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

They bathed together and while they did so they were served with refreshments which consisted of green ginger, sweetmeats and spiced wine.

A week or so later the company were in London where the investiture of de Gruthuyse with the earldom of Winchester took place. The King was a magnificent figure in his crown and state robes and it was a brilliant assembly that assisted at the ceremony. The Duke of Clarence had been assigned to carry the guest's train and after the ceremony the King led the new Earl back to Westminster where the Queen was waiting to greet him. She was beautiful in her splendid robes wearing the crown on her golden hair and she had rarely felt so confident. Her great regret was that Jacquetta was not there to see her.

Yet another tragedy was awaiting Elizabeth. December had come and little Margaret was growing steadily worse, and on the eleventh of the month, when the child was only eight months old, she died.

They buried her in the Chapel of the Confessor in the Abbey. So there were two deaths in one year. Elizabeth deeply mourned her loss, but she was cheered to know that she was once again pregnant.

Edward grieved with her but he was, like herself, delighted to know they could expect another. Although he was very satisfied with what he had, he longed for another boy. Young Edward was a delight but kings always liked to know that there was at least one other son should anything happen to the first.

Occasionally Elizabeth thought of Jane Shore. She did not know why she should bother about one of his women, except that her mother had mentioned her with a touch of uneasiness during their last real talk together.

She certainly would not mention the woman to Edward but she did find what she thought an opportune moment to mention the Captaincy of Calais which she had heard discussed recently with the comment that the King could not wait much longer before appointing Warwick's successor.

She knew why he delayed. It was because thinking of the post reminded him of Warwick and strangely enough in spite of all that scheming Earl had done, he was still fond of him. Edward's moods might seem strange to some but she understood them. She knew of his devotion to his family; this had been proved by his weakness—she could only call it that—in forgiving Clarence who was only waiting for a chance to betray him again. She understood the force of family ties—none better—^but the Woodvilles worked for each other whereas Edward's brother and some of his kinsmen had their eyes on what brought them the greatest reward.

'You will have to appoint a Captain soon,' she reminded him.

He was silent. His thoughts seemed elsewhere. Were they with the goldsmith's wife?

'Anthony has served you well. He loves you dearly. I was wondering if you would . . . .'

Edward was smiling at her benignly. He is going to agree, she thought.

His words were shattering: 'I have already bestowed the Captaincy/ he said.

She stared at him in amazement. If it had been given to Anthony she would have known at once. She had seen him only that day.

'I wanted to reward Hastings,' went on the King. 'He has been a good friend . . . and he was eager for it.'

Hastings! Her enemy! She had the greatest difficulty in curbing her anger.

She was not looking at the King at that moment, because she was afraid to; she could have slapped his handsome, smiling face. Calais ... for Hastings, her enemy! That man who accompanied Edward in his adventures with women and urged him on to greater lechery.

Hastings! The man she hated. She would be his bitter enemy from now on.

When she turned back to the King she was smiling and all the bitterness had been wiped from her face.

She was remembering Jacquetta's warning. Perhaps she must be doubly careful now.

Elizabeth discussed the matter of Hastings' appointment to the Captaincy of Calais with her brother Anthony. He was about a year younger than she was and perhaps the most able of her family. He had married well and through his wife had gained the title of Baron Scales. Being the eldest son he had become Lord Rivers on the death of their father and had advanced rapidly since his sister became Queen of England and was always watchful for improving his state. The King had become quite fond of him; he had his share of the Woodville good looks and had distinguished himself at the jousts where he was considered to be a champion.

Elizabeth knew how he had set his heart on Calais and she guessed what a great disappointment the selection of Hastings must be to him.

'Of course Hastings is as debauched as the King himself,' said Anthony, knowing it was safe to speak so to his sister. Elizabeth had never attempted to deny Edward's flagrant infidelities within her family circle and Jacquetta had always complimented her on her treatment of them.

There could not be such a complacent queen in history/ Jacquetta used to say. 'Oh how wise you are, my daughter. Your attitude to his philandering makes you irresistible to him.'

She was right. Edward would never have endured a carping wife.

He had always seemed ready to reward her for her attitude to his way of life by granting her requests as long as they did not interfere with his intentions. This matter of Hastings and Calais had been settled before she could as much as hint where she wanted the Captaincy to go.

'Is there no way of turning his favour from Hastings?' asked Elizabeth.

'They have always been friends. They have roamed the streets of London at night together; they have urged each other on to more and more outrageous adventures . . . long before you came on the scene, sister.'

'I know it well. I blame Hastings for much of the King's night adventures. Hastings is a profligate, a rake and a philanderer.'

'Well, Edward knows that as well as any and he continues to give him his friendship.'

'They are two of a kind,' said Elizabeth vehemently.

Anthony was alarmed to see his sister so intense, fearing she might betray her feelings to the King. They owed their prosperity to Elizabeth's relationship with the King; it must not change. No, there was no need to remind Elizabeth of that. She was as much aware of it as any of them.

'So,' said Anthony, 'we should not turn the King away from him by a complaint against his immoral way of life.'

'You mean . . . there could be some other way?'

Her eyes were alight with purpose and again Anthony felt that tremor of disquiet. He laid a hand on her arm. 'There might be a way.'

'How?'

'He has a large household of retainers. There are many who serve . . . .'

'WeU?'

'There may be some member of that retinue who is a little dissatisfied ... a little envious of another . . . one who feels he has not been justly treated.'

'And if he were found?'

'He might discover something against Hastings . . . some little plot involving the King.'

'Edward would never believe a thing against Hastings.'

'It might be possible to remind him that once he was loth to believe Warwick was a traitor to him.'

'First you must find something against Hastings.'

'I will/ Anthony promised.

Elizabeth nodded. And once Hastings was proved to be a traitor it would be a simple matter to suggest that the Captaincy should be given to one whom he could trust and whom could the King trust more than his own brother-in-law?

Hastings could not believe it. There was whispering about him. What had he done? He could find no answer to that. Who should be his enemy? Perhaps a husband of one of the women he had seduced? But which one? There were too many of them for him to guess.

It was a strange feeling.

Clarence looked at him slyly, almost invitingly. What did he mean? Hastings had always suspected that Clarence was looking about him, seeking some way of destroying his brother. Hastings wanted none of such matters. He was Edward's friend; he had always been Edward's friend and he wanted to remain so.