John shook his head. ‘It’s like living in the middle of a thunderstorm,’ he complained. ‘It has all changed again. If the army fights against the Parliament which brought it into being, then what becomes of the country?’

In July the news was that the king was to be taken, under guard, to Oatlands.

Hester looked at her husband across the kitchen table. Cook, Joseph, the new gardening boy, Frances and Johnnie all turned to the head of the table and waited for John to speak.

‘Now, I have to go,’ he said simply. ‘He cannot be at Oatlands and not see me working in the garden. That was my work, that was my place.’

Hester hesitated for only a moment. ‘I’ll pack your bag,’ she said, and went out of the room.

Johnnie turned to his father, his face suddenly flushed. ‘May I come too?’ he asked. ‘And see him?’

When his father hesitated he went on in a rapid torrent of speech. ‘I’ve never seen him, and my father and my grandfather were in his service. And I’ve never even seen him. Frances saw him and the queen. Can I come? Please?’

John gave a short laugh. ‘I cannot be sure that I will see him,’ he said. ‘And if he sees me, he may not speak to me. I just feel the royal court under his window should be tidy, I don’t know what state it’s in.’

‘I can tidy it,’ Johnnie said desperately. ‘I can weed. I worked there while you were away. I can do it. I am a Tradescant, I am gardener to the king. I should be there.’

Hester came back into the kitchen and John turned to her with relief. ‘It depends on what your mother says.’

‘Can I go with Father to Oatlands?’ Johnnie scrambled over his stool to get to his stepmother. ‘And work for him? He’d have such a lot of work to do, I could help.’

‘I don’t know if it’s safe,’ Hester said hesitantly.

‘It’s probably safe,’ John said shortly. ‘Safer than it’s ever been with him under guard and forced to make peace at last.’

She nodded. ‘He can go if you wish it,’ she said to John.

Johnnie turned his bright hazel eyes on his father.

‘Oh, very well,’ John said. ‘But not a word do you speak unless spoken to – and then you just answer “Yes, Your Majesty”, or “No, Your Majesty”. Not a word about me being in Virginia. Not a word about the cavalier who came here. Not a word about John Lambert buying our tulips. Not a word about anything.’

Johnnie was dancing on the spot with excitement. ‘Yes! Yes!’ he shouted. ‘Yes! Of course. And I shall be absolutely silent. Absolutely. I shall be absolutely discreet.’