He held up his hands. “I knew it was too clumsy to go unnoticed. Again, it was not of my doing. Vernier can take the credit for that. The Doge was fearful that the emperor would take Venice in order to control the port, so he wanted any news of the queen’s doings, any transgression or opposition to the king that he could use as leverage. He was hoping to turn the emperor’s attentions towards England and distract him from Venice. I never thought it would work.”
“All down to Vernier? That’s convenient.”
“Not all, no, I admit.”
Some vital truth was within her grasp. “Who else was behind it? Does Vernier have a friend here? Did someone try to influence him? Suggest you visit Windsor?”
Nico sighed. “You cannot guess?”
Thomasin’s heart beat faster. “Not the cardinal?”
“Not he, no.”
“Really?” She had been so sure.
Nico looked around. “You must not tell. It was the lady’s father. Signore Boleyn. He approached us at Westminster, suggested we went to Windsor and offered us a handsome reward. He wanted information. Secrets. Anything we could gain from the queen, especially her dealings with the emperor, when it came to her marriage.”
It took a moment for Thomasin to process all this. “Thomas Boleyn?”
Nico nodded. “I am sorry for my part in it.”
A rush of anger broke through Thomasin’s reserve. “The queen did not appreciate being manipulated in such a way. Any information that was passed on from her, or about her, would have been compromising. If it was used against the king, it may even have been treason.”
“Yes, I understand, but she is an intelligent woman who will not be made a fool of.”
“It is a shame you were not aware of this before.”
“Believe me, I was, and I advised against it at the time. Vernier insisted no harm could come of a simple exchange of letters with willing ladies. He made us believe it was our duty, to use what he called our Venetian charms.” Nico took a step closer, tried to look into her eyes. “Have I lost your good will forever? Can you ever look upon me as a friend again?”
“I don’t know.”
“I am trying to find a different position, a permanent role at the English court, so I can be free of this diplomacy. So I no longer am caught in this web.”
“I am afraid there is always a web. You will be exchanging one for another.”
“But perhaps another may be preferable. I have approached Wolsey in the hopes that he will employ me as his secretary.”
Thomasin frowned. “You know that Thomas Cromwell already holds that role, and he is ruthless. He speaks Italian too.”
Nico nodded. “I had hoped there would be work enough for two, given how busy he is, with all these negotiations. I could go as an envoy to the Pope for him. I would not be taking bread from Cromwell’s mouth. Or Bishop Fisher, I might try instead.”
“I am not qualified to advise you.”
“But do you approve? Can you give me hope that if I transferred to the court, you would be my friend?”
“You must do nothing on my account. I can make no such promises.”
He looked hurt. “Then there is no hope, no chance to regain your good will, or anything more?”
“I did not say that much, only that you must do these things on your own account, not on mine.”
“Can you look upon me as a friend again? Do you not remember that night in the gardens at Windsor? How many times I have thought of it!”
“Yes, I remember, but you must stop now.”
Nico looked at her ruefully. Again, his physical beauty struck her, but she knew better than to be swayed by that alone. Passion had led her into trouble before and she was older now, and wiser.
He tried to take her hand. “Can we not be friends?”
