There’s the million-dollar question.
“There’s the possibility of written evidence from someone I was with before I even met the king, but all I know for sure right now is Mistress Marshall’s testimony.”
Lady Wessex jeers as she slouches back in her chair. “Didn’t I always say that woman was Satan’s sister?”
“If that’s the case,” Bessie interjects, “then it’s just her word against yours. We can all deny her claims. We’ll tell the inquisitors that we’ve never served a queen kinder and more virtuous than Catherine Howard.”
I start to smile while also shaking my head. “I don’t want any of you to lie for me. Don’t risk yourselves for my sake.”
“It’s not a lie,” Cecily says. “It’s the truth. You saw all of us, including me and my family, as people when no one else did.”
William ‘s mouth curves as he catches my eye. “I’m quite certain we’re the first musicians to sit on a privy council.”
I grin back at him, and Bessie places her hand over mine. “You’re my dearest friend,” she adds.
I try to answer her, but my throat is tight. I look at Lady Wessex with waterlogged eyes, but she only crosses her arms. “Skip me,” she mutters.
I can’t help but laugh, and when I turn to Lady Rochford, she takes a painful breath as she refuses to make eye contact.
“I would like to embroider with you at some point in time,” she begrudgingly admits. “One-on-one.”
A keener victory was never felt. When I look to Lady Barrow, she’s as serene as ever. “You risked plenty for us as well, Catherine. If we wish to do the same, then let us.”
I nod and glance down at the table, finding words hard to come by. Luckily, Lady Rochford doesn’t.
“When the king’s inquisitors come, they are going to question all of us on the doings of the queen. What her character is, what her hobbies are. Have you seen her behaving in ways unbecoming of a queen? Has she given you medical advice, given you aid, have you heard any talk of possible indiscretions? And we will tell them our truth: we have simply spent our days praying and embroidering with her. They will latch on to any and every bit of information you give them, and they will use it to break you.” Then: “But they can’t break us all, can they?”
A warm silence spreads between us, only broken when Lady Wessex speaks. “And if all else fails, I’ll kill Mistress Marshall in her sleep. I’m rather skilled in making deaths look accidental.”
Another silence spreads, this one not as wholesome and fuzzy.
“Have you killed many people?” Cecily asks.
Lady Wessex looks down to inspect her fingernails. “The only true mastery can come with repetition.”
Okay, then.
I place my palms down on the table with a gentle tap. “Well, hopefully it doesn’t come to that, but thank you for your willingness.”
“What now?” William asks.
Everyone turns to me for an answer, and I give it to them with confidence. “Now, we rewrite history.”
Francis is standing across from me in a deserted hallway that Lady Rochford brought us to, giving us complete privacy. “I want you to leave court,” I tell him plainly.
He looks back at me with a sullen frown. “Is my presence that disgusting to you?”
I go to answer, but Lady Rochford beats me to it. “The queen is soon to be investigated. A team of inquisitors will seek to uncover every scandalous aspect of her past, and the most scandalous aspect that exists is you.”
Francis looks between us in surprise, which soon gives way to defiance. “I’m not afraid of being questioned,” he tells Lady Rochford.
“You will be by the time they’re done with you.” Francis remains unflinching, and Lady Rochford tilts her head off to the side. “Do you think that you won’t be punished for having carnal knowledge of the queen before she was married? They are going to tear you apart, Francis. Slowly. Limb from limb.”
My stunned eyes shoot over to her. She has to be exaggerating. I hope to God she is. I start to feel queasy as the gravity of the situation sinks in a little further.
“They can’t fault Catherine for what she did before she wed the king,” Francis answers.
Lady Rochford folds her arms across her chest. “They can do whatever they please.”
