Innocent Traitor by Weir Alison

Author:Weir, Alison [Weir, Alison]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Non Fiction
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2010-05-04T16:06:12+00:00

Later, when the rest have gone, Dorset and I share a flask of hippocras before the dying fire.

“I know what people say about me,” I muse. “That I am the son of a traitor. But I’ve never let the injustice of my father’s execution prevent me from being loyal to the Crown. Fortunately, I’ve fared rather better than my father. And I got where I am today on the strength of my own abilities.”

“You’ve done very well,” acknowledges Dorset. “Master of the Horse, Lord High Admiral, privy councillor. There’s none more influential on the council.”

“I thank you, my lord. And I have been blessed in my wife and children. Of the thirteen she’s borne me, seven yet live.”

“And five are handsome, strapping sons,” says Dorset wistfully. It’s well known that he has been disappointed in his expectations of a male heir. “You are lucky, sir, that God has so blessed you, and that your children have found favor with the King and his sisters. We all noticed how, when she was at court, the Lady Elizabeth and young Robert were inseparable.”

“Yes, God has been bountiful. But this is no time to be complacent, Henry. I have my enemies too, and they are only too happy to go about smearing my reputation.”

“What man has not risen to power without making enemies?”

“I know my reputation for toughness is not entirely undeserved. I am aware that many of the men who are pleased to call themselves my friends are simply scared of crossing me.” I smile. “Of course, at times it has been necessary to use a degree of, shall we say, intimidation when building up alliances, but I have taken care to temper this with bonhomie and open-handedness.”

“Any man who would rule must display a certain ruthlessness,” observes Dorset. “Bonhomie on its own never won battles.”

“Never underestimate the power of calculated bullying and veiled threats! It’s my conviction that, when it comes to politics, a tender conscience can be an inconvenience. Somerset has a conscience, an unfashionably liberal one, and look where it’s got him. He’s arrogant too, although that’s no bad thing in a ruler, almost a necessity. I too can be arrogant, and to far deadlier effect, but when it comes to laying my quarry, I can pile on the charm at will. Unlike Somerset, I am not burdened with scruples. What has to be done has to be done. Let them call me greedy and ruthless and accuse me of looking only to my own interests. Every man worth the name does the same, especially those of us who inhabit the court.”

“If something stands in your path, you must eliminate it, by fair means or foul,” says Dorset, looking me straight in the eye.

“Indeed.” I smile grimly. We both know that I intend to be the supreme power in England. By God, no one is going to stop me, and Dorset means to back the winner. He knows I have the young King in my hand, thanks to a

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