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

'I have never forgotten them. For that reason I have always loved Middleham. I would we could be there now . . . together . . . with our son. . . .'

'Time passes, Richard. We have had some bad times ... I shall never forget those days I spent in that hot and foul-smelling kitchen. . . . Sometimes it comes back to me now ... I dream . . . and I wake up and am thankful that that is over. But we must look to the future. When I am gone ... I want you to be happy, Richard.'

'I could not hope to be.'

'You will be. You will succeed. You will be a great King—even greater than your brother. Oh Richard, I want you to be happy. If you are, everything that has gone on before will be worth while.'

'You are going to get well/ he said firmly, 'and when you are

we will have children, sons . . . sons and daughters.'

'Yes/ she said to comfort him. 'Oh yes.' And she tried to pretend that she believed that possible.

Christmas had come. It was spent at Westminster and in order to keep his promise to look after his brother's daughters, Richard had them brought to the celebrations. He had said that they should have gowns suitable to their rank and Elizabeth of York was attired as magnificently as the Queen.

She looked beauhful and her stay in Sanctuary had clearly done her no harm. She was sparkling, merry and clearly delighted to be free at last.

She showed marked appreciation to the King who was very gracious to her. She was very beautiful with her long golden hair flowing about her shoulders—a marked contrast to the Queen who, although she made a brave effort, looked as though she were visibly fading away.

Morton's spies at Court noticed Elizabeth's deference to the King and that he paid her due honour. They sent word to Morton who was horrified at the thought of Elizabeth's being at Court and clearly enjoying it, and at the accounts of the King's gracious-ness to her and her willingness to please.

Any marriage of Elizabeth of York not to Henry Tudor would render the scheme of making him King impossible. Elizabeth must not marry . . . until Henry Tudor came to claim her.

Morton did not like all this talk about the King's graciousness to Elizabeth. His task was to win the throne for Henry Tudor and he, shrewd plotter that he was, knew that slander against Richard would be of as great importance as winning a battle. Elizabeth must not marry.

In the meanhme there was a chance to defame Richard further.

Why not send out hints that he was contemplating marrying his niece? He was married to Anne yes, but a little dose of poison would soon remove her and then he would be free.

Anne would be dead soon, according to reports. She was weaker every day. So that story could sound plausible.

Richard could not understand why people should hate him so, why they should continue to send out these evil rumours.

Catesby and Ratcliffe said that it was because Henry Tudor had people working for him secretly and slander was one of the weapons they were using against him.

Events weighed heavily upon him. He must be prepared for

the coming of Henry Tudor and each day he saw Anne growing weaker and weaker.

On the sixteenth of March Richard was summoned to her bedside. He sat there holding her hand while the chamber was filled with darkness.

Outside the people stood about in the streets staring up at the sky for the sun's face was slowly being obscured.

It was the greatest eclipse of the sun which the people of England had ever seen and they thought it must have something to do with the passing of the Queen.

Anne was unaware of it. She knew only that Richard was with her, holding her hand and that she was slowly slipping away from him.

'Richard. . . .' she tried to say his name.

He bent over. 'Rest, dearest/ he said. 'It is best so.'

'Soon I shall be at rest/ she murmured. 'Soon I shall see our son. . . . Oh Richard, I shall be with you . . . always. . . .'

His cheeks were wet. He was surprised. It was long since he had shed a tear.

An utter desolation had come to him.

She had gone . . . this companion of his youth, this faithful wife; the one he had loved even more deeply than he had loved his brother.

There would never be anyone else. He did not change. Loyalty bound him.

The rumours were at their height. He was going to marry his niece.

Elizabeth of York was agreeable and Elizabeth Woodville would welcome the marriage. It would settle differences. The Woodvilles could hardly be against a King who was the husband of one of their daughters.

Marry his niece! It was incest.

Typical of him, they said. He was without scruples.

Richard knew that he must think of marrying.

Rotherham had pointed out that a King without an heir was storing up trouble. He should marry. People were saying that his niece was a strong and healthy woman.

'She is indeed,' replied Richard, 'and I doubt not that she will

bear strong children when the time comes.'

Rotherham reported to Morton that the King was contemplating marrying his niece.

Sir William Catesby and Sir Richard Ratcliffe took an early opportunity of speaking to the King.

He must not marry Elizabeth of York. They themselves were very anxious to keep out the Woodville influence for they feared it would go hard with them if ever that family crept back into power. They had placed themselves on Richard's side so clearly against the Woodvilles. But that was not all. They served Richard faithfully and they feared that a marriage with his niece would damage his reputation even further. They had no doubt that the Pope could be induced to grant a dispensation. But it would be wrong and if Richard was going to look for a bride he must do so elsewhere.

'My dear friends,' said Richard, 'you have no need to warn me. I had no intention of marrying my niece. It is just another of those evil rumours which have suddenly started to circulate about me.'

Catesby and Ratcliffe were greatly relieved.

Richard smiled at them. 'Surely you did not believe I would marry my niece? I tell you this, I am in no mood for marriage. I still mourn the Queen and have other matters more urgent. Spring is coming. The Tudor is certain to make an attempt some time this year.'

'That's so,' said Catesby, 'but all the same I should like to find the source of these rumours.'

Richard sighed. 'My good friends,' he said, '1 agree with you. It is the insidious enemy who can harm us more than the one who comes in battle. I long for the day when I shall face the Tudor on the battlefield. I pray God that the task of taking him may fall to me.'

'In the meantime, my lord,' said Ratcliffe, 'we must put an end to this rumour.'

'I will send Elizabeth away from Court,' said Richard. 'It is not fitting that she should be there—in view of the rumours—now that the Queen is no longer with us.'

'Where should she go, my lord?'

'Why not to Sheriff Hutton. She will be away from the Court there. One or more of her sisters could go with her. It shall be for them to decide. My Clarence nephews are there, Warwick and

Lincoln. She will be company for them and they for her. Yes, to Sheriff Hutton.'

Catesby and Ratcliffe were well pleased. They hoped they had stopped the rumours about Richard and Elizabeth.

BOSWORTH FIELD

August had come and Richard knew that across the Channel plans were coming to a climax. It seemed certain that Henry Tudor would attempt a landing.

Richard was prepared. He was feeling philosophical. Soon the test would come and it was going to be either victory or death for him, he knew.

He faced the future with a kind of nonchalance. He had lost his wife and son. There was nothing left but to fight for the crown.

If he defeated Henry Tudor he would plan a new life. He would try to forget the sadness of old. He would try to be a good King as his brother had been. But that could not be until he had cleared the country of this evil threat of war.