Cecily excelled on all these fronts. But that was just the start. She not only lived through seismic political and historical events, she shaped them. A lifelong dynast, she engineered her husband’s bid for the throne and, when that failed, her son’s. She was brazen enough to maintain a cordial exchange of letters with Henry VI’s queen while, at her husband’s side, planning a rebellion. Bold enough when defeated to barter for her children’s lives with an enemy king. In the aftermath of her husband’s death, it was her London home that became the centre of Yorkist planning as her son fought his way across England to claim his crown. And, when he left the city to fight again, he had the good sense to leave the management of his kingdom in no one’s hands but hers.

Old, pious, dull? I don’t think so.

Cecily lived more than five hundred years ago, in a pre-Reformation, pre-feminist, male-dominated world. And yet, without question, she is a woman we can feel kinship with today.

Acknowledgements

In the years I have spent thinking about and writing this book I have received encouragement from so many people. There are some to whom I owe special thanks.

First, to my partner, Caroline, who has listened to me witter on about Cecily Neville for thirty years and more, and patiently accompanied me on more fact-finding trips than even I can remember. Only I know the depth of the debt I owe her. Also to Caroline’s family, who have become my own.

My brother, John Garthwaite, deserves top billing. He and his wife, Shirley, have been my lifelong supporters, not just in writing, but in every endeavour. Thank you.

Next come my patient and enduring friends Susan Aslan, Amanda Barry, Lisa Betteridge and Suzanne Howe. A more supportive group of women you could never hope to meet. They have shared in every triumph and (near) disaster. Most particular thanks to friend-of-my-heart Pamela Petro, a writer of extraordinary talent and unsurpassed generosity of spirit. Her patient and insightful readings of numerous drafts have been invaluable.

A special mention to Sarah Moss whose close reading and considered, equitable advice kept my keel even. Also thanks to Elanor Dymott and Tim Leach, colleagues at the University of Warwick, for their enthusiastic engagement with Cecily and generous congratulations when all came good. Among my fellow students, a special mention for Ellen Lavelle and Steve Guy, who read the entire book in instalments over the two-year writing period. They are more insightful readers than I can ever hope to be. Also Katie Hall, Costanza Casati, Anna Maria Colivicchi, Anna Lodwick and Penny Sandle-Keynes.