The York King by Amy Licence

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 party’s 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 Cecily’s 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.

‘I hope you have a good view of the arena,’ Edward addressed the ambassadors. ‘Call for more cushions or wine whenever you wish.’

‘Our view is well,’ replied the lead ambassador, the cultured De la Marche, with his distinctive accent and dress. ‘A most happy view of our two champions and the friendship of our countries.’

‘What happens,’ whispered George, too loudly, ‘when one defeats the other in combat? Will England and Burgundy then declare themselves to be enemies?’

Edward turned, frowning, having caught the words. ‘Surely, 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.’

George blushed at his question being addressed so directly and his theory so deftly dismantled. ‘But my lord of Warwick is not here to take the credit for he is sailing to France as we speak, is he not, Brother?’

Warwick’s 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 Margaret’s marriage in favour of a French one.

Even more controversial was the absence of Warwick’s 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 Edward’s 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.

‘But Lord Stanley has seen me in combat,’ added George, ‘so he can speak for me.



Download



Copyright Disclaimer:
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.