By Loyalty Bound: The Story of the Mistress of King Richard III Read Online Free PDF Page B

a servant to bring her some warm water so that she could wash and change her underlinen, but in the meantime she felt compelled to look out, to be sure that the siege really was over.
    She could see men leading donkey-carts laden with fresh supplies up to the castle. For the moment the outer gate stood wide open to the market place and as far as she could see there was no sign of the Stanley army.
    “They’ve left a mess,” commented Izzie, coming up behind her.
    “Have they?” asked Anne, wishing that she had her sister’s acute eyesight. But then, she reflected, she didn’t really want to see rubbish on the banks of the Wenning.
    “There’ll be hot water soon,” said Izzie. “I can’t wait to get out of this gown. I feel like I’ve spent a lifetime in it.” As she spoke Anne heard the sound of wood being chopped for fires. It was reassuring and calmingly familiar, and she looked forward to mutton for supper and fresh baked bread. Life would return to normal, for a while at least. But deep down, she knew that sooner or later the
     
    Stanleys would return.
     
    James beckoned his brother forward and Robert came towards them with a frown, as if he was seeking an explanation for why the Duke of Gloucester was eating breakfast in Hornby Castle whilst wearing his armour. Robert made a distracted bow to the duke and glanced from him to his brother with wary brown eyes. He looked cold and wet and very tired, thought James, wondering where his brother had been sheltering during the Stanley siege.
    “Your Grace,” said Robert.
    “Do you bring news?” asked the duke eagerly.
    James watched as his brother reached into his pouch for a damp letter. “The king is gathering an army again. There is talk of Warwick returning with the backing of the French queen.”
    The Duke of Gloucester slammed his fist down on the table, making the board leap from its supports. The cups and platters quivered. “I knew there was more to the Stanley withdrawal than a distaste for inclement weather. When did you receive word from the king?”
    “A few days past,” admitted Robert.
    “My brother could not have brought news any sooner,” pointed out James.
    The duke nodded, though it was obvious that his thoughts had already moved on.
    “I must leave,” he said.
     
    Stripped of the wet clothing that had clung coldly to his body, Robert stepped into the tub of water. It was hot. Too hot, and he stood for a moment as feeling flooded back into his lower legs turning them from white to a vivid red. Then he eased himself down, cursing as the hot water touched his nether regions. The servant stepped forward with a bucket of cold, but Robert waved him away. It would cool quickly enough and for now the pain was almost pleasurable as he allowed the fragrant liquid to wash over him and the steam to unclog his blocked nose. He leaned his head back on the hard edge of the tub and stared at the thick oak beams that straddled the roof of his bedchamber. It would have been pleasant to sleep, but his mind was still too busy pondering on the events of the morning.
    When he’d climbed the outer steps in search of his brother he had never expected to find him with the Duke of Gloucester. He’d known the young duke since his days at Middleham when he was being educated under the tutelage of the Warwicks. As a squire there, Robert had been given responsibility for overseeing young Diccon’s training in the tiltyard and he’d found the boy a talented horseman though more interested in hunting with hawks than refining his skills in the joust. He also remembered how the boy was often to be found in a quiet corner reading a book or playing chess with anyone who would indulge him. The earl had been apt to mutter worried comments about such sedentary pastimes, but what Diccon had learned from them had not been wasted. He was a tactician and his assurances that he would intercede on their behalf about the inheritance gave Robert hope. He knew the king was