Daughter of York Read Online Free PDF

Margaret, and she hoped that when her turn came, she too would be as fearless.
    She missed her brothers, even their squabbling, and kept expecting to see them as she went through the days. She had escaped a few times to the bridge room window—empty each time, although she did once see the servant girl hurrying down the corridor near the duchess’s apartments. Over the thatched roofs across Thames Street, Margaret could see the lofty tower of St. Paul’s Cathedral, a mere stone’s throw from Baynard’s and reputedly the tallest in all Europe. Thames Street had been seething with people the first day following the St. Albans battle: citizens scurrying in and out of houses, closing their shutters and their shops, fetching buckets of water from the conduit, carrying baskets of food from the market, calling to their children to go inside in anticipation of the queen’s pillaging soldiers. Then came the calm, when the city gates were locked and people slowed to their usual gait, the shutters were unbolted and the children went out to play. Margaret never tired of watching life in the street and envied the commoners their freedom. She could not leave the castle yard without at least one lady companion and two retainers, and she was never permitted to talk to people or inspect the colorful offerings on market stalls. It did not occur to her that the townsfolk might envy her luxurious life behind the castle walls.
    Today, as she watched, there seemed to be an excitement in the air. People nodded and smiled or stopped to talk to one another, pointing to the west. She looked towards the western wall of the city and thought she saw a metallic glint in the far distance. Then a little boy hared around the corner shouting, “Soldiers! Soldiers approaching the Ludgate!”
    “At last!” cried a stout man in the boy’s path. “’Tis Edward of York you see, boy, ain’t it?”
    “Aye, sir! And the earl of Warwick with him, they say! They are opening the gates!”
    Margaret turned on her heel and ran to her mother’s solar, bursting in unceremoniously and earning a frown from Cecily. “Walk, don’t run, Margaret. ’Tis undignified.”
    “But Mother, Ned is come! I was watching from the bridge room, and I can see the army approaching from the west. May we go to the Ludgate and watch his entry?”
    “Certes, you may not! We shall wait here until Edward calls for us,” Cecily said, continuing to ply her needle as though Margaret had merely announced it was another cold day. Her mother’s calm amazed Margaret, who was hopping from one foot to the other. But then she saw her mother wince and a drop of blood fall on her dress. Aha! she thought happily, Mother is as excited as I am!
    Her mother caught her watching and said haughtily, “Go to your chamber and wait. I must make arrangements for Edward’s arrival.” She sucked on her pricked finger.
    Margaret curtseyed and remembered to walk out of the room. “Go to my room and wait?” she muttered. “I shall not!”
    She took off running down the corridor and up a short flight of stairs to what was known as the children’s apartments. Her two young ladies-in-waiting were gossiping by the window of the solar that overlooked the river. They were unaware of events unfolding on the other side of the castle. They broke off their conversation and curtseyed as Margaret came in.
    “Jane,” she addressed the taller of the two, “help me off with my gown. And take off your own so that we can exchange clothes.”
    The women gawped at her. Margaret waved her hands impatiently. “Do not stare at me like beetle-headed clack-dishes! Jane, do as I say, and Ann, stand by the door and see that no one enters.” She wasted no time unbelting her gown and backed towards Jane, who helped her with the heavy garment. Then Jane took off her plain woolen gown, and Margaret slipped it over her own head. Margaret was tall, like her mother, and she had small breasts that showed off the current