“Oh,” I say. I bite my lip so that I say nothing more. Dear God, what a fool, what a coward, what a turncoat. Damn Norfolk for his stupidity that will be my ruin. Bothwell would never have threatened an uprising and then submitted early. Bothwell would have ridden out to battle. Bothwell never evaded a fight in his life. An apology would have choked him.

“And I am sorry to tell you that Lord Dacre has fled over the border to Scotland.”

“His rising is over?”

“It is all over. The queen’s army controls the North, and her executioners are hanging men in every village.”

I nod. “I am sorry for them.”

“I too,” he says shortly. “Many of them will have been ordered to follow their liege lord and done nothing more than their duty. Many of them will have thought they were doing the will of God. They are simple men who didn’t understand the changes that have come to this country. They will have to die for not understanding Cecil’s policies.”

“And I?” I whisper.

“Hastings will take you as soon as the roads are fit to travel,” he says, his voice very low. “I cannot prevent him. Only the bad weather is holding him now; as soon as the snow clears he will take you away. I am under suspicion myself. Pray God I am not ordered to London to the Tower on a charge of treason as you are taken from me to Leicester.”

I find I am shaking at the thought of being parted from him. “Will you not travel with us?”

“I won’t be allowed.”

“Who will protect me when I am taken from your care?”

“Hastings will be responsible for your safety.”

I don’t even mock this. I just give him a long, fearful look.

“He will not harm you.”

“But, my lord, when shall I see you again?”

He gets up from his chair and leans his forehead against the high stone mantelpiece. “I don’t know, Your Grace, my dearest queen. I don’t know when we shall meet again.”

“How will I manage?” I can hear how small and weak my voice is. “Without you... and Lady Bess, of course. How shall I manage without you?”

“Hastings will protect you.”

“He will incarcerate me in his house, or worse.”