‘How many twinges will it take?’ Her brow creased in a frown and she fixed me with a questioning stare. ‘I was with my mother when she started to bring my stepbrother John into the world. I remember the midwife began counting between the pains. They would not let me stay but it did not seem very long before we heard his first cry.’

I had learned something of Lady Welles’s history: she was on her third marriage and had given birth to at least eight children prior to John, her last child. ‘Babies take their own time, my lady, but the first one usually takes longer than the rest. Come.’

With her small hand tucked into the crook of my elbow we began our slow progress towards the door. It was hung with a heavy curtain and Alice held it back to let us out. I had encouraged Margaret to walk a little each day but because of the snow we could not go outside, exercise was restricted to the hall, a few steps from the lying-in chamber. The hall was magnificent, half-panelled with carved oak, which extended into an ornate mantelpiece over the hearth, where a fire was kept constantly burning, and lit by three mullioned windows looking out over the new garden court. At night these windows were shuttered but at present the wilderness of white outside reflected bright light through their diamond panes and we paused on entry to blink until our eyes adjusted. Slowly and carefully we walked the length of the hall, stopping to peer through the distorting glass at the curious striped tracks made by iron-hooped pattens across the garden paths and the plump white cushions of snow that topped the dark battlements on the round tower across the court.

‘What is that tower called, Jane?’ Margaret asked. ‘We see it every day but I have never known its name.’

‘I do not know if it has a name; it is just part of the castle defences and used by the knights and archers.’

‘Perhaps Lord Jasper will name it for my son. He does not have a name yet either.’ She suddenly clutched at my arm. ‘I felt another twinge,’ she whispered. ‘Is that all right?’

I smiled reassuringly. ‘Yes, my lady. If it is not a false alarm they will come at intervals, which will get shorter by degrees, but there is no hurry. Do you feel strong enough to walk a little more?’ Looking for distractions I glanced up at the spectacular ceiling. It was crosshatched with dark oak beams, the rectangles between them plastered and painted with heraldic symbols. I pointed upwards. ‘I believe those are the coats of arms of Lord Jasper and his relatives. Can you show me your Beaufort badge?’