and pranzo a mezzogiorno in the middle of the day.’
Courtenay was observing the conversation with interest, for his Italian was very good, if learned largely from books. ‘When do you find time to eat supper then, professor?’
Carluccio considered, translating both language and culture. ‘Supper? We would call it chena. And when?’ He winked at Thomas. ‘Maybe when you get back from your woman and you have a late hunger?’ He faced the group, perhaps concerned he might be embarrassing some members of our party ‘Or, of course, when travelling.’
‘Or, indeed, when travelling.’ Thomas gave a small bow, as if acknowledging a draw; honour was satisfied and we all trooped into the dining room for supper together.
I looked around me. Journey’s end, with little travelling remaining; comfortable surroundings, a good fire, a smell of cooking you could write poetry about, and the prospect of good company for dinner. What more could a man ask for?
The promise of a good dinner was well met and the promise of good company exceeded. We sat long (and sometimes noisily) at table, with the warmth of the wine adding to our feeling of satisfaction, and talked: of travel, of medicine, of men and politics and of the challenges brought to us all by a changing world.
Towards the end of the evening, I excused myself and made for the lavatories, to find I was being accompanied by Cheke. When we were out of earshot, he spoke, more quietly and in a more clipped manner than he had been using all evening. ‘Richard. It is good to see you again in these troubled times. Over dinner I was remembering the times I have seen you before. You were with the King – on his Progress in Portsmouth, was it not?’
I confirmed that I had been there when Cheke joined the King as he inspected the harbour and laid plans for improvements to the fortifications.
‘Did he ever reward you for that situation which arose with the pearl brooch?’
‘Indeed yes, he did, and handsomely. He made me a gift of a Spanish stallion complete with gold-embossed saddle.’
‘Ventura? He gave you Ventura? He was his favourite horse.’
I nodded, remembering. ‘I know. He knew he was dying and he wanted him to have good home.’
‘Do you have him still?’
I had seen the question coming and hoped to avoid it. ‘No, after watching Lady Jane die and then Lord Henry, I wanted to escape, to put that world behind me, and to start again. I sold Ventura to a good home and for a good price. I miss him sometimes. He was very special.’
He seemed to understand.
‘You were held in great regard by Lady Jane. She described you to me as the only constant friend she had, and the only one who treated her as a person and not as a mere symbol of authority.’
Tears came to my eyes and my throat constricted until I thought I would choke. ‘I loved her dearly, as a true friend. She taught me so much.’
Cheke took my arm. ‘They were bad times, and times continue to be bad under Queen Mary. Wicked things are happening in our country. Things we must not allow to continue.’
I nodded my agreement. ‘What can we do? With Philip on the throne beside her, the Spanish Inquisition will surely come to rule the country?’
Cheke looked carefully around him before replying. ‘There is someone I want you to meet. But only you. Do not tell Marwood or Courtenay. As committed Catholics they cannot be trusted.’
I tried to defend Thomas but Cheke would accept no argument. ‘It is a risk we cannot afford to take. If you are unable to separate your life from his, at least occasionally, then I must ask you to forget this conversation and withdraw.’
I shook my head in turn. ‘No, John. I can make that separation, and knew that one day I might have to. I will travel with the doctor, and we shall remain friends, but I shall not divulge your secret.’
He seemed satisfied. ‘Then make your excuses and come alone to the university tomorrow at noon. Come to the
Courtenay was observing the conversation with interest, for his Italian was very good, if learned largely from books. ‘When do you find time to eat supper then, professor?’
Carluccio considered, translating both language and culture. ‘Supper? We would call it chena. And when?’ He winked at Thomas. ‘Maybe when you get back from your woman and you have a late hunger?’ He faced the group, perhaps concerned he might be embarrassing some members of our party ‘Or, of course, when travelling.’
‘Or, indeed, when travelling.’ Thomas gave a small bow, as if acknowledging a draw; honour was satisfied and we all trooped into the dining room for supper together.
I looked around me. Journey’s end, with little travelling remaining; comfortable surroundings, a good fire, a smell of cooking you could write poetry about, and the prospect of good company for dinner. What more could a man ask for?
The promise of a good dinner was well met and the promise of good company exceeded. We sat long (and sometimes noisily) at table, with the warmth of the wine adding to our feeling of satisfaction, and talked: of travel, of medicine, of men and politics and of the challenges brought to us all by a changing world.
Towards the end of the evening, I excused myself and made for the lavatories, to find I was being accompanied by Cheke. When we were out of earshot, he spoke, more quietly and in a more clipped manner than he had been using all evening. ‘Richard. It is good to see you again in these troubled times. Over dinner I was remembering the times I have seen you before. You were with the King – on his Progress in Portsmouth, was it not?’
I confirmed that I had been there when Cheke joined the King as he inspected the harbour and laid plans for improvements to the fortifications.
‘Did he ever reward you for that situation which arose with the pearl brooch?’
‘Indeed yes, he did, and handsomely. He made me a gift of a Spanish stallion complete with gold-embossed saddle.’
‘Ventura? He gave you Ventura? He was his favourite horse.’
I nodded, remembering. ‘I know. He knew he was dying and he wanted him to have good home.’
‘Do you have him still?’
I had seen the question coming and hoped to avoid it. ‘No, after watching Lady Jane die and then Lord Henry, I wanted to escape, to put that world behind me, and to start again. I sold Ventura to a good home and for a good price. I miss him sometimes. He was very special.’
He seemed to understand.
‘You were held in great regard by Lady Jane. She described you to me as the only constant friend she had, and the only one who treated her as a person and not as a mere symbol of authority.’
Tears came to my eyes and my throat constricted until I thought I would choke. ‘I loved her dearly, as a true friend. She taught me so much.’
Cheke took my arm. ‘They were bad times, and times continue to be bad under Queen Mary. Wicked things are happening in our country. Things we must not allow to continue.’
I nodded my agreement. ‘What can we do? With Philip on the throne beside her, the Spanish Inquisition will surely come to rule the country?’
Cheke looked carefully around him before replying. ‘There is someone I want you to meet. But only you. Do not tell Marwood or Courtenay. As committed Catholics they cannot be trusted.’
I tried to defend Thomas but Cheke would accept no argument. ‘It is a risk we cannot afford to take. If you are unable to separate your life from his, at least occasionally, then I must ask you to forget this conversation and withdraw.’
I shook my head in turn. ‘No, John. I can make that separation, and knew that one day I might have to. I will travel with the doctor, and we shall remain friends, but I shall not divulge your secret.’
He seemed satisfied. ‘Then make your excuses and come alone to the university tomorrow at noon. Come to the
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