“No, you should go entirely. Disappear from his sight, so he has time to think of you. You may go to the queen’s chambers now.”
Thomasin saw Cecilia’s lips go thin, and the slight downturn in the corner, the familiar signs of disappointment. But she was playing a game that was bigger than her, and there was no room for private feelings or disobedience.
“I will go too,” Thomasin said, with some sacrifice, “as it will look more natural for sisters leaving together.”
“Very good,” said Mountjoy. “Inform the queen that the quarry’s attention has been caught.”
His metaphor drew a brief smile from Thomasin as she hurried after her sister. At least it would give her another chance to search for the missing letter.
TWENTY-THREE
The morning was fresh; the air smelled clean. Queen Catherine had gone ahead early to the chapel, leaving her ladies to break their fast before they joined her.
Sir Richard was looking awkward as Thomasin turned the corner. He was waiting with Sir Matthew and Barnaby outside the council room, where the Astons’ case was being tried. With all the preliminaries over, the first formal hearing of the case was scheduled to begin. There was no sign of Gilbert or Ursula.
“Ah, Thomasin,” Sir Richard said, breaking away from the others. “You are well?”
“Well indeed, Father,” she replied, hoping that he had not heard of Cecilia’s behaviour the night before.
“This case drags on into a second day; all could have been resolved yesterday, if it was not for the Astons. Young Gilbert is so objectionable, but he has studied a little of the law, and fancies himself a lawyer. While his case is very weak, he is still able to launch a response to every argument we put forward, so it is taking far longer than it needs.”
“Is there no chance of them winning?”
“Very little, because of their legal status.”
“Their illegitimacy?”
“Yes, Thomasin. They would do better to reach some amicable arrangement, whereby Matthew could grant them some small allowance from the total.”
“That would be a generous move.”
“But it looks unlikely, given the way Aston is going.”
“Is there no hope, Father? Can it not be given to Miss Aston? She is the elder of the two.”
“That would be most irregular. A woman can’t take precedence in inheritance over a man, even then.”
“But would it not be even worse for the money to go to Barnaby?”
Thomasin looked back at her cousin, who stood proudly by the door. Her father followed her gaze and sighed.
“It is the law. We can’t make it about the people involved. I can’t simply advise that it goes to the most pleasant person. He is my nephew. We are family.”
“But so is Ellen.”
Sir Richard looked pained. “I am aware, and I am all sympathy for her plight. You have told her she is always welcome at Eastwell?”
“Yes, I have, thank you, but she doesn’t want to be at Eastwell. She wants to be at Raycroft.”
“At Raycroft? With Truegood?”
Thomasin watched while the penny dropped.
“Ah, I had not realised… Does Truegood feel the same?”
“He did. The affection is there, but this situation with Barnaby lingers on, making it seem impossible.”
“I see.”
