A Dangerous Inheritance

The mood of the people was wary, turbulent. ‘Gloucester wants the crown himself, I tell you!’ one man could be heard insisting, while another was loudly proclaiming his opinion that the Duke was pla

‘How can they speak so of my father?’ Kate spoke into the Duchess’s ear.

A

‘Ask your lord about the weapons, lady!’ yelled a red-faced man in a butcher’s apron. A

‘What is he talking about?’ John asked her. ‘What weapons?’

‘I wish I understood,’ she replied. ‘All I know is that your father wrote to say that, when he entered London with the King, he sent ahead four wagons loaded with weapons bearing Wydeville devices, and had the criers a

‘Where’s the Queen?’ a woman shrieked suddenly, jabbing a gnarled finger at the litter.

‘I shall ignore that,’ A

Kate knew all too well that the Queen’s continued sojourn in sanctuary was doing her father no good. It must embarrass him greatly, for it looked at best as if he had not taken fitting care for her protection, and at worst as if he meant ill to her and her children. After the seizing of Rivers and Grey, people might easily believe that – as some in this crowd plainly did. Yet Richard had written that he’d been trying to persuade Elizabeth Wydeville to leave sanctuary. But she refuses, and keeps on refusing!he had complained. How does that make me look to the world? By her refusal, she proclaims me a danger to her!

‘She must know he was loyal and devoted to King Edward,’ A

‘No, he does not; and he is taking good care of the King,’ Kate responded indignantly. He had summoned the lords and citizens to swear fealty to young Edward, and ensured that all due honours were paid to the boy. He had ordered coins to be minted in his sovereign’s name. Then the Council, at the Duke of Buckingham’s suggestion, had arranged for the King to take up residence in the royal palace in the Tower of London, which had been one of his late father King Edward’s favourite residences, and surely held many happy memories for his son. Kate had never seen the royal apartments there, but her father had told her that they overlooked the river and were sumptuous, with a great banqueting hall and richly appointed chambers with exquisite stained-glass windows. The walls were painted with angels and birds in gold and vermilion, and there were floor tiles emblazoned with heraldic badges. Kate thought that her cousin the King was very lucky to be living in such a beautiful palace, and she had no doubt that her father had thought of everything needful for his comfort.

They were approaching a fine stone mansion, so tall that it dominated the Bishopsgate skyline and dwarfed the other houses.

‘Crosby Hall – at last!’ the Duchess said thankfully. ‘I could not have borne to be jolted about on these cobbles for much longer.’

The litter trundled through a wide archway into a spacious courtyard, and drew to a halt outside an imposing outdoor stone staircase. Kate looked up in awe at the arcades of tall traceried windows on the upper storey of the building that towered above her, and the fine stonework of its walls, turrets and parapets. Crosby Hall was one of the grandest houses she had ever seen.

The courtyard was a hive of noisy activity, as servants hurried in and out of the house unloading carts and sumpter mules. The Duke, they soon learned, had taken up residence here only that morning, and his stuff was still being brought into the house. Kate climbed down behind A

Kate’s joy at seeing her father was slightly marred by the sight of his tense, drawn, unsmiling face. She watched as he raised the Duchess from her curtsey, took her in his arms and kissed her full on the mouth.

‘My lady, it does me good to see you,’ he said. ‘And my children! It has been too long.’ So saying, he beckoned Kate and John forward and embraced them in turn as they rose from their obseisances. Yet it was a formal embrace, Kate noted, as if her father, conscious of his new office, was standing on ceremony. He seemed unusually distant – he, who had normally been so warm to his children. Poor man, he must have a lot on his mind, she told herself.

‘Come within!’ the Duke invited. ‘You shall see that I have found us a fine house. You might even say it is fit for a king!’

Kate could only agree when she walked into the soaring hall and looked up at the red and gold timbered ceiling arching far above her head. It was a magnificent room, lit by a tall, elegant oriel and a row of high clerestory windows, and its white walls were hung with the most intricate tapestries shot with gold. She saw that A

‘Is this one of the King’s houses?’ John asked.

‘No, my son, it was built by an Italian merchant, and enlarged by Sir John Crosby, from whom I lease it,’ the Duke explained. ‘There is no finer residence in the City, apart from Baynard’s Castle.’ By all accounts that too was a palatial building, so Kate wondered why he had removed here.

Richard indicated that A

‘He was well when last I heard, thanks be to God,’ A

‘The last weeks have been especially challenging,’ the Duke replied. ‘You know most of what has been going on, but there is more. Tell me, what was the mood of the people when you travelled through London?’

‘I did detect hostility, but there was also some cheering,’ A

‘Good,’ the Duke said briskly. ‘Generally I am popular in the City. These merchants and men of business foresaw only instability with the government in the hands of a child and the grasping Wydevilles.’

‘We saw men in armour,’ John piped up.

Their father frowned. ‘These are uncertain times. Some fear that these tensions might lead to war. The Queen’s supporters have the ear of some of the councillors. My motives have been questioned.’ His expression was grim.

‘Your motives? I don’t understand.’ A

The Duke’s eyes met hers. ‘They say I have meant all along to take the throne myself.’

Kate’s gasp was audible. John stared at his father incredulously. The Duchess had gone very pale.

‘But you have never given them cause to think that!’ she protested. ‘What of all the things you have done to ensure the King’s peaceful succession? Your care and deference for him, your nurturing of him for kingship?’

‘That all counts for little beside the gossip,’ the Duke retorted bitterly. ‘Which assuredly you will hear, I warn you. That is why I have prepared you.’