Sir Grenville Cony made a sympathetic noise. “Ah! See how moved she is? She cried! Is there not more joy in heaven when one sinner repents?”

“Amen,” Scammell said.

“And amen!” Sir Grenville Cony said it fervently. “Now, Ebenezer! Goodwife! Brother Scammell! Take dear Dorcas next door. Thomas will join you soon. Go now! Goodbye, dear Dorcas! I am glad you visited me, yes, very glad!”

She was taken from the room, Goodwife’s hands spiteful on her, and when she was in the secretary’s room Cony moved and slammed the door leaving him alone with his henchman Thomas Grimmett. Cony rubbed his eyes. “The girl’s got spirit.”

“Has she got the seal, sir?”

Cony edged round the table and sat down. “No. I thought she might, but I don’t think so.” He laughed. “I offered her a price she couldn’t refuse. No. She hasn’t.” He looked up at the huge Grimmett. “It’s still in that damned house, Thomas. Search it again. Pull every damned stone down, dig up the garden if need be, but find it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“But first,” Cony pushed papers about on his desk until he came up with what he wanted, “that’s Scammell’s marriage certificate, dated this morning to make it legal.” Sir Grenville sounded tired. He looked up again. “She has to be married, Thomas, she has to be! You understand?”

“If you say so, sir.”

“I don’t say so, Thomas, the law says so. The will says so, the marriage settlement says so. If she’s married then Scammell is the seal-holder, and Scammell will give the seal to us.”

“You know that, sir?”

“I know it, Thomas, because you will stay with Brother Scammell until he does give it to you.”

Grimmett smiled. “Yes, sir.”

“So get them married. Tonight! And make it legal. A priest, the prayer book, none of Scammell’s ranting Puritans. You can fix that?”

Grimmett thought for a second. “Yes, sir. Where?”

“In Brother Scammell’s house.” Cony invested Scammell’s name with derision. “Take her there in the boat, then do what you have to do.”

“Get them married, sir.” Grimmett grinned.

“Yes. And afterward, Thomas, not before, because I want this legal, make damned sure she’s no longer a virgin. I don’t want her claiming the marriage isn’t valid and opening her legs to prove it. If that damned Puritan doesn’t know how to do it, then you stand over him.”

“Do it myself, sir?”

Sir Grenville looked up, curious.

“You like her?”

“Very pretty, sir.”

“Then you do it. It will be your reward.” He laughed at the huge, leather-jacketed man. “The hardships you endure for me, Thomas.”

Grimmett laughed.

Cony waved at the door. “Go on, then. Enjoy yourself. Leave the boy here, I’ve got a use for him. Come to me in the morning, Thomas. I want to hear all about it!”

Sir Grenville watched as the small party embarked in his barge. The girl, in her distinctive blue cloak, was struggling, but Grimmett easily subdued her with one hand. The servant, Goodwife, seemed to be slapping and pinching the girl who was beneath Grimmett’s grip. Samuel Scammell walked behind, his hands flapping in impotent helplessness, and Cony shook his head and laughed.