In the Tudor Court Collection. Amanda McCabe

asked me to come and bear you company.’

      ‘And I am very grateful for your presence, madame.’

      ‘I beg you to call me Veronique,’ she said, ‘for I hope we shall be friends.’

      ‘Yes, of course. I hope so too.’

      ‘Come,’ Lorenzo commanded, ‘our guests are waiting to see the bride.’

      ‘Our guests?’ Kathryn looked at him in surprise.

      ‘Did you imagine I had no friends?’ Lorenzo’s violet-blue eyes were laughing at her as he drew her out into the garden where a feast had been laid out on boards over trestles, covered with white cloths and laden with platters of wonderful food.

      Several ladies and gentlemen were gathered there and they burst into a spontaneous round of applause as Lorenzo drew her forward.

      ‘My friends, I give you the lady who has been brave—or foolish—enough to become my bride this day.’

      His introduction brought laughter and then the guests gathered round, giving her kisses and smiles, presents of money, silver, jewellery and objects of art. Kathryn was overwhelmed by this unexpected kindness—she had not expected anything of the sort.

      She looked at them shyly, her throat caught with emotion. ‘I do not know what to say…you are all so very kind.’

      ‘They are curious,’ Lorenzo said, a sparkle of amusement in his eyes, ‘for they wonder that any woman would wed such as I.’

      ‘No, I do not believe that,’ she said. ‘You are not so very terrible, Lorenzo.’

      Her remark brought much laughter and she found herself swept away by a group of smiling women who chattered away to her in a mixture of Italian and English, wanting to know all manner of things about her.

      ‘How did you meet Lorenzo?’

      ‘Where do you live?’

      ‘How did you come here?’

      ‘I lived in Cornwall and journeyed to Venice with friends.’

      ‘Cornwall? I have never heard of such a place!’ one rather pretty woman with a lively manner cried.

      ‘Do not show your ignorance, Elizabeta. It is in England!’

      The questions came so thick and fast that Kathryn’s head was spinning by the time Lorenzo came to rescue her. The laughter continued throughout the feast and the traditional toast to the bride and groom, and then music began to play and everyone demanded that they should dance.

      Kathryn trembled as he took her into his arms, but found that it was easy to follow his steps as they danced on the tiled patio. Glancing up, she saw that he was smiling and her heart fluttered. Surely he did care for her a little or he would not look at her that way.

      The merriment continued throughout the afternoon, but as the sun started to dip over the sea in a flash of fiery orange, their friends began to take their leave. The ladies kissed Kathryn and promised to call on her soon, and the men clapped Lorenzo on the back and told him he was a fortunate man.

      At last only Lorenzo, Veronique and Kathryn were left. They went into the house and the servants came out to begin the task of clearing up the debris.

      ‘If you have no need of me, my lady, I shall leave you alone.’ Veronique smiled at Kathryn and curtsied to Lorenzo. ‘Good evening, signor.’

      ‘Goodnight, madame.’

      Kathryn felt a little shiver run down her spine at the sound of his voice. They were alone at last and she was nervous, because she did not know the man she had married. She did not know what he expected of her. Her heart told her that there was nothing to fear, but still she could not help the trembling she felt inside.

      ‘Let us take a cup of wine together,’ Lorenzo said, pouring some of the sweet white wine she liked into a glass and handing it to her. He poured another for himself and sipped it, before setting the glass down. ‘Did you like my friends, Kathryn?’

      ‘Yes, of course. How could I not when they were so kind to me?’

      ‘You were surprised to find so many here to welcome you?’

      ‘I did not know what to expect.’

      ‘That is hardly surprising, for we know nothing of each other’s lives,’ he said, looking thoughtful. ‘Perhaps that will change when I return, Kathryn. I have never considered marriage, but a man may acquire new ideas. Now that you are my wife, I would have you content. However, should you be unhappy, I would consider taking you back to your father.’

      Kathryn did not know how to answer him. ‘I shall try to please you, Lorenzo.’

      ‘You mistake my meaning,’ he said. ‘My life will be much as it has been, for I shall be often away. However, when I am at home I shall do what I can to make you happy.’

      ‘Thank you. You have already done so much for me.’ He had given her back her reputation and her pride. She could ask nothing more of him—unless he wished to give it.

      ‘You must try not to worry too much about your friends,’ Lorenzo said. ‘If you wish to write a letter to your father, Paolo will see it on its way for you. I shall leave money with him, for you will need to run the house and to buy things for your own use. You may address any accounts to him and he will pay them for you. And when I return we shall talk again.’

      Kathryn felt the emotion rising inside her. She swallowed hard, determined not to let him see that she was so affected. She wished that he did not have to leave her, but he had made his position clear. He had married her to keep her safe and would try to be a kind, considerate husband, but he had no use for a wife. She meant nothing to him.

      She took a deep breath, controlling her voice as she said, ‘When must you leave?’

      ‘We put to sea in the morning. I have business that I must attend this night. I am sorry to leave you so soon, Kathryn, but we are at war.’

      ‘Yes, I know.’ Was she to spend her wedding night alone? ‘Shall I see you again before you leave?’

      Lorenzo hesitated, then shook his head. ‘I think there will not be time. Besides, I shall make no demands of you this night, Kathryn. You must learn to think of me as your husband, and then, perhaps…but we shall see if we suit each other.’

      Kathryn felt as if he had slapped her. She knew that he did not love her, but she had imagined that he would claim his right as a husband to sleep in her bed that night. Surely any man would do as much? It could only mean that he did not find her desirable enough. She swallowed her hurt pride, refusing to show him how she felt at being so summarily abandoned.

      ‘As you wish. I pray that you have a safe journey, Lorenzo.’

      He hesitated for a moment, then took two steps towards her and stopped, looking down at her with such a strange expression. She thought that he would take her in his arms and kiss her and her heart beat wildly, but then he seemed to change his mind. He moved away from her, as if deliberately putting distance between them.

      ‘If anything should happen to me, you will be taken care of, Kathryn. You have nothing to fear. And now, forgive me, I must leave.’

      Kathryn nodded, feeling miserable as he walked from the room. He did not find her desirable enough to want to lie with her. She was a bride, but not a wife, and the pain of humiliation at his rejection twisted inside her like the blade of a knife. She had longed for him to kiss her and make her his own, but he did not want her.

      Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She would never, never let him see that she was fool enough to love him.

      Lorenzo found the endless meetings and discussions tedious beyond bearing. It was now early autumn and the Sicilian squadron had gathered at Oranto. Many of the galleys were neither as well equipped nor manned as adequately as his own,