I had turned to catch her eye and she blushed, remembering her quip as she had greeted me. ‘Yes, my lord father,’ she said. ‘But one night is not enough.’

I let my gaze swivel to Jane and my thighs closed tightly on her hand. ‘She is right,’ I said. ‘It is not.’

Meanwhile the two girls and Evan sat down together at the other side of the board and while Davy practised his serving skills, I engaged Elin and Joan in conversation. I discovered the distinct difference between them that Jane had described. It reminded me vividly of my own relationship with Edmund, where the older child assumes superiority, which forces the younger to adapt to it even though he or she does not accept it. Intuitively I detected that the meekness with which Sian deferred to Elin’s more forceful personality disguised her own inner determination and I wondered how she might blossom if the influence of the elder was removed. Sian enjoyed her dinner quietly, while Elin chattered for them both, addressing me but flashing frequent smiles at Evan. She was a flirt, my little Elin, and her bright hair and dancing blue eyes were enchanting.

Later, when the candles were lit and we settled around the hearth, I related the tale of Warwick’s triumphant humiliation at Queen Marguerite’s feet. Sian sat sedately in the background while Elin pulled a cushion to the foot of my chair and gazed up at me with her huge blue eyes. She was definitely a Tudor, this flame-haired daughter of mine.

‘We shall have to keep a sharp eye on Elin,’ I remarked to Jane as we lay in bed that night, satiated by the first urgent slaking of our long-neglected passion. If the truth were known she had probably found my hasty eagerness for her rather less than satisfying and I had every intention of rectifying this after a suitable period of recovery.

‘What do you suggest?’ Jane asked. ‘We cannot lock her away until her body catches up with her feelings.’

‘No I would not suggest that. But I have a plan that may have the welcome side effect of keeping Elin out of trouble. I will tell you tomorrow,’ I said. ‘Not tonight …’