"I will not marry her!" King Henry yells, throwing the marriage contract across the table. He glares at Cromwell. "You promised me she would be the jewel of womanhood and surpass all others with her beauty and wit. Instead, I have a woman who can barely speak English!"
"But, Sire," Cromwell stammers, "Anna of Cleves is learning the language fast. She will become used to life at Court."
"Is it too much to ask for an educated woman? She cannot play the flute, sing, or dance. The only friends she has at Court are Sarah Jane and Emma—no offence to you two, of course," he adds when he remembers Mummy and I are there.
"None taken," I say as I slowly rise, "but Cromwell is right. Anna is coming along splendidly with her English. While it might be broken and her accent heavy, it might be unnoticeable by the end of the year."
"And what of the rest of her education? Unable to play music or dance?"
"One of her maids-of-honour is teaching her to dance." I neglect to mention that the woman in question is Katheryn Howard.
"My niece is growing closer to the queen," Norfolk agrees, "and they have become fast friends."
"You might be her uncle, but you don't know anything about her."
"I know enough."

I cross my arms. How did someone like Norfolk end up as a duke? Oh, yes, because his family have been Dukes of Norfolk before him! I sit down in my chair. How am I supposed to argue against a man who has the backing of almost his entire family? I close my eyes. Katheryn might have turned against Norfolk or at least betrayed his trust, but Norfolk is a powerful man. If he wants Katheryn back, he will stop at nothing. We could undeniably lose.

King Henry stands up and winces as he puts pressure on his bad leg. "Cromwell, find a way out. I will not marry Anna of Cleves."
"Yes, Sire." Cromwell grabs the marriage contract off the table. "I will get onto it now."
King Henry nods and dismisses Cromwell with a wave of his hand. Cromwell bows and leaves.

"Your Majesty?" Cranmer quietly asks. "While you may not want to marry Lady Anna, we do have to consider the kingdom's safety."
King Henry nods. "England stands alone against Rome. We need allies in case France and Spain decide to attack our shores."
Should I tell him that France and Spain will not attack? How would that impact history? I run a finger over my locket.

Aslan told me I must learn to rely on my instincts. I will not learn to trust myself if I cannot do that. Travelling through history is a tricky business. I must learn to rely on my judgements.

I sit up and look at Norfolk. He must fall if we want him to stop annoying Katheryn. But that isn't due to happen until 1546. What happened? Could I research that and then try to influence King Henry? Would that help us keep Katheryn safe from Norfolk's clutches? I tilt my head as I study him. Norfolk is one of the people who are slippery at best. Any evidence I gather must be watertight. I cannot let him slip away and turn on me. I look over at Mummy, but she's busy talking to another man about the pros and cons of closing the last monastery. I turn back to King Henry. Should I raise my concerns about Norfolk with him? Would he believe me? Probably not. But I can try.

It's time for me to rely on my instincts.

I slowly stand up, keeping my gaze on Norfolk. Norfolk turns and talks to Writhosley. Those two seem to be good friends. Is it because they're both secretly Catholics? King Henry wouldn't turn on them just because they are Catholics. I need to portray Norfolk as a threat, not just to myself and Mummy, but to the kingdom. Could I plant some evidence in his quarters? What evidence can I use? What would seem believable to the Privy Council?

When the session ends, I find myself wandering the corridors. It would be lovely to be done with Tudor England. I would be closer to seeing William, and I would feel happier. I would be with someone that I hopefully love. But I don't have a choice about who I marry in Tudor England. I must marry King Henry. He doesn't seem so bad.

Did I just think that? He murdered one of my friends! How can I think that he isn't too bad when he's willing to kill anyone who stands in his way? I shake my head and look out of a nearby window. I can see the river beginning to freeze over. Will it be thick enough to skate over? The Thames had frozen over in 1536 before the Court moved to Greenwich for the festive season. It would be nice for it to happen again.

I turn away from the window. There must be a way for us to outwit Norfolk. There's no way we'll let him get to Katheryn. I don't think even Katheryn herself wants to associate herself with him. I'm not that surprised; Norfolk is the type of man who's more likely to make enemies than allies. All I must do is ensure he gets more enemies!

But Cromwell is currently in hot water. Who is worse, Cromwell or Norfolk? Are they as bad as the other? But who would be the next best person to be the King's right hand if Cromwell falls? Who would he trust? Would King Henry trust anyone enough again?

I cannot think about that now. I must focus on outwitting Norfolk and keeping Katheryn out of his grasp. It's going to be difficult, and I might owe people favours in the future. But it could work. I smile as I walk through the corridors, searching for Archbishop Cranmer. King Henry won't execute him. Cranmer might help.

I eventually find his quarters and knock on the door. He opens it. "Mistress Smith-White, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I need your help with protecting someone."
Cranmer opens the door wider. "You better come in, then." I enter his quarters, and he shuts the door.

