‘The French ambassador handed over an English lady of the king’s party to Parliament?’ Hester demanded, incredulously.

‘Yes,’ Alexander said, looking grave. ‘Perhaps His Majesty has fewer friends in Paris than he thinks. Perhaps the French are preparing to deal with Parliament direct.’

Hester found she was standing by her chair, as if ready to run. She forced herself to sit down and to start breathing normally. ‘And what else?’

‘Edmund Waller, who passes for the brains behind this brainless scheme, was taken up and is singing like a blinded thrush,’ Alexander said. ‘He is naming everyone he spoke to, in the hopes of escaping Tower Hill and the block.’

‘Would he have my name?’ Hester asked quietly. She found her lips were numb and she could not speak clearly.

‘I can’t tell,’ Alexander said. ‘I didn’t want to ask too detailed questions for fear of attracting attention. We can hope that your man got clear away, and that he was too small a link in the chain to connect you to the plot.’

‘As long as he was not captured on Father’s horse,’ Frances pointed out.

‘If I said it was me who gave him the horse …’ Johnnie suggested. ‘I could say that it was me and that I was a royalist. They wouldn’t execute me, would they? I’m not ten yet. They’d give me a whipping and I don’t mind that. I’d get the blame and you’d be all right.’

Hester drew him towards her and kissed his smooth fair head. ‘I don’t want you involved in this, whatever the risks.’ She looked up at Alexander Norman. ‘Should I stay? Or go?’

He bit his upper lip with his teeth. ‘It’s the devil’s own decision,’ he said. ‘I think you should go. We gain nothing from you being here and we risk everything. If your man is captured and he follows the example of his betters he will volunteer information and he is bound to name you. Even if he goes free then the king’s men are so indiscreet that your name might still be mentioned. Go to Oatlands and stay in John’s house in the garden for a week. I’ll send you a message if it’s all clear and you can come home again.’

‘Oatlands?’ Johnnie demanded. ‘With Prince Rupert?’

‘Yes, he’s said to be quartered there,’ Alexander Norman said. ‘At least you’ll be safe from Parliament while he is there.’

‘Oatlands!’ Johnnie exulted. ‘Prince Rupert! I’ll have to go with you. To defend you.’

Frances was about to say ‘I’ll come too’, but she hesitated and looked towards Alexander Norman. ‘Should I?’