‘A wife can wait,’ John said firmly. ‘But I should like to see these well-planted and well-nursed. And the chestnut tree nuts should be in warm damp soil at once, unless –’ He broke off and looked at the merchant. ‘Is it cold there, in winter?’

The man shrugged. ‘I have only been in the spring.’

Cecil laughed shortly and led the way down the gangplank to the quayside.

John followed him, and then called back up to the ship as the thought struck him. ‘Do the leaves turn colour in autumn? Or does it keep fresh and green all the year round?’

‘How should I know?’ the merchant called back. ‘I’ve never been there in autumn. Why does it matter to you? You’ll see soon enough when it grows.’

‘So that I know when to plant, of course!’ John shouted irritably. ‘If it grows all the year around then I can plant any time, best in the summer. But if it loses its leaves and its seeds in winter then it should be planted into cold ground!’

The merchant shrugged his shoulders and laughed. ‘I will ask when I go back! And if they do not take then I will get you some more! At double the price next time!’

Cecil had walked away limping on the cobbles. Tradescant ran to catch up with him.

‘You really must learn a little cunning, Tradescant,’ Cecil complained. ‘If you are to travel and to buy for me you must learn to barter and hide your desire. Your face is as open as a book of receipts.’

‘I am sorry, my lord. But I couldn’t be indifferent.’

‘They will cheat you from Flushing to Dresden.’

‘I will learn world-weariness,’ John promised. ‘I shall cultivate it. I shall be as weary as a Scotsman with a small bribe.’

Cecil laughed shortly. ‘Do you come in my boat across the river? I’m going to Whitehall.’

John looked down the quayside to where the earl’s boat was gently rocking, the oars upright in salute, the bright colours of the liveried boatman reflected in the clean water of the Thames.

‘I’ll take a horse to Theobalds,’ he said. ‘And get these planted up at once.’

‘And then go back to your wife,’ Cecil called up to the quayside as he went down the steps to his waiting boat. ‘Take a few days to spend with her, Tradescant. You must dig your own garden too, you know.’

At Meopham, Elizabeth was waiting for John again.

‘Married only a day and left already,’ her mother said sharply. ‘I hope you did not do something to give him a distaste for you, Elizabeth?’

Elizabeth smoothed a loose strand of hair under her cap. ‘Of course not,’ she said levelly. ‘He was summoned by the earl himself, he could hardly send a message back and say he would not go!’