* * *

Elizabeth’s court was a young merry optimistic court. It was the court of a young woman waiting for her fortune, waiting for her throne, certain, now, that it would come to her. It hardly mattered that the queen had not named her as heir; all the time-serving, self-serving men of the queen’s court and council had already pledged their allegiance to this rising star. Half of them had sons and daughters in her service already. The visit from Count Feria was nothing more than another straw in the wind which was blowing smoothly and sweetly towards Hatfield. It told everyone that the queen’s power, like her happiness, like her health, had waned. Even the queen’s husband had transferred to her rival.

It was a merry, joyful summertime court and I spent the afternoon and night in that happy company. It left me sick and chilled to the bone. I slept in a little bed with my arms tight around my child, and the next day we rode back to the queen.

I made sure I did not count how many great men and women we passed on the road to Hatfield, going in the opposite direction. I did not need to add to the sour taste of sickness in my mouth. Long before this day, I had seen the court move from a sick king to a waiting heir and I knew how light is the fidelity of courtiers. But even so, even though I had known it, there was something about the turn of this tide that felt more like the dishonourable turning of a coat.

* * *

I found the queen walking by the river, no more than a handful of courtiers behind her. I marked who they were; half of them at least were the dourest most solid Catholics whose faith would never change whoever was on the throne, a couple of Spanish noblemen, hired by the king to stay at court and bear his wife company, and Will Somers, faithful Will Somers, who called himself a fool but had never, in my hearing, said a foolish word.

‘Your Grace,’ I said, and swept her my curtsey.

The queen took in my appearance, the mud on my cloak, the child at my side.

‘You have come straight from Hatfield?’

‘As you commanded.’

‘Can someone take the child?’

Will stepped forward and Danny beamed. I set him down and he gave his quiet little gurgle of pleasure and toddled towards Will.

‘I am sorry to bring him to Your Grace, I thought you might like to see him,’ I said awkwardly.

She shook her head. ‘No, Hannah, I do not ever want to see him.’ She gestured for me to walk beside her. ‘Did you see Elizabeth?’

‘Yes.’

‘And what did she say of the ambassador?’

‘I spoke to one of her women.’ I was anxious not to identify Lord Robert as the favourite at this treacherous alternative court. ‘She said that the ambassador had visited to pay his compliments.’