But Alice, sitting by the window as Mariamne brushed out her hair, thought without regret that what should have been a pleasant and comfortable pilgrimage must be cut short. A day or two of rest, and her father’s devotions paid, and they would begin the long journey home. They had been assured by Marius that the Merwing would be at their disposal whenever they needed her.

She sighed. “Thank you, Mariamne. My gown now. No, not the blue, I mayn’t get the chance to wear that, but see to the skirt, will you? I knew that stuff would crush. Get me the fawn with the russet overdress, and the brown cloak with the hood. I think my father wants to go straight to the shrine now. We’d better hurry.”

“Yes, madam. The fawn and the brown cloak. Here they are, and they’ve travelled well. Don’t worry about the blue dress; I’ll get the creases out easily enough. Such a pity the queen’s not here, isn’t it? I was looking forward to seeing you in the blue.”

“It hardly matters, all things considered.” Alice, watching the maid as she smoothed the clothes laid out on the bed, saw that her eyes looked red, as if she had been crying. “What is it, Mariamne? It’s all very dreadful, but there’s nothing for us to be afraid of –”

“I’m not afraid. It’s not that.”

“What, then?”

“It’s nothing, madam.”

Alice suddenly understood. When she had told Mariamne that their place of pilgrimage would be Tours rather than Jerusalem, she had been surprised at the girl’s apparent pleasure, but the answer had been simple.

“Of course!” she said. “You were looking forward to meeting your fellow-countryman Jeshua again, weren’t you? Well, you couldn’t expect him to be here in the king’s castle, but I’ll see that we make time to go to the queen’s palace, never fear! Do you know if he’s still in her service?”

“Yes, madam, he is. I asked. But he’s not in Tours. He’s gone to Paris with the queen. He’s domesticus now, manages the whole household, a grand job, very important, they say. He would have to go with her. I suppose he’ll be in charge of all the fine doings when the young prince is crowned, but we won’t still be here then, will we?”

“I’m afraid not. I’m sorry.”

“It can’t be helped.” Mariamne, with a little shrug, turned to her work again. “And if all tales be true, the sooner we’re back home the better! If you’ll just sit for a moment, my lady, and let me fix your veil for you … There, that’s it. How long do you think my lord your father will want to stay here?”

“Not long, I think. Is that Berin at the door? I mustn’t keep my father waiting.”

Mariamne knelt to smooth the russet folds and settle the girdle at her mistress’s waist.

“Do you want me with you?”

Alice shook her head. She knew that Mariamne, whom she had always allowed to wait outside the Christian places of worship her mistress attended, had found the courts of St Martin’s basilica distressing, with their throngs of beggars, diseased, crippled and starving, fighting one another for the alms thrown to them by the godly, and crowding with threats and curses round anyone obliged to go there unattended. “No need. We’re to be escorted. There. Do I look sober and chaste, Mariamne?”