Thomasin sighed and closed her eyes.
When she woke again, the light had changed. There were voices coming from the garden, underneath her open window, but the air had turned a little chilly.
Carefully swinging her legs out from beneath the covers, she crept shakily over to the window seat and reached to secure the latch.
“But what will Mother say?” Cecilia was saying. “And Father, when he is released. Neither of them will like it one bit, and they will ask questions.”
Thomasin’s ears pricked up at once. The second voice was definitely Hatton’s.
“What other choice do we have, if the divorce will not be granted? You will be considered a whore at court, confined to live in the country, your name blackened forever.”
“Many there already consider me that. I do not care for people’s opinions of me; I just want to live quietly with you and our child. How can that be so difficult?”
“But that is my plan, don’t you see? In Italy, we can pass as man and wife without judgement.”
“But it is so far, and so hot, and I can’t speak a word of Italian.”
“We will hire English servants. The house is on a hill and designed to be cool in the summer months.”
“But I do not want to make the journey in this condition. What if it causes trouble for the child? A sea crossing, and all that way by road?”
“Many women have travelled before in your condition.”
“But I have not, Will. I have not. I do not want the discomfort and strain and fear of it, not for my first child. I want to be at home, with Mother, in familiar surroundings.”
“Then we wait and go after the child is born? Is that what you want?”
“No, none of this is what I want.”
“Or perhaps it is me that you don’t want.”
“How can you say that? Look at my condition! I think we should confide in Mother.”
“You can’t. You know she will do all she can to prevent it, and then we will never be together.”
“That is not her purpose. Mother just wants me to be safe. Why can’t you petition the king again?”
“He was adamant. No divorce for him, so none for us.”
“That seems very unfair.”
“Try telling him that!”
They moved away from the window and down the path towards the river. Thomasin saw their shapes outlined against the bushes. She was troubled by what she had heard. She should speak with Cecilia, before the pair made any rash decisions.
The night air was cool on her face. The temperature in the chamber had dropped and the overpowering smell of burning pastilles had dissipated. Thomasin pulled the window shut and crept back into bed. By the time Lady Elizabeth came in to check on her, Thomasin was asleep again.
TWENTY-FOUR
Thomasin woke to find a figure sitting beside her bed.
“Ellen?”
Her cousin looked up. “Ah, you are awake. How are you feeling?”
“Tired and strange. How come you are here?”
“Well, you know how quiet things are at Baynard’s Castle, so the queen gave me leave to visit. I’ve brought some books, if you are up to reading, and a few treats from the queen’s table.”
