they had, too, she thought wryly.
Thomas moved to sit next to her and reached out to take their newborn son from her arms. ‘A pocket Hercules,’ he whispered, gazing down adoringly at the tiny infant, who began to writhe and whimper. ‘I fancy you will lead your older brothers a merry dance one day.’ He bent to kiss Samuel’s forehead.
His expression grew suddenly grave.
‘Your steward had no better tidings?’ Frances asked.
Thomas shook his head. ‘I had little hope of any. There are no more lands left to mortgage, and the interest on our debts has mounted since the last harvest.’ He raised his eyes to her. ‘I will soon have no choice but to sell this old place.’
Frances could not hide her shock. ‘Tyringham Hall has been in your family for generations. It is our home – our sons’ inheritance. You cannot relinquish it.’
Her husband drew the sleeping baby closer to his chest. ‘I have failed you, Frances – all of you. When we married, I urged you not to embroil yourself in any more Catholic plots, for no good could come of them. I should have heeded my own warning.’
Frances laid her hand on his arm. ‘We cannot always deny our hearts, Thomas. I cherished the same hopes for Raleigh’s voyage as you did – and many others besides.’ She did not add that she would not have ventured so great a sum on such a risky enterprise. Her husband knew his folly all too well. ‘How much longer have we?’
Thomas stood abruptly and laid Samuel in his cradle. Their son gave a cry of protest and made fists of his tiny hands. ‘Six months – a year at most.’ He had moved to the window again and was staring out across the parkland, as if expecting to see their creditors galloping towards them.
‘Can you not petition the King? He will surely be generous, after all your years of service. I am sure . . .’ The lie died on her lips. She knew as well as he that, even if James was inclined to grant them some funds, Buckingham saw every shilling that left the royal coffers. He would delight in making sure his inferior’s request was refused. Love thy enemy, the Bible commanded. Such a thing was impossible when that enemy was the devil himself. Her joy in her infant son was momentarily eclipsed by a shard of loathing for the man who had blighted their lives from the moment he had appeared at court.
‘We can expect nothing from His Majesty – or any other. Lord Rutland can no longer honour the pledge he made to us now that his fortune rests with his new son-in-law. Buckingham has appointed agents to monitor the earl’s coffers. The contract stipulates that the estate he bequeaths to his daughter must be at least equal to the value that it was at the time of her marriage. Besides, our debts are such that they cannot be settled by a gift of money here and there. I can see nothing else for it but to sell Tyringham Hall.’
He leaned his forehead against the glass. Frances longed to comfort him but she had nothing to offer. At the end of her bed, the cradle began to sway as Samuel grew more fretful. She would need to feed him soon. Pray God it would make him sleep a little. She needed rest.
‘When will you go?’ she asked.
‘Tomorrow.’
‘But our son was born only three days ago. Surely the King will not expect you to return so soon.’
‘Buckingham has sent word that His Grace wishes to hunt on Monday, before Parliament is convened.’ He did not look at her as he spoke, his breath misting the windowpane.
‘I will come to you as soon as I have found a wet-nurse and am able to travel.’
Her husband turned to her at last. ‘Please – tarry here a while. Poor Samuel will already lack his father. I would not wish to deprive him of his mother also.’
Frances swallowed tears. She did not want her husband to see the pain she felt at the thought of leaving their newborn son – his brothers, too.
‘I will return to court as soon as I am able,’ she repeated, her gaze steady. Thomas had learned not to try to persuade her when her mind was set. ‘Now, pray give Samuel to me before he wakes the entire household.’
Frances had not expected to stay on at Tyringham for so long after her husband’s departure