The Sun in Splendour - Plaidy Jean (электронную книгу бесплатно без регистрации .txt) 📗

'You honour me, my lord.'

'I respect your courage in coming here. And I liked your wife . . . and your daughter.'

Wine was brought and as he drank Edward was thinking of Elizabeth. He could not forget her face. He had believed he would ride away and take up with some woman and in a brief time forget the aloof Elizabeth. But it was not so. She had spoiled things for him, and his desire for her showed no signs of diminishing. Rather did it increase.

Edward enjoyed talking to Lord Rivers. It gave him a certain comfort to be with someone who was close to her. Lord Rivers was astonished by the King's interest in his family. Jacquetta had

mentioned nothing of Edward's passion for Elizabeth for she knew that would have alarmed him. He would have had no wish for their daughter to become one of the King's mistresses. They enjoyed too short a reign and Edward's reputation with women was such that no woman who valued her good name should be involved with him. She would immediately be classed with the army of merchants' wives who had pandered to the King's lust, and satisfied him temporarily until he passed on to the next.

Jacquetta had told her husband that the King had called briefly and she had seen that their adherence to Lancaster was a mistake. Edward had obviously come to stay on the throne and Henry was quite unfit to rule, and she believed that, for the good of the family, they should turn from a cause which was dead in any case and offer their services to the crowned and reigning King. She had in due course convinced him as she invariably did.

So he had called not expecting this warm welcome and he was really astounded when Edward wanted to know much about the intimate details of his family life.

Edward asked about his marriage with Jacquetta.

'A bold action to take,' said Edward. 'I'll swear her family were planning some grand marriage for her.'

'They were indeed, but Jacquetta had made up her mind and in the family we have all learned that once that happens, there is no gainsaying her. Jacquetta is a wonderful woman, my lord.'

'I gathered that in our brief acquaintance. And you were happy in this marriage?'

'My lord I have never regretted it for one moment. We have a fine family of beautiful children.'

'I have seen your eldest daughter. Her beauty is remarkable.' The King spoke with an emotion which Fevers did not notice.

'There are Anthony, John, Lionel and Edward, my sons who have survived. Then there are my daughters, Elizabeth whom you have met, Margaret, Anne, Jacquetta, Mary, Catherine. . . .'

'You indeed have a goodly brood and a handsome wife into the bargain.'

'My lord, I have been a very happy man and most singularly blessed when Jacquetta came into my life. We risked a great deal to marry and I never cease to thank God that we did.'

'Boldness often pays in life. So I have found and I am glad to welcome you to our side. Lord Rivers. I trust I may see you often. I liked your place at Grafton. When I am hunting that way... for

there are fine deer at Whittlebury, I will call on your family.'

'My lord, you overwhelm us.'

When Lord Rivers took his leave of the King he was quite bewildered. He had expected to be called on to prove his loyalty before he was admitted to such a favour. He had heard that Edward was an easy-going man, not in the least vindictive. But such a reception was strange indeed.

The King's friendship with Lord Rivers was noticed, and not without a little rancour. He seemed to have taken more to this man who had fought against him in several battles than he did to his friends.

Warwick said: 'What is this intimacy with Rivers? I should hardly have thought he qualified for such favour.'

'Oh, he is a pleasant fellow,' replied Edward. 'I like his company.'

'And his son's too, it seems.'

'Lord Scales.'

'Is that what he calls himself now?'

'He is Lord Scales, Richard. He married Sir Henry Bourchier's widow and got the title of Scales through her.'

'You seem to have made rapid friendship with them. I never thought much of the Woodvilles.'

'Did you not?' said Edward coolly.

'No. It is not so long ago that we made them look silly . . . very silly indeed. Rivers and his son Anthony. It was Dynham, you remember him?'

'I have heard something of this exploit. It was well talked of, I believe. You saw to that.'

'They were the enemy. Stationed at Sandwich preparing a fleet for Somerset to come and drive me out of Calais. Dynham landed at Sandwich and caught the pair of them in their beds. He brought them over to me . . . just as they were.'

'Had they not been in their beds it might not have been so easy to surprise them. It does not need a great deal of valour to surprise a man asleep and unprotected.'

Warwick was quite unaware of the asperity in the King's tones.

'I let them know how I scorned them when they arrived in Paris. Low-born traitors I called them. Rivers' father was just a

squire. . . . Henry the Fifth knighted him on the field of battle so I think. They gave themselves airs I told them and they should be careful how they conducted themselves in the presence of their betters.'

There are many,' said Edward pointedly, 'who attain their honours through brilliant marriages, or some such turn of fortune. Perhaps one should not probe too much into how people rise. Suffice it that they have the wisdom or the bravery to do so.'

This was a direct hit at Warwick who had acquired the noble title of Earl of Warwick and vast lands through his marriage with Anne Beauchamp, Warwick's heir. But Warwick did not see this. He had determined to warn Edward against showing too much favour to the Woodvilles and he had given that warning as he had on so many other occasions when he thought the King's conduct was not quite what it should be.

Warwick was becoming overbearing, thought Edward. Indeed, one would think I were a child instead of the King.

'You'll be pleased to know,' Warwick was going on, 'that negotiations with Louis are going on apace. He's delighted about Bona of Savoy. We shall soon be able to make an announcement.'

But Edward was not listening.

It was impossible to stay away. He had to be there again. He could find no delight in any other woman. He had made several attempts. They all ended in failure.

He would go hunting, he said, in Whittlebury Forest. He had found the game there as good as anywhere in England. Hastings said that he could remember nothing special about it and had thought their efforts had been even less rewarding than usual.

Edward looked sharply at his friend. He was not amused.

Heaven help us, thought Hastings, he is taking the widow very seriously indeed.

Usually Edward liked to laugh and was prepared to do so, within reason, against himself. Now, he was very definitely not amused.

Caution, Hastings warned himself.

Of course he left the party and Hastings knew well enough not to try to follow him. Let him go alone to Grafton and call on the reluctant lady.

Edward felt frustrated and wretched to discover that Elizabeth was not at Grafton. She had gone to Bradgate. Lord Rivers was also absent. But Jacquetta was there. She received him with a great warmth and declared that she was honoured indeed.

'Elizabeth went off to Bradgate with such joy,' she told him. 'She lived there with her husband, you know. Both the boys were borh there. She says she could never be grateful enough to you for your goodness in restoring her estates.'

'She did not seem to be over grateful.'

'Oh, my dear lord, you mean because she would not be your mistress. It is quite impossible for a lady of her upbringing. You are not still thinking of her in that respect, are you?'

'I shall never cease to think of her.'