Elizabeth’s determined opposition to the Virginia venture could not prevent John investing money. While she watched, with her mouth in a hard ungenerous line, he counted over twenty-five gold sovereigns for two shares. Captain Argall promised that two men – poor men who could not find their own passage money – would be sent on John’s account, and that the land granted to them on arrival in Virginia would be held in part for John.

‘You’ll be a squire of Virginia yet,’ Argall said to him, stowing the purse of gold beneath his coat with a swift glance at Elizabeth’s stony face. ‘I shall pick you out a good piece of land, west of Jamestown, inland, upriver. I shall call it Argall Town.’

He broke off as Elizabeth snorted quietly at his presumption.

‘I beg your pardon?’

‘Excuse me,’ Elizabeth said swiftly. ‘I sneezed.’

‘I shall call it Argall Town,’ Captain Argall repeated. ‘And there will always be a welcome there for you, John.’ He glanced down at J’s adoring uplifted face. ‘And for you, J,’ he said. ‘Never forget that you are a landowner in the new world, in virgin earth. When you are weary of this old country you have your stake in the new. When you want to be away from here, there will be your headright in virgin land.’

J nodded. ‘I won’t forget, sir.’

‘And I shall take you to meet Princess Pocahontas,’ Argall promised. ‘She is visiting in England and she has a kindness for me. I shall introduce you to her.’

J’s eyes grew rounder and his mouth dropped into a perfect circle of astonishment.

‘She would not want to be troubled with us,’ Elizabeth said quickly.

‘Why not?’ Captain Argall asked. ‘She would be delighted to make your acquaintance. Come up to London next week and I will introduce you. It is a promise.’ He turned to J. ‘I promise you, you shall meet her.’

‘Time for him to go to school,’ Elizabeth interrupted firmly. ‘I am surprised, husband, that you linger so long.’

‘I’ll walk with you,’ Argall said, taking the hint. ‘And thank you for your hospitality, Mrs T. It’s always a pleasure to be entertained by such a lady.’

Elizabeth nodded, still unsmiling. ‘I wish you well in your ventures,’ she said. ‘I hope that you make a profit, especially as it is our money you are venturing.’

Argall laughed without embarrassment. ‘Nothing venture, nothing gain,’ he reminded her and took her hand in the way she disliked, and kissed it. Then he clapped John on the shoulder and the two men left the house with J bobbing behind, like an agitated duckling in the wake of two grand swans.

Argall was as good as his word and John took his son to London to see the Indian Princess, travelling up on a wagon taking fruit to London market, staying overnight, and coming down the next day on the empty wagon.