It was almost a question, and her eyes sought mine. I had not met Sir Henry Stafford so I could hardly make an informed comment but at the same time I had no wish to sow any seeds of doubt in her mind. ‘I expect you have prayed for guidance, my lady, and been led to make the right decision,’ I said. ‘You will have won the approval of the king and in the Council the Duke of Buckingham will be able to serve your interest.’

She sighed, her mask of self-assurance still slightly askew. ‘Yes, I think it will be all right. I hope it will. Anyway a lot can happen in a year.’

* * *

As Jasper put it, as he had no wife to act as chaperone and counsellor for Margaret, it would be ‘improper’ for him to remain at Pembroke while Margaret lived there. He said, ‘Now that she is betrothed to Henry Stafford there must be no hint of a stain on her character.’

‘But you are her legal guardian,’ I protested. ‘How can there be any scandal attached to you both living under the same roof? Also I am here as chaperone.’

He shook his head. ‘I mean no disparagement, Jane, but you are young and unmarried and do not have the status to be a guard against scandal. However, you are the best friend Margaret could have and an excellent governess for little Harri and I do not want to import a stranger into the household, a lady from court, for instance. Until the wedding, I will make my headquarters at Tenby. It is only a few miles away. I will not be abandoning you.’

I said nothing but thoughts raced in my head, the most pertinent being that it was not Lady Margaret who required protection from slander but Lord Jasper who needed removal from the object of his hopeless attachment.

He took my silence as evidence of affront. ‘Please do not take offence. I wish to confound the gossips, not to upset our friendship, Jane.’

I wondered how he would react if I blurted out that I did not want his friendship, I wanted what he felt for Lady Margaret, except that if he gave it to me it would not be hopeless. Instead I merely asked, ‘Where will you live in Tenby, my lord? I believe the castle there is ruinous.’

He looked relieved at my acceptance. ‘Yes, it has been neglected for years and I am working with the Tenby Guilds to reinforce the town’s defences. I will be renting a house from the Mayor, Master White, who is also my vintner. He and his fellow merchants have made Tenby a flourishing port and feel the urgent need of increased fortification, especially against incursion from the sea – by pirates and the French.’