The king and queen departed from London as soon as possible and I was glad of the excuse to join their escort to Berkhamsted Castle. ‘Stay faithful, Jasper,’ Queen Marguerite urged me as I took my farewell the next day. ‘I am worried about the king’s health. He is heading for another breakdown; I know the signs. So I am taking him back to Kenilworth.’

Bending over her be-ringed hand, I thought she looked magnificent but also alarming. I wanted to warn her to be careful not to further alienate the Duke of York but thought better of it. It was too late. She knew as well as I did that Richard of York had been totally unimpressed with the ‘Loveday’ attempt at reconciliation. He had taken his six hundred retainers back to Ludlow where he would be nursing his resentment and keeping close contact with his allies. And working in the king’s name, Marguerite would be doing the same at Kenilworth. Her next words confirmed my conclusions that peace between York and Lancaster was a vain hope. She had embraced the Lancastrian cause and would do all she could to advance those lords who did the same.

‘Steer your Welsh chieftains away from York, Jasper, and I will see that they receive their reward. We need those sturdy soldiers to fight for the crown when the time comes. And come it will, of that there is no doubt. Henry refuses to see the danger but I will make sure we are ready to secure the throne for my son and I will rely on you to bring Wales to its prince’s aid. Will you do that, Jasper?’

I looked into her dark, almost black eyes, burning now with zeal, and thanked God I had resisted her suggestive hinting when she had thought she might never conceive a child with the king. Yorkist propaganda still questioned the paternity of her son, Prince Édouard, but at least it named others as his sire and not me. Yet I could not help admiring Marguerite’s strength of character. York might scorn the weakness of my timorous half-brother but in the queen he faced a fearsome adversary.

‘My loyalty to the king is undying,’ I said, dropping to my knee. ‘And it extends to his wife and son. I am his to command – and yours, my lady – and always will be while I live, as God is my witness.’

‘I have said it before, Jasper, you are the king’s gauntlet,’ the queen said, placing her hand on my shoulder. ‘He needs you like he needs me. We will never betray his trust, you and I.’

* * *