‘How long will you be in Amsterdam?’

‘Only for a couple of days, I fear.’

Her face clouded. ‘Is that all?’

‘I have to sail for England.’

‘Can’t you stay here for a week at least?’

‘My passage is already booked,’ he explained, ‘and His Grace is expecting me.’

‘Tell him you had to spend more time with Father, advising him about his tapestry of the battle of Ramillies. After all, it was commissioned by the Duke himself and he ordered you to help.’

‘I’ve spoken to your father at great length about the battle and he must already be well advanced on the tapestry.’

‘Not at all,’ she said. ‘Her Grace, the Duchess of Marlborough, wrote to say that there was no immediate hurry. It may be years before it can be hung in Blenheim Palace. Building work is very slow, apparently. Father is engaged on other commissions at the moment. You’d have to jog his memory about Ramillies.’

Daniel sighed. ‘I’ll have to jog my own memory,’ he confessed. ‘It seems such a long time ago now. When we routed the French that glorious day, I thought it would be a turning point in the war and that King Louis would agree to peace on our terms.’

‘Father says that he’ll never concede defeat.’

‘Failing that, I hoped that we could build on the success of Ramillies in last year’s campaigns and strike into France itself but, somehow, it just didn’t happen. We had endless disappointments.’

She smiled sadly. ‘I know all about disappointments.’

‘Cheer up, Amalia,’ he said, kissing her on the cheek. ‘Make the most of me while I am here. I only have one other call to make and then I’m entirely at your disposal.’

‘I think I can guess what that other call is.’

‘I have to pay my respects to another very special woman.’