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Back Cecily Save as PDF
Chapters (58)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. Dedication
  4. Author’s Note
  5. Prologue
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. 48
  54. 49
  55. Epilogue
  56. Afterword
  57. Acknowledgements
  58. THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

She rises to quench the candles and bank the fire. By its light she turns back to the bed, then stops at the window, leans by it to listen. Beyond the glass, the curtain and the warmth of this room, the untrammelled wind still hurtles knives of rain against the night.

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27

December 1450–September 1451

When Richard writes that Edmund Beaufort is not only removed from the King’s side but constrained within the Tower, Cecily wonders whether to salute her husband’s ingenuity or thank God for a miracle. Either way, the news lightens her days. She imagines her enemy circling a bare cell like an angry dog, gnawing at the bars with bloody teeth. It’s an indulgence, she knows. The reality is less colourful. Beaufort is comfortable enough, rescued from an angry mob that beset him at Blackfriars, and taken to the Tower for his own protection. The rescue, if not the assault, was Richard’s work. He had friends fortuitously on hand to beat off the attackers, spirit Beaufort to safety, and despatch a swift-heeled messenger to tell Richard to make his way to the King.

‘Where I plan to stay for as long as I can manage it,’ he writes.

Well done, she smiles.

Next day, when two more of the King’s close advisers were bloodied in similar attacks, Richard had no difficulty convincing Henry that his favourite was safest, for now, behind the Tower’s stout walls. He then set himself the task of restoring the King’s order in the city. His is a voice that angry men listen to, who they do not blame for injuries at home or abroad. That done, he rode with Henry through the streets, shoulder to shoulder, and with a force. He set his herald to cry out before him that any who threatened the King’s peace would answer for it to the Duke of York. It made for a good show, his letter says.

Well done indeed.

Before he left Ludlow for London last month, they’d agreed their intent. Get Beaufort out of the way by whatever means. Convince the King of their loyalty and strength. Both, mind you, Cecily insisted, for one is security for the other. Then push for reforms that will stabilize government, with Richard at its heart. The first two he’s achieved. The third will be more difficult.