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brown meat, whereas Kepler picked more carefully.
    â€˜I believe that you chose Prague for your exile with an agenda in mind,’ said Jessenius.
    â€˜Indeed. I hope to work with the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe. He has recently taken up residence not far from here, at Benátky Castle.’
    â€˜Why Tycho?’
    â€˜He’s the greatest observational astronomer alive. He has spent his lifetime on the subject and amassed the finest collection of observations in human history.’
    â€˜Forgive me,’ said Jessenius, toying with some meat, ‘but I thought your allegiance was to the Bear, Ursus, the imperial mathematician.’
    Kepler felt his cheeks burn. Would this haunt him for ever?
    Hoffman looked concerned.
    â€˜I did not give Ursus permission to publish my letter as the prelude to his book,’ said Kepler.
    â€˜But you did write the letter.’ A watchfulness returned to Jessenius’s eyes.
    Something hot sparked inside Kepler. ‘And how I regret it now. I was young, guileless and stupid, trying to worm my way into the favour of any astronomer who would give me credit. So, yes, a few years ago I sent Ursus a letter of the utmost praise with a copy of my book; as I did to Tycho; as I did to many others. At the time, I was unaware of their rivalry. Now, I would not hesitate to name Tycho the greater astronomer. He knows this; we have corresponded since. He even praised my work, inviting me to Prague so that we could discuss astronomy. But I was not at liberty to leave my teaching post.’ Kepler scratched his head, desperate to make them believe him. ‘You see the Mysterium is just the beginning. It sets out my belief in Copernican astronomy but not my proof of it. It is infatuation without marriage; a man’s ideas without the womanly curves of a solution. Just as a carpenter needs wood to fashion, so a mathematician needs numbers to shape. In his lifetime Tycho has accumulated more observations than all other astronomers in history put together. With them, I can prove that the Sun is the centre of the Universe – I know it.’ He lowered his voice to a whisper. ‘I feel the influence of God in my belief.’
    A sideways glance passed between Hoffman and Jessenius. When he realised that Kepler had seen the look, Hoffman hastily slid the pie across. ‘Do eat, Johannes, or there will be none left.’
    â€˜I’ve had my fill, thank you,’ Kepler said pointedly. ‘I’ve also written to my old tutor at Tübingen, asking about a professorship there. Perhaps coming to Prague was a mistake.’
    â€˜Patience, friend,’ Jessenius said, wiping his lips with a napkin.
    Hoffman placed a hand on Kepler’s arm, guiding him back into the seat.
    Jessenius continued. ‘Please accept my apologies for questioning you, but you must understand that Tycho is a law unto himself. If you are to work with him, your loyalty must be beyond reproach.’
    Kepler looked from Jessenius to Hoffman, and saw in their faces the reality of the situation.
    â€˜Jan is a close friend of Tycho,’ confirmed Hoffman.
    â€˜Fear not, Johannes,’ said Jessenius, ‘I believe you are a good man and I will take word of your arrival to Tycho.’
    â€˜Sir, may I humbly beg that you not reveal the circumstances of my arrival? You see, it is my hope to collaborate with Tycho as an equal: his observations and my mathematics. Any hint of my plight will make me seem in need of charity. It would destroy my pride.’ If not for the table, Kepler would have sunk to his knees.
    Jessenius nodded. ‘I will inform him only of your arrival. The rest is down to Tycho. Be warned, Johannes, no man makes up Tycho’s mind for him.’

4
    â€˜That’ll do,’ said Barbara. ‘Do you want me to stop breathing?’
    Anicka tied the laces of her mistress’s stays and helped her into a dark blue dress that flared at the hips and had