The York King by Amy Licence
Author:Amy Licence [Licence, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lume Books
Published: 2022-03-02T16:00:00+00:00
The curtain behind them parted again to allow the royal partyâs entrance to the platform. While they had been talking, Edward had traversed the field and now led his sister by the hand, followed by the Burgundian ambassadors, Oliver de la Marche and Louis de Gruthuyse, and their party, then Archbishop Thomas Bourchier, Warwick, Hastings, Baron Thomas and William Stanley, George, Duke of Clarence and other members of the court.
Princess Margaret, slender in her dark green gown with white sleeves, was just twenty-one, and her dark eyes and raven hair recalled the colouring of her father, the Duke of York. She was a good girl, a quiet girl who knew her duty, but not as forthcoming with Elizabeth as the queen would have liked. She had always attributed this to Cecilyâs influence.
The party bowed to the seated queen. Elizabeth inclined her head in response.
Edward handed Margaret to her place with grace and formality, and invited the ambassadors to be seated. William Stanley placed himself beyond them, on the edge of the group, deep in conversation with Bourchier, Baron Thomas to the other side, as if they had some purpose with him. George, at seventeen, and even taller now than the king, sidled round to sit on the step before them, which was spread with a Turkish carpet.
âI hope you have a good view of the arena,â Edward addressed the ambassadors. âCall for more cushions or wine whenever you wish.â
âOur view is well,â replied the lead ambassador, the cultured De la Marche, with his distinctive accent and dress. âA most happy view of our two champions and the friendship of our countries.â
âWhat happens,â whispered George, too loudly, âwhen one defeats the other in combat? Will England and Burgundy then declare themselves to be enemies?â
Edward turned, frowning, having caught the words. âSurely, Brother, you are old enough now to understand the rules of chivalry? Whatever battles are fought in the lists only serve to secure friendships. I know you have been taught this by your excellent tutor, the Earl of Warwick.â
George blushed at his question being addressed so directly and his theory so deftly dismantled. âBut my lord of Warwick is not here to take the credit for he is sailing to France as we speak, is he not, Brother?â
Warwickâs absence was a sore point that Edward had not wished to air. Virulently against the Burgundian alliance, the earl had taken himself to negotiate with King Louis, amid rumours that he was attempting to block Margaretâs marriage in favour of a French one.
Even more controversial was the absence of Warwickâs brothers, Montagu, the victor of Hexham, and John Neville. Just two years before, Neville had been richly rewarded with the Archbishopric of York and the Chancellorship, but his refusal to support Edwardâs friendship with Burgundy had forced the king to strip him of the Great Seal. The court was still smarting with gossip and the king hoped that the tournament would provide a useful distraction.
âBut Lord Stanley has seen me in combat,â added George, âso he can speak for me.
Download
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.
The Spy by Paulo Coelho(1459)
Cain by Jose Saramago(1446)
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese(1359)
La Catedral del Mar by Ildefonso Falcones(1082)
Bridge to Haven by Francine Rivers(1073)
The August Few Book One: Amygdala by Sam Fennah(1025)
La Catedral del Mar by ILDEFONSO FALCONES(1005)
Cain by Saramago José(972)
The Prince: Jonathan by Francine Rivers(966)
A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austin(960)
La dama azul by Sierra Javier(947)
Devil Water by Anya Seton(936)
La dama azul(v.1) by Javier Sierra(934)
Sons of Encouragement by Francine Rivers(916)
The Book of Saladin by Tariq Ali(910)
The Sacrifice by Beverly Lewis(900)
Murder by Vote by Rose Pascoe(879)
Creacion by Gore Vidal(858)
Quo Vadis: A Narrative of the Time of Nero (World Classics) by Henryk Sienkiewicz(840)
