‘We are waiting to hear from her. King Henry may have word when I see him.’

We crossed London Bridge and made our way through the busy suburbs on the Thames’ southern bank, passing the Bishop of Winchester’s palace at Southwark and the Archbishop of Canterbury’s at Lambeth before cutting across the great commons of Wandsworth and Wimbledon and following the River Mole into the downlands of Surrey. Woking Palace could be reached in a day from London, even when the days were winter short, and we arrived at the torchlit gatehouse at dusk. Although it had meant making a detour, I wanted to collect Harri from Lady Margaret before going to Windsor, as I thought my brother would appreciate a visit from us both before Christmas. I also hoped Queen Marguerite and Prince Édouard would cross the Channel in time to be reunited with King Henry for the festivities, because the restoration of God’s rightful anointed monarch to the throne of England was surely something for them to celebrate together.

We were lavishly accommodated and entertained by Lady Margaret and Sir Henry and they were both graciously kind to Jane and Sian and very interested to hear about Elin’s friendship and stay with the Gardiners in Stepney. Sian remembered to thank Margaret for the silver cup she had sent her at birth and revealed that she drank from it every day, which had pleased Margaret immensely.

‘It was not strictly true,’ Jane confessed once we were on the road again, ‘but I told Sian to cross her fingers when she said it. The girls do use them on feast days, though. Can you believe, when I thanked her for the money gift she actually pressed her finger to my lips and told me there was no need for thanks?’

‘Noble ladies do like to feel they have distributed a certain amount of their wealth among the poor and needy in order to ensure their souls make it to heaven,’ I said, straight-faced.

‘Oh, so I am a charity case to Lady Margaret am I?’ Jane cried, rising nicely to the bait. ‘How does that make you look in her eyes then, my lord Jasper?’

‘Up to now I believe she has considered us both in need of her charity. Perhaps one day there may come a time when we are able to return her favours and earn ourselves some heavenly approval.’

We were riding through the river meadows towards Windsor and Jane glanced behind to check that Sian and Harri were looking at the scenery and not us before giving me a wallop on the thigh – the highest she could reach from the back of her small palfrey. ‘You are teasing me, Jasper Tudor. I cannot imagine there ever being a time when I will be able to do anything more saintly than she can.’