The Rose of York: Crown of Destiny Read Online Free PDF Page A

pace, then halted abruptly. He turned to Hastings, eyes alight. “Have we captured any French nobles, Will?”
    “Aye, Sire. One.”
    Edward strode over, hung an arm around Hastings’s neck. “Hint to him that we may want peace… and let him escape to Louis.”
    From the shadows came a gasp of awe. “Ingenious, my Liege,” smiled Morton.
    Richard leapt to his feet. “ Peace! We’ve not come all this way for peace.” He threw Morton a look of contempt. Even the way the man spoke was devious. His lips didn’t move, yet one heard the words clearly. “Peace would be dishonourable.”
    Edward’s mouth twisted. “Brother, brilliant as you are, sometimes you confound me. You see about as far as a hooded falcon. Honour has no place here. We’re talking about survival.”
    “What’s survival without honour?” demanded Richard. “Once before you raised money for war with France and spent it elsewhere. The people have long muttered that you’ve deceived them! How will this sit with them?”
    “However my subjects feel, I am their King, and the King sees no profit in war with France at this time.”
    “I’ll have no part of such a peace.”
    Edward gave him a long measured look, his blue eyes cool, appraising. “’Tis the first time you’ve opposed me, Dickon.”
    “I won’t compromise my principles, even for you.”
    “Mark my words, Dickon, your principles will be the death of you! Life is not black and white, but a mixture of greys. The sooner you learn that, the better for you.” He strode back to the table, looking around at his councillors, who avoided his eyes. “How many are with Gloucester?”
    Lord Howard finally broke the silence. Howard was one of Edward’s most loyal and respected lords, whom Richard in childhood had affectionately nicknamed “The Friendly Lion.”
    “Sire, perhaps a dishonourable peace is worse than a useless victory…” Howard’s voice faded and lost conviction as Edward’s eyes narrowed.
    “Honour be damned! You’re out-voted, Howard. How to turn a bad situation to our favour, that’s the question. If Louis is amenable to peace, we shall demand many remunerative conditions, one of which will be seven years of free trade.”
    “The people of England didn’t give you their money for the chance to trade with France!” Richard shot back. “It was to recover the provinces of France which mad Henry lost.”
    “God’s curse, brother, but you can be naive!” Edward slammed his fist down on the table, his patience at an end. “Nay, worse. Reckless. A damned fool. Fortunate for you that you’re not king—you know naught of statecraft. Those territories cannot be won except with much money and even more blood. Is it not enough to humble France, enrich the royal purse so we never have to ask parliament for money again, return sons to their mother’s with limbs intact, and save England from the burdens of a partial conquest in France? Is that not enough, brother?”
    “It’s not what you promised the people!”
    “I promised them a victory over France. If I can get one without a fight, I shall take it, and gladly!”
    “How can you trust Louis—a man who imprisoned a cardinal in an iron cage?”
    “It would be good, for once, my brother, if you would see the facts without a moral squint.”
    “Louis can’t be trusted! His money’s a snare. If you take it, he’ll own you. He’ll trick you with his promises and destroy you, as he did Warwick!” Richard was shouting loudly. He knew all about Louis! Louis had wed Anne to Edouard. Louis’s stink was still in his nostrils.
    He fell silent, suddenly aware of the eyes on him; eyes that told him more about himself than he had ever suspected. Aye, he was against this peace because it was dishonourable, but that was only part of it. He hated Louis. He wanted to fight Louis because Louis had wed Anne to Edouard.
    “I’m not Warwick!” Edward roared, red in the face. “I am King . No one owns the King!” He drew