“Do you and Sir William have a particular manor in mind, Lady Catesby?” she enquired.

“The manor of Chastleton in Oxfordshire was part of Robert’s grandmother’s dowry along with Knightstone and Frankworth,” I said. I accepted a brimming glass of wine from a passing servant with a nod of thanks. “When she died at the start of the year it was her wish that her lands should pass to Robert in time and his marriage would seem to provide the perfect opportunity.”

Lady Leigh cast a sideways glance at William, who was in the center of a group of our kinsmen and friends, a tangle of Catholic sympathizers whom I could see might seem both exclusive and unfriendly to an outsider. It was no wonder that Lady Leigh had strict terms for this marriage.

“Your husband is a careful man in such matters,” she said, with a thin-lipped smile. “If he agrees to such a plan that would certainly make Robert’s suit more...worthy of consideration. Those are good estates and Catherine would make a fine mistress for them.”

“It was William’s idea in the first place,” I lied smoothly. It was true that my mother-in-law had wished Robert to have her lands, but not that William had necessarily agreed it was a good idea. I was sure, however, that I could persuade him. And Lady Leigh was right, Chastleton in particular was a rich estate whose owner could grow fat on the proceeds of the sheep who grazed there, and the other two manors, whilst smaller, were not insignificant.

Lady Leigh was also looking at William and our kinsmen. “That leaves only the matter of faith,” she said. She turned her faded blue gaze back to me and for the first time, she seemed hesitant. “Catherine has been baptized and raised in the Protestant religion,” she said. “I would not wish her to feel that she should question what she believes in.”

I did not reply immediately. Matters of religion were a thorny thicket for a man—or woman—to discuss with their fellows. The past fifty years had made us wary. Wars had been waged, men of conscience killed, families such as ours split apart, imprisoned, robbed of our fortunes. Yet still we held fast. On the other side were the men of the future, rich, upcoming people like Sir Thomas and Lady Leigh whose Protestantism might well be as politically driven as it was heartfelt.

“It is true that Robert was educated at Douai,” I said, referring to the English Jesuit college in the Netherlands. “But religion is a matter of conscience. Catherine will of course be free to worship as she chooses.”

“Robert left Oxford before completing his degree so he had no need to take the Oath of Allegiance to the queen,” Lady Leigh said. She was forcing me to admit that Robert was a Catholic by conviction as well as family tradition and as such might expect his wife to follow his religion and particularly any children they might have.