“Talking about me again?” Richard startled them as they stood by the boat, their words drowned by the lapping waves. “Come, friends, let us get this over with.”

Once Richard began the difficult conversation, he found it easier than the anticipation of it. He sat between his nephews on the large tester bed, and it so reminded him of his quiet bedtime talks with Ned that he found his words coming more easily.

“I regret to have to bring you news that will affect your lives, my dears, but it is of such importance that you must only hear it from me. A long time ago, before your father met your mother, your father made a promise to wed another woman. The promise is called a pre-contract and is legal and binding in the eyes of the church. Unless the two people ask to be released from it, they are considered married. Your father broke that promise when he married your mother instead.”

He paused, upset that the younger boy, Richard, was already crying. He was the same age Richard had been when the dreadful news of York’s death had changed his life, so he did not blame the boy for shedding tears; as well their father’s recent death was still an open wound. Richard took out a linen kerchief and gently wiped the boy’s face allowing Edward to gather his thoughts.

Edward picked at his fingers. “What does this mean exactly?” he demanded. Why was this uncle always against him? Nothing good had happened to Edward ever since Uncle Richard had come into his life at Stony Stratford, and, at twelve, he was learning to be suspicious of people—even his own family.

Richard took a breath and answered as simply as he could. “It means your parents’ marriage was not legal, because your father was not free to marry. And for you boys, this is the upsetting part. One must be lawfully married in the eyes of the church before having children, or those children are not legitimate—legal. It does not mean your mother and father did not love you or each other, because they did,” he hastily added, “but it means you have no legal rights—including,” and he drew another deep breath before pronouncing, “your not being able to be king, Edward.”

Richard was expecting Edward’s anger. “How do I know you are not lying, Uncle?” the boy cried, jumping up from the bed and kicking over the pewter jakes. “You lied when you told me my uncle Rivers would be released. He hasn’t, has he? I don’t trust you. And I don’t want to be called ‘bastard.’ I want to be called king.” He rounded on Richard, his fists clenched and looking so like Edward, Richard’s stomach contracted. “Why are you lying to me? You swore to protect me and uphold my kingship not three weeks ago. Do you break your oaths so quickly? I had heard you were my father’s loyal brother, but now I am not so sure.”