my voice breaking.
Doctor Butts shakes his head. "This might be due to the pregnancy, so it could be best if you two and Matilda stay away."
"But—"
Mum shakes her head at me. "We understand. Thank you, Doctor Butts."
Doctor Butts bows his head and hurries away.

"I'm supposed to become Jane's mistress," I say, "how can I do that if we cannot be in the same palace?"
Mum shrugs. "How should I know?" She sighs. "We should tell Sarah. We cannot be here if it makes Jane's pregnancy worse."
I nod, and we head off to find Mummy when King Henry calls me into an urgent Privy Council meeting.

"There are many reports of plague victims," Cromwell says when I sit down. "We are going to leave London and head for Elsyng Palace. Only those who have no contact with the plague can come with us."
I nod. King Henry is deathly afraid of disease—and for good reason. He's only on the throne because his brother died of the sweating sickness. If he were to die now, he currently doesn't have a son to succeed him. "We leave within the hour," King Henry announced. "I have told Jane and her household to leave for Hampton Court. It is secluded from the city, so Jane can have her lying-in period in peace."

Mummy and I meet Mum in our room after Cromwell quickly adjourns the meeting. "We must pack what we can," Mummy says.
"Why? What's happened?" Mum asks.
"There are plague cases in the city," I say with a sigh. "King Henry wants to move on as soon as possible. We are leaving in around..." I check my watch. "Half an hour."

Mum shifts nervously. "I'm leaving court."
"What?" Mummy asks.
"I'm not on the Privy Council like you two, and since Jane is scared of me..." Mum's voice trails off, and she looks at the ground. "There's no need for me to be here."
"But we need you," I say, "Mummy and I cannot do this without you."
"You can do it." Mum closes her eyes. "You'll have Matilda, and I won't go far. I shall head to Hybrid Palace and see what Madam Fairfax is doing. I'm sure she will appreciate my help with the hybrids."
Mummy walks over to Mummy and kisses her cheek. "Take care of yourself."
"You too." Mum looks over at me and throws her arms out. "Come on, Emma. You know you want to."
I throw myself into the hug. "I'll miss you, Mum."
"It won't be long until we're together again."

I hope she's right. Until then, Mummy and I must make do with each other. We pack everything we can and go our separate ways when we reach the outskirts of London. Mummy and I still have a long journey ahead of us.

Tears sting my eyes as we ride against the wind. I brush them away and look around. Mummy is riding beside me, but Matilda is missing. "Where's Matilda?" I ask Mummy.
"She's not here?" Mummy turns pale and looks around. "Matilda? Matilda!"
There is no response. Mummy pulls on the horse's reins.
"Is something the matter?" Cranmer asks as he rides over to us.
"Matilda's missing."
"Matilda?"
Mummy nods. "Our maid from Hybrid Palace. Blonde hair, blue eyes, speaks with a Scottish accent."
"I remember her. She's asking about her friend, Alice."
Matilda must be petitioning for Alice's release! I wish I thought of that before. Alice must think that we've forgotten her, but I will prove that is not the case. She will regain her freedom.

Matilda turns her horse and gallops towards us. She has a massive smile on her face. "The king agreed to release Alice once the plague settles down."
"That's brilliant!" I say. "Are you going to tell her now?"
Matilda nods. "I will stay out of London for a while. Maybe I will return to Hybrid Palace. I am sure the other hybrids would love to hear what we have been doing."
"Take care," Mummy says, "and write to me when you get there."
"Yes, Mum."
I want to snarl at Matilda. Sarah Jane Smith is my mother, not hers!
Matilda laughs and canters towards London.

Mummy looks at me. "The cheek! The hybrids know they cannot call me any version of 'mother'." She shakes her head. "Nothing we can do about it now."
"I almost snarled at her."
"You were putting Matilda in her place." We realise we are falling behind and gallop to catch up with the rest of the Privy Council.
"I wasn't expecting you to understand it."
"It's a simple concept. Hybrids despise sharing their parents with a sibling they don't trust."
"Did Mum teach you that one?"
She shakes her head. "Edward." She lowers her head and blinks rapidly. "He'll be married when I next meet him."

I don't know if she's saying it to me or herself.

Elsyng is far smaller than Hampton Court. Three or four people end up sharing a small room, with the unlucky ones sleeping on a straw mattress on the floor. King Henry doesn't share a room—no surprise there. He also makes an astonishing announcement. "I want Sarah Jane and Emma to have the room next to mine."
I grab Mummy's hand. This cannot be happening. He cannot THINK about taking one of us as his mistress. Is he insane?
"Why is that, Your Majesty?" Cromwell asks.
"Most of you were born in my realm and are a bunch of yes-men. Neither Emma nor Sarah Jane are like that." King Henry looks at me. "And someone needs to stop me from becoming a worse tyrant."
I can't fault his reasoning. Neither can Mummy. Cromwell tries to argue, nothing new there. "Cromwell, you shall share your quarters with Wriothesley." A Protestant rooming with a Catholic. Stranger things have—and will—happen.

Mummy and I retire to our chamber after the impromptu meeting, and it isn't long before King Henry joins us. Mummy and King Henry sit by the fire as I locate my diary and begin writing about what happened. "I thought Wriothesley was going to wring Cromwell's neck!" Mummy says.
"So did I," I say, "and lord knows Cromwell has a suitable neck for it."
"Indeed," King Henry says. We start laughing. "Or maybe they will become civil despite their religious differences."
"Pigs will fly before then."
"They already do," Mummy says as she rises from her seat and puts her hands on her hips. "There is a planet full of them K-9 would tell you about it if he were here."
"Where is that dog?"
Mummy shrugs. "I think he goes on his own adventures sometimes. This could be one of them."
"It would explain why he's so secretive."