I inclined my head to acknowledge her point. “That is true,” I said. “But—”

“What concerns me,” she cut in, “is that your son could lose all the money from his rich estates with one foolish gesture or treasonous act. I will not have Catherine brought down with him. Our family can tolerate no such risk.”

“You may be easy on that,” I said. “Robert is too worldly to sacrifice comfort and luxury for his faith.” Lady Leigh’s brows shot up and I realized that I might have sounded a little cynical. I moderated my tone. “Robert is young,” I said, “and he is of an age to value money and advancement. He has also seen how adherence to our faith has damaged his father’s situation. With estates of his own and a rich and beautiful wife he will see where his path lies. There is a fine Protestant church in Chastleton. Very likely he will attend it.”

“A church papist.” Lady Leigh’s lips curled. “Neither one thing nor another.”

“On the contrary.” I was not going to let that slur pass. “I believe Robert will be a man as judicious about his advancement as your own husband, madam.”

There was a silence and then she laughed. “How extraordinary that the two of you should have raised such a son,” she said, but the gleam in her eyes was friendlier now than it had been at any time before in our conversation. “You and Sir William are both so...” I thought she was going to say dull, but she compromised with “...steadfast, yet Robert is so dazzling and ambitious.”

“It has always been a mystery to me too.” I was back in control of myself now, and I sensed that somehow, I had won her over. We both glanced at Robert and Catherine, and saw that she was taking her leave of him, slipping out of the parlor, ethereal as a spirit in her silver gauze gown. She cast Robert one sweet, smiling glance backward, but it was a look that promised nothing. My heart eased a little. She was not as guileless as she appeared; she knew her own power. Already Robert burned for her and she was in no hurry to give him what he wanted.

Lady Leigh looked gratified too. It was she, I surmised, who had taught Catherine to value her own beauty and her worth. A rich, beautiful, sensible girl. I could not believe our good fortune. And at that moment another woman approached Robert, brushed past his arm with deliberate intent to attract his attention, and he barely noticed her, murmured an apology and walked away as though in a daze.

Lady Leigh and I looked at each other in mutual understanding and pleasure.

“I do believe,” she said, “Catherine has captured his heart already.”

“I do believe,” I said, “that you are correct.”

The mummers came then, full of good will and ale, and the evening descended into boisterous merrymaking whilst outside the snow fell softly like a benediction on Robert’s future.