‘They would not have dared. There is something to be said for being thought a witch.’ Myfanwy stood up, pulling her hand from mine and walked across the room to pick up her saddlebag. ‘And a lot to be said for having a rich husband.’ She took a heavy purse out of the bag and placed it on the seat between us. I picked it up and untied the drawstring. Inside I caught the dull gleam of gold. ‘There are twenty crowns,’ she said. ‘Will it be enough? Ideally I would like Davy to train for knighthood but I realize that Jasper is in no position to take him on. There is money here for him to join some other knight’s retinue.’

‘I have no idea if it is enough,’ I said. ‘I will ask Geoffrey Pole when he next visits. He still holds offices in Haverford and Pembroke. Edith – my friend – died giving birth to their daughter Eleanor. Nothing is as it was, as you can imagine. I have no influence without Jasper. It may be that Davy will only ever become a man-at-arms, although I must say that he has the makings of being a very good one.’

‘Perhaps things will change,’ Myfanwy said, using a kerchief extracted from her sleeve. ‘England has been in chaos ever since the Earl of Warwick started stirring up trouble. Now they say he has made an alliance with the old queen. Lord Jasper may be back.’

I bit my lip. I was not about to reveal what I knew to Myfanwy because I had no idea where her loyalties now lay. ‘I think it is time you met Davy. I will go and see if he has returned.’

She picked a wafer from the dish and bit into it with her small white teeth. I smiled and left her sitting in the window, gazing out at the harbour and the castle on the headland, which defended it. I could not find Eithne or Davy, although I searched all the places where I thought they might be. I heard the thud of a closing door and ran up the steps that led to the rear passage. When I reached the hall it was empty but the purse still lay on the window seat. There was no sign of Myfanwy.

Elin appeared, alerted by the slammed door. ‘Who was she, Mother?’ she asked.

‘A ghost from the past,’ I replied, quickly pushing the purse into my capacious apron pocket.

I felt a deep sense of regret for my past friendship with Myfanwy. She had been my friend at a vulnerable time when we were first-time mothers together, confiding our hopes and sharing our fears. Her leaving without saying goodbye and without seeing her son had somehow broken that bond.

I put my arm around my daughter’s shoulders. ‘Come and help me get dinner on the table, Elin. I do not think we shall see her again.’