‘In view of his grace’s mercy, as you put it, Lady Grey, I am agreeable to stand as Thomas’s guardian until he comes of age. In return, I shall see that his estates are efficiently managed and that he makes a suitable marriage. In fact,’ Lord Hastings exchanged glances with his wife, who did not look very comfortable, ‘my lady and I are agreed that our first daughter shall be considered a match for Thomas and if, Heaven forbid, he should die in the meantime, the arrangement shall stand the same for your younger son.’
Elysabeth was astounded.
‘Your daughter, my lord?’ Her gaze fell upon the little girl waggling her doll at John. This was a wondrous suggestion. Ned’s doing? An heiress for Tom!
Warwick’s sister raised a hand. ‘With all respect, Lady Grey, please do not misunderstand us. My daughter here possesses a huge estate, all the Bonville and Harrington inheritance. The decision of her marriage must lie with the king himself.’
Hastings came immediately to support her. ‘Even though you, your grace, are of high rank’, he inclined his head at the duchess, ‘Thomas is not of sufficient standing.’
Elysabeth’s mother brushed her fingers down her lips in puzzlement. ‘Your pardon, Lord ’astings, I do not know about you, Elysabeth, but, moi, I find myself confused.’
Warwick’s sister’s white skin grew rosy beneath the freckles. ‘We meant that…that if God gives us a daughter.’
Elysabeth drew a breath and digested the correction with little pleasure. The proposal – a marriage alliance with the ascendant Hastings family – was astounding. Flattering but also wondrous cunning. Even if Lady Hastings bore a daughter, the girl would need to be about twelve years old or more before a marriage could move beyond betrothal. This was a long way into the future.
‘You must pardon my misunderstanding,’ she said, and was glad that Lady Hastings nodded graciously, so she could tactfully proceed further. ‘Forgive my broaching such a delicate matter but what if you should bear only sons, my lady, and no daughter?’
At least, Lord Hastings seemed to approve of this businesslike approach. He leaned forward, answering on behalf of his wife. ‘It is a possibility, of course, Lady Grey, and, consequently, Katherine and I have thought further on the matter. If we have no daughter, would you consider a daughter of my brother Ralph or my sister Anne as a substitute? I realise Anne is married to your mother-inlaw’s cousin but is that an obstacle?’
Worse and worse but at least Hastings as guardian to Thomas would be a fresh beginning.
‘I suppose not,’ Elysabeth conceded. ‘What concerns me is that Tom will be eleven years or more older than any future bride. There would need to be a limit to the arrangement.’
‘Shall we say, Lady Grey, that if none of my family have produced a daughter within six years and you wish to void the arrangement, you would pay a withdrawing fee of 250 marks.’ What! That was a considerable sum. A whole host of reasons why she might need to break the contract rode through her mind. During the next six years, God alone knew what might come to pass.
Lord Hastings had not finished. ‘In the meantime, Lady Grey, I shall pay you 500 marks which I believe is the sum you need to settle your debts.’
By Heaven, what else did he know about her affairs? How many petticotes she wore?
‘That’s very generous,’ she answered huskily.
But this all needed Thomas’s compliance. Would he welcome Lord Hastings as his guardian, the man who had already turned him down? She smoothed her skirts, taking her time to reply further. To refuse would be to insult both Lord Hastings and King Edward, and, anyway, why would she say no when she had been praying fervently to Our Lady for such a reverse in her fortune? Thomas would have to swallow his pride and be grateful. So, for that matter, would she.
Her parents’ covert nods confirmed her own decision. ‘Very well, Lord Hastings, Lady Hastings, I agree to your terms and I thank you with all my heart.’ Well, most of it. ‘I should also appreciate your good lordship in ensuring Thomas receives an income from the three manors held in trust for him. The case took three years to prove in Chancery.’
‘Ah yes, Newbottle, Brington and—’
‘Woodham Ferrers in Essex, my lord.’
‘Quite.’ She’d swear on the Gospels he knew as much as she. ‘Consider it done, Lady Grey, providing, of course, all is proper within the law.’
‘I’m sure you will find it so, my lord.’ Oh God, that came out unwisely. ‘I mean that the trust was set up lawfully.’
