had been wilting on their stems seemed to open their blooms to the sun. Frances inhaled their heady fragrance as she strolled alongside the neatly kept borders. She had been delighted at Sir Francis Bacon’s invitation to join him on an excursion to St James’s Park. They had seen each other often since their first meeting a month before. Her new friend had been so kind and attentive, showing such genuine interest in her thoughts and opinions, that her initial shyness had soon faded.
If Thomas was jealous, he did not show it. Frances knew he had no reason to be. Although Bacon clearly enjoyed the company of women – herself in particular – she had never once seen the flicker of desire in his eyes. Perhaps his passions lay elsewhere. Besides, her husband could hardly complain if she sought diversion. Even when he was not away on the hunt, his duties occupied him for most of the day because he needed to ensure that the buckhounds had sufficient exercise.
‘Myrtus communis,’ Bacon muttered, as he stooped to pluck one of the dark green stems. ‘It will bring down a fever more quickly than anything else I have tried.’
And numb even the most severe pain, Frances thought, but merely nodded politely. Friendly though they had become, she knew better than to confide her knowledge of healing to so new an acquaintance.
‘I will gather a few more sprigs now, to add to my collection,’ he said, drawing out a pair of exquisite silver scissors from his pocket.
Frances experienced a jolt of envy. Bacon was respected as a man of science, and his interest in the natural world was therefore accepted and encouraged. If she spoke so openly of such matters, or was seen to be gathering herbs and plants with which to make remedies, she would be hanged as a witch.
‘If you have every species of which you have written then it must be extensive indeed,’ Frances observed, as her companion snipped at the myrtle.
Bacon gave a theatrical sigh. ‘Alice quite despairs of it. She complains that York House is so full of my treasures there is no room for hers.’
Frances had known that Bacon was married, but the better acquainted they had become, the more it had surprised her.
‘Cardinal Wolsey’s former palace? There must be room enough for a whole woodland of species.’ She had passed the mansion on her visit to the Queen two weeks before. It occupied a vast tract of land on the south side of the Strand and was second only to Denmark House in splendour.
Her companion chuckled. ‘Ah, it is the same with plants as with books: one always needs space for more.’
Frances smiled. ‘That is true. My husband has already extended the library at Tyringham twice since our marriage. Does your wife share your interests?’
His expression clouded. ‘Sadly not, Lady Frances. She is much younger than I – we were betrothed when she was just eleven. Her time is spent counting her jewels and ordering new gowns. It is my own fault. I spoiled her during our courtship.’
‘I do not think I have seen her at Whitehall,’ Frances said.
Bacon shook his head. ‘She prefers the company of her gems to that of the King and his courtiers.’
Frances resisted the temptation to say that in this, at least, she was in accord with her – though it was the company of her books she preferred, not her modest collection of jewels.
‘You cannot have much leisure to pursue your studies, now that you are attorney general.’ She moved the conversation away from his marriage.
‘The burden of office does indeed weigh heavily upon my shoulders at present. I hope, in time, to use my proximity to the King to further the cause of scientific discovery.’
They exchanged a look.
‘It will be akin to the labours of Hercules, I admit,’ he added, rolling his eyes. Frances grinned. Her new friend’s irreverence was one of the qualities she admired most in him. ‘But perhaps the strength of his piety will bring him to understand their importance. “All knowledge appeareth to be a plant of God’s own planting,” the prophet Daniel tells us. It is beholden of all His people to help it spread and flourish.’
James never tired of reminding his subjects that he was God’s representative on earth. He had justified all manner of acts on the basis that he was carrying out God’s work, hunting down witches principal among them. She had wondered many times how God must view His servant’s