At the end of the meal the household stood for the final litany. The candlelight flickering across the priest's smooth forehead made the moment sacred. His long hands were clasped tightly together and he put all his energy into talking to God.

Isabel followed him into his prayer. 'Quid retribuam Domino pro omnibus quae retribuit mihi?'

She knew for sure that God was listening and repeated in her head: 'What shall I render to the Lord for all the things that He hath rendered to me?' But she was frightened for the priest. If he gave everything to prayer like this how could part of him keep watch? He was a hunted man. Susannah said that in York priests received no mercy but were executed horribly at Knavesmire outside the city walls. Could he be trusted to take care of himself?

Afterwards the household filed out past Anne and the priest. First Teresa Thewing who seized his hand and gave it a smacking kiss. Next Martha Canton, then the Thewing children, two boys and Susannah, and finally Isabel. Each paused to bow or curtsey.

Anne's large blue eyes fixed on Isabel. As usual it was impossible to tell whether she was pleased or annoyed when she said: 'Wait, Isabel.'

Oh, the glory or the disgrace of being tucked behind Anne's shoulder while everyone else crept away. Isabel was so close to the priest that she could smell his difference; a faint whiff of the wide sky, dripping woods and places far from Oakshott. Meanwhile someone else had been singled out for attention, a dimply maid who had been heard singing a folk song while making the beds. 'I don't mind the singing, Alice, 1mind the sentiment. 1 want your heart and mind to be pure. Do you understand? An hour's silent prayer in the chapel now and no breakfast tomorrow.'

When there was only the priest and Isabelle left, Anne went back to her chair. Wine and two goblets were still on the table. Anne, suddenly cosy and grandmotherly, held 1sabel close. 'This is Thomasina's daughter, Isabel. I told you she'd been sent here:

Close up the priest seemed not much older than 1sabel's brother Robin who was twenty-one. 'So, Isabel. I know your mother very well and your brother. We've said mass together often: His voice was gentle as if he was taking great care of her.

1sabel longed to say something brilliant but nothing came out so instead she bent her knee in a bobbing curtsey. Anne's short arm drew her closer. For months at Oakshott there had been no physical contact, except unavoidably with Susannah, and now here was 1sabel crushed so hard that Anne's stiff bodice bruised her ribs and she could smell the must of old fabric. Solid layers of wool and linen covered grandmother's thigh and when 1sabel blinked her eyelashes flicked across the edge of starched ruff which supported Anne's several chins.

'Yes, my little 1sabel is not unlike Thomasina in looks: murmured Anne. 'It's the hair, I think. And I'm delighted because as a daughter Thomasina has always been a great joy to me. Despite her marriage. But 1sabel's been sent here because she needs calming down. You're rather a wild little thing, aren't you, my dear one? You love to be the centre of attention and we can't always allow that: Grandmother stroked the back of her hair.

The blood burnt in 1sabel's face and she fought back tears. Here was a double blow, mention of her much missed mother and a swipe at her own less than perfect nature. Grandmother was still smiling down at her fondly. Could she read minds, then? Surely, surely 1sabel hadn't done much wrong at Oakshott except think wicked thoughts.

'And then there's the question of her future: continued  Anne, 'which we must all pray about. Her father has in mind an early marriage to solve complications with his estates. To a distant cousin, a heretic. But I'm not sure marriage, even to a devout Catholic, would be the right vocation for my darling. So I watch her all the time. You love it here, don't you, 1sabel? You're very well suited to our type of life.’

This was almost praise. 'I hope so, grandmother:

'Off you go then, my precious: and grandmother kissed her forehead.