Knight of the Red Rose_The Rose and the Sword by Cynthia Breeding

Author:Cynthia Breeding [Breeding, Cynthia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Prairie Rose Publications
Published: 2020-08-06T04:00:00+00:00

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His thoughts still on his interrupted encounter with Luciana, Stephen picked up the sealed missive from the bedside table where Pierre had placed it. His aunt had used the official French royal crest to avoid any suspicion that there was contact between House of Anjou and the king’s emissary. The last thing Edward—or his spies—needed to find out was a connection between the exiled Lancasterian queen and himself. The only reason Pierre knew the missive was not actually from the French king was because Margaret always made a slight slice with a fingernail before the wax had dried.

He broke the seal, expecting to find a coded—just in case the letter fell into wrong hands—question about how much popular support there was for Edward versus Henry. Instead, what he was reading—or thought he was—made his eyes widen.

“What is it?” Pierre asked as he handed him a glass of wine from the flagon on the table.

He waved the wine aside. “Let me be sure I am understanding this.” He reread the message, more slowly this time. Amongst descriptions of meeting with a bishop to discuss improvements to a cathedral that would raise the king’s esteem with the people, he managed to garner the facts.

“Margaret has managed to accomplish quite the coup.”

Pierre arched a brow. “Mayhap you should begin at the beginning?”

“Oui. When we left France six weeks ago, King Louis was trying to arrange a meeting between Warwick and my aunt.”

“A feat in itself, since he’s the one who sent King Henry to the Tower and her into exile.”

“But remember, Warwick originally supported Henry.” Stephen said.

“Warwick always has managed to hop from one foot to the other,” Pierre replied. “I take it he has re-allied himself?”

“It seems so. You and I both know that if Henry is restored to power, a Lancaster-led England would ally with France, and King Louis could concentrate on putting down Burgundy’s rebellion,” Stephen said.

“Even with the treaty you are supposedly negotiating, Louis won’t entirely trust Edward since his sister married Burgundy two years ago.”

“Exactly. Louis has agreed to lend Warwick money and troops to invade England as long as Margaret will supply troops from Anjou, as well.”

“And since both your aunt and Warwick want revenge, they agreed to meet?”

Stephen nodded. “Probably at Angers Cathedral.” He looked down at the letter again with its references to cathedrals and improvements. “This says the bishop spent twenty minutes on his knees in gratitude. If I am reading this right, the ‘bishop’ was Warwick and my aunt made the earl sink to the stone floor before she forgave him.”

Pierre guffawed. “A short penance, but one I imagine felt like an eternity for a man with as much pride as Warwick.”

“He should count his blessings. My aunt attempted to assassinate Richard of York several times for interference with Henry’s reign.”

“And finally succeeded.” Pierre quirked his mouth. “That is, if rumors are to be believed.”

Stephen smiled. “Some things are better not questioned.”

“True. But here is a question that needs an answer,” Pierre replied.

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