The King's Grace Read Online Free PDF

addlepated to see that the only way Henry of Richmond will be my husband is if—I repeat if —he wins the crown, for he is an upstart nobody. And if he does win, it could only mean”—she lowered her dark blue eyes down to the rushes at her feet—“that Uncle Richard was dead.”
    Cecily forbore her retort on Bess’s undue fondness for Uncle Richard, a dangerous infatuation Bess had formed in the months before the death of his queen that spring. Her innocent flirting had led his enemies to believe Richard had contemplated marriage with his niece. The scandal had caught Richard off-guard in the midst of grief for his wife, and ultimately his councilors had advised him to make a public denial. A few weeks later, under the pretext of keeping Edward’s children safe, Richard sent Bessand the others to Sheriff Hutton. “Out of sight, out of mind,” those same councilors had advised him.
    Lady Gower finally curtailed the tiff: “Enough, ladies!” she commanded. “You are behaving like children.” At that moment there was a knock on the door, and a servant entered to summon Bess and the other royal children to the great hall. Lady Gower led the girls out of the room, and with little Edward traipsing behind, they wound down the spiral stairs, through an archway and into the hall that hugged the west wall of the inner ward. It appeared John had been correct in identifying the visitors, for their oldest cousin and guardian, John de la Pole, earl of Lincoln, was surrounded by Percy men as well as the knights and henchmen of Sheriff Hutton.
    The earl bade them welcome. “Henry of Richmond has been sighted off the coast of Wales, cousins. My uncle, the king, has sent for us, and we are to join him in Leicester on the morrow. It cannot be long before Richmond finds safe haven, and I fear we must do battle.” He looked around at his younger cousins, who were gazing at him expectantly. “Until the outcome is known, you are the guardians of the York line and must remain here in the safe north. I am leaving Sir John in command with sufficient fighting men to protect you.”
    For the first time, a frisson of fear crept up Grace’s spine. Lincoln then addressed Bess and Cecily directly. “I charge you, cousins, to take especial care of young Edward. As son of our late Uncle George, he is one of the heirs to the crown.” Lincoln paused, reflecting on his own role as Richard’s heir, named such after the king’s only legitimate son had died the year before.
    With the summons to join Richard and as governor of the royal household in the north, Lincoln knew he must make safe the royal children—especially young Warwick. He guessed Henry might look upon the boy as a rallying point for Yorkist adherents should, Heaven forbid, disaster overtake both the king and himself.
    He looked around at the anxious faces and a slow smile spread over his lean, tanned face: “Bastards and traitors, all of you!” he teased his cousins and was gratified when they all laughed in relief. Then he embraced the girls, paying particular attention to Bess, who clung to him, crying.
    “Soft, Bess, we shall return, never fear. We shall kick Tudor’s arse all the way back to Brittany, I swear to you. I have left enough of a garrison to defend you from the Scots should they decide to attack and defile you”—hebroke off and laughed again, seeing her dismay. “Ever the jester—pay me no heed, cousin.” He kissed her and repeated his directive more seriously: “You must be the stalwart now and take care of the youngsters. We shall not be long, I promise.”
    Unable to contain his excitement, John of Gloucester cheered: “For England!” and unsheathed his short sword, thrusting it into the air. “For Richard, rightful king of England!” The rest of the company took up the cry, setting the rafters ringing with their shouts. Grace’s dark eyes glowed with pride for her family, and for the first time she truly felt a part of it.
     
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