He whirled around. ‘They let that spineless puppy out of their sight for a moment?’

‘The bishop knew that something was being planned. Everyone knew that something was being planned.’

He nodded. ‘Tom Wyatt was always indiscreet.’

‘He will pay for it. They are questioning him now.’

‘To discover who else is in the plot?’

‘To get him to name the Princess Elizabeth.’

Lord Robert pushed his fists on either side of the window frame, as if he would stretch the stone wide and fly free. ‘They have evidence against her?’

‘Enough,’ I said acerbically. ‘The queen is on her knees right now, praying for guidance. If she decides that it is God’s will that she should sacrifice Elizabeth, she has more than enough evidence.’

‘And Jane?’

‘The queen is fighting to save her. She has asked Jane to be taught the true faith. She is hoping that she will recant and then she can be forgiven.’

He laughed shortly. ‘The true faith is it, Mistress Boy?’

I flushed scarlet. ‘My lord, it’s only how everyone talks at court now.’

‘And you with them, my little conversa, my nueva cristiana?’

‘Yes, my lord,’ I said steadily, meeting his eyes.

‘What a bargain to put before a sixteen-year-old girl,’ he said. ‘Poor Jane. Her faith or death. Does the queen want to make a martyr of her cousin?’

‘She wants to make converts,’ I said. ‘She wants to save Jane from death and from damnation.’

‘And me?’ he asked quietly. ‘Am I to be saved, or am I a brand for the burning, d’you think?’

I shook my head. ‘I don’t know, my lord. But if Queen Mary follows the advice she is given, then every man whose loyalty is questionable will be hanged. Already the soldiers who fought in the rebellion are on the scaffolds at every corner.’

‘Then I had better read these books quickly,’ he said drily. ‘Perhaps a light will dawn for me. What d’you think, Mistress Boy? Did a light dawn for you? You and the true faith, as you call it?’

There was a hammering on the door and the guard swung the door open. ‘Is the fool to leave?’

‘In a moment,’ Lord Robert said hastily. ‘I haven’t paid him yet. Give me a moment.’

The guard glared at us both suspiciously, shut the door and locked it again. There was a brief painful second of silence.

‘My lord,’ I burst out, ‘do not torment me. I am as I always was. I am yours.’

He took a breath. Then he managed to smile. ‘Mistress Boy, I am a dead man,’ he said simply. ‘You should mourn me and then forget me. Thank God you are not the poorer for knowing me. I have placed you as a favourite in the court of the winning side. I have done you a favour, my little lad. I am glad I did it.’

‘My lord,’ I whispered earnestly. ‘You cannot die. Your tutor and I looked in the mirror and saw your fortune. There was no doubt about it, it cannot end here. He said that you are to die safe in your bed, and that you will have a great love, the love of a queen.’