But he is sincere in his interest. “I know that Cranmer thinks highly of you. Why not write some original prayers? And why don’t you translate some prayers from the Latin Mass and show your version to him? Bring one to me to read. And Princess Mary works with you, doesn’t she? And Elizabeth?”

“With her tutor,” I say cautiously. “As part of Elizabeth’s study, with her cousin Jane Grey.”

“I believe that women should study,” he says kindly. “It is not part of the duty of woman to remain ignorant. And you have a learned and scholarly husband; there is no chance of you outpacing me, after all!” He laughs at the thought of it and I laugh with him.

I don’t even look at the Fool, though I know he is listening for my reply. “Whatever you think best, my lord,” I say levelly. “I should enjoy to do the work and it would be an education for the princesses also. But you will judge how far it should go.”

“It can go far,” the king rules. “It can go as far as Cranmer can compose it. Because I will send my dog Gardiner after it to bring it back if it goes too far.”

“Is it possible to find a middle way in this?” I wonder aloud. “Cranmer either writes the prayers of the Mass in English and publishes in English or he does not.”

“We’ll find my way,” Henry replies. “My way is inspired by God Himself to me, His ruler on earth. He speaks to me. I hear Him.”

“You see,” Will suddenly bounds to the fireside and addresses the sleeping hound, lifting his big head and putting it on his knee, “if she said that, or I said that, they would beg us as a madwoman and a Fool. But if the king says that, everyone thinks it is nothing but true since he is descended from God, and has the holy oil on his chest so he can never be wrong.”

The king narrows his eyes at his favorite. “I can never be wrong for I am king,” he says. “I can never be wrong because a king is above a mortal man, seated just below the angels. I can never be wrong because God speaks to me, in words that no one else can hear. Just as you can never be wise for you are my Fool.” He glances towards me. “And she can never have an opinion that is not mine, for she is my wife.”

* * *