The Sun in Splendour - Plaidy Jean - Страница 35

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Edward was thoughtful. Could it really be that George was looking for a reconciliation? It was too good to be true. If it were so he would forgive him with all his heart. Not that he would ever trust him again. When he came to think of it he had never really trusted Clarence. But if he and his brother were friends again, if Clarence brought his men to fight for him, this would be a tremendous blow to Warwick.

Yes, certainly he would welcome Clarence. Let them meet without delay.

Outwardly it was an affectionate meeting. Clarence looked at

Edward shamefacedly and would have knelt, but Edward laid a hand on his arm and said: 'George, so you want us to be friends again?'

'I have been most unhappy,' said Clarence. 'It was all so unnatural. 1 was under the influence of Warwick and I want to escape from that influence now.'

'We have both been under the influence of that man—you so far as to go against your own brother and marry his daughter.'

'I regret all I have done . . . except my marriage to Isabel. She is a good creature and I love her dearly.'

Edward nodded, thinking: She is a great heiress and you also love her lands and money dearly.

Clarence went on: 'I no longer wish to stand with Warwick. I want to be back where I belong. Our sister Margaret has written to me most affectingly. I have suffered much.'

'I too suffered from your desertion,' Edward reminded him.

'And can you forgive me?'

'Yes,' said Edward.

'By God, together we will fight this traitor Warwick. We'll have his head where they put our father's.'

'It was not Warwick who put our father's head on the walls of York and stuck a paper crown on it, George. That was our enemies . . . our mutual enemies. But yes, we are going to defeat Warwick.'

'I will bring him to you in chains.'

'Your father-in-law, your one-time friend! I want him to be treated with respect if we have the good fortune to capture him. I can never forget how he taught me, how he showed me how to fight and win a crown. Sometimes I think I am more hurt that he should take his friendship from me than my crown. I would always treat him with honour. He had his reasons you know for doing what he did. Warwick would always have his reasons. He is my enemy now but he is one I honour.'

Clarence thought what a fool his brother was. But there was a hard side to Edward, he knew; he could be ruthless but where his affections were concerned he was soft. He had married Elizabeth Woodville; he was ready to forgive the man who had taken his crown from him and his own brother who had deceived him. No wonder he had lost his throne! He would lose it again and if Henry were driven out there was one who would stand in to take it: George, Duke of Clarence.

Well, there was reconciliation between the brothers and as Edward had predicted Clarence's desertion of Warwick and return to Edward had the desired effect. Edward marched without hindrance into London.

Warwick was in Coventry when he heard of Clarence's defection. There was even more bitterness to come for Louis had signed a truce with the Duke of Burgundy and so was making terms with Warwick's enemy. Clarence he despised. He had never trusted him but his greatest hope had lain with the French King. Margaret of Anjou had left France and with the Prince of Wales and Anne and Warwick's Countess was about to land in England. He, Warwick, was heading for some climax. Meanwhile Edward had reached London. His spirits rose as he saw the grey stone walls of the Tower and he assured himself that Elizabeth was not far away.

First he went to St Paul's to give thanks for his return. Then he must see Henry who was at the Bishop of London's palace close by. Warwick had ordered that he should be taken there and put in the charge of Archbishop Neville and that Neville should let him ride through the streets in an attempt to arouse people's enthusiasm for him.

This was difficult for the people could not feel very much for the poor pathetic creature. There was nothing kingly about him. And when the Archbishop thought of Edward soon to arrive—so handsome with that special charm which had taken the people by storm in his youth and was still there—it seemed to him that the wisest thing was to take Henry back to the palace.

When Edward arrived and Henry was brought, Henry blinked up at him and said: 'Cousin, you are welcome. My life will be safe in your hands.'

'I mean you no harm,' said Edward. 'You shall go back to your prayers and your books.'

Thank you, thank you. It is what I have always wanted.'

'And now,' said Edward, 'to the Sanctuary.'

Elizabeth was there with her beautiful hair hanging about her shoulders as he liked it best. They looked at each other for a few seconds before they gave themselves up to a fervent embrace.

It was an emotional moment and even Elizabeth felt the tears in her eyes. He was back, as she always knew he would be.

'You have been my brave Queen,' he murmured.

'I am so happy that you are back. It all seems behind me now. It

does not matter, if you are to stay with me for ever.'

'As long as God will let me/ he said.

'Edward, we have lived here in Sanctuary all these months. We could not have survived but for our good friends.'

'They shall be rewarded. All will be well now. I am going to be victorious.'

Jacquetta came to him and was warmly embraced. He would never believe the stories that she was a witch and had captured him for her daughter through witchcraft. He was fond of Jacquetta and he knew that she would have been a great help and comfort to Elizabeth during his enforced absence.

'You have not seen your son,' cried Elizabeth.

'My son . . . the boy I have always wanted! Bring him to me. I long to see him.'

'He is Edward . . . after you.'

'It is a good name.'

He gazed at the child in wonder. His beloved son—a perfect healthy boy to delight any father's heart, most of all a king who must be assured of the succession.

He took him in his arms and tenderly kissed his brow. The baby opened its eyes and regarded him solemnly for a moment before closing them again while the little girls were clambering round him. He handed the baby to Elizabeth and embraced his daughters all together so that one should not feel favoured more than the other.

'Are you going to stay with us?' asked Elizabeth. 'When are we going home?'

'This is home,' said Mary.

'Nay, my dearest,' said Edward. 'You are going back where you belong. There shall be no more of this place. You are going to be surprised when you are taken back to your real home, sweetheart.'

The little girls watched him with wide eyes. They were happy. He was back with them—their big laughing handsome father and if Mary could hardly recognize him and Cecily not at all, they all knew that the best thing that could happen to them was his return.

Edward said they should go at once to Baynard's Castle and must prepare to leave. There they would stay until he had made everything secure in the land.

So to Baynard's they went, riding along by the river while the

people cheered to see Edward with his beautiful Queen and their lovely children. Elizabeth herself carried the child. She sat in her litter holding him, her lovely golden hair like a halo about her perfect features and the people cheered Edward, the baby Prince, the little girls and yes, they even cheered Elizabeth, although it was due to her rapacious family that the Earl of Warwick had turned from the King.

Never mind; she was so beauhful and she had given the King all those handsome children and he clearly loved her dearly even though he was not the most faithful of husbands.

Cheer then for the return of Edward, the strong man, the King they preferred to poor mad Henry. They fervently hoped Edward and the Earl of Warwick would settle their quarrels.

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