Daughter of York Read Online Free PDF Page A

resentful stare. “Aye, Dickon. And I will protect you, never fear.”
    “I am not afraid, George!” Richard exclaimed. “I am a York. And us Yorks are never afraid!”
    “There’s a brave boy, Richard.” Cecily turned, beaming. “Only it should be we Yorks, but no mind. Now, both of you say good-bye to Margaret and come with me.”
    Margaret watched, stunned, as the trio left the room, followed by Anne and a servant carrying the clothes chest. How could her life change so quickly? Only a few weeks ago, she had a father and another brother. Now they were gone. Then Edward had triumphed at Mortimer’s Cross, giving Yorkists hope of winning the crown of England, and now the disastrous news of St. Albans had turned their world upside down again. She shook her head in disbelief. A mere hour ago, she had been relatively carefree and experiencing her first sensual thrill of womanhood. Now her world was falling apart, and as if the news weren’t bad enough, her brothers were to be taken from her.
    “George! Dickon!” she cried, “Wait for me!”
    She picked up her skirts and ran down to the castle quay, where she was just in time to give both boys a last kiss. The boatmen dipped their heavy oars into the water and pulled away from the pier towards the scores of ships moored in the Pool on the other side of London Bridge. Cecily sat with her black fur-trimmed cloak wrapped around her frightened children as they huddled together for warmth against the damp February evening.
    “I will be back with the tide, Margaret,” Cecily called. “You must take care of everything until I return. You know what to do. You have learned well!”
    Margaret nodded and waved, her eyes brimming with tears, as she watched the boat and the small figures of her brothers recede into thediminishing light. “God go with you, boys. Until we meet again!” she cried. Then she turned, held her head high and walked sedately up the stone steps and back into the castle. For the next few hours, she was in charge of the York household, giving orders—a little timorously, but still with enough authority—and presiding over the evening prayers. She prayed to St. Margaret to help her during Cecily’s absence. She looked around at the expectant faces all waiting for her to dismiss them after the chaplain had intoned the blessing, and she realized in that moment that her childhood was over.

2
    1461
    Queen Margaret had missed her chance again. Instead of marching her victorious army the twenty miles into London immediately following the battle at St. Albans, she hesitated. For the next ten days she parlayed with the mayor and aldermen, attempting to negotiate an entry. The city elders were loath to resist the queen—fearing reprisals for having lent the preferred Yorkists vast sums to equip their army—and agreed to meet her to suggest that four of her deputies negotiate with the London magistrates, acting on behalf of its citizens, to allow only the royalist leaders into the city. The London elders, however, had reckoned without their fellow citizens. Londoners shut up their shops, hid their jewels and money and turned on the mayor, taking the keys of the city gates for themselves and refusing to let anyone in or out.
    At Baynard’s Castle, the York household held its breath and waited. Surely the lord Edward could not be far now. Cecily attempted to continue the daily routine of the castle, and she and Margaret spent time plying their needles, walking about the orchard and terraces, visiting the wounded and attending Mass. Margaret was relieved to know Georgeand Richard had been taken on board a vessel bound for Burgundy, and Cecily assured her that Duke Philip would treat them kindly. Cecily had had to negotiate personally with the captains of two or three ships lying in the harbor before one going to the Low Countries agreed to her price. Her mother’s bravery and resolve to protect her family even in the face of danger left an indelible mark on