‘It must be far enough for your family not to find you,’ Catharina says gently. ‘Once you’re safely within the Princess’ fold, they cannot hope to extract you. They have no power at court.’

‘But… so far away…’ Griet lifts her hands to her face while Catharina puts a comforting arm around the woman’s bony shoulders.

‘We will come and visit you,’ she says. ‘Crispijn has promised. You will not be lonely.’

She kisses Griet’s hand a little clumsily. After a moment, Griet returns the gesture. Anna feels as if she has intruded upon a private moment. Mumbling an excuse, she withdraws from the room and closes the door. The corridor of the inn is lit by smoky lanterns. There is nowhere else for her to go so she wanders down to the other end of the floor and raps gently on Crispijn’s door. It opens after a long moment and Crispijn appears, stifling a yawn, his face careworn and exhausted.

‘You caught me resting. Don’t go,’ he says, taking her arm as she begins to turn away and drawing her inside the room. ‘Stay.’

The room is darker than the one she is to share with Catharina and Griet. A low fire burns in the grate.

‘Sit down,’ Crispijn says, rubbing his eyes and waving with his free hand towards a worn armchair. Anna perches primly on the seat, her heart thudding in her ears.

‘How are you feeling?’ she says. He has not complained of headaches much at all since they set out and she hopes that this means he is cured. But his next words send a shiver through her.

‘I did not want to alarm you earlier, but I fear I’m losing the sight in my right eye.’ He taps the tip of his finger. ‘These past days it’s been like a lantern flickering on and off. I’m afraid to ask the physician in case he tells me it bodes badly for the other.’

For the first time, he looks afraid. Anna cannot bear to see him so distressed. Standing, she takes his hand. ‘I will be your eyes, then. I have thought about your offer all afternoon. You are a good person, Crispijn van Shurman. I would be lucky to spend my life with you.’

He searches her face, then nods. ‘I’m glad,’ he says. ‘For I will take care of you as well as Catharina and anyone else who comes along.’

Anna has never been kissed. Her body tenses as Crispijn moves towards her, covering her lips with his own. His mouth is soft and he tastes of sweet wine. As he helps her ease the silk dress off her shoulders, unlacing the bodice, she imagines their bodies are water, moving together, the currents converging until they are one ocean. When she slips her hands inside his shirt, he does not resist.

12

Jo