She pressed the hard evidence of my desire in her hand and I forced myself to pull away from her while I still had control. I cupped her face in my hands. ‘You are the mother of my children and the treasure of my loins. We are a pair. Please believe me when I say that I love you and one day very soon we will be together again. But Margaret is my link to King Henry’s loyal followers, my conduit back to power. Until I achieve that, all I am is a roving outlaw without hearth or home. I must have access to her connections and her couriers.’

Breaking free, Jane stepped back and tucked her hands demurely away under her cloak, her expression calm, as if lust had never lit its flame there. ‘I understand that, my lord. I also know that you have feelings for her that are deep and enduring, but they will never be reciprocated. I believe her entire capacity for love is reserved for the boy whose birth nearly killed her – her ambition for Harri is all consuming and she will use you and anyone else of influence to secure what she considers his rightful place beside the throne, whoever may occupy it. Although she serves the new queen and at the same time schemes with you, her loyalty does not swither between York and Lancaster as it might appear. It is focused solely on Henry Tudor and the drop of royal blood she has passed to him.’

I gazed at her, shaking my head in wonder. ‘You have more in common with Margaret than I realized.’

‘Except that I love you, Jasper Tudor, as much as, and more perhaps, than I love our children, which some may find unforgiveable.’

A sudden sense of guilt sent the blood rushing to my cheeks. ‘My little Elin and Sian! How are they? They must be growing beautiful, like their mother.’

She gave an indignant laugh. ‘It is too late to start flattering me like a sweet-tongued sailor, my lord! The girls are fine – they are happy within the routine of the Herbert brood, and they share their education. Elin takes after you, with her flame-red hair and her striking blue eyes but she has a temper to go with it. Sian is more like me, mouse brown and a little shy.’

I raised an eyebrow. ‘Huh! Not like you at all then. Perhaps she will be a late blossom. I like the sound of our flame-haired temptress though. How I wish I could see them! Perhaps I soon will. I sense the Wheel of Fortune turning.’

Jane wrung her hands awkwardly. ‘I am afraid their father is dead to them. As I told you, the name Tudor is best never mentioned in the Herbert household.’