The ensuing silence was awkward and then Lady Hastings asked, ‘What about you, Lady Grey? May we help you to another husband?’
‘No, I thank you, my lady.’
‘But you’ve been a widow for four years now.’ Was that a reminder that she was already in her late twenties?
‘To know that my son has a good future now is sufficient for me but I thank you for your concern, madame. During the troubles of ’61, there must have been a time when you found yourself in similar circumstances.’
‘My husband declared a traitor? Yes, Lady Grey, and more besides. The battle at Wakefield took five of my kinsmen and then my husband’s grandsire was beheaded at St Albans.’
St Albans!
Was it possible to forget the dead? How could it be? Four years now but it still felt like yesterday.
Her mother fidgeted. ‘Zer king is a good young man. If anyone can bring about a lasting peace, it is ’im.’
‘I’m glad to hear you say that, your grace.’ King Edward’s unexpected presence, dry, finely apparelled and not smelling of fish, brought them all to their feet and into obeisance. Elysabeth saw his gaze, keen below the brim of his chaperon, scout all their faces before returning to hers as she rose from her curtsey.
‘Is all settled then?’ their cat-footed, rascal sovereign lord was asking.
‘Yes, your highness.’ Lord Hastings bowed. His voice held a high-ranking servant’s lack of emotion. His face matched. Had his offer been only at royal command?
‘And where is Thomas?’ asked his highness.
‘I’ll send for him,’ Elysabeth replied with another curtsey.
‘No, you may show me where he is, Lady Grey. It pleases me to break the good news myself.’ He looked to her parents. ‘Madame, Lord Rivers, I think Lord and Lady Hastings would be happy to see some of the beautiful books that belonged to his grace of Bedford. Lady Grey, if you please!’ He beckoned and she with a nod of deference to their other guests happily followed the king out.
She could have skipped for joy.
‘Satisfied?’ he asked over his shoulder. ‘You owe me a debt, Elysabeth.’
At the bottom of the stairs in the shadows, she slid her arms round his neck and kissed him. ‘I’m so glad I met you,’ she murmured and they both laughed. She could feel the hardness of him below the skirt of his short doublet pressing against her skirt and the stone unyielding behind her back. If she let him, he would take repayment swiftly – lift her petticotes and possess her against the wall like he might any willing tapster wench. Well, she needed to enjoy the coupling as well and on her back rather than her feet or legging his waist. And, besides, she had her pride. Pride was more effective than any vow of chastity but saying the ‘no’ word to an ardent young king might fall on deaf ears. It was like being between a sword blade and the wall. If she denied him…
Fortunately the door above opened.
‘Tomorrow is May Day,’ she whispered, pulling back from the king. ‘The children would be delighted if you could come a-maying with us.’
He was looking up the stairs. ‘The whole brood, eh?’
‘The whole brood.’
‘I’ll think upon it. Ah, Will.’ The timbre of his voice implied, how very inconvenient of you to his friend but Lord Hastings was looking as impervious as duck feathers to water. Was this a frequent occurrence? Did the king’s chamberlain control who had access to the royal loins as well as to the royal ear?
‘Forgive me disturbing you, your highness, Lady Grey
. I thought perhaps as Thomas is to be in my household—’
‘Of course,’ she murmured before Hastings’ liege lord could argue. ‘An excellent notion.’
She led the two men to the schoolroom where Thomas and the other boys were with their tutor. The poor schoolmaster nearly had a visitation from God at the sight of the King of England entering his small domain.
Elysabeth watched with joy as King Edward informed Thomas that his father’s attainder would be reversed and an agreement had been made with Lord Hastings. Vindication glowed in Thomas’s face and it was as though God himself lifted the burden of shame and guilt from the child’s shoulders. All the king’s – Ned’s – doing. And, she realised blasphemously, it was like a baptism, a wondrous new beginning for all of them. She was no longer stained as a traitor’s widow; John Grey’s name was no longer blemished.
Our Lady, Mary, Mother of our Lord, thank you! Your name be praised! Blessed St Jude, thank you!
