Thomas Howard's bedroom

" I will arrange for you to meet the lady Howard my old wife soon because she is here at Whitehall and I am glad you wish the family all the best when we are married I shall introduce you to all of the family my love" I lead her over to the bed and sit her down and then start undressing her:

" My love you skin is so fine I cannot resist you and you will be my wife soon".

" The lady Mary is fine she has gone to see her mother and then she is meeting someone about a marriage and you should meet my other daughters my dear".

" WE will leave tomorrow and see my niece Anne at Whitehall".

"Your Grace" I scream and try to fight him off "I have told you I shall be a maid till our wedding night and I shall not go back upon my word"

Flustered and bewildered I grab my clothing and hold them against my bare skin to cover my modesty "I thought you respected me" I sob trying to redress quickly "It seems I have been much mistaken" I rush towards the door and out into the corridor and past the servants

Catherine was invited to meet her uncle's new wife-to-be, but as she approached his chambers she saw a woman running away in fear. Catherine kept still in the corridor, waiting.

" don't worry that wsd nothing". Please come in.

"Uncle" Mary says as she enters

Ah my dear niece welcome how are you getting on with Mary she is angry with me at the moment because us Howards played a game with and can't believe that she thought I meant it.

Mary had a puzzled look on her face "What game?"

"I meant it as a joke as I didn't think she would do it anyway. I asked her to bring me the lady Salvatore Catherine of Aragon'd maid in order to force a divorce but I didn't mean it snd now she isn't happy with. Can you explain it to her for me brcause she wont listen to Me.

"It doesn't sound like a game to me. She isn't like us." Mary says. She heard people say that they saw Lady Dawn walking out of Uncle Howard's chambers. "I don't see how that is a game to you."

" Yes maybe you are right but will you explain everything to her forme?"

"I'll try." Mary felt unsure if she can make Lady Dawn forgive him "You best pray that I can convince her."

"Thank you my dear let me know as soon as possible".

Catherine felt small and insignificant in the wake of both her kinsfolk. Uncle Thomas and cousin Mary were grand, and she curtsied to the Duke.

Seeing Catherine enter the room I nod to the guard to wait outside and I greet her:

" Welcome my dear how are you getting on Catherine I have something I want to do for you. I have hired a teacher for you so that you can be taught her at home rather than go away to a horrible school what do you say would you want this Catherine?"

As I finish speaking to Catherine my spy enters and bows and approaches towards me and says in my ear:

" I have been watching Mary Dawn out of sight for you your Grace and she and her sister are here at the archery field practicing."

I take this news in: " Thank you for informing me and I would like you to keep watching her every move without anyone seeing you ok?" he nods and leaves the room.

"Uncle." Mary says with a small curtsy

"Welcome my dear niece. Itis nice to see you again."
I hand her a glass of wine and we sit down by the fire.

" Mary how did your meeting with Mary Faen go my dear."

"It went well." Mary lifted her hand as a gesture of refusal "So tell me uncle, I've been hearing that you've someone to spy on the lady Dawn. Why is that?"

" Mary I only sent him there to make sure she doesn't get hurt and for me to know that she is safe and she is going to send for me soon to talk to her."
"I am glad your meeting with Mary went well she is really fond of you if you didn't know already".
"Where is your sister at the moment Mary because I have not s d en her for a while now and how are you and your family doing?"
"What would you say if I offered you your own estate Mary my dear?"

"If her safety concerns you, could of sent your servants with her. What you did is send a spy after. That makes her think that you don't trust her." Poor Lady Dawn can't fully trust Uncle Howard. "Of course she likes me, my compassion for her being in this situation that you have put towards her has received positive feedback from her." Then she hears of an estate "I'm being offered my own estate? Why the reason?"

"But it was my servant I sent with her everyone thinks it was a spy but he was actually my servant Mary and anyone would like you because you are kind."

"I am offering you an estate of your choice because you hve a growing family what do you say huh? And where is your sister it has been a while since I last saw her?"

"Heaven knows where she is. Once she is Queen, she will hardly have time on her hands like she used to." Mary starts to think about the offer of an estate "And if I refuse?"

"Well I shall send for her then and nothing will happen should you refuse" why would you refuse?

Mary's special soldier came to her mind "Maybe I'm comfortable with living in Whitehall and my family home." One day when Mary marries him, she won't mind the quality of the household that she is provided

Very well if that is what you want Mary then I am happy for you.