Chapter Thirty-Five
GRIETE HOUSE, ANTWERP, 1629
They walked along the gravel track towards the city with its spires and chimneys rising myth-like out of the haze, the Scheldt benign and glittering in the transformed weather. They had reached the first windmill when a coach came into view in the distance.
Marinus ran to his mother. ‘Is it Papa? Is it him?’
Constanza shielded her eyes against the sun. ‘It is, I’m sure.’
Judith pulled at her mother’s hand. ‘Come, Mama, we should run to him.’
‘We’ll wait here. He’ll stop for us.’
Clara watched the approaching coach grow larger. ‘I’ll leave you and continue my walk, if you don’t mind. I need the exercise after so long indoors.’
Constanza looked over her shoulder. ‘Do, please, Clara. If it’s what you wish.’ She turned back to her excited
