However, of more personal consequence during the Parliament was the fact that the queen had taken complete control of access to the king, preventing any private audiences with him, even for his brother. ‘He simply cannot take the stress at present, Jasper,’ Marguerite maintained when I questioned her fierce protection of her husband. ‘But I consult him about all policy-making and I will convey any private concerns you may have to him. I reminded him of your father’s efforts on behalf of the crown and it was his idea to invite Master Tudor to attend Council and be dubbed a knight bannaret. I hope you are content with his reward of an annuity of one hundred pounds. I suggested to his grace that the world thought it strange for his stepfather to be without title or income commensurate with his standing.’ She placed her ring-laden hand on my arm in a gesture of concern. ‘It was a – what is the English word? – a blunder, was it not, Jasper? That the son should be made an earl, a Privy Councillor and a Knight of the Garter, while the father remained common Master Tudor. But I want no thanks for righting a wrong that was due to oversight rather than intention.’

Of course I thanked her profusely and she permitted the newly dubbed Sir Owen to lead her out to dance at that evening’s entertainment, after which she revealed that he had told her of his pride in recently fathering another son. ‘You did not tell me that you had a new brother, Jasper,’ she admonished me. ‘I think your father was a little surprised that you had kept the news to yourself.’

I was so grateful that Owen had refrained from disclosing details of my own family affairs that I only managed some lame excuse that the king’s state of health had dismissed all other matters from my mind.

Christmas was almost upon us by the time Parliament rose and Owen and I travelled hastily back to Pembroke. We discovered that Jane and Myfanwy had developed a close friendship and I agreed with their suggestion that Myfanwy should stay and take charge of the nursery during Jane’s spring confinement. In any case Owen would not be returning immediately to North Wales because the Duke of York’s deputy at Denbigh Castle refused to surrender the command and military action would be needed to oust him. My father now had the power as a knight banneret to command in battle, and he undertook to assist me in recruiting the necessary siege force. Despite his advance towards sixty, Owen still retained his youthful zest for the military life and we became quite a team, travelling together all over the southwest, collecting oaths of loyalty and promises of arms, artillery and men whenever the muster might be called.