SEVEN #2
“And your family?”
“As always, you know.”
“I do. I remember that evening at your uncle’s house in Thames Street. We spoke freely with each other then, openly, about many things.”
Thomasin did remember that night, with its intimate confessions. But Giles could not turn up at court over a year later and expect the same from her. She kept her eyes on her plate.
“Much has happened since then.”
“Are you still my friend?”
“Oh yes, of course.” She looked up, hoping she had not hurt his feelings. “After all, we are cousins of a sort, are we not?”
“Cousins, yes.” He reached for a plate of food before him, spooning out chicken in white sauce with almonds and baked dates. “Will you have some?”
Thomasin accepted the plate from him, hoping it would distract him from any further talk.
“I would have come south sooner, had it not been for my sister,” he said.
“Your sister?”
“Felicia. She is a widow who lives at our old estate near York, and she has been quite unwell.”
“I am sorry to hear that.”
“Thank you, but it required my presence longer than I had anticipated.”
“I do hope she is in better health now. I did not know you had a sister.”
“She lives very privately. Since our mother died she has been much alone. Part of my time was spent attempting to engage a companion for her, but it had to be the right one.”
“Of course. Did you find someone?”
“A bay mare named Shadow. She writes to me that she is happy, but she always tries to put on a brave face.”
“A horse?”
“Yes, she likes horses and dogs far more than people.”
“Could she not come to court, or to London, at least?”
“No, she would not. She has an absolute abhorrence of travel and cities. She lives largely out of doors, whenever she can.”
Thomasin thought that Felicia Waterson sounded more interesting and unusual than these snippets suggested. “She is unmarried?”
“And likely to remain so. She is not overly keen on men and will only tolerate me for short periods!”
Thomasin laughed a little at this. “Sorry, I did not mean to sound rude.”
“I know. She is quite the eccentric.”
They ate steadily as Thomasin digested this intriguing information. Opposite, Ellen and Harry were deep in conversation about life at court.
“I had thought to write to you once or twice, Thomasin,” said Giles suddenly, “but I was unsure. I apologise now. I should have done so. Would you have minded?”
“No,” she said lightly, “not at all. But it is of no matter.”
“Very well. I was thinking of calling on your parents and uncle soon, to pay them my compliments. Perhaps you would wish to accompany me?”
“Perhaps, if I am able to leave the queen. I only had leave a few days ago, though.”
“Of course. You take your duties to her very seriously.”
“Yes, I do,” she said firmly. “Very seriously.”
Their glasses were filled with wine again.
Thomasin felt a little discomfort, torn between her loyalty to Rafe and her enjoyment of Giles’s company, who clearly wished to re-establish their old connection.
Yet something prevented her from speaking openly.
Rafe was her secret. Until their engagement was announced, she felt she should not speak of it to anyone, save Ellen.
“Now look what we have here!” Giles’s eyes shone to see the plate of suckets and gingerbreads set before them, stained with red and yellow dye and decorated with candied fruit peel.
When the meal was finished, Catherine rose to her feet to withdraw to her inner chamber. The candles were burning low and night was falling outside the lead-panelled windows, bringing down a blanket of deep blue velvet. Servants were clearing the table and guests were departing.
“Giles, we should be leaving these ladies in peace,” said Harry, approaching.
“I am loath to leave when the cheer and food are so good,” Giles admitted, “but as in all things, I should listen to your sage advice.”
“Have you been friends long?” asked Ellen.
Giles nodded. “This past ten years, I believe, although I have not always been close enough to benefit from his wisdom.”
“Wisdom, my teeth!” said Harry, laughing. “I have precious little of that to share, but he makes a good enough drinking companion.”
“I believe that is our cue to depart. Come along, or else the ladies will think less of us for it.”
Giles turned to Thomasin. “Does the queen need you yet, or can you see us off at the river?”
Catherine’s door was firmly closed, with Maria and Mary inside.
“Of course we can,” Ellen replied with a smile, taking Harry’s arm. “But we must be quick.”
It was only a short distance, through the court, under the archway to the riverfront where the boats awaited those departing from court.
Thomasin allowed herself to be led by Ellen’s enthusiasm, wrapping a shawl about her shoulders and heading out into the night air.
There was a fresh, clean scent coming from the earth, and the stars spread brightly above them.
“Where are you lodging?” asked Thomasin as they entered the courtyard.
“Not far away, just down near Westminster. It’s quite a nice place, really, with a garden and stabling, and less busy than the city itself.”
“And will your work with the king keep you here long?”
“As long as the court convenes, I suppose, and after that, who knows?”
They were passing the sundial when the night suddenly seemed to become very dark around them and a figure emerged from the shadows.
“Thomasin! What means this?”
Rafe’s face was glowering down at her, his eyes flashing.
“Rafe? I have been looking for you…”
“Who is this man?” He pushed Giles in the chest. “You look familiar somehow. Do I know you?”
Giles drew himself up straight, and Harry appeared at his shoulder.
“I am this lady’s cousin, sir. Surely you mean no ill?”
“Have you forgotten me already?” Rafe said desperately. “Just a few days and I am replaced?”
“We were just walking. Nothing more. How can you be like this?”
“I saw you, laughing and smiling, your arm in his.”
“As I often walk with my father. None of these things are a crime.”
“I saw you, Thomasin, when you thought I was not watching. I saw you! Are you indeed so fickle as your sister?”
“No,” she replied, horrified. “Are you so easily mistaken?”
He glowered back, chewing over more words.
“Come now,” said Giles. “This has the appearance of a misunderstanding, nothing more.”
But Rafe turned on his heel and disappeared into the darkness.
Thomasin wondered if she should run after him, but his accusations cut her to the bone. Surely by now he should know her better than that?
“I fear we have overstayed our welcome,” said Harry. “We will leave you here and make our own way to the river.”
“I am so sorry,” said Thomasin, feeling Rafe’s rage hanging heavily about her shoulders. “That was quite unexpected.”
“We will bid you goodnight, with the hopes of a happy reunion soon,” said Giles. He paused, then went on, “Perhaps I speak out of turn, but if you have intentions or feelings towards that young man, or any desire to unite your heart with his … then he should know you better, Thomasin.”
His words so echoed her own feelings that she could only nod and bite back tears.
“We bid you farewell.”
The pair waved and headed away towards the gate, leaving the women standing in the garden.
“Oh, Thomasin,” said Ellen, laying a gentle hand on her arm. “What a horrible scene.”
“I had truly thought us past all this. I thought he had left this childish suspicion behind.”
“Had he been drinking?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps. What I cannot forgive is that he compared me to Cecilia. Did you hear him?”
“I did. It was unforgiveable.”
“I know he was angry, but…”
“But he had no cause to be, Thomasin, did he? He just saw you with another man and jumped to conclusions.”
“And what must Giles and Sir Harry think of us?” Thomasin let out a groan. “Did you hear what Giles said when he left?”
“He was quite right. How can you wish to marry a man who knows you so little, or who disregards what he knows?”
“It is not the first time. He had the same reaction once before. To Will.”
“Will Carey?”
Thomasin nodded as she remembered her old friend, lost to the terrible sweating sickness. They had grown close one summer, at Greenwich Palace, although Carey had still been married to Mary Boleyn at the time.
“I should try and speak with him when he calms down. Make it clear that I cannot tolerate this behaviour.”
“That is more than he deserves, truly, Thomasin. He should be the one to seek you out. Let us sleep on it and see how you feel in the morning. Come, the queen will be seeking our assistance soon enough.”
Thomasin threw one last look about the gardens, where night had settled into all the corners. All was so still and peaceful. Where was Rafe now?