No-one had the authority to call him back. Charles only listened to the queen and she listened to her confessor, to the French ambassador, to the favourites of her little court, to her servants, and to anyone who took her fancy. She was beyond bribery and beyond corruption because her tastes were so fickle. Not even the French ambassador – representing her own country – could be sure of her full attention. She would look out of the window while he was speaking to her, or wander about the room, turning over pretty ornaments with her fingers, always distracted, always seeking distraction. Only in the king’s presence were her thoughts focused. Her one genuine interest was ensuring that he attended to her, and to her alone.

‘Well, she shared him for so long with your lord Buckingham,’ Elizabeth said to John as they got into bed one night. ‘She must always be wary that he might find another favourite.’

John shook his head. ‘He’s faithful,’ he said. ‘She’s a plain ordinary little woman but she holds his heart now. You see no passion between them, and no liveliness, but he cleaves to her as if he were a little dog.’

Elizabeth smiled. ‘The king a dog? You sound like J!’

‘His eyes follow her around the room.’ John pulled on his nightcap. ‘And when he is watching her she is never still. She is always acting the part of a delightful woman.’ He pulled the blankets higher up the bed with a grunt of pleasure. ‘She would drive me mad,’ he said frankly.

Elizabeth sat up in bed and folded the sheet back over the blankets around his shoulders. ‘Nights are drawing in. Are you warm enough in your house at Oatlands?’

‘Of course,’ John said. ‘The maggots and I live like lords. They have eight charcoal burners set around their house and I have all the benefit. You’re a chilly companion compared to my maggots.’

Elizabeth chuckled, not taking offence.

‘He was a sad little boy,’ John continued, returning to the king. ‘I used to see him at Hatfield sometimes. King James never cared for him, and his mother never saw him. Nobody thought he’d ever be king with such a stronger older brother before him, so no-one bothered with him. Some of them said he’d never survive. He doted on his older brother and sister, and the one died and the other was sent far away. It was only when my lord duke befriended him that he found someone to love.’

‘And then he died too,’ Elizabeth said.

John bowed his head. ‘God rest his soul. Now, all he has left is the queen, and the only real friend in the world she can be sure of is the king. Everyone else wants something from her or hopes to gain something from him through her. They must be lonely.’