My brother Edmund would never have agreed with me but I could not help thinking that of all Queen Catherine’s children, fate had dealt Meg the best hand, one where the Wheel of Fortune, whilst it doubtless turned, had nevertheless delivered her less dramatic spins than it had afforded her brothers. And although I should be celebrating Henry’s re-crowning, I was acutely aware that the Wheel could yet turn again. Under the guise of countering some spilt salt, I swiftly crossed myself and kissed the reliquary that always hung around my neck, sending up a silent prayer to my patron, St Thomas Becket.

‘You seem distracted, Jasper,’ murmured Meg, covering my other hand with hers and leaning nearer to keep her words from the others. ‘You must have much on your mind now you are the King’s Lieutenant. I am doubly grateful that you spared the time to visit us.’

‘It is I who am grateful. It does my heart good to see you all.’ I turned my wrist and gave her hand a squeeze. ‘I have spent years apart from family and friends. It is a joy to find that their love and loyalty have not wavered in my absence.’

After the meal the adults withdrew to the private chamber off the hall, which the late Geoffrey Vintner had called his library. An impressive number of heavy leather-bound volumes still lay stacked on the shelving he had installed to hold them. A brazier had been lit to warm the room and Meg carefully plunged a red-hot poker into a jug of mead to pour as a digestive. Now nearing his fortieth year like me, William had cultivated a fashionable beard, closely trimmed and forked. This and his shrewd grey eyes gave him an air of wisdom and dependability. Seeing him and my sister sitting side by side, she looking as I had heard so like our mother, I was struck by the closeness of our family connection and an urge to seek their advice. As yet they were unaware of the existence of my own children and it seemed obvious that it was time to take them into my confidence.

I raised my cup to them. ‘Good health to your close-knit household,’ I said. ‘Thank you for showing me the rewards of hard work, good discipline and shared love.’

William acknowledged my toast and sipped his drink. ‘I think we should add God’s will to the mix, my lord. None of it is due to our actions alone.’

I nodded. ‘You are right but God does not always reward the worthy. Dame Fortune has a hand in it, I think.’

‘She has certainly had a hand in your life, Jasper, and not all for the good,’ observed Meg. ‘Might she now, at last, grant you the joy of a family?’

‘I have a confession to make. I am already father to two daughters.’

William and Meg exchanged a knowing glance.