‘And you and Bethan are not doing a bad job of replacing us,’ observed Maredudd bluntly. ‘Little Nesta is only five but she already milks the goats and feeds the hens. And Gwyladus can run a house just as well as Sian. She and I will leave in the morning.’

Hywel glared at us from under beetled brows. ‘The day I take orders from you Maredudd will be the day your great lord knights you – which I would guess is never. Both of you, put out the board and hold your tongues until I have counted the coin.’

When we had placed the board on the trestles, he upended the purse and the gold coins cascaded onto the polished wood. Then began the counting with King Henry’s head moving, coin by coin, from one pile into another, Father calling out the tally as he did so.

‘… eighteen, nineteen, twenty.’ He looked up at us, eyes wide in undisguised amazement. ‘Twenty crowns – that is two knight’s fees! Lord Jasper values your services very highly it seems.’

‘Could it be the value he puts on his sister-in-law’s health and happiness?’ I suggested slyly. ‘The Countess of Richmond is young at present but she is an important lady, a cousin of the king. It may not be wise to refuse this opportunity to be of help to her.’

Hywel grunted, his fingers playing with one of the coins; then he piled them up into four columns and shoved them to one side. ‘Let us eat,’ he said, glancing across at the sideboard where Maredudd had put the wineskin ‘When I have broached the contents of that, I will make my decision.’

Jasper had judged the compensation and the content of the wineskin shrewdly and Maredudd and I were on the road to Pembroke at dawn the following day. The excitement I felt at the prospect of finally seeing something of the world alternated with my dread of meeting the person I would be serving.