Cranmer explained. ‘We know this from one of the King’s body-servants who was present. And we know that Gardiner, like the ravening wolf he is, told the King that the Queen and her ladies were heretics; they had had men to preach in the Queen’s chambers during Lent who denied the bread and wine became the body and blood of Christ in the Mass, and who discussed forbidden books with them. Gardiner said such people were no better than Anabaptists, who would destroy royal rule.’

The Queen bowed her head. Lord Parr glanced at her, then continued. ‘But the King was suspicious of Gardiner. Ever since Cromwell fell, he has been wary of those who would whisper in his ear about heretic plots. And despite his anger that night, he loves the Queen; the last thing he would want is to lose her. Hold fast to that, niece, hold fast.’

‘But I have done dangerous things,’ she said. I frowned. I had always known she was a radical in religion, and wondered with a chill whether she had indeed become a sacramentarian. For a second I smelled the smoke at Smithfield again.

‘Your uncle is right,’ Cranmer said reassuringly. ‘The King loves you, for your goodness and the comfort you have brought him. Remember that, Kate, always.’ I thought, Kate? I had not known the Queen and the Archbishop were so close.

Lord Parr continued. ‘The King allowed Gardiner to search for evidence. And at the same time to order a general investigation into heresy throughout the country. He was worried already over the discontent caused by the price rises and the war – though, thanks be, God has led his majesty to see the sense of making peace.’ He looked again at his niece. ‘The Queen has loyal friends, and she was warned that searches were afoot. Any books that she or her ladies possessed, which Gardiner might twist as evidence to mean a supporter of heresy, were removed by me. And those who were questioned about discussions in the Queen’s chamber stayed loyal and said nothing incriminating.’ I wondered what those books had been. But any book with even a mildly Lutheran flavour could be used by Gardiner and his people.

The Queen spoke again. It was as though she had divined my thoughts. ‘There were no books of a heretical nature, and nothing forbidden was said in the King’s chambers. Though Gardiner set his dogs loose on my friends, my ladies, he came away empty-handed.’ So that was why they had seemed brittle, and why Lady Carew had been anxious about Duchess Frances’s mocking of Gardiner. ‘Even though the place-seekers on the Privy Council became his willing tools. Lord Chancellor Wriothesley, and a man you know well, who would be glad to see me burn: Richard Rich.’

I shifted uncomfortably on my chair. ‘It was through your protection of me last year that Rich became your enemy,’ I said quietly.