Despite serving on the Privy Council and as Archbishop of Canterbury, Cranmer's rooms are sparsely furnished. Some simple chairs sit close to the fire, and a desk and chair are by the window. "Please, sit," Cranmer says.
"Thanks for seeing me at such short notice, Your Grace."
"No matter, Mistress Smith-White." Cranmer sits down. "Who is the person you wish to protect?"
"Katheryn Howard."
"Norfolk's niece?"
I nod. "Mummy brought Katheryn under her wing in 1536."
Cranmer nods, a small smile flickering across his face. "I recall that day fondly. But why would Norfolk be interested in his niece now?"
I explain Katheryn's situation. "Is there any way we can ensure Norfolk has no say in her future?"
Cranmer sits back and steeples his hands. "There might be a way."
"What?"
Cranmer hums. "You will need him to be accused of treason."
I slowly nod. "I know you are a man of God, so I won't trouble you further." I stand.
Cranmer jumps up and grabs my arm. "Emma, wait. We have been allies for some years. I want to help."
I meet his gaze. "Are you sure? It could end up endangering your soul."
Cranmer's gaze falters. "Will Katheryn be safe?"
"From Norfolk, yes. But dark forces will move against her shortly after the King marries her. I fear that even if we get Norfolk out of the picture, horrid people will target her. People who want to see a child dead."
Cranmer closes his eyes and releases a deep, shuddering breath. "I never thought I would see the day I would rebel against one of the nobility." He opens his eyes. "I will help you."
"Thanks."

We decide to find Katheryn. Her testimony could help us bring Norfolk down, or at least weaken his position. It's worth a shot. Even if we don't get Norfolk out of power, keeping him away from Katheryn is our goal. We cannot fail.

We eventually find Katheryn in the Queen's Privy Chamber with some of the other maids-of-honour. Bessie and Maria are talking quietly in a corner, but Rocky isn't with them. Where is she? Katheryn looks at us and stands up. "Emma?" She asks. "You are back late. Is everything all right?"
"Katheryn, we must talk to you. This is Archbishop Cranmer."
"Your Grace." Katheryn curtsies. "It is an honour to meet you."
Cranmer takes Katheryn's hand and helps her rise. "What we wish to talk to you about is a delicate matter. Is there anywhere we can go?"
"There is," I say, and I lead Cranmer and Katheryn back through the palace towards the room I share with Mummy.

Mummy looks up from the letter she's reading when we walk in. "Your Grace," she says, "we weren't expecting you." She looks between Cranmer, Katheryn, and me. "Is something going on?"
"I thought Cranmer might help us prevent Norfolk from using Katheryn," I say, "but we need to talk to Katheryn about it first."

We four of us sit around the fire. "Emma said that the Duke of Norfolk tried to bribe you with a necklace. Where is it now?"
"Here." Katheryn pulls the pearl necklace out of her pocket and hands it to Cranmer. "My uncle gave it to me so I would spy on Sarah Jane and Emma."
Cranmer carefully examines it. "I cannot see anything that would help with that task. Emma?" He hands it to me, and I study it. The pearls glitter in the firelight, but there is nothing unusual about it. It's a simple pearl necklace, nothing more than that.
"I assume the Duke of Norfolk used this as payment?" Katheryn nods. "How did he act? Was it typical for how someone at Court would act?"
"I have only been here since September," Katheryn argues, "and you and Sarah Jane have been with me for most of that time. I had not interacted with my uncle until you left."
"We believe you," Mummy says, placing a hand on Katheryn's shoulder, "but we must get to the bottom of it." She looks at Cranmer. "What do you suggest we do?"
"We must drive the Duke of Norfolk away from Court. I did suggest to Emma that we frame him for treason."
"That would get him executed," Katheryn argues.
"But he will put you in front of the King. The Duke of Norfolk will do everything he can to make you queen."
Katheryn grows pale and her eyes wide. "I have no desire to be Queen. I do not want to marry the man who executed my cousin."
"Then we must do all we can to avoid it. If you have any suggestions about how to remove Norfolk from Court, I am happy to hear them."
Katheryn shakes her head and looks at the ground.

"From what I remember, Norfolk was imprisoned for treason in the Tower of London in 1546," Mummy says, "but he wasn't executed as the King died before the execution could happen."
"'Tis treason to speak ill of the King," Cranmer says, "even among friends. The walls have ears." He looks around. "People can even be listening in the corridor."
I rise and open the door to check. No one is there. I close the door again and sit in my chair. "It will be better to whisper," I mutter. Cranmer, Mummy, and Katheryn lean forward to hear me better. "Even if no one is outside, we can't risk it."
The others nod. "What were you saying, Sarah Jane?" Katheryn asks. "About my uncle?"
"I don't think he was executed," she whispers back, "he was certainly alive during the reign of Mary."
"King Henry's daughter?" Cranmer grows pale. "But she's not part of the succession!"
"Not yet."

Cranmer slowly rises to his feet. "She would release Norfolk."
"Exactly," Mummy agrees, "she's Catholic. She would release anyone she can who was imprisoned for being Catholic."
"And execute people for being Protestant! Do you realise what this will mean for me?"
Cranmer is a Protestant. He dissolved Henry and Catalina's marriage. Mary will see him as a threat. My heart falls. If Mary comes to the throne, she will execute Cranmer even if he recants.

We cannot focus on that now. For the time being, we must look at outwitting Norfolk. He constantly wants to better himself by using his family. He already had one niece as Queen of England but abandoned her just as quickly. He will do the same to Katheryn if he makes her queen. How can we ensure that he can't do that? I grin. "I think I have a plan."