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‘The fate of the Princes,’ he continued quietly, ‘wherever they may be, heaven or hell, Ireland or France, is only important if men can prove that they were killed by their uncle. That is what bothers me. The growing whispering campaign against our King. Everywhere I go I hear the same stories. How the King is a monster, born with hair and teeth, a crouchback. A hog. The despoiler of children. These rumours have been carefully sown and this business of the Princes might well be the fiery torch to the dry stubble.’
    ‘You have heard of Percivalle?’ I asked.
    ‘Yes, I have.’ The Duke snorted with laughter. ‘And if I catch him, I will hang him as high as the spire of St. Paul’s!’
    ‘And my Lord of Buckingham?’ I asked curiously.
    ‘My Lord of Buckingham is a popinjay. Who knows?’ The Duke pursed his lips.
    ‘Who knows what?’
    ‘Buckingham claims he has royal blood, claiming descent from Edward III’s son, Edmund of Woodstock. He has even the right to bear his arms. He is also kin to the Beauforts and they have never been friends of the House of York.’
    ‘Do you think Buckingham aims so high?’
    Norfolk shrugged. ‘Perhaps he sees himself as kingmaker. God knows.’
    ‘And the Princes?’
    Norfolk grasped both my hands in his. ‘I know nothing of them but I tell you, Francis, for the love of the sweet God, the only way to stop these rumours is to find the Princes and produce them alive and well.’
    I decided to grasp the nettle firmly.
    ‘Have you visited Brackenbury in the Tower?’
    Norfolk shook his head and gave the same answer as Russell. On this matter he dare not speak without the King’s special permission.
    ‘Do you think,’ I said slowly, ‘that His Grace would have the boys murdered?’ I saw the anger flare in the old man’s eyes. ‘I am,’ I continued smoothly, ‘as close a friend to the King as you are.’
    Norfolk smiled.
    ‘I do not think Richard has killed the Princes,’ he answered. ‘Why should he? If he had wanted them to disappear why not move them to some forlorn castle, as happened to their forebears, Edward II and Richard II? No, I do not think the King killed them and I know Sir Robert Brackenbury too well. He would not have innocent blood on his hands.’
    ‘I am to see Brackenbury later.’
    ‘Good,’ Norfolk replied. ‘And now these conspiracies?’
    Our conversation turned to what Norfolk had learnt, which reflected the same warnings I had gathered from Russell’s spy: the southern counties, particularly Kent and Devon, were seething hotbeds of conspiracy. Norfolk announced what preparations he was making, declining to move against Buckingham until he had positive proof. After that he left as abruptly as he came.
    I poured some wine, calling Belknap into the buttery to join me.
    ‘My Duke of Norfolk,’ Belknap commented, ‘seems not to like me.’
    ‘My Duke of Norfolk,’ I mimicked in reply, ‘likes nobody but himself. He has risen fast,’ I continued. ‘Richard’s premier general and duke, the recipient of our King’s lavish generosity.’
    ‘He was also,’ Belknap drily interrupted, ‘until recently one of those who had access to the Tower. If the young Duke of York is dead, as rumour has it, then my Lord the Duke will benefit.’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    Belknap turned, making sure the door was closed.
    ‘I mean, my Lord, that before we left Minster Lovell,you told me the general lines of this business. Like any good dog, I keep my ear to the ground. The city and the palace abound with rumours of how the Princes may be gone. Perhaps dead. I am right, am I not?’
    ‘Yes, Belknap, you are correct. But what has that to do with Howard?’
    ‘Three things. First, until July 17th past my Lord of Norfolk had access to the Tower. Secondly, he gave his word when the young Duke of York was handed over by Elizabeth Woodville on June 20th last, that no harm would come to the boy. Finally, the young duke was married to the Mowbray