The King's Dogge (32 page)

I shared in his amusement.

‘Did you have to carry him to bed?'

‘Almost, but the next day he felt bad.'

‘On account of the wine?'

Richard roared with laughter and slid his glass back towards me.

‘No, he felt bad because we imprisoned him in his inn and set up sentries and road blocks to stop anyone getting to him. Then we galloped about fourteen miles south – ah, thank you, Francis – and presented ourselves to my nephew and his escort.'

‘So how did you separate him from them?'

Richard's shoulders shook in merriment.

‘We told him that we had urgent news fit only for his own ears, so it would be best if he and his half-brother, Grey accompanied us to a private place.'

‘What was the news?'

‘There wasn't any!' Richard bellowed with laugher. ‘The whole thing was just a ruse. Anyway, as soon as we had separated them out we told him plainly that Rivers and Dorset were plotting against us and insisted that he dismiss his attendants and come with us. Of course we arrested a few of his key people; left leaderless, the rest of his servants and troops dispersed peacefully' He grinned at me. ‘A neat piece of work, I think you'll agree?'

‘A bloodless coup that saved England,' I said honestly. ‘But weren't you a bit worried? I mean, suppose something had gone wrong?'

He pushed his glass towards me. His face was now very red and his eyes animated as he relived his moment of triumph.

‘No, I wasn't worried, Francis,' he said slowly. ‘My wife's plans usually work out extremely well, although this one was probably one of her best.'

I nodded. As a model of deception it could not have been bettered.

‘I'll tell you something though, Francis.'

‘What?'

‘It was when I rode into London and everyone was cheering me that I thought to myself how easy this has all been.'

‘Well, the people love you, Richard, and admire what you have done.'

He smiled at me.

‘But it's interesting that it's actually a lot easier to gain power than you imagine.'

I was proud of his success, so I paid no real attention to the ambition concealed in his words.

Richard quickly consolidated his position. All lords were required to swear an oath of loyalty to the young king, and the coronation was arranged for the end of June. The young prince was lodged, at Buckingham's suggestion, in the Tower. A committee was set up to work out how to persuade Elizabeth Woodville to come out from sanctuary, and the king's council was strengthened by the addition of the Duke of Buckingham and a chubby lawyer called Catesby whom Hastings recommended.

I had little time for Buckingham. He had a naturally haughty manner and an overdeveloped sense of his own importance. He was quick-witted and spoke well, but instinctively I mistrusted him.

Catesby loathed him too; he had worked for Buckingham previously and spoke badly of him as he took me around London. He knew the city well and we must have dined together half a dozen times. Gradually I came to appreciate the depth of his intellect and his shrewdness, but I was unprepared when he asked if he might be permitted to serve the Duke of Gloucester.

He plucked at his red and white doublet as he spoke. It was curious for a man of his age how colourful and youthful his clothes were, and I found his habit of sniffing his scented handkerchief oddly effeminate.

I forced my mind back to the subject.

‘But you are Lord Hastings' man. You're on his baronial council.'

‘Which would, I imagine, make me extremely valuable to the Duke of Gloucester,' chuckled Catesby. ‘How useful it would be for him to know what was going on in the minds of Lord Stanley and Lord Hastings.'

‘You'll consider the matter, my lord?' Catesby enquired.

‘I'll mention it to Richard Ratcliffe.'

‘The busiest man in London,' sighed Catesby. What an honour it would be to serve under him!'

Catesby's description of Ratcliffe was highly accurate. Ratcliffe was to be found everywhere in London these days, using all opportunities to sing the praises of Richard of Gloucester.

He was singularly successful in his propaganda, but then people were open to hearing reassuring words. Slurs and rumours were flying around and many people knew nothing of the Duke of Gloucester. They wanted to know that he was an honest brother and uncle. It pleased them to know that he cared equally for both great and lowly people, and he was desirous only of working with all men harmoniously in good Christian fellowship.

Ratcliffe was also sufficiently experienced to know that one of the easiest ways to build someone up is to denigrate their opponents. Consequently, his arrival in London coincided with a spate of derogatory rumours about the Woodvilles. At times he went too far. His attempt to persuade the citizens of the city that four wagonloads of rusty armour left over from the Scottish wars was conclusive proof that the Woodvilles had been planning a coup, had been received with polite scepticism. But with so much gossip in the air though, this was speedily forgotten. To my surprise he was greatly excited at the prospect of acquiring a spy in Lord Hastings' camp.

‘He could be very useful indeed.'

