The Confession of Katherine Howard

<p/> <p>When 12-year-old Katherine Howard comes to live in the Duchess of Norfolk's household poor relation Cat Tilney is deeply suspicious. The two girls couldn't be more different: Cat watchful and ambitious; Katherine interested only in clothes and boys. Their companions are in thrall to Katherine but it's Cat in whom Katherine confides and despite herself Cat is drawn to her. Summoned to court at 17 Katherine leaves Cat in the company of her ex-lover Francis and the two begin their own much more serious love affair.</p> <p>Within months the king has set aside his Dutch wife Anne for Katherine. The future seems assured for the new queen and her maid-in-waiting although Cat would feel more confident if Katherine hadn't embarked on an affair with one of the king's favoured attendants Thomas Culpeper.</p> <p>However for a blissful year and a half it seems that Katherine can have everything she wants. But then allegations are made about her girlhood love affairs. Desperately frightened Katherine recounts a version of events which implicates Francis but which Cat knows to be a lie. With Francis in the Tower Cat alone knows the whole truth of Queen Katherine Howard – but if she tells Katherine will die.</p>