Alexander shook his head. ‘Dreadful doings. Prince Rupert lost control of his men altogether.’

Hester nodded. ‘And I heard that the king holds the whole of the west country.’

Alexander Norman nodded. ‘He’s lost the navy but he holds many of the ports. And they face France, so he can land a French army if the queen’s promises are fulfilled.’

Hester nodded. ‘And no-one is marching on London?’

Alexander Norman gave a small shrug. ‘Not that I’ve heard, but this month alone there have been skirmishes all over the country.’

‘Nothing close?’

Alexander Norman leaned forwards and put his hand over Hester’s tightly gripping fingers. ‘Peace, cousin,’ he said gently. ‘Nothing close. You know I would warn you the moment I heard of any danger to your little Ark. You and your precious cargo will come safe through this storm.’

He glanced over to the windowseat. ‘Frances, would you fetch me another glass of ale?’ he asked.

She rose at once and went to the door. ‘And give me a moment alone with your stepmother,’ he said smoothly. ‘I want her advice on a private matter.’

Frances glanced at Hester to see if she demurred, and when Hester gave the smallest of nods Frances slightly raised her eyebrows in a tiny expression of sheer impudent speculation and left the room, closing the door behind her.

‘She’s impertinent,’ Hester said as the door shut. ‘But it’s only lightness of spirit.’

‘I know it,’ Alexander Norman agreed with her. ‘And I would not see her subdued. She’s very like her mother. She was a light-hearted girl but her spirits were kept much in check by her strong sense of religion, and her strict upbringing. But Frances was spoiled from the moment she was born by John and by them all. It’s too late to try to weigh her down now, I would rather see her soar.’

Hester smiled. ‘I feel that too,’ she said. ‘Though it falls to me to try to keep her in check.’

‘You worry about her safety?’

‘I do. I worry for all of us, of course, and for the treasures. But mostly for Frances. She is at an age when she should be venturing out a little more, going into society, to make friends; but she is cooped up here with me and with her brother. The plague is everywhere again this year so I cannot let her stay with her grandparents in the City – and besides they are not sociable people, they meet no-one.’

‘She could go to court at Oxford …’

Hester’s face was a picture. ‘I’d as soon throw her into the lion’s cage at the Tower than send her among that crowd. Everything that was bad about the king’s court when they were properly housed and properly served is ten times worse now they are crowded into Oxford and drunk nine nights out of ten with celebrating victories.’