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Chapters (55)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Book
  3. About the Author
  4. Kingmaker: Winter Pilgrims
  5. Dedication
  6. Though the Lancastrian Claim comes from Edward III’s THIRD son, it relies on a) possession and b) that the crown can not pass through a woman – Philippa Mormer – so must fall to the next male in line. The Yorkist Claim relies on their descent from Edward III’s SECOND son, and says it can pass through Philippa. The Tudor Claim ignores the fact of passing through a woman – Lady Margaret Beaufort – or that John, Earl of Somerset, was born illegimate.
  7. Factions in the Wars of the Roses
  8. Prologue
  9. PART ONE
  10. 1
  11. 2
  12. 3
  13. 4
  14. PART TWO
  15. 5
  16. 6
  17. 7
  18. 8
  19. 9
  20. 10
  21. 11
  22. 12
  23. 13
  24. PART THREE
  25. 14
  26. 15
  27. 16
  28. 17
  29. 18
  30. 19
  31. PART FOUR
  32. 20
  33. 21
  34. 22
  35. 23
  36. PART FIVE
  37. 24
  38. 25
  39. 26
  40. 27
  41. 28
  42. 29
  43. 30
  44. 31
  45. PART SIX
  46. 32
  47. 33
  48. PART SEVEN
  49. 34
  50. 35
  51. 36
  52. 37
  53. 38
  54. 39
  55. Acknowledgements

‘They’ll be stiff tomorrow,’ Geoffrey says, joining Katherine on the tower. She does not mind his company any more. Despite his size and strength, he is a soft man, kind-hearted, who misses his wife and daughter, who should, he tells her, be married by now but is in England.

They stare out to sea. A ship lumbers through the heavy waters, heading westwards, to Ireland Geoffrey says, or around the coast and down to Spain. Beyond is England.

‘I bet there are men in towers over there’ – Geoffrey nods – ‘staring this way, just waiting for us to come back and start it all again.’

‘When d’you think it’ll be?’ Katherine asks.

‘Depends on the weather,’ Geoffrey thinks. ‘The Earl of Warwick’s got to get back from Ireland first, and I’ve heard of men stuck there for months or more, waiting for the right wind.’

‘What’s he doing in Ireland?’

‘He’s with the Duke of York, coming up with a plan, though it is clear to all what that plan’ll be: Warwick and his men – that’s us – we’ll land somewhere in Kent; the Duke and his men’ll land somewhere in the west. Then each party will march towards London, hoping to raise the country as he goes. The men of Kent have reason to hold the Earl of Warwick dear, for he has kept the sea clear of pirates these last few years, and stopped any more raids on the coast, but the Duke of York, well . . .’

He trails off. It is clear the Duke is less popular than the Earl.

‘But what will happen when we reach London?’ Katherine asks. ‘Surely they don’t mean to kill King Henry?’

Geoffrey actually splutters.

‘Course not. Course not. No one would wish that. It is just to free him from the crust of his advisers, see? They cling on, don’t they? And take everything they can. And the Queen! Did you know she’s a Frenchy? And that she organised the raid on Sandwich?’

Katherine has never heard of a raid on Sandwich. Hardly ever heard of Sandwich.

‘Where’ve you two been?’ Geoffrey exclaims again. ‘You and Thomas. You know nothing. It’s as if you’ve been locked away these past years.’

11

DAYS PASS, EACH longer than the last. Catkins appear on the hazel branches and the elm blossom is purple in the woods. A blackbird calls loudly. Spring is coming. Katherine can feel it in her bones: a curious thrill.