I managed to hail a passing wherry. We sculled downriver, away from Whitehall; I hoped for ever. The three of us sat in silence, still recovering from our ordeal. I noticed a tear on Edward’s cheeks: he was weeping, silently. The boatman looked between us curiously.

I spoke quietly to Philip. ‘Can you look after him?’

‘I will take him to my home, do what I can.’ He looked sadly at his client. ‘Will you come with me, Edward?’

Edward looked at him. ‘Yes,’ he whispered. ‘I know what must be done now.’ He shook his head in anguish. ‘The disgrace, the disgrace to my wife and children.’

‘We can talk about that later. When you are rested. About what God requires of you.’

He shook his head violently. ‘I shall never rest again. I do not deserve it.’

I said to Philip, ‘I must go to my house.’ I needed to speak to Timothy; I could not imagine that he had betrayed me, but I must know.

We rounded the bend in the river. In the distance, past the riverside houses and the docks, the square solid shape of the Tower was visible. I turned away.

I FOUND TIMOTHY AT his accustomed place in the stables, sitting on an upturned pail eating bread and cheese. He jumped up as I entered, astonishment and relief on his face. ‘Sir! Thank the Lord you are back! We thought you—’ He broke off.

I stood, weary and dishevelled, looking down at him. ‘I am released,’ I said quietly.

‘We none of us knew why – ’

‘I have been questioned by the King’s Privy Council. Do you know how serious that is?’

‘All know that,’ he answered quietly.

‘It was, among other things, about an allegation that I owned forbidden books.’

Timothy stepped backward, his eyes widening, and my heart sank as I began to believe that, after all, he had given me up. But I kept my voice low. ‘Do you remember an afternoon, about three weeks ago, when Martin and Agnes and Josephine were out? I told you to turn visitors away, as there was something I needed to do.’

He backed away another step, up against the wall. He looked frail and thin, his arms and legs like twigs. Genesis looked round, sensing something strange between us. I asked, ‘Did you watch me that afternoon, Timothy? Did you see what I did in the garden?’

The boy nodded, misery on his face. ‘You burned some books, sir. I came into the house and watched you, from a window. I know I shouldn’t have, but I – I wondered what was so secret, sir.’

‘There is a surfeit of secrets in this world,’ I said, angrily now. ‘And stable-boys spying on their masters can cause grave trouble. Had you heard of the King’s proclamation?’

He looked frightened. ‘What proclamation, sir? I know only that all must obey his commands.’