Gentling his cloak about her pathetically thin shoulders, Richard led the way out to the street, leaving Rob behind to deal with the landlord. “Francis, all is arranged with sanctuary at St. Martin’s?” he asked.

“Aye, my lord,” Francis answered his lord, whom he revered. It would be many years before he would allow himself to acknowledge the growing friendship.

“How can I ever thank you?” Anne said, melting into the safety of Richard’s protection.

Richard smiled. “Marry me, my lady,” he said simply.

“With all my heart,” was Anne’s happy response.

Anne’s devotion to him and the gallant way in which he had sought her out led her to assume that Richard returned her feelings. She never considered the young man’s understandable ambition to marry into the wealthiest family in England, and, just as her sister had been for George, Anne Neville was the best match for a brother of the king. But for Anne, she wanted only to wed the man she loved.

Three steps lay in Richard’s path to the altar, and only two were legal obstacles: George’s sanction and the Pope’s dispensation. The third was a task Richard dreaded: bidding Kate farewell.

She arrived with the two children at Crosby Hall during advent. As well as delighting in being a father, Richard’s passion for his beautiful mistress kept him away from Westminster night after night while he imprinted on his mind the image of her naked body rising above him, lying beside him, or thrilling him with every caress—memories that he hoped to carry with him forever. How he wished he could take her to court, show her off, and introduce his family to three-year-old Katherine and baby John. But Kate had begged to remain anonymous, high-born gossiping a real fear. “I would embarrass you,” was her excuse, and so Richard had kept his promise to her. Later he would also keep his promise to acknowledge the children by placing them in noble houses. “Let them never forget they have a royal father,” he begged of her, “and one who loves them.”

“This is farewell, is it not?” she whispered into the dark, fingering the écu talisman she had given him and that was always about his neck. “Can I guess? You are to be married? Is it…will it be…soon?”

“’Tis not settled yet, love. I have Edward’s permission at last, but my brother, George, is opposed, and there is much dissension between us. You see, I hope to marry his sister-in-law…”

“…Anne Neville.” Kate’s tone made Richard wince, but he would not flinch from his duty.

“Aye, ’tis Anne and no surprise. You must know that I marry for other reasons than love.”