‘And now, as King of England,’ announced Ned, ‘I decree that today’s school is over and we are to have a tournament.’
‘What!’ Elysabeth and his grace’s chamberlain spoke as one.
‘Organise it, Thomas Grey! Fetch your Uncle John from the solar, and we shall need wooden swords and shields.’ He was halfway out the door when Thomas exclaimed, ‘But I don’t fight, your highness.’
The king turned, his hazel eyes wide in surprise. Lord Hastings was staring at Elysabeth as though she had put the words in her child’s mouth. Curse it, he would probably revoke his offer now.
‘It’s because of my father, your highness,’ Tom explained, swallowing. ‘I saw what the soldiers did to my father’s body. I took an oath never to fight.’
The King of England, who had never lost a battle, was now lost for words, his mouth a sickle of displeasure.
‘I can understand.’ That admission emerged rawly, astonishingly, from the king’s friend, who actually put an arm around the boy and directed a take-the-matter-slowly look at his liege lord. ‘God willing, there will be no more battles, no more good men slain.’
The king’s eyebrows rose. ‘Ever the poxy diplomat,’ he muttered. ‘But we are still having a tournament. You two.’ He pointed a regal finger at Dickon and Edward. ‘Go and arm yourselves!’
*
‘Lady Grey, might I have a word in private with you?’ Lord Hastings had edged up to join her. She was standing well back from the combat that was about to ensue between Dickon on the king’s shoulders and her brother Edward on John’s.
‘My lord?’ With all the yelling going on, it was a small matter to take a few steps back and withdraw through the brushwood fence into the kitchen garden. Lord Hastings was looking so grave, she wondered if there was another addendum to his earlier offer.
‘Here will suffice, Lady Grey.’
There was no waste of breath commenting on the healthy bean shoots, the rows of pea sticks, the bed of gillyflowers or the clumps of sage and basilicum. Lord Hastings, taking up a stance on the path, was pleased to beat the matter into the open. ‘My lady, since there is no other opportunity to advise you, I shall be brief and to the point. Your beauty has clearly won his highness’s heart.’
Elysabeth drew breath to protest but he held up a gloved hand.
‘Please, let me continue.’
That angered her but she managed to retort firmly, ‘It is only your opinion, my lord, not mine, if you will not let me deny it.’
‘Then for hypothesis, Lady Grey, supposing it were so.’
She plucked a bay leaf to play with between her fingers. It would help keep her temper tethered. ‘Go on, my lord, if you insist.’
‘As a woman of the world, my lady…’ Did he mean ‘older than Ned’? By heaven, she wished he’d stop looking stiff as a playing card. ‘I am sure I do not need to remind you that such admiration for your person is only a passing infatuation on his grace’s part and I therefore beg you not to take it seriously. He has left a trail of broken hearts from Calais to Northumberland.’
Most likely true.
Her hands rose open-palmed. ‘If it is just an infatuation, then why are you warning me, my lord?’ Thwat! That clonked him like a mace upon his helm, but he rallied.
‘Because being a sister and a mother—’ another jab at her maturity, she realised, ‘—you know that when a youth is lusting after a woman, he finds it hard to take “no” for an answer.’
Oh, be careful, she warned herself, but she could not resist saying, ‘Twenty-two next month hardly makes him a youth, my lord. He is a battle-scarred commander, four years a king, and surely knows his own mind.’ She would have liked to add, and you, chamberlain, may look a comely thirty-something but you sound like Methuselah.
‘Then I must make my meaning yet plainer, Lady Grey. I say this for your own good. The king has been known to promise anything to coax a woman into “an arrangement”.’
‘Anything? I see. Thank you for your counsel, my lord. I appreciate the warning.’
Did he think she wanted the royal treasury to be emptied in return for favours of a carnal nature?
As if embarrassed by her direct look, he toed the nearest pebble. ‘And if you do feel tempted into “an arrangement”, Lady Grey, please be aware that his duties as king will not permit him to spend much time in Northamptonshire. There are many…’ he paused for emphasis, as if she was one of a multitude, ‘who believe that my lord of Warwick manages the day-to-day running of the realm but they are in error.’ Defensive of his master. Rightly so. She liked that. Or was the message: Ned does what I advise, let’s keep it that way?
