Sir Richard shook his head despairingly. ‘He will not permit anyone to dress him. He insists that God wishes him to attend to himself but of course he cannot. That is why he is so unkempt; his hair and his beard untrimmed. Short of tying him down I do not see what can be done.’

‘He cannot appear that way at his coronation!’ exclaimed Margaret with alarm. ‘He will be a laughing stock and you and his servants likewise.’

‘I think if we tell him God has ordained that he wear the garments he wore for his first coronation he may consent,’ I suggested. ‘Meanwhile we can have a tailor alter them to fit. Perhaps I should make a point of being at the robing. If I word it right he will listen to my advice.’

Sir Richard made me what I took to be a grateful bow. ‘Your assistance would be greatly appreciated, my lord.’

As we returned downriver to Coldharbour, Margaret remarked, keeping her voice low so that it would not carry to the oarsmen, ‘So our king is not fit to rule. You have a difficult task ahead, Jasper, at least until the queen arrives. Do Marguerite and Warwick get on now? I know their alliance was crucial in restoring the Lancastrian throne but I must tell you that it came as a great surprise.’

‘There is still no love lost between them and Queen Marguerite has declared that she will not risk her son’s life in England until Warwick can guarantee the throne is securely won. I must warn you that most of my time will have to be spent restoring order to Wales. Warwick will take the lead on English matters, and if you are determined to pursue the restoration of Harri’s lands before Parliament meets, it will be Warwick you have to deal with.’

‘Yes – the Earl of Warwick, father-in-law to the Duke of Clarence, the greedy turncoat brother to whom Edward granted all the Richmond lands and revenues.’ Margaret frowned and sighed. ‘What is the likelihood of us getting them back?’

I gave her an encouraging smile. ‘For most people, nil – but for the shrewd and charming Countess of Richmond I should think there is every chance.’

She shot me a sideways glance and a wry smile. ‘You flatter me, sir. I deduce that the courts of Europe have honed your diplomatic skills.’

‘Whereas yours need no sharpening, my lady.’ I noticed Harri was following our conversation with great interest and winked at him. ‘Listen and learn, young Harri. Listen and learn,’ I said.

‘Why must you keep calling him Harri?’ Margaret complained. ‘We are not in Wales now.’

‘Truly I do not mind, lady mother,’ Harri put in before I could reply. ‘I like the Welsh and I speak their language. Not fluently, but enough to converse with them. Besides, when my uncle calls me Harri you know he is not talking about the king.’