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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

Cecily raises her head and lets air flood her lungs. It’s done, but doesn’t feel like an ending, and the elation of Beaufort’s death quickly ebbs. The dead of St Albans – Beaufort, Percy and Clifford – have sons who saw their fathers die, and by whose hand. It would be better were they dead, too. But they’re free, she has read, Percy and Clifford retreating north, and Henry Holland with them. Henry Beaufort, Somerset’s son, taken from the town on a cart, clutching a leg wound and cursing. She folds the paper. Well, let it rest for now.

Her greatest regret is that Richard didn’t think to open the wound in the King’s neck a little wider, and let the mad blood flow from it.

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36

Cecily sends Richard’s messenger ahead with love and thanksgiving, but ignores her lord’s wish that she stay where she is. She arrives in London in time to see Henry brought to St Paul’s.

He comes in, flanked by Richard and her brother. Warwick, walking ahead, bears the royal sword of state, sharp, unsheathed and pointing skyward to signal the coming of the King. Under the eyes of Archbishop Bourchier, Richard returns the crown to Henry’s head and reaffirms his oath. Then Salisbury and Warwick, the same. Their stern faces subdue the crowd. Henry is king. But there can be little doubt in anyone’s mind who’s in charge.

There’s no pretence at celebration, no feasting or games, and the crowd in the street hardly knows who to cheer. After the ceremony the lords escort a dazed-looking Henry across the river to Lambeth Palace, to rest and recover as a guest of the archbishop. He declares himself happy to be in a house of prayer.

Good, thinks Cecily. Let him stay there.

Then to Baynard’s Castle, which buzzes like a hive.

They close the doors on everyone and wear away the night in planning. Richard and Cecily, Salisbury and Warwick, deciding how things will be.

By the time Londoners wake up, they have news to digest with their breakfast; Richard of York is Constable of England once more, Edmund Beaufort died a traitor’s death, and the loyal council will guide the land until the King is well.

Is he ill again then? people ask each other around full mouths.

The only answer is a shrug.

When June comes, and the city seems settled, Cecily gives in to Richard’s urging and returns to Fotheringhay. In truth, she’s weary, short of breath and sleepless, and the thought of lying-in through the city’s heat and stink sickens her.