Jean Plaidy by The Reluctant Queen: The Story of Anne of York

Author:The Reluctant Queen: The Story of Anne of York [York, The Reluctant Queen: The Story of Anne of]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780307394323
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Published: 2007-08-28T05:00:00+00:00

I do not know how I managed to suppress my excitement during that day.

I was with Isabel in the afternoon. We sat over our needlework as we often did. I must have seemed preoccupied, but that was not unnatural.

Isabel did say, “Anne, I think you are beginning to realize that George is right.”

I nodded and hung my head.

“He is, when all is said, only trying to do what is best for you. He has your welfare at heart.”

Still I did not answer. I was amazed at my duplicity, but I did have to keep reminding myself that I must not betray by the slightest word or gesture that I was contemplating flight.

There was a great deal of revelry in the hall that night, as was the custom when the Duke of Clarence was present. The long tables were filled with retainers—and there were all the squires and pages who were considered necessary to the comfort of the diners.

The minstrels were playing in the gallery as the scullions and serving men and women hurried back and forth to the kitchens.

The duke was seated at the center of the table on the dais and Isabel was on his right hand, I on his left.

He was very merry and I noticed that now and then he put out a hand to caress Isabel. She was smiling and happy. My heart was pounding. I longed to be free to go to my chamber and be conducted to the waiting carriage.

Clarence was particularly affable to me. I think Isabel must have told him that I had come to my senses and that I understood I should be wise to obey my guardian and be a docile ward in the future.

He was drinking heavily, I noticed, but he frequently did. He called for a song. It was about love and he listened with a sentimental gleam in his eyes.

He patted my hand. “Anne,” he said. “My dear little sister. I am going to see that all is well for you. Your welfare is one of my greatest concerns. You know that, do you not?”

He put his face close to mine and I said, “I know that you think of my future, my lord.”

“You are my dear wife’s sister, and everything concerning her is dear to my heart. Come. Drink with me…to our happy future. Wine…wine…good Malmsey wine for the Lady Anne.”

One of the men filled my goblet.

“To the future,” said Clarence. “Our friendship, Anne, yours and mine. It is as steady as a rock and always will be. Come, you are not drinking. I want to see the contents of that goblet go down. Otherwise I shall think you are not sincere with me.”

I forced myself to drink.

“There. Now we are friends. Did you see that, Isabel? Anne and I understand each other. So no more anxiety, my dear, on our account.”

“Anne knows that you are concerned for her good,” said Isabel, “do you not, Anne?”

“I know that my lord duke is concerned for my future,” I said ambiguously.

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