33. Phoebe

P HOEBE Great St Bartholomew's, London, 27th April (St George's Eve) 1614

T HE STARS WERE HIDDEN at my birth. There was no moon. And yet my father was assured my future would be fortunate. My stars, although unseen, would serve me well.

‘Whatever happens in your life,' he'd often tell me, ‘you'll be guided by the planets and their motions. They will lead you to your destiny.'

I'd once believed that to be purely fancy.

But this morning as I walked across the grass still wet with dew, I could not help but wonder whether that old doctor of astrology had read my stars correctly after all. Although we still lived here within the Close at St Bartholomew's, it could be said I had the comfort of a life at court, for Logan served the queen and she was quick to show him favour in return, as she showed favour to his sisters, who had married this December past, and lived not far away.

The sun was rising, touching all the highest leaves on the tall tree beside the church and turning them bright green and gold with promise, and the breeze was blowing lightly and a solitary bird was singing as though it would tell me that the morning would be fine.

Across the Close, the Foxes' house stood empty. They had gone, nobody knew to where, and no one cared.

I knew where Andrew would be, though. I found him in our stables, getting Brutus ready for the day. Hector, who had grown a foot at least within the past year, wore clothes that were, as ever, just like Andrew's – only now those clothes were not merely a copy, but the true thing, since he also served the queen.

He looked exasperated. ‘All I'm saying is, if I did have my ain horse, I could ride it every day tae the queen's stables, and I'd be there that much earlier tae do my work.'

Andrew only told him, ‘I will think on it.' He stood within the nearer stall, his back towards me. ‘In the meantime, take that bucket, lad, and fetch some water from the conduit.'

Hector did as he was told, but rolled his eyes at me, with feeling.

‘And I see that,' Andrew said. ‘Don't think I can't.' He turned as Hector left us, and his gaze angled down to greet me.

I asked, ‘Are you being difficult?'

‘Maybe just a little.'

It was in his nature, I supposed. He'd always been a most infuriating man.

I said, ‘He'll like you better in a week, I'll warrant.'

Andrew said, ‘Two weeks. By then I'll have the last bit of the money saved. The gelding that I've chosen isn't near the size of Brutus, but he is a dapple grey.'

That would please Hector.

Brutus heard his name, and stretched his neck out, carefully, and I reached just as gingerly to pat his velvet nose. I'd learned to almost like the way he blew his breath against my fingers. It was small, but a beginning.

I looked at Andrew, handsome in Queen Anna's livery of rich, deep orange velvet over gold. He slanted me a sideways glance. ‘Ye miss the scarlet?'

‘Not at all. This suits you well.'

‘What's in your thoughts, then?'

I said, ‘I've been pondering the qualities of Leithers.'

‘Have ye?' Andrew grinned. ‘Faith, ye've been in my debt a year now, all for want of telling me the third part of my nature as a man of Leith. What were the first two?'

‘Stubborn,' I reminded him.

‘Well, aye, I'm fairly that.'

‘And proud,' I said.

‘It's been suggested. And…?'

I set my back to Brutus, and reached up to link my arms around my husband's neck. ‘And mine.'

‘Now that,' he said, his grey eyes warm, ‘I'll grant ye without argument.'

He offered me a kiss to seal the bargain, and I took it with a smile. There would be arguments enough to come, I knew, as with all those who, by their stars or by their wills, had bound their lives together.

But on this day, I felt I'd won enough to share the victory, so I gave him that last word, and let him keep it.