Chapters (58)
‘Not yet. And not on your say-so. When the council calls. Then I’ll come. When its members are ready to make their voices heard and stop cowering in corners.’
Salisbury is as irate as Richard is calm. ‘And while you dither, Beaufort and the Queen—’
Cecily holds up a hand between them. ‘Surely she must be due to go into her confinement?’
‘Due to, yes, but showing little sign of it.’
‘I can imagine.’ She has held back from confinement herself, when policy demanded it. She taps a finger on the back of his hand. ‘Then there’s the task, brother. Confine the Queen and you isolate Beaufort. Without the King, or access to her, he’s just one more voice on the council.’
Salisbury looks as if she’s asked him to raise the dead. ‘And how in God’s name am I to do that?’
‘Oh, brother, surely it cannot be beyond the wit of all you wise men in council to convince a solitary woman that her first duty is to protect her child?’
‘She’d be a fool to leave the King’s side now,’ he blusters.
She laughs. ‘You think like a man!’ She takes his two hands in hers and speaks as to a slow child. ‘What is a witless king, brother? What can he do for her now?’ She tightens her grip, imperative. ‘Unless he recovers, her only safety is in her belly. She needs this child to survive, and to be a son. Otherwise, she’s finished.’ Still he looks incredulous. ‘Have council petition her for the sake of the country’s safety. Remind her that she risks the royal succession and her child’s life by resisting. Her own understanding will do the rest.’
‘Alright.’ He looks half convinced.
She lets go his hands, pushes them away. ‘Be about it. Or, if you’re squeamish, get your wife on to it.’
A grudging smile, a nod. ‘If that’s done, you’ll come?’ He looks to Richard, who leaves off turning his ruby to enumerate upon his fingers.
‘The Queen confined. A summons from the council. Surety of its support.’
Salisbury nods.
‘And one more thing. A voice other than mine to call for Beaufort’s arrest. I’ll second it, with enthusiasm. But I’ll not demand it.’ He spreads his fingers. ‘Clean hands.’
You can say what you like about Richard. He takes hard lessons to heart.
A month later, the news comes.
Marguerite has a son.
Cecily is called to attend the Queen’s churching; Richard, to a meeting of the Great Council.
Norfolk, Salisbury assures them, will make the call for Beaufort. Norfolk is Cecily’s nephew, her sister Katherine’s boy.
‘Good,’ she says. ‘Family business.’
