‘Why so soon?’ Tor kissed her softly. ‘I am expected back at the Palace for my duties.’ ‘You have duties here, physic.’ She pouted even more. ‘Cassandra, I’m ashamed for you.’ He continued to fasten the black glass buttons of his white collarless shirt which marked him as a man of medicine. Cassandra continued with her attempts to undo them just as quickly. ‘Now stop!’ His voice crackled with humour. ‘I’ll see you again soon but I must away now, my sweet lady.’ Tor twisted away and looked around the room for any stray belongings which might have got cast into some corner during the evening’s pleasures. He spied his black jerkin. Cassandra’s voice had hit a whine. ‘You always say that. Yet I must wait and wait and queue behind Dorothea or Shally, and Betsy even told me you made a promise to Sissy Beaton. I’ll kill you if you lay with Sissy!’ Tor laughed. He found his hat, pecked her cheek and squeezed her young breast gently.
