“Of course,” she said quickly, as it was expected of her. “And where are the Boleyns? Keeping to their rooms?”
“Oh no,” Nico smiled. “The Boleyns have withdrawn for a brief while into Kent. They have gone to Hever.”
“To Hever? Really?”
“Soon after you left. They plan to return next week. It is whispered, in some quarters, that Henry sent them away to cool their heels. One of them in particular.”
“Well, that is an interesting development, with the approach of Cardinal Campeggio. I wonder if the king still intends to hold his court to enquire into the state of his marriage?”
“It has been rather quiet on that front. Wolsey too has left; he’s gone to his palace at Esher in Surrey. It seems he has taken the blame for some private incident between the king and his paramour, I know not what.”
Thomasin’s secret glowed inside her chest. So Henry had decided that Wolsey was to blame for Cecilia being thrust upon him. How well the plan had turned out for the queen.
“And so we have been very quiet here, all work left for me. Oh, Thomasin, I have missed you!”
He turned and swiftly placed a kiss upon her lips before she had a chance to react.
“You see how much I have missed you?”
Thomasin began to speak, but his lips were on her again, blocking her words with his warm pressure. She returned his kiss, but it seemed to increase his ardour and he leaned further into her, so that she was forced back against the seat.
“You kiss so sweetly,” he murmured. “I have thought of this often.”
“Have you?” she managed to whisper, between his advances.
He drew back slightly, but still held her in his arms. “Oh, Thomasin, you must know how I feel about you. So many times I have told you, so often you have permitted me to kiss you in this way. You must feel the same way. You must feel my ardour.”
He kissed her again, his hand running down onto her thigh.
“My intentions are honourable, you know that, you have my promise, but must we wait? Let us take advantage of the quietness, find an empty chamber, submit to what we both desire.”
His words came as a surprise. This was too sudden, too unexpected.
“But Nico, this is too soon. I just got back.”
“It is perfect. What better time than this?” His mouth was upon hers again.
She put her hand to his chest to hold him at bay. Temptation lingered just behind her consciousness, but her resolution and reason were stronger.
“Nico, I have often thought that I would yield only to my husband.”
“And that shall be me. I am your husband, so why wait? You want an engagement?”
“You have never spoken to me of one before. Never asked me such a thing.”
“But I have thought of it often.”
He moved towards her again, took her hand and tried to make her rise. “Come, there is a room that would be empty at this hour.”
A mixture of emotions flooded her: embarrassment, pressure, and a twinge of anger that she had to defend herself. “No, it is not right at this moment. I want to wait.”
“For what? The wedding?”
“Yes, I think it best. What if there was a child? Or if you changed your mind?”
“I would never…”
“But women are more vulnerable. I wish to wait.”
