Summary

Mary recalls advice from her father about not letting her small stature or spinal defect keep her from achieving her goals. He also encouraged her to be just like the other girls and to marry and have children. Mary is tired of Queen Elizabeth and serving as one of her ladies-in-waiting. Mary, as aunt to the future heirs (Katherine's sons), gets a lot of attention from young men. At the beginning of Mary's story, Katherine is still alive. She writes to her, but Katherine never writes back. Their uncle says she will not eat or stop crying. Mary and Aunt Bess believe the queen will forgive Ned and Katherine in time and release them.

Mary is secretly dating Thomas Keyes, a guard. They sneak away to spend some time together while the queen is walking in her garden. Mary tells...