“Not so far as I know. He has returned to London for the time being. Wolsey is trying his best to repair his relationship with the king. But I must not speak of that here.”
As they turned at the far end of the dance, Carey nodded to indicate the proximity of Henry.
“Greenwich is beautiful.” Thomasin took the hint and changed the subject. “I hope to see much more of it before long.”
“The king is planning a tilt, so there will be plenty to see then.”
“Oh, shall I look forward to it. Will you ride?”
“I hope so.”
They turned and paused. The dance required them to join the next pair to form a square. To Thomasin’s relief, it turned out to be Ellen and Norris. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the flash of Anne’s red sleeves rising in the air. Beyond her was the darkness of Rafe’s habitual black as the second square was made.
“Mistress Marwood,” said Norris as rose from their bows, “it is good to see you again. I trust you are in good health?”
“I am, sir, thank you. I trust you are the same.”
“I am indeed. And you are in the service of the queen now?”
She noted that he referred to Catherine by her title. “I am, and find it most pleasant employment. She is a most regal and worthy lady.”
“That she is,” he echoed promptly.
She turned away, reconnecting with Carey, as Norris did with Ellen. When they came back together again for the second time, Norris took her arm a little closer. He was a distinguished-looking man in his late forties, but still light on his feet.
“I was sorry about what transpired with your sister.”
His words took her by surprise. “Thank you, sir.”
“It was a most unfortunate event.”
“It was indeed.”
He released her arm and bowed low. “I thought her a nice girl who did not deserve such treatment. I do hope you will not associate me with it in your mind.”
“You were not a party to it, as I recall, so I do not.”
He flashed her his handsome smile and returned her to Carey for the final steps. The group walked about in their circle, first one way, then the other. Briefly, Thomasin felt Rafe’s eyes again as they broke apart to bow in their pairs, but she reserved her smiles for Carey.
“Would you like to dance again?” Carey asked. “With me, I mean?”
Thomasin was surprised to find his placid, kind manners were having the most positive effect upon her. She could almost forget that Rafe Danvers was in the room, and the tension between the king and queen, when she was sheltered by his kind attentions. He was easy to be with.
“I should like to, yes.”
“Then wait here; I am just going to take a drink. Can I bring you anything?”
She smiled and shook her head, enjoying the moment before the music resumed.
But as he turned away, Thomasin felt the space around her change. A figure sidled up to her, and a gentle voice purred close by. Anne was standing beside her, speaking, but her eyes were fixed on the king.
“That drab grey doesn’t quite suit you, does it, Mistress Marwood? Your complexion deserves a warmer colour, like brown or tawny, don’t you think?”
Thomasin decided not to rise to the bait. “Good day, Mistress Anne.”
“It is a surprise to see you here, an even greater surprise to see your mistress. I had thought you all confined to Windsor, or at least to Hampton. Yet you show your faces here.”
Thomasin flushed with anger. “The queen is free to go to whichever of her palaces she chooses.”
