A Dangerous Inheritance

Just then, she glimpsed a young girl among the throng, a fair-haired maid who was staring up at her curiously. Her eye was drawn to the girl’s outlandish attire, the high ruffle around her neck and the sleeves puffed at the shoulders. Their eyes met, and in that brief instant there was an odd frissonbetween them, and she thought she had seen that face before somewhere. Then some men were jostled forward by newcomers cramming into the hall, and the girl disappeared from view. It was strange, Kate thought, to see a girl among all these important men. Mayhap some lord had brought his young wife or daughter with him. But her attention was distracted, for her father was addressing the assembly.

‘Good my lords, my Lord Mayor and citizens, you are most welcome,’ he said, his mien humble. ‘I fear you have caught me all unawares, and I must confess that I am most perturbed at the prospect of giving up my status as a private person for the throne. It is not my wish or my desire to occupy it. I had hoped to spend my days serving my brother’s son.’

‘Alas,’ chimed in Buckingham, ‘if you will not heed our earnest petition, to whom shall we turn? Your Grace is the right and natural heir to your late father of blessed memory, the Duke of York. There is no one more fitted by birth, lineage and aptitude to rule us, is that not so, my lords?’ There were loud acclamations from the crowd. Gloucester bowed his head; he appeared to be praying for guidance. Then he looked up resolutely. Kate caught her breath.

‘My lords and commons, since his Grace of Buckingham here has so eloquently entreated me on behalf of you all, and since you acknowledge my just title, I do consent to occupy the throne.’

The hall exploded in a roar of cheers and shouts. ‘God save King Richard!’ the people cried. ‘Long live King Richard the Third!’

Katherine

Late July 1553. Sheen Priory, Surrey.

My lady has returned. I can hear the commotion in the courtyard, and race to the window of my chamber. I have languished here fretting for ages, it seems, although truth to tell it is little more than a week since my mother departed to seek out the Queen. And the time has dragged because I ca

Praying that the news will be good, I speed downstairs to the hall, where my mother is drawing off her riding gloves, and make the sketchiest of curtseys.

‘Be at peace, child. There is nothing to fear,’ she says, sinking wearily into her chair by the fire. Her master of horse, handsome Mr Stokes, follows her into the room with a cup of wine and relieves her of her whip. She thanks him warmly, and for a moment their eyes meet, his keen, hers speculative. In the absence of my father, who seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth, Stokes has shown himself a devoted support to my mother, insisting on escorting her on her journey and calming the servants, who are naturally fearful about their future.

When Stokes has gone, my lady invites me to sit on the stool at her feet, and sips her wine.

‘I caught up with Queen Mary at New Hall, on her triumphal progress to London,’ she relates. ‘I must say she is indeed a most gentle and kind princess, for she granted me an audience and did not keep me waiting, despite the fact that people were flocking and clamouring to see her.’ She sighs. ‘I threw myself on her mercy. I humbled myself. On my knees, I begged her to spare your father’s life and Jane’s. I insisted that we were under threat from Northumberland and much afraid of him. God forgive me, I lied to save us: I said I knew on good authority that he meant to poison your father, if we did not do his bidding. Her Grace asked if I had proof of this, so I told her about Northumberland poisoning the King …’

‘He poisoned the King?’ I am shaken to my heart.

‘He did, yes,’ my lady laments, ‘although it was not to end Edward’s life, but to prolong it, so that the Duke could bring his plans to fruition. He secretly called in this cu

I am dumbstruck. Truly, Northumberland deserves whatever fate the Queen has in store for him, which will no doubt be the block and the axe.

‘I’m not sure that the Queen believed me,’ my mother continues, ‘but by then I was so agitated that she raised and kissed me, and reassured me that she would not harm either your father or Jane. Jane, she told me, has been moved to the house of the Gentleman Gaoler in the Tower, where she is being well looked after and is permitted to continue with her studies. Her Grace said she knew that Jane was i

The relief is tremendous. I ca

‘As for your father,’ my mother says, ‘he is here, hiding in one of the monks’ cells in the old wing. He has been here all the time. I have now to tell him that he must give himself up when the Queen’s men come for him, as they assuredly will within the next few days, and that he must go with them to the Tower; but he will be pardoned and freed as soon as the Queen arrives in London. I have her Grace’s word on it.’ She rests her head wearily on the high back of the chair. ‘I can only thank God we are all safe,’ she concludes.

Yes – and I too must thank God a thousand times. But will the Queen receive my parents back into favour? And what of my marriage?

‘Are you to go to the court?’ I ask hopefully.

My lady frowns. ‘No, child. Not yet. The Queen commanded us all to stay here at Sheen until she sends for us.’

‘But when will that be?’ I ca

‘When things have quietened down, I assume,’ she replies flatly. ‘Katherine, don’t look so discouraged. We are lucky to have escaped with our lives and wealth, and they are more important than any marriage. The best advice I can give you is to forget Harry. It may take some time to gain the Queen’s favour, and Pembroke will not wait so long. I imagine he is still eager to end the marriage and his association with us. You must accept that Harry may be lost to you now.’

Kate

6th July 1483. Westminster Abbey.

The day of the coronation came, and at last Kate was able to put on her beautiful blue gown. She was to attend the Duchess A

His soldiers, wearing that same badge, were stationed along the streets, keeping the sullen and hostile bystanders under surveillance. Clearly the King feared that the mood of the people might provoke rioting or worse. Kate had been nervous as she rode past the crowds. She could see her father on White Surrey, some way ahead, nodding his bared head to right and left, greeting his people. But while a few shouted out their acclaim, most remained silent and resentful.