He stared at me for what seemed like the longest time and then he raised his goblet to touch mine. Gold met gold with the softest kiss. Looking into his eyes I saw how it might have been for us in a different place, a different time; an ambitious man with a clever, beautiful and ambitious wife at his side. We might have risen high together, instead of which for him to rise, I had to fall.

“This way we can both gain all we desire,” I said, and after a moment he smiled at me and I almost fell in love with him all over again until I remembered that she was coming, the Queen of England, and that if anyone was the Queen’s true man then it was he.

“So be it,” he said, and our pact was made.

21

Lizzie: Present Day

Lizzie had arranged to meet Arthur in one of the tea shops in Burford High Street. It was busy, full of shoppers and tourists, and it felt impersonal enough to give her confidence. Even so, she was edgy as she waited for him, checking the door every few seconds, aware that she didn’t really know how to feel or how it would be to see him again, let alone how to broach the subject of Johnny. Another night of broken sleep had done nothing other than give her a headache and convince her that her thoughts about Johnny’s paranormal powers were the result of stress and tiredness, but even so, at the back of her mind, a stubborn instinct lingered that she was right.

“Is this neutral territory?” Arthur enquired as he slid into the seat opposite her. She had been distracted by the appearance of tea in a big pot shaped like a thatched cottage and had missed his arrival after all. He bent to brush her cheek with a light kiss and the touch ran through her and made her disturbingly aware of him even though it was all over in a second.

“I thought it would be easier to meet here,” Lizzie admitted. “I feel kind of nervous. I’m not sure why.” She fidgeted with the teaspoon, looking up to see Arthur watching her with a smile in his eyes. Her stomach swooped.

“Me too,” he said.

“You?” Lizzie stared at him. “Nervous of me?”

“Not exactly of you,” Arthur said, “more of us.” He shrugged slightly uncomfortably. “Nothing about our relationship seems normal, you know?”

Lizzie did know. She nodded. “How are you?” she asked.

“I’m doing all right.” Arthur’s quiet words were belied by the deep lines of tiredness she could see in his face. She imagined that the constant worry of Johnny’s disappearance must be endlessly stressful.

“I guess the first thing I should say is thank you for calling Jules, and for standing bail for me,” she said. “So, thank you.”

Arthur gave her a proper smile and her heart turned over. “You’re welcome,” he said. “I trust you not to abscond.” He took off his jacket and sat back, looking around. “They do great fruit cake here,” he said. “Would you like some?”