On that autumn evening, a letter arrived for me. It was an order from the palace, and I was going to serve as Queen Jane's lady-in-waiting. My father knew that the position would be greatly beneficial for me and House of Winterbourne, but he was displeased by the fact that I would have to serve the daughter of the lowly Ainsworth family.

Edmund had told me that I don't have to serve her if I don't want to, but I knew that if I did, I would ensure that their downfall will come even swifter. On my first day, Queen Jane had ordered me to massage her feet-a maid's job. If I told either Edmund or my father, a huge scandal would break out, but I endured. For the following months, she made me tend to her feet, and she seemed to be very proud in being able to do so.

"Who would've known that the Earl of Rhyland's daughter was so good at cleaning feet! Did your father teach you how to do it, Lady Winterbourne?" she would say.

On some occasions, she would invite her friends over, ones that I outranked, yet she would praise my inherent talent, and made me wash the feet of all her friends. Most of them were afraid to let me bow to them, but Queen Jane was very insistent. There were a select few who were very excited and thrust their feet at my face, and later telling the queen how lucky she was to get a maid as good as me. These lowly people had called me, the Earl of Rhyland's daughter, a maid. I silently memorised their names and faces, and I was determined to return the favour someday. There was Madam Vivian Hockley, Baroness Abigail Nettle, and Madam Susan Lakely, low-ranked nobles who dared to disrespect me, and I would make them pay.

That day was the Queen's birthday, and she had expected the king to visit her in her chambers. So, I had to soak her feet in a concoction of herbs and dried flowers which stunk horribly, and then I was to wipe them dry.

"Why are your nails so sharp?" she winced while pulling her feet away and glared at me. "Are you trying to hurt me?"

I glanced at my fingernails, which were clipped short, close to the flesh. "I keep my nails short, Your Majesty," I replied, showing her both of my hands.

She scoffed, and said, "Then are you trying to say that I am crazy? That I felt that out of nowhere?"

I was not at all intimidated by the short, stocky woman she was, but I decided to entertain her. I fell down on my knees, at looked up at her fearfully, and I said, "I am at your mercy, Your Majesty. Please punish me for hurting you!"

This made her happy, and she told me to stand up and resume my duties. I was already used to her sudden mood swings, and I knew exactly how to entertain her. Queen Jane was the type of person who liked to be reminded of her high standing over and over again, and she had maids who would flaunt and praise her as if there were no tomorrow. She disgusted me, but to secure my betrothed's ascension to the throne, I must remain in her court.

Four months had passed since the wedding, and I had become even more alert. I must prevent her from popping out another heir for King Edward. Queen Jane had repeatedly vomited that morning, and I noticed that her monthly cycles hadn't come yet. I was now certain that she was with child, but I didn't have the heart to carry out my plan.

A child was growing in her belly, a child who would inherit a vast kingdom after his birth. A child who would prevent Edmund from ascending the throne. Queen Jane's child would become the second Prince George, and once he was old enough, he would eliminate Edmund for being a threat to the throne. I mulled over my thoughts for days, but in the end, my support for Edmund prevailed.

I had taken many lives before, and killing Queen Jane's unborn child was nothing compared to killing Lady Grace and Prince George.I felt no remorse, and I knew, it had to be done. I bought an incense stick from a pharmacist, one that when inhaled by a pregnant woman, would induce miscarriage. I hid the stick among the other incense sticks that Queen Jane would light up each night, and I waited.

That night, I could not sleep. I lay wide awake in my bed, shaking with excitement and fear. Although I knew they could not trace it back to me, Queen Jane would surely accuse me. But then again, who would trust the words of a grief-stricken woman over my father, the King's advisor?

I did not need to wait for long, and I heard a loud, pained scream echoing from the main chambers. A maid rushed into my room, urging me to aid the queen, and I grudgingly went outside. I saw Queen Jane crying out in pain, and her legs were pulled up to her chest, and her nightgown was soaked red. Immediately, I put on my innocent facade.

"Your Majesty!" I cried and quickly went to her side, comforting her. "Someone please call the physician!"

Queen Jane was hysterical and screamed throughout the night in agony, and I became certain that my plan had succeeded. However, I first sought to cover my tracks. I disposed of the incense stick, and I fished out a small bottle of powdered cat's claw from my pocket.

Madam Susan Lakely was Queen Jane's closest friend, and she happened to be an excellent cook as well. She had brought over jars of pickled plums and candied nuts, so I simply sprinkled the powder onto those delicacies. Now, all I had to do was wait.

Queen Jane lost the fetus, and she spent the entire week locked up in her chambers, refusing a single mouthful of food. The king was disappointed and ordered an investigation to take place. No one suspected me or the incense I had burned, and they traced it all back to the jars of pickled plums. Susan Lakely was deemed guilty and was given a death sentence without a trial.

The night before her execution, I decided to visit her in the dungeons. Out of all of Queen Jane's friends, Susan was the most rotten and often complained that I did not scrub her feet properly, and that my face was sour whenever she visited. She was given a small dungeon cell, and I saw her sitting in one of the corners, rocking herself back and forth while wailing uncontrollably.

"Madam Lakely!" I called and strutted towards her, and upon seeing me, she immediately stopped crying and her face lit up. She tried to stick her head out through the prison bars, which she clutched tightly, her taut lips now spread in a desperate smile.

"Lady Winterbourne!" she cried, almost in relief. "Please help me! You know that I did not tamper with Her Majesty's food and drink! She is my dearest friend; I would never harm her!"

I stared at her bloodshot eyes, stuffed nose, swollen face and disheveled hair. It was almost hilarious to look upon. Oh, how the tables turned! The woman who taunted me for not cleaning her feet properly was now on her knees begging for my sympathy.

"How can I help you, Madam Lakely? I am but a mere maid, one that cleans feet at that," I spoke softly. Susan's eyes widened with fear, and she erratically waved her hands.

"No, not at all Lady Winterbourne! You are the Earl of Rhyland's daughter! Please help me, Lady Winterbourne. Please speak to your father on my behalf!" she cried exasperatedly.

I smiled coyly and squatted down so that I was on the same eye level as her. "Odd, isn't it?" I grinned. "I thought you had no idea of this before, since you were so rude to me. Do you actually think that my father would help a harlot who had forced his daughter to clean her feet? You're the first one on the chopping block. Your best friend, Jane Ainsworth, will be next."

Susan let out a whimper as she stared at me in pure horror. "You were the one who poisoned the Queen! And now you're implicating me! Guards! Guards!" She began to scream, but no one came to her aid.

"Took you long enough to catch on," I sighed. "I never liked that dirty wench Jane and that hobgoblin in her womb. Her pain and agony please me, Madam Lakely. Her loss is my gain."

"You will burn in Hell for this! God will punish you, Lady Winterbourne!" she shrieked.

"I am thankful for your concern, but shouldn't you be more concerned about yourself?" I taunted. "I heard that the king had specially ordered for a head crusher to be made, just for your use, Madam Lakely! Doesn't his thoughtfulness please you?"

Susan fell silent and collapsed onto her floor, breathing heavily. She covered her face with her hands and began to wail, and she frantically reached for her head.

"But Madam Lakely, I do pity you, and I shall show you mercy," I spoke, and she glanced at me, eyes full of hope. I retrieved long piece of white clothing from my robe pocket, and her face immediately fell.

"Do what you must, Madam Lakely," I said while passing the cloth through the prison bars, and she accepted in silently.

The next morning, when the palace guards came over to escort her to the executioner, they found the dead body of Madam Susan Lakely, hanging on a makeshift noose crafted from five feet of white linen.