The castle on the rock dragged his memory back to the awful day when he and Anne learned of Ned’s death. “My ‘castle of care,’” he said to Rob Percy, as they rode under the portcullis. Rob was one of only a few of his closest advisors, with Catesby and Ratcliffe, to accompany Richard.

“I am surprised you returned, Your Grace. And I am even more surprised you are come without an army. Is this wise?”

Richard smiled. “Thank God for your northern candor, Rob,” he said. “I get tired of flattering fawners. All is ready around the south and east coasts for any sightings of Richmond, and Neville has the fleet patrolling the French coast for a possible French flotilla. With commissions of array in every part of the country, I am thinking I can have an army assembled more quickly where it is needed rather than have all of it here and have to march to the other end of the country as a whole.”

Rob nodded his approval of the strategy. “Always thinking, aren’t you, Richard?” he teased, evoking similar conversations from their days at Middleham. “What about Stanley? Should he not be mustering on his estates, too?”

“Stanley stays with me for the time being,” was all Richard would say.

Richard had been watching Stanley grow more and more taciturn since learning the king wanted him to stay close. Stanley was no fool. The earl realized his loyalty was in question, but there came a day in late July when he could no longer remain obediently at Nottingham.

“It has been many months since I oversaw my affairs on my estates, Your Grace,” Stanley said, affecting a pinched grimace of pain “Besides, I have not been well of late. I beg your leave to return home where I can recoup my strength and prepare my own troops to support you.”

Richard stared long and hard at the fifty-year-old earl of Derby, his sharp features, wispy gray hair and drooping mustache and beard making him look like an aging weasel. Stanley attempted to hold Richard’s eyes, but his lie forced him to avert his gaze. Finally, Richard spoke. “I will let you go, my lord Derby, on the condition you leave Lord Strange with me.”

Stanley looked startled. “My son? What for, may I ask?”

“Insurance, my lord,” Richard told him coolly. “And you know very well why.”

Two men-at-arms stepped forward to flank Lord Strange, who seemed perplexed. “Insurance against what, Your Grace? Surely you do not question my loyalty or my father’s? We have served your family well.”

Richard inclined his head. “And so you have, George. Up until the autumn of ’eighty-four, I had no worries as to your family’s loyalty. As I say, ’tis merely insurance.”