The Spitfire Read Online Free PDF

church declared her marriage to Edward IV invalid, and her children bastards unable to inherit their father’s throne. Edward IV, the church declared, had had a previous marriage contract with Lady Eleanor Butler, who was yet living when Edward IV had eloped with the widowed Lady Elizabeth Grey and secretly married her. England’s powerful had not wanted a minority rule, for even though Edward IV had made his brother his sons’ protector, the queen’s relations were immediately maneuvering to gain control of the government. Declaring little Edward V ineligible to rule and passing the crown to his uncle, Richard III, had solved the problem.
    Richard had placed his two little nephews in protective custody so that they could not be used by others to foment rebellion. Already the rumors abounded that he had harmed them, but the king loved all children and was incapable of such violence. Besides, trueborn or not, they were his brother’s sons, and Richard had loved Edward with all his being. But from her sanctuary at Westminster, the former queen screeched and howled her outrage over her double loss, that of her prestige, and the custody of her sons, even as she dealt, not so secretly, in an attempt to match her eldest daughter, Elizabeth, with the Lancaster heir, Henry Tudor, Richard’s sworn enemy.
    Queen Anne had made a small miscalculation in reminding her husband of Arabella Grey’s distant connection with his sister-in-law’s family. The north of England—York, Northumberland, and Cumbria—had always been loyal to her husband, yet even now Richard had begun to see enemies where none existed. He considered Greyfaire Keep. It was small, but it was strategic to the defense of the border, being so close to it. Greyfaire Keep was always the first to raise the alarm when the Scots came swarming over the Cheviot hills, and the Scots were always treating with the king of England’s enemies. It could be dangerous for little Greyfaire Keep to fall into unfriendly, unloyal, or opportunistic hands. He would not be ill-advised to find a husband for the little heiress. A man who was unquestioningly loyal to Richard of England and no other master.
    “I think you are correct, sweeting,” he said to his spouse. “We must find our little cousin Arabella a husband, and before we leave Middleham.”
    “She is far too young to wed,” Rowena said with obvious emphasis.
    “Yet the bridegroom can be chosen now,” the king said. “Your fears for Greyfaire are realistic, Row. I need a strong man in charge there, that I may be reassured of the continued safety of my northern borders. I will think on it, Row. You may rest assured that I shall not allow you to remain unprotected any longer. Indeed, you should have come to me sooner about this.”
    “Dickon,” she began out of habit, and then amended, “Sire, my child and I are the least among your subjects. Had not my dearest Anne sent for us to come to Middleham, we would not be here at all and I should have never presumed upon your kindness in finding my daughter a husband.”
    The king took Lady Grey’s hand in his and patted the plump flesh. “Rowena, you are family. My sweet Anne’s most favorite companion from her childhood, and her cousin. Had you not been matched to Sir Henry and wed upon your thirteenth birthday, you would have remained with her, and thus now been a part of our court. That your life took a different path makes you no less beloved of us.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it before releasing it.
    “Sire…” Her blue eyes filled with tears.
    “Dickon, Row. As ever, Dickon,” the king replied.
    “Dickon, you are so kind. You have always been kind to me. I remember when we were children and Anne’s elder sister, Isabel, was always so cruel to me, except that you would not allow it when you saw it. You have always cared for those weaker than you. England is fortunate to have you as its king, but one favor I beg of you.”
    “Whatever you