Free B008257PJY EBOK by Sandra Worth

have looked, Richard thought, seeing all… knowing all.
    Hutton continued. “He is a man both clever and devious, an adventurer with nothing to lose. He will risk all for his dream, which is the Crown of England. His word is writ on water, and having run for his life, most of his life, he is an unnatural man, bound by none of the rules which bind others.” His thick brows drew together in a frown. “His head is filled with intrigue. He has few scruples and is consumed by ambition and greed. There is nothing he will not say, and nothing he will not do, to gain his end.” He looked at Richard with his solemn, capturing eyes. “It would be a mistake to underestimate him, Sire. Tudor is a dangerous man—” Hutton’s voice fell to a chilling whisper “a man to fear, as one would fear Lucifer’s own.”
    No one moved. A shiver ran down Richard’s spine. He made the sign of the Cross. His lords followed his example. Keeping all inflection from his voice with great effort, he said, “I thank you for your council, Hutton, and assure you, it’ll not be forgotten.” He rose to his feet, and with a confidence he did not feel, strode from the room.
    That night he dreamt of the frightful dragon of his childhood nightmares with its cruel yellow eyes and fiery red breath. Screaming the wise-woman’s prophecy of violent, premature death, its vicious fangs tore into his flesh. He awoke in a feverish sweat, the name Tudor on his lips.
    How strange… He had forgotten. Tudor’s emblem was the Red Dragon. Damn Tudor , he thought. Until Brittany handed him over, he’d have no peace.
     
    ~ * ~

Chapter 8
    “A moral child without the craft to rule.”
     
    Thoughts of dragons and prophecies soon evaporated as Richard learned in Exeter that another leader of the rebellion had been captured. Thomas St. Leger was his brother-in-law, married to his eldest sister, Nan.
    She had begun a liaison with St. Leger when her Lancastrian husband, the Duke of Exeter, fled to France after the Battle of Towton that put Edward on the throne. Exeter, who had commanded Warwick’s left wing at Barnet, was captured at Tewkesbury, sent to the Tower, and released years later, in time to accompany Edward on his invasion of France. At some point along the sea journey, he had disappeared. Foul play was rumoured. With her husband dead, Nan had married St. Leger on his return to England.
    Richard found the whole business distasteful. But then, he’d never been close to his haughty oldest sister, and she had always kept aloof from him. He remembered how his beloved sister Meg had assured him, when he was small, that Nan was distant with everyone, but he’d had his doubts, even then. He knew exactly how he felt about St. Leger’s treason, however. His sister’s husband had hatefully, shamefully, betrayed the family ties and defiled the bond of kinship. He deserved to die. Richard immediately ordered his execution.
    Within hours he was besieged by his sister’s messengers offering large sums of money for his release. He refused. The next day she arrived in person to beg for his life. She had requested a private audience and Richard received her in a small chamber at the Bishop’s palace in Exeter, with only Gower present,
    “As he chose to become an agent of the Woodvilles, I see no reason to spare his life,” said Richard.
    “I love him!” she cried. “Do you know what love is?”
    Richard stared at her. Now he admitted to himself what loyalty had suppressed all these years: He didn’t care much for this woman, sister though she was. Age had heightened her stern demeanour by slashing deep grooves into her cheeks and pulling down the edges of her mouth. Nor did her dress soften her harshness. She had clad herself in a riding habit of brown and green and hidden her hair beneath a matronly wimple. Indeed, it surprised him that such a woman had ever found love. Clearly, she thought the same of him. Now he knew she’d never given a care to his