Her heart beat faster in her chest, as if it knew it only had minutes to live and was trying to fulfill a lifetime worth of beats. The dark haired woman took a couple of breaths to calm her mind. Anne Boleyn looked out of the window at the wooden scaffold that had been built the night before. Her final destination.

She had thought herself invincible, thought herself to remain Queen of England for the rest of her days. Now she was plain Lady Anne Boleyn. All because she hadn’t fulfilled her promise of a son to Henry. Her thoughts flew to her young daughter, Elizabeth. She hoped Henry would be kind and look after her precious child, though from the way he treated the Lady Mary, she couldn’t be certain.

Really, she thought, five men? Including my brother George? It was ridiculous. She’d never committed such a deed in her life, surely her refusal to give Henry her bed until their marriage was imminent was proof of that! Her lady’s bustled around her as a knock came on the small room’s door

“My Lady, it’s time”