At this time, there was still not a trace of clouds in the pure and brilliant blue sky, and the brilliant sun was still scorching the earth like the afternoon sun. It is very pleasant to enjoy the sun in June, which has the longest hours of sunshine in the year.

The lively and lovely Catherine Howard happily took Isabel by the hand and came to a small clearing in front of a large grove of trees behind the archery field. Glancing at the clusters of ancient trees that surrounded the clearing, Catherine hopped up to one of the old trees left in the clearing, and stood in the long shadow of the ancient tree and looked up at the sky so completely blue.

Isabel, who had long been accustomed to staying in the untouched woods of the manor mode where no one would show up, took off the quiver strapped to her back and sat under the ancient trees, feeling the cool breeze blowing from the surrounding woods. Catherine glanced back at her, then raised her head again and closed her eyes to soak up the sun: "Did you know that Isabelle, there is also a large meadow near Lambeth Palace, and step-grandmother sometimes takes us to play on the grass. ”

Isabel propped one leg and put her hand on her knee, a stalk of grass in her mouth. Staring at the future fifth queen of England, she said thoughtfully: "Catherine, you are a noble member of the Norfolk family, do you really want to live with the Duchess's music teacher for the rest of your life?" ”

Catherine retracted her jaw and looked at her level, "What do you mean?" ”

Isabel stretched out her right hand spread on her right leg and gestured at her twice: "Come and sit, the wind here is very comfortable." ”

The young queen jumped up to her side, lifted her skirt with both hands and slowly sat sideways on the grass beside her, looking at her, "I'm here, tell me." ”

Isabel looked at Catherine, who had a high forehead, a melon seed face, a firm nose, and a pair of big eyes that were rare in ordinary England, and said softly: "You are a young aristocratic woman of noble blood with the noble blood of the Norfolk family, do you know that your relationship with the music teacher will be reprimanded by many people?" ”

Catherine stared at her and winked, "yes, I know." What about the noble noble blood flowing in my body? My father was only the second son in the family, so I would never get everything my cousin had. ”

"You mean Mary, Duchess of Richmond?"

"Well, when my cousin married His Royal Highness the Duke whom you love, I didn't go. I thought, you know why I didn't go. ”

Isabel smiled faintly and turned her gaze back to the scenery of the ancient woods on the outskirts of the clearing: "So, you want to use your power to get what you can have?" ”

Catherine leaned against the trunk of the tree, fiddling with the hem of her skirt with both hands: "Probably." Because I am very curious about love between men and women, I think love is one of the easiest things to obtain. ”

"What if you're tired of being a music teacher? Or, like traditional kingdom women, fall in love with a man who can be worthy of you? ”

"I don't know. Staying in Lambeth Palace all day, I didn't have much chance to meet other men. ”

Catherine's words reveal a very important message. In other words, as long as she doesn't help her leave Lambeth Palace, the Duke and Lady of Norfolk, she will definitely meet her future lover. Isabel can't remember exactly who her later lover was. One thing is for sure, Catherine will only get the opportunity to enter the palace as a court lady-in-waiting after these two love histories, and then be possessed by Henry VIII as the new queen.

Isabel resisted the idea of helping her out of poverty and under the fence, and smiled hypocritically: "It's not a bad thing to know other men. However, if your actions are discovered by the Duchess, the Lady will definitely kick you out of Lambeth Palace. ”

Catherine turned her face to look at her, "Isabel, you are a woman from a traditional knightly family in the north, and you have no objection to me knowing other men?" ”

Isabel didn't expect Catherine to know what kind of society the North was like. However, she soon covered up the loopholes in her words: "Catherine, although the North is a more traditional and conservative society than the South, many aristocratic women also come into contact with other aristocratic men in their lives. Therefore, as long as you stick to your aristocratic etiquette, you will not be rebuked by your family or clergy. ”

"Well, you're right. Perhaps, I simply could not have learned how to hold back my thoughts. ”

"Okay, don't talk about that. Will the Duchess send someone to pick you up back to Lambeth Palace today? On the one hand, Isabel wanted to help Catherine get more education and more knowledge. On the other hand, she was reluctant to meddle in Catherine's own affairs. If she had done so, Catherine Nevel, Baroness of Latimer, her other good companion, would not have come into the sights of Henry VIII.

This is a big situation, and she needs to plan and arrange her future life in all aspects. Therefore, the short-lived Queen of England in front of her is like a chess piece, and she is already planning to abandon it.

"Yes, I've been at my cousin's estate for two days now. My father thought I was too young to let me go away from my stepgrandmother. ”

"Okay. Catherine, I hope you find something that truly belongs to you. However, you should be careful that your rash behavior does not allow more people to know. ”

"I'm so grateful to you, Isabel, and I'm glad you didn't force my thoughts either."

After dinner, the Earl of Surrey's stepmother sent someone to pick up Catherine Howard at the estate. Lady Frances of Surrey was very enthusiastic about Isabel, believing that the young and beautiful Catherine was too young to have much life experience. As the 10th child of Edmund Howard, the second son of the Norfolk family, the only thing she can boast about is her beautiful looks.

Isabel smiled easily as she walked slowly to the manor's fish pond: "Frances, anyway, she is also a member of the Norfolk family, your husband's cousin. ”

Frances walked gracefully, admiring the surface of the pond blown by the smoky summer breeze, and said disdainfully, "Cousin? Catherine was nothing more than the youngest child in the family of the second son of the Duke III. You know, including her, Henry has a total of 4 cousins. ”

Isabel was a little dissatisfied with her condescending attitude, and glanced at the eldest daughter of the former Earl of Oxford, who now holds the title of Countess of Surrey: "Compared to her, I am only a child of an ordinary knight's family in the north, and my blood is not of noble noble blood. ”