‘Forty pounds a year, and a cottage to live in.’

‘Well, she’s been ready and waiting for six years,’ George said. ‘And she’ll have what her father promised. A dowry of a fifty pounds, and her clothes and some household goods. She’ll be glad to go, I don’t doubt. She and her mother don’t always agree.’

‘They quarrel?’

‘Oh, no! Nothing to disturb a man’s quiet,’ George replied hastily. ‘She’ll make an obedient wife, I don’t doubt. But two grown women and only one kitchen to order …’ He broke off. ‘It’s sometimes hard to keep the peace. Shall you call the banns at the church here?’

John nodded. ‘And I’ll take a cottage for us in the village. I shall be between Theobalds and my lord’s new house for some time. Elizabeth will like to be near her family when I am away. I shall have to travel abroad to seek trees and plants, as soon as Hatfield is ready. I am to go to the Low Countries and buy their bulbs, I am to go to France and buy their trees. I am planning an orangery where the tender trees can be reared in winter.’

‘Yes, yes. Well, Elizabeth will want to know all about it.’

John was reminded that his new kindred had little interest in gardening. ‘And I shall be paid a good wage,’ he repeated.

George hesitated for a moment, looking at his future son-in-law. ‘By God, you’re a cool fish, Tradescant,’ he said critically. ‘Or have you been banging the ladies of the court all this time and only now thought of Elizabeth?’

John found himself flushing. ‘No. You misunderstand me. I have always been intending to come for Elizabeth. It was always agreed that when I had enough money to buy a house, and a little land, then we would marry; and not before. I was not able to offer her a house before now.’

‘Didn’t you think you might chance it?’ George asked curiously.

‘And you and your wife?’ John demanded, stung. ‘How much of a chance did you take?’

It was a shrewd blow. The whole of Kent knew that his wife had come to him with a farm and a handsome fortune from her husband, Elizabeth’s father, and a widow’s jointure from the husband before that. George nodded abruptly and went to the door.

‘Elizabeth!’ George shouted into the hall, and then turned back to John. ‘Shall you want to be on your own with her?’

John found himself suddenly embarrassed. ‘I think so … perhaps … or you could stay?’

‘Speak for yourself, man,’ George said. ‘It’ll hardly come as a surprise!’

They heard her quick footsteps coming across the wooden floor of the hall. George went to meet her.