Carey shrugged.
“And who was it, who told you this? Someone I know? Not a certain Mister Danvers?”
His eyes confirmed her suspicion. “I … I can’t say directly. I was warned that I could be damaging your reputation, your prospects, and may even prevent you from making a good marriage.”
“As if anyone here cares about my marriage! Not after what they did to my sister. And how are you damaging me? By being my friend?”
He caught her eyes again. “Is that all we are, truly, Thomasin? Mere friends?”
“There has never been any impropriety between us.”
“No,” he said, “there has not.” And softly, quickly, he stepped forwards and surprised her with his lips upon hers. Just briefly, but soft, warm and promising. “And now?”
She stared back at him, speechless at the sudden move, trying to process her feelings. It was a pleasant kiss, and not unwelcome, she thought. But was this what she wanted? Was he?
“Thomasin? You see?”
She wasn’t sure she did; her emotions were in turmoil. She reached for answers but none came.
Carey saw her confusion. “I apologise. It is something I have wanted to do for a long time, but I understand your predicament. I am married, in name only, but still married. Oh, Thomasin, was it not welcome? I had thought…”
She could only stare back at him, while her feelings swirled about her, refusing to settle.
Carey stepped away. “I am sorry. I made a mistake.”
“No, I don’t think that. I just, I don’t know. I am confused.”
“Do you have feelings for me beyond friendship?”
“I may do. I need time.”
“I should not have…”
“Yes, you should. It brought this out. I need to think.”
“I can write to the Pope and request a divorce. If the king is granted one, why should I not be? Mary and I have not lived as man and wife in the real sense.”
“You have not?”
“The match was consummated, to make it legal, but then Mary went straight to the king’s bed. He did not wish to repeat another bastard at court.”
“Your children?”
Carey shook his head. “In name. It is supposed but can never be proven, and I have raised and loved them as my own. I hope I may count upon your discretion?”
“Of course.”
“At the moment I can offer you little. Mary would keep Pleshey, and I have only one other small house in Devon. If we divorce, I might lose my position at court and have to rely upon my mother’s money. I was told to withdraw for your own sake, and I can see why. But it is for the Boleyns too; they do not want any weakness, any lessening of their faction. If I divorced Mary, it would reflect poorly on Anne and her chances.”
Just as poor Jane’s miscarriage would, Thomasin thought. “Is that what you wanted to do? Withdraw from me?”
He turned to her again with wide eyes. “By God, Thomasin, no.”
Some impulse seized her again, whether it was her own feelings, or his passion, or the sunshine and roses, and she leaned in to kiss him a second time. He put his arms about her and pulled her in close, crushing his mouth down upon hers with unexpected fervour.
When they broke apart, Thomasin spotted a movement. In the moment, they had forgotten themselves and the presence of others. There, at the end of the long walk, George Boleyn stood looking at them, pausing while he exercised his dogs. Now he turned away and continued his path.
“Well, that’s that,” said Carey. “It will no longer be a secret. I must deal with whatever the Boleyns say or do, but I shall keep your name out of it. I will speak to George, make him understand.”
