Free White Boar and the Red Dragon, The by Margaret W Price Page B

you, as a God-fearing and devout woman, would believe in it either.’
    ‘Where God is, the devil is also, seeking to undo God’s good works!’
    ‘Mother, I suggested to Edward that he issue a proclamation saying that you were sick and that that was the reason for your sudden revelations, made in your delirium. It is better that your unwise words are glossed over and that you issue a denial of them.’
    ‘Never! They are the truth, and the truth will always out. Let the people make of it what they will!’
    ‘So you will not retract your words?’
    ‘Not in any circumstances.’
    ‘Very well, I will inform Edward. But it does mean that he may never forgive you and that you will be estranged for the rest of your lives.’
    ‘That may happen, but if it does, I still know that I have done the right thing.’
    ‘All you have done, Mother, is to relieve your guilty conscience!’
    ‘And start to clear the way for you. You remember your task in life—to honour your father’s memory and to avenge his death! One day, I know you will do this—with my help. You have a great future ahead of you, Richard. You are an able and an upright boy. All you have to do is to make up your mind to do the right thing and take your chances as they present themselves!’
    ‘You speak in riddles, Mother. I do not understand you.’
    ‘One day, you will, believe me. Now please go, for I am very tired. I find daily life stressful these days and prefer to be quiet and at my devotions.’
    Raglan Castle, Gwent, 28 January 1466
    Woking Old Hall,
    Surrey,
    20 January 1466.
    My Dear Henry,
    I am writing to you hoping that you will receive this letter of congratulations in good time for your ninth birthday on 28 January. I only wish I could have been with you for your birthday, but it is such a long way to Raglan from here, especially in mid-winter! And you know that I do not enjoy good health.
    When I came last June to visit you and for the Eisteddfod, which Lord Herbert had invited me to, the terrible heat on the journey made me feel ill, especially when my carriage broke down and I could not get to you in time for the opening ceremony concert. I know you were very disappointed and probably thought I was not coming at all! But I did arrive eventually, didn’t I? And we spent a pleasant week together. It was good to see you after so long. I could not believe how you had grown!
    You know that it is the king who has kept us apart all these years? He would never allow me to have the care of you; otherwise, I would have you here, now.
    He lets me live freely only under sufferance because my good husband, Lord Stafford, supports him. King Edward knows my Lancastrian persuasions and fears the influence I have as one of the wealthiest women in Britain, with so many important connections, most of whom are opposed to his rule! I suppose I am lucky that he allows me to keep my estates at all—which will one day be yours. I am writing to send you my good wishes for your birthday, but also to remind you of your obligations and expectations.
    I have constantly urged King Edward to restore your rightful title of Earl of Richmond to you and the North Yorkshire estates belonging to it, appropriated by that grasping younger brother of his, George of Clarence! But so far, my pleadings have had no effect. I will never give up though, and maybe one day soon, my importunity will change his mind and he may give in—just to get rid of me! So do not give up hope of coming into your own eventually!
    You are, I must remind you again, of royal blood and the last surviving heir to the claims of the House of Lancaster. You could be king one day! The only other real claimants are Richard of Gloucester and George of Clarence, but they certainly have no better claim than you!
    Richard has been given great responsibilities lately by the king, although he is only in his fourteenth year. To give him his due, he has apparently carried out these duties in an exemplary fashion.