As she climbed the stairs, she listened for sounds of life above, but none came. The door ahead stood ajar, leading into a narrow corridor, off which came different rooms. Thomasin had never ventured into this part of the palace before, as it was beyond her role as the queen’s lady, and it struck her as being cold and lonely.
The sound of the door amid the stillness drew footsteps.
“Nico?” she whispered softly.
But it was Ralph Sadler who appeared, one of Cromwell’s young wards. He seemed surprised to see her.
“Oh! May I help? Did you want Cromwell?”
“No, no, not him. Is Nico here?”
Ralph nodded down the corridor. “Room at the end.”
Nico sat with his back to her, hunched over his desk, engrossed in his task. The room was tiny and freezing, as there was no fire in the grate. Around him, a number of papers were piled up on chests.
It was such a pitiful place that Thomasin was tempted to turn round and creep away, to save him the shame of having been seen thus. But Nico sensed another presence and turned. SeeingThomasin standing in the doorway, he looked totally caught off guard.
“Thomasin? But how? What are you doing here?”
He rose from his seat and came towards her. She noticed the long letter he was copying, but also his unkempt appearance, hair tousled, collar open at the neck.
“You must forgive me,” he continued. “I have been throwing myself into my work and I am a state. God, is Cromwell here?”
“I don’t think so?”
He squeezed passed her and shot a nervous look down the corridor. “I have to get this pile copied by the morning.”
She looked at where he indicated, where it seemed that a dozen papers or more were stacked up. “But when will you sleep? Or eat? Oh, Nico!”
He looked furious. “Do not pity me. I have enough to bear, I do not need your pity, too.”
“I am not. I feel for you. What I saw the other day in the courtyard, and these conditions.”
“We can’t all be ladies attending the queen!” He sat down in his chair. “I am sorry. I did not mean to say that.”
“Are things so bad?”
He took a deep sigh. “I should not complain.”
“On the contrary, I think you should. Cromwell is working you into the ground. You look exhausted. I do not think him a kind master. I wish I had not recommended him to you.”
“You were not to know. Nor was he so harsh at first. The thing you saw in the courtyard was a one-off. Things are only this way because he has been under so much pressure, working so hard to secure this divorce that the king demands.”
“You are making excuses for him? In spite of everything? Will you get to eat tonight?”
“Ralph will bring something soon. He looks after me.”
“And sleep? Where do you sleep, Nico.”
He looked across to the corner, where a small truckle bed leaned against the wall. One dirty blanket sat on the floor beside it.
“Oh, Nico.”
“What else can I do? I am a stranger in this country, sometimes an enemy. I am in no position to make demands.”
“I am sure there are other people at court for whom you might work, who would not treat you this way. The king’s dogs are treated better than this!”
“But what can I do? Beg for help? Rely upon a woman?”
