‘At last I have an opportunity to thank you, Jane, for your admirable care of Henry and, most especially, for your remarkable loyalty in remaining at his side for so long. As you can imagine the enforced separation from my son has been extremely painful for me but that pain has been somewhat eased by the knowledge that he has been able to rely on you for his comfort and security. I will not forget that.’

I shook my head sorrowfully. ‘Harri has never for one second failed to regard and honour you as his true and loving mother, my lady.’

Lady Margaret favoured me with one of her winning smiles and made an affable gesture. ‘Yet it must be admitted that Lady Herbert is an intelligent and gracious lady; indeed your letters telling me of her treatment of my son, and his Oxford-trained tutors and priestly confessor, gave me much needed reassurance, Jane.’

‘I must tell you though, my lady, that it has been necessary for me to conceal the true identity of my children’s father from the Herberts and beg you not to disclose it.’ Lady Margaret raised a reassuring hand in pledge and I rushed on. ‘In a letter to me Lord Jasper hinted that he had written to you regarding a possible meeting during your visit here. I am sure you will understand that I am eager to know if it is true that I may see him again after all this time.’

Lady Margaret frowned but then seemed to put her disapproval of me aside and instinctively bent closer. ‘Keeping your secret at least assures me that I can trust you enough to keep mine, Jane, which allows me to tell you that I have established a courier system in order to maintain a correspondence with key Lancastrians who uphold their allegiance to King Henry. Lord Jasper intends to sail into Tenby very soon. In fact he may already be there.’

My heart began jumping in my breast but I tried not to show it. ‘Is a rendezvous arranged?’ I asked. ‘It may be difficult to leave the castle without an escort. The Herberts are very security conscious.’

Lady Margaret made a dismissive gesture. ‘That will be no problem. My own escort will serve me and we can lose them when I choose. I have already told Lord Herbert that I wish to make a private pilgrimage to a shrine near here, where Lord Edmund made a vow shortly before he died. You shall accompany me. I will not tell you more until we are on the way there. Lord Jasper will send a note here to confirm his arrival via the usual route.’

I nodded. ‘I will check the letter drop tomorrow morning. But I believe Lord Herbert has plans for your further entertainment so I hope there is no clash.’

Lady Margaret did not seem concerned. ‘Jasper will lay low and wait. He knows I will be kept busy.’