It took several hours for the column of fighting men, waggons, guns, and camp followers to clear the castle precincts, heading northeast on the Gloucester road. The image of Harri almost lost among them lingered in my mind’s eye, so small and vulnerable on his white pony. For once I found myself hoping that a Yorkist army would return victorious and with the lord’s two young pages safely among them.

35

Jane

Raglan & Weobley Castles

ON THE SECOND DAY of August a small party of armoured knights on lathered horses cantered through the castle gatehouse and news spread like wildfire from the Kitchen Tower to the Great Tower that Lord Herbert had been defeated in battle. The worst had happened. Then a little later, seeing Lady Anne, her inflamed eyes instantly told us, worse than the worst.

Eventually she was able to speak. ‘I have to tell you my children that your beloved father is dead.’ For the moment she could say no more but simply held out her arms and gathered all her children to her. I stood wordlessly by, desperate to ask after Walter and Harri – for Harri’s welfare and his very life I now feared more than ever.

One of Lady Anne’s companions offered kerchiefs, and along with their mother the children made forlorn gestures of comfort to each other until all at once, the chatelaine drew breath. ‘We must be brave and we must help each other,’ she told the children firmly, then raised her head and caught my eye. ‘It will be necessary to pack their things as soon as possible, Mistress Jane. My lord’s retinue is scattered and it is no longer safe for us here. I am going to take all the children to my brother’s castle at Weobley. We will leave at dawn tomorrow.’

I bobbed a curtsy. ‘Yes, my lady. May I ask if there is any news of Master Walter and Harri. Are they safe?’

She shook her head, frowning. ‘I do not know. I wish to take the children to the chapel now, Jane, but please come back to me later, when we will speak some more.’

Judging by her expression there were things she wished not to say in front of the young ones and I made another curtsy in acknowledgement before taking my leave. Not long after their return, when I had already made good progress filling two travelling chests with their essentials, I was once more summoned to Lady Anne’s chamber, dreading what additional bad news I might be about to hear.

Her young lady companions were absent and she invited me to sit on a stool beside her armchair. Although her face was still puffy from weeping, she was composed and tearless and had taken time to change her usual white gauze veil for a sombre black one. I was grateful when she addressed my chief concern straight away.