‘Possibly not, I think she may hold Christmas in Lincolnshire. But you will come I hope, Jane. And Jasper too, of course.’ Margaret pouted a little. ‘What a shame Henry does not yet walk or he could have stood beside me as my supporter.’

I smiled at the thought. ‘He will not be one year old. A little young perhaps.’

‘I have been meaning to ask whether you will continue as Henry’s governess after I am married, Jane? It would be so good for him to have someone familiar there while he accustoms himself to new surroundings.’

I bit my lip, considering. I was very fond of baby Harri and I admired his clever, accomplished young mother, but did I really want to go to live in England? Indeed did I want to leave Pembroke, to which Jasper Tudor would surely always return while he remained its earl? But how could I remain in his household if there was no little Harri to look after and no Lady Margaret to attend?

I prevaricated. ‘Of course I would be honoured to remain with you and Harri but it might involve some negotiation with Lord Jasper, to whom I have sworn allegiance; and with my father, who expects me back under his roof when my task here comes to an end.’

Margaret did not consider these hurdles to be of any consequence. ‘I will speak to Jasper,’ she said, tucking the letter from Sir Henry away in the casket she kept for the purpose and locking it with the key she wore on a gold chain around her neck. ‘I think he will not deny me.’

But on this matter she was wrong. During his next visit to the nursery when I mentioned Lady Margaret’s offer Lord Jasper’s expression immediately darkened and he left me, tossing an odd remark over his shoulder as he left. ‘Do not pack your saddlebags yet, Jane.’

The next thing I heard was a wail of dissent from the solar and Lady Margaret’s voice raised in anguish. ‘No! That is not possible. It is not right. I will not allow this! You can stop it, Jasper, I know you can.’

Jasper’s low, murmured response was indecipherable but Margaret’s shrill retort was clearly audible and very revealing. ‘The king can say what he likes. He is only Henry’s uncle. I am his mother and I am not leaving Pembroke without my son.’