John took two swift steps across the kitchen floor and wrapped his boy in a tight hug and inhaled, half-weeping, half-kissing the top of his silky head. ‘It’s me. Praise God I am home with you, Johnnie, and you safe and well.’

Hester came in behind him and hung her cape on the hook. ‘Did you recognise him?’ she demanded.

Father and son answered ‘No!’ together and then laughed together. John made himself release his son, forced himself to let the boy go.

‘He is grown,’ Hester said proudly ‘And as much help to me in the garden as any man could be. And he is a scholar, he keeps the rarities and garden accounts now, and the planting records.’

‘And school?’ John demanded.

A shadow crossed Hester’s face. ‘The school has been closed this last year. The teacher was dismissed, some quarrel about theology. So we do the best we can at home.’

‘And where is Frances?’ John asked, looking round for her.

Something in Hester’s silence made him stop, fear gripping him. ‘Where is Frances? Hester, tell me. Please God, tell me that she is not lost.’

‘No! No!’ She rushed to reassure him. ‘She is well, in great beauty and well. It’s just … you were not here and I did not know you would return. I didn’t know what I should do for the best and I was at my wits’ end to keep her safe …’

‘Where is she?’ John shouted.

‘She’s married!’ Johnnie interrupted. ‘Safe at the Tower with Alexander Norman.’

‘She married Alexander Norman?’ John demanded.

Hester nodded, her eyes on his face.

‘Not my father’s executor? Not my uncle? Not that Alexander Norman?’

Hester gave the smallest confirming nod.

‘You married my daughter off to a man old enough to be her father? A friend of her grandfather?’

‘I did.’

‘It was her choice,’ Johnnie said stoutly. ‘And she is happy.’

‘By God, this is most ill-done!’ John swore. ‘I can’t believe it! When did this happen?’

‘A year ago,’ Hester said quietly.

‘Why?’ he asked blankly. ‘Why did you let it happen? Why did you not write to ask for my permission?’

She turned away from him and tied her house apron around her waist as if she was weary of the whole conversation. ‘I could not be sure of keeping her safe,’ she said. ‘Before Cromwell had the ruling of the army no woman was safe on the streets. I never knew whether the king would retake London or no and then there would have been the cavaliers to face as well. The apprentices rioted every other night, I could not let her step out of the front door.’

‘You could have taken her to Oatlands!’ he flung at her.