The At twelve years old, Katherine Carey attends her aunt, Queen Anne Boleyn, to the scaffold. Horrified by what she witnesses, Kate is convinced that King Henry VIII is a murderer and has sent an innocent woman to a terrible death. Although the Boleyn family, once so influential at Court, has now fallen from favor, Katherine still manages to secure a coveted role as companion to her now motherless cousin, the young Lady Elizabeth. Bound by Boleyn blood, the two girls grow as close as sisters, though Katherine has trouble ignoring the sly looks thrown her way and continual whispers behind her back. Only when her mother lies dying does Katherine learn the life-shattering truth that the Boleyns have been hiding for years. It is a secret that follows Katherine throughout her life, as she flees religious persecution with her husband and lives abroad in fear, returning home only when Elizabeth becomes queen. But the bond between the Boleyn cousins will never be the same again… With her usual entertaining and authoritative style beloved by readers, renowned historian Alison Weir exposes a dramatic, little-known Tudor mystery in this fascinating, revelatory novel.

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Alison Weir

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The New York Times bestselling author of the Six Tudor Queens series explores the dramatic, mysterious life of Katherine Carey, niece of Anne Boleyn, in this surprising novel that delves into one of the deepest secrets of Henry VIII’s court.

“In this vivid and utterly addictive novel, Alison Weir brings to life a fascinating woman who lived at the heart of Henry VIII’s and Elizabeth I’s courts.”—Tracy Borman, author of The House of Boleyn

At twelve years old, Katherine Carey attends her aunt, Queen Anne Boleyn, to the scaffold. Horrified by what she witnesses, Katherine is convinced that King Henry VIII is a murderer and has sent an innocent woman to a terrible death.

Although the Boleyn family, once so influential at court, has now fallen from favor, Katherine still manages to secure a coveted role as companion to her now-motherless cousin, the young Lady Elizabeth. Bound by Boleyn blood, the two girls grow as close as sisters, though Katherine has trouble ignoring the sly looks thrown her way and continual whispers behind her back. Only when her mother lies dying does Katherine learn the life-shattering truth that the Boleyns have been hiding for years.

It is a secret that follows Katherine throughout her life, as she flees religious persecution with her husband and lives abroad in fear, returning home only when Elizabeth becomes queen. But the bond between the Boleyn cousins will never be the same again.

With her usual entertaining and authoritative style beloved by readers, renowned historian Alison Weir exposes a dramatic, little-known Tudor mystery in this fascinating, revelatory novel.

Leseprobe
Chapter 1

1536

Kate was at the palace of Greenwich, returning from the gardens with the Princess Elizabeth trying to wriggle out of her hand when she saw Lady Bryan hastening in her direction. The child should have gone back to her household at Hatfield days ago, after celebrating Easter with her royal parents, but no instructions had been received.

“Kate! Kate,” Lady Bryan cried. “You have been summoned to London!”

“London?” Kate echoed.

“Yes, child.” Elizabeth’s plump lady mistress paused to catch her breath, squinting in the May sunshine. “A messenger from the King has arrived with an escort. You are to be conveyed to the Tower.”

Kate felt faint. “The Tower? What have I done wrong?”

“Nothing, my dear. I’m sorry, I did not mean to alarm you. You are to attend on the Queen, your aunt.”

Their eyes met. Everyone except the little Princess knew that Kate’s aunt, Queen Anne, had been arrested and imprisoned in that grim fortress. Just a few days ago, when walking in the gardens at Greenwich, Kate herself had looked up and witnessed a terrible scene between the King and Queen. They had been standing in a window, she with her daughter in her arms, and quarrelling bitterly. It had been the talk of the court, and soon afterward the Queen had been taken away.

No one, however, had any idea of what might happen to Anne now, for never before had a queen been accused of treason. The royal household was holding its collective breath and there had been much gossip and speculation, although Lady Bryan had sternly ensured that none of it was in Elizabeth’s hearing. Not yet three, the child was as sharp as nails and little escaped her.

Kate was astonished. “Did my aunt ask for me?”

“I have no idea,” Lady Bryan said, picking up Elizabeth and steering Kate back toward the palace. Elizabeth struggled in her arms, shaking her long red curls, her pointed face screwed up in protest. “Hush, my Lady Princess. You shall have a sugar comfit when we get back.” The child quietened instantly, but all conversation had to cease.

The King’s groom, very smart in his green and white, was courtesy personified as he greeted Kate and bade her gather her livery things.

“How long will I be staying at the Tower?” she asked, an eye on Elizabeth’s retreating back as she was borne away to the nursery.

“I do not know, Mistress Kate, so I advise taking enough clothes for a week or so. Please be quick. We can still catch the tide upriver.”

No one seemed to know anything, Kate thought, frowning as she sped upstairs to her chamber. She opened her traveling chest, packed her three best gowns and several changes of body linen, two books—would she have leisure for reading?—and the little silver casket containing her few jewels. She would have taken her lute, yet feared that music, which she loved, might not be appropriate in the circumstances. Then she threw her cloak over her arm and ran downstairs.

“My chest is ready,” she told the groom.

When it had been loaded, she followed him to the palace jetty, climbed into the barge, and was carried away, waving back at Lady Bryan, who had watched her departure with a worried countenance. What awaited her at the end of her journey? And when would she be back?

As the barge glided along the Thames, Kate had time to reflect on this strange summons. Had it come from her aunt? It was Queen Anne who, two and a half years ago, had appointed her as a companion for the newborn Princess Elizabeth, a young cousin to keep her daily company in her large household of servants. Kate had been nine then, and she had been glad to leave the tense atmosphere of Hever Castle for the palace at Hatfield where the royal nursery had been established. Hever was Grandfather’s house, where Mother, Kate, and her little brother, Henry, had lived since Father’s death from the sweating sickness when Kate was four. But Grandfather and Mother had not got on for as long as Kate could remember. She hated seeing her plump, comely, sweet-natured mother being bullied by Grandfather, who made it plain that he didn’t want them under his roof. And Grandmother, who was daughter to the Duke of Norfolk, had held aloof. The grandparents didn’t get on well, and Grandmother was often at court, leaving the steward to run the household.

Kate had shed many tears for the loss of her father—or rather, its consequences. She had rarely seen him, for he had spent most of his time at court serving the King, and she could not remember him well, yet his death had rocked her world. Until then, she and Harry, who was just a year her junior, had been living with their mother at the beautiful royal palace of Beaulieu in Essex, of which Father had been appointed keeper. It was a paradi…