I caught my breath. I knew Lord Jasper had been made Lady Margaret’s guardian after Lord Edmund’s death but had custody of her son also been granted to him? After their marriage Sir Henry would assume charge over his wife but he would not automatically take custody of her son, especially when the boy was of the blood royal. I understood enough of court procedure to realize that ultimate responsibility for his care resided with the king, who had the power to delegate it wherever he chose. I also knew for a fact that it had never entered Margaret’s head that it might not be granted to her.

Harri was having a nap when Margaret rushed into the nursery wearing her green riding kirtle, a hat and boots. ‘Can you find your brother for me, Jane?’ she demanded, for once not considering the slumbers of her precious son. ‘The Marshall will not allow me to take my palfrey out alone.’

I put my finger to my lips and ushered her gently out of the nursery. ‘Why now, my lady? It is nearly dinner time and threatening rain.’ I peered at her more closely. ‘Have you been crying? What is the matter?’

She brushed my questions aside. ‘Never mind that. I am angry. I need air and I need speed. Riding clears my head. Perhaps you would come with me too, Jane? Alice can watch the baby.’

‘If you wish it but neither of us goes without a cloak.’

I fetched two cloaks from the guardrobe and pulled on my boots, also stowed there. On my return I said, ‘Maredudd will be at arms practice still and he will not be pleased to miss his dinner.’

Margaret did not quite stamp her foot but she became dauntingly haughty. ‘Tell him to fetch some food from the kitchen on my orders. Do not be long. I will see you both in the stables.’ Snatching her cloak from me, she ran off down the nearby stair.

With a sigh I hastened to carry out my errands, thinking I had never known Margaret so forceful. She had shown an amazing ability to exert her will. Was this the effect of royal blood in the veins I wondered? I found Alice and sent her to the nursery and set off in search of Maredudd. As I had predicted, he was not best pleased at the prospect of missing the main meal of the day. ‘What ails her?’ he complained, glancing up at the dark mass of cloud gathering in the north sky behind the Great Tower. ‘It is hardly the weather for riding out.’

‘Something Lord Jasper said has made her angry. She is headstrong and wants to ride fast somewhere. Where do you suggest?’ We were striding across the Outer Ward in the direction of the stables.