I felt more afraid than ever, for I know that grief cannot be tamed or turned, but is a mighty rushing river that will engulf any bank built to contain it until it has run its course. Carr’s suffering was splitting him open. The father whose embrace he had never known, the best friend whom he had betrayed, the wise old counselor from whom he had turned, all were dead; and now the King was replacing him with a younger, more beautiful man, and he was expected to make room without complaint. I wondered whether anybody’s love could rescue Carr from that torment, and I worried that Frankie’s passionate, forceful, provocative love would not provide the foundation he needed.

“Soon, we will be our own little family.” Robin looked up. He searched for confirmation of her meaning. “He is not yet quick but I am sure,” said Frankie, putting a hand over her belly, not with the soft pride of most expectant mothers, but the severity of an avenging angel. “For our son, my love, you must be calm and play a clever game. Promise me, my darling, that you will not be the card that makes all the others tumble? Villiers is pretty, but we are powerful.”

“I’m to be a father?”

“You are, my love.” This was a huge gamble; she had missed but one bleed. “You will be the best of fathers to our son, of that I have no doubt.” I was watching Robin and saw that, far from knowing how to be a father, he was still in need of one himself. The gift Frankie hoped would bring him strength might prove the greatest challenge of all.

“Frank, I’m pleased as a cat with its nose in butter, but I must go now,” he said, rising and pulling her up with him. “The King’s to visit the Queen in her bedchamber today. That vile lad’ll be in attendance, so I must be too.”

“The King did not invite you?”

“He knows I’m like a shepherd at lambing with state business. I’ve to find a wife for Prince Charles who will please everyone, and money to fill empty coffers, and other miracles that would tax the Lord Jesu himself.”

“Then look to them, my lord, for the King gives you charge of great matters. His confidence lies all in you. Let Villiers concern himself with the petty ones.”

Robin looked at his wife for a good while, weighing up her words, then nodded and walked back to his table. “You talk a good deal of sense, wife,” he said, with a smile that would have warmed the heart of the bitterest shrew.

“God’s blessing in all your heavy work, my love. I will walk now and leave you in peace,” said Frankie, blowing him a kiss.

“Send my men back in,” said Carr, looking down at his papers and missing the kiss.