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

'What is the matter with you?'

'I am her brother-in-law . . . her nearest relation through Isabel. Isabel and I will look after her. She is in my hands. You have come here to ask her to marry you, have you not?' George was always unable to control his anger and he was angry now. He had meant to be subtle, to ward off Richard but when his brother stood before him and he realized how strong Richard could be in his quiet way, his anger flared up. He had been informed that Richard intended to marry Anne and he thought his motive was the same as his own had been in marrying Isabel: the Warwick fortune.

'Yes,' said Richard steadily, 'I intend to marry Anne if she is agreeable.'

'You intend to marry a fortune, eh? That is what you are after. You think you'll have your share of Warwick's estate.'

'I was thinking of Anne. . . .'

'Oh brother, how noble you are! I know you well. Quiet, serious, loyal always to brother Edward. Well it paid to be so, eh? And now you think you will come along to that poor desolate girl and tell her she must marry you . . . not for her fortune ... oh no, no, but because you were always such good friends at Middleham. But you will not say no to the Warwick estates, will you? My dear brother, Anne has been on the side of the enemies of our brother the King. For that she may well forfeit her estates.'

'You fought with the enemies of the King, George. Will you forfeit your estates? And Anne has never fought. She did what

she was obliged to. You know it and Edward knows it. Now I will see her.'

George was facing him. 'You cannot see her. She is too sick to be seen. Only Isabel is with her.'

'You're lying, George.'

'You are my brother and I do not want to quarrel with you but if you attempt to invade my house against my wishes my guards will stop you on my orders.'

'I have not come here for a brawl.'

'Then go, brother, before you provoke one.'

George's face was scarlet, his slightly bloodshot eyes bulging with rage. Richard knew George. When he was angry he lost control. He would be capable of anything.

The last thing Richard wanted was a quarrel with his brother which in George's present mood could result in the death of one of them. He turned on his heel and walked away.

He would put the matter to Edward and demand to see Anne. He was sure Edward would be on his side. Edward was devoted to him and was always suspicious of George. He knew what Edward's verdict would be and even George would have to consider very carefully before going against the wishes of the King.

Edward listened thoughtfully to what had occurred.

'It is clear what this means,' he said. 'George wants the entire Warwick fortune. He thinks by keeping Anne in his control he will get it through Isabel. Where George is, there is always trouble. Sometimes I wonder where it will lead us in the end. How dare he talk about Anne's fighting against me! He is completely brazen. Consider how he went to Warwick and actually took up arms against me. I don't know why I am so lenient with him. It is because he is my brother, I suppose. He was such a bright little fellow when he was young, and then his little wickednesses seemed amusing. But no longer so. I will let George know that he shall do nothing to impede you.'

'I fear he may be keeping Anne there against her will. If I could see her . . .'

'You shall. I will let George know that Anne is to receive you at his house and you can talk to her and make your plans.'

Richard thanked his brother and Edward immediately sent off a messenger to George to tell him that when Richard called he was to see the Lady Anne and if he, George, prevented this he would have to answer to the King.

Giving George time to receive the King's order Richard rode out to Clarence's house where his brother was waiting for him. George looked complacent and for a moment Richard thought he had decided to accept Edward's decision.

'I have come to see the Lady Anne/ he said. 'I pray you have me conducted to her apartments at once.'

'Alas,' said George holding his hands together and looking piously up at the roof, 'you are too late, Richard. The Lady Anne is no longer here.'

'No longer here? Why . . . she was here. . . .'

'She was but now she is not.'

'Then where is she?'

'I have heard from my brother that I do not hold the wardship of the lady and therefore her whereabouts can be no concern of mine.'

'You lie/

'Indeed not. I assure you she is no longer in this house.'

'I do not believe you.'

'Dear brother, you may search the place. You may question my servants. You must discover for yourself. In fact I wish you to. I cannot have you spreading stories that I have the lady in secret hiding here.'

Richard said: 'I will search your house.'

'Go ahead. Feel welcome to ask anyone in the house to help you/

Richard went to the staircase. He found Isabel in one of the corridors and he wondered if she had been listening to the altercation between himself and George.

'Isabel,' he said and took her hand and kissed it. She looked frightened. He had always liked Isabel although naturally his feelings did not go as deep for her as they did for Anne. 'Where is your sister?'

'I do not know, Richard,' she said. 'She has disappeared. I went to her room to talk to her and she had gone.'

'Gone! But where to?'

'I have no idea. It is as though she left in a hurry. I believe she has runaway.'

'But where could she run to?'

'I thought perhaps to our mother.'

'Your mother is at Beaulieu is she not?'

'Yes, in Sanctuary there on the King's orders.'

Richard nodded. It was a sad state of affairs but the Countess was of course the wife of Warwick who had brought an army against the King. All the Countess's lands had been confiscated. That was probably due to George who naturally wanted the whole of the Warwick inheritance to go to Isabel.

Tsabel, can you assure me that she is not hidden away somewhere in this house?'

T have searched for her and cannot find her. Oh Richard, what do you think has become of her?'

'Do you think she is running away from George?'

'He has not been unkind to her.'

'He tried to keep her a prisoner here and when I called he would not allow me to see her. Did she know that?'

Isabel shook her head. 'Unless George told her. / did not know you had been here.'

'Edward has commanded that nothing be put in the way of my seeing her.'

'But she is gone, Richard.'

'I believe George has sent her away,' said Richard hght-lipped.

'I do not know. He tells me nothing. Oh Richard, Anne would be so pleased if she knew you wanted to see her. She talked of you often. I think she thought you had deserted her after all that happened.'

'My God, Isabel, it was no fault of Anne's! Did she not think I knew that! But I'll find her. I swear I will. Now I am going to search this house . . . every room . . . every nook . . . everywhere. You understand, Isabel, I must satisfy myself that she is not here.'

'I understand, Richard. Go and search. I do not think you will find her. I myself have looked everywhere. I am so worried as to what has become of her.'

Isabel was right. He searched but there was no trace of Anne.

Richard visited the Countess at Beaulieu. He found a very sad woman. She was very anxious for her daughters and the greatest hardship she had to bear was separation from them.

Richard decided he would speak to Edward about her being kept in Sanctuary there. It was of course because of the Warwick estates and George's obsession with them. While the Countess

was here she could claim nothing. Edward knew that George wanted those estates. Somehmes Richard thought Edward was afraid of George. Not exactly afraid. There was very little Edward feared. But Edward had always been one for peace and what he loathed above all else was strife in the family. While he was deeply suspicious of George he did not want to upset him so he turned his back on what was a form of caphvity for the Countess.