In order not to make a liar out of Henry or Katherine, one or the other, the committee men think up circumstances in which the match may have been partly consummated, or somewhat consummated, and to do this they have to imagine every disaster and shame that can occur between a man and a woman alone in a room in the dark.
The committee members in "Wolf Hall" grapple with the delicate situation involving Henry and Katherine. To preserve the integrity of both individuals and their accounts, they devise plausible scenarios that suggest an incomplete consummation of their relationship. This leads them to explore various mishaps and embarrassments that could occur when a man and a woman find themselves alone in a dark room.
This imaginative exercise reflects their struggle to maintain honesty while navigating the complexities of love and relationships. Through these discussions, the characters confront societal expectations and the consequences of intimacy, revealing the challenges faced by individuals in a politically charged environment.