‘These are times when a man’s own conscience should be his guide,’ Josiah replied. ‘If you think that he treated you fairly then deliver the goods to his house, pile riches upon riches and let the king take them to pay for his masques and vanities, as you know he will. If you think that the duke died owing you for your service, owing J, if you think these are times when a man does well to buy himself a little house and be his own master, then I think you would be justified in taking what you are owed and leaving his service. You should take only what you are owed. But you have a right to that. A good servant is worthy of his hire.’

‘If you return the tulips to New Hall they will die of neglect,’ J said quietly. ‘There is no-one there to care for them, and then we will have killed the only Lack tulips in England.’

The thought of the waste of the tulips was as powerful as anything else for John. He shook his head like a bull does after a long baiting when it is so wearied that it longs for the dogs to close and make an end. ‘I am too tired to think,’ he said. He rose to his feet but Elizabeth’s gaze held him.

‘He hurt you,’ she said. ‘On that last voyage to Rhé. He did something to you then that broke your heart.’

John made a gesture to stop her but she went on. ‘He sent you home with that pain in your heart, and then he recalled you, and he was going to take you to your death.’

John nodded. ‘That’s true,’ he said as if it did not much matter.

‘Then let him pay,’ she said gently. ‘Let him repay us for the grief and terror he has caused us, and I will consider the matter settled, and I will remember him in my prayers.’

John put his hand on the little purse of diamonds at his throat. ‘He was my lord,’ he said and they could all hear the deep pain in the back of his voice. ‘I was his man.’

‘Let him go in peace,’ she said. ‘All debts to us paid, all grievances finished. He is dead. Let him pay his debts and let us start a new life.’

‘You will pray for him? And mean it in your heart?’

Elizabeth nodded.

Silently John took the purse from his neck and handed it to his wife. ‘Go and see the farm,’ he said. ‘You decide. If you and J and Jane like it, then buy it and we will make our home there. And in return for that you must go and pray for his soul, Elizabeth. For he needs your prayers, and there are few enough praying for him, God knows.’

‘And the tulips?’ J asked.