‘Be assured, Lord Hastings, that any “arrangement” is out of the question. I accept your advice wholeheartedly. I shall not become one of the king’s mistresses if that is what you fear.’ Her fingers clasped the small cross she wore about her neck. ‘I so swear.’
‘I do not fear it, madame,’ he corrected. ‘I merely advise you.’
She swept ahead of him, back towards the hubbub. At the wicker gate, she turned. ‘I have never nor ever will shame my family by entering into an adulterous relationship with any man. Nor did I visit you in Kirby Muxloe with such a purpose, although I imagine that was what you concluded, my lord.’
He neither denied nor confirmed that. Instead he granted her a tight smile and said, ‘I am relieved to hear that you value virtue, Lady Grey. As we said before, Katherine and I are very willing to do anything in our power to help you find a husband worthy of your status.’
‘As the daughter of a duchess or merely the widow of John, Lord Ferrers, who fought for Lancaster?’ Ha! She snared the sudden retraction in his face before she added blithely, ‘Have no fear, my lord, I shall never put such a charge upon you. And here is your lady in search of you.’
Katherine Neville stepped through with her little girl tugging at her belt tassels. ‘They’ve finished,’ she said. ‘Your brothers won, Lady Grey.’
Hastings put an arm about his wife’s shoulders. ‘Time to be on our way then, my love. Is his grace leaving with us?’
‘I don’t think so. He says he is going a-maying.’
Her husband rolled his gaze heavenwards and gave Elysabeth a farewell nod. ‘Remember my advice, my lady. It was offered with the best of intentions.’
‘I know,’ answered Elysabeth, with a bob of curtsey, careful to include his lady in a smile of thanks that she hoped would be judged sincere.
‘I’ll have the contract concerning your son drawn up and delivered to you tomorrow for your signature and I will receive him into my household when I return with his grace from the north. I expect he has informed you that there are supporters of the former queen who are causing much trouble in Northumberland. They must be dealt with. His grace leaves tomorrow to join his army at Leicester.’
‘More battles?’ She crossed herself. ‘O Jesu, I thought we were at peace.’
‘His grace is also meeting once more with envoys from the Scots. God willing, if he can negotiate a peace, it
will leave Queen Margaret without much of her support. You look pale, madame. Are you not well?’
‘I hope his grace’s life will not be at risk nor yours either, Lord Hastings. And, believe me, upon my very soul, I have no love for Queen Margaret although I was once a maid-of-honour and my husband was slain in her service.’
A slight curl of lip. ‘Very wise. The king can be ruthless with those who kiss his hand and then betray him. I hope your father and brothers will remember that.’
Kate
30th April 1464
Grafton
Kate rode her ambler closer to her husband’s stirrup once they were back on the road to Stony Stratford. Cecily was looking sleepy in his arms but they would still need to be careful in their conversation. The child could be like a little rabbit pricking her ears up.
‘So, Will?’
He signalled to their retinue to fall back. ‘Not much to tell, my love.’
‘You mean she didn’t seduce the handsome chamberlain between the sage and thyme with a trio of snails for witness?’
He grinned and shook his head. ‘No, darling, not even a “come hither”. Hell take it, I’m not sure what to make of the creature. I talked, she listened. I said “don’t”, she promised “won’t”. That’s it, in a nutshell.’
Kate sighed. ‘She’s very beautiful and looks far younger than her age. I can understand why he is smitten.’
‘Trouble is, love, if she’s a challenge as well, that’ll only egg him on. He was like that with Butler’s widow but lost interest after he got her into bed.’ He mouthed the last two words as his stepdaughter stirred.
‘I don’t think it’s just her.’
‘What do you mean?’
Kate searched for the right words. ‘He likes being there.’
‘I can’t think why. I agree the duchess has some nice pieces from her first marriage but the hall is pretty damned cramped. They’d be lucky to fit thirty in there.’
‘I’m not talking about the hall but them, Will. The family. He likes them. It’s as if he can forget about being king when he’s there and—’
The Golden Widows Page 33