Rose gasped. She knew this, of course, from history books, from televisions shows, from movies. But now she knew this because she was actually here. Had she slipped through some crack in time? She wavered a bit and set down the pail.

“Are you all right, Rose?”

“Yes . . . just takes a little getting used to.”

Franny nodded. “I understand. First day on the job and all. I was a bit skittish my first day at the dairy.”

“But tell me,” Rose asked, “why was the princess banished? Did she do something bad?”

“Oh no, not at all! You see, every time the king remarries, he has a tendency to banish Elizabeth and often her half sister, Princess Mary. I suppose in a sense he wants to wipe the slate clean . . . you know, for his new bride.”

“How many times has he married now?”

Franny paused and tapped her chin. “Let’s see, first there was the Spanish queen. Catherine of Aragon, Princess Mary’s mum. Then there was Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth’s mum. Then Jane Seymour, Prince Edward’s mum, before Anne of Cleves. Oh, nearly forgot Catherine Howard. He chopped her head off too. So, what are we up to?”

“Five.”

“And now this queen, also named Catherine, the third Catherine, Catherine Parr.”

Rose blinked. “A lot of Catherines.”

“Indeed.”

“Funny that they all spell it the same way, too, isn’t it?”

Franny blushed. “I . . . I’m not sure. I haven’t really learned my letters and scriving all that well. No time, you know.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to . . .”

Franny cut her off. “Oh, don’t apologize. But do you know scriving?”

“You mean how to write?”

“Yes.” Franny nodded. A wonderful smile began to steal across her face. Another dimple appeared. Her eyes twinkled like blue stars in a white night. “Of course you do! I should have known. You must be related to John Ashley. He’s courting Princess Elizabeth’s tutor, Kat Champernowne, or so it is rumored. The Ashleys are very bright.”

In that instance, Rose realized she had a part to play and not simply a job attending a princess. “Yes, yes, Franny. A very distant cousin, I believe. Never met him.” She of course had no idea who these Ashleys were. It was a pretty common name. There were two in the suburb of Philadelphia where she had lived and they were always getting each other’s mail. But they were not related in any way. Could she be related to these more distant Ashleys?

“Course not, as you’re probably from East Ditch near Letty Green.”

“Exactly, and they’re from West Ditch,” Rose replied.

“Yes, West Ditch over by Tyttenhanger,” Franny filled in. This was going well, Rose thought.

“I say, Rose,” Franny said suddenly, “might you teach me some scriving?”

“Well, I suppose so. I mean, if there is time with my new job.”