‘I can't see why; Hastings is an ally. Richard's only going to be protector for the next three years then Prince Edward will become king'

Ratcliffe shook his head impatiently.

‘In theory if no one thought about their own advancement we could use the three or four years to give Prince Edward an excellent start. But it's not working out like that.'

‘Why not?'

‘Because, after Richard himself, Buckingham is now the most important person in government and Hastings doesn't like that. He's jealous of him, as is Lord Stanley. They don't like the fact that Buckingham has been given most of Wales. They take issue with Northumberland who is likely to be given extra powers in the North and they certainly don't like the new men, like you and me, influencing Richard. Hastings and his allies want to regain their old power.'

‘But unless Richard rewards his supporters, few of them are going to follow him,' I protested.

‘But there's not enough to satisfy everyone,' Ratcliffe snapped. ‘There's another problem too. What happens to Richard in three or four years' time? The young king will inevitably lean towards his own family. Currently, Richard's arrested two of them, and the remainder are so terrified of him that they have either fled or taken sanctuary. They'll be looking for revenge in time.'

‘Well, Richard could release Earl Rivers and the queen's son Grey and try to make peace with the Woodvilles now.'

‘Buckingham wouldn't allow that and nor would Hastings and Stanley. The Woodvilles would demand a substantial share of power immediately and the only way that they could be satisfied is if other people had less.'

He groaned and put his head in his hands.

‘On the one hand, Richard has the threat of the Woodvilles in the future but, on the other, he has the immediate problem that the council are not being particularly supportive. Maybe there is a way forward, Francis, but I can't see it and it would be useful to have a spy in Catesby At least he could tell us what Hastings and his crew are thinking.'

Anne Neville listened intently to my analysis of the situation in London but made no comment. When I had finished, she continued to sit motionless in her tall carved chair. Presently she roused herself to look at me directly.

‘Did my husband let it be known to anyone that he had sent you to me, Francis?'

‘No, my lady. It was put about that I would be serving on Commissions of Peace in East Yorkshire, Northamptonshire and…'

‘Excellent. Now tell me, did my husband remember to request the council to grant him an extension of the protectorship from four to thirteen years?'

He had and that was why I was with Anne Neville now. Richard had sent me to discuss the matter with Lord Stanley Predictably, he heard me out in silence, the deep grooves between his eyes growing deeper.

‘But why does Gloucester want such an extension, Francis?' he asked. ‘I'll grant you that our young prince is a trifle young to become king at sixteen or seventeen, but why should he wait until he's twenty-five?'

‘In thirteen years' time, the Woodvilles would be a spent force and there will be no revenge taken against Gloucester or Buckingham. Also, in fairness, the extension of the protectorship gives the young prince a chance to gain more experience. He'll be mature by the time he comes to the throne.'

‘Assuming he does actually come to the throne! Francis, let me talk to Hastings. I'll revert to you.'

Surprisingly, Hastings' response was quick. I doubt whether he even bothered to think about it. He and the other lords in council were the devoted servants of the late King Edward. His heir had a legal right to inherit the throne. He, Lord Hastings, would have failed his late friend and master if the boy did not take up his crown when he was entitled to do so. With regard to the position of the Duke of Gloucester and Buckingham at that time, Lord Hastings regretted the situation but their role would come to an end then.

‘That ungrateful old fool!' hissed Anne Neville. ‘The extension of the protectorate would have made my husband safe.'

Her hand shook with fury for a moment until she composed herself

‘What message would you have me take back to Richard, my lady?' I asked a moment later.

Her fingers softly drummed the armrest of her chair and her blue eyes focused on the wall above my head; she ignored me completely as she marshalled her thoughts. I waited patiently until she was ready.

‘There are three messages, Francis. The first one is the longest. Tell my husband that with the failure of the council to grant him an extension of the protectorate he has no choice but to pursue a path which he and I have already discussed. He should begin to make preparations immediately'

‘The second, my lady?'

‘I will arrive to assist him early in June.'

‘And the third?'

Her pale blue eyes shone with amusement.

‘Tell him to make you chief butler.'

I must have looked puzzled. Anne Neville sat upright, smiling slightly at some secret joke before turning back to me.

‘I understand that one of your ancestors was Chief Butler of Normandy'

I had forgotten telling Richard the story that Henry Lovell had narrated.

‘And, under the circumstances, it seems particularly appropriate that you become the Chief Butler of England. Now Francis, you'll have time to see your wife quickly before you return to London. Tell her that she's always in my thoughts.'