Free A Rose for Lancaster (The Tudor Rose Novella series) by Christine Elaine Black Page B

Neville changed sides, disaffected by Edward’s politics and an unpopular marriage to Elizabeth Woodville. Had Neville truly fuelled and inspired Margaret Beaufort’s ambitions for her eldest son, Henry? If so, revenge ran deep among nobles.
    “Giles has been well cared for. Educated in the same manner as children from the highest families in England, he will be accepted as a peer, albeit with my approval, and his fortunes advance at my pleasure.” Her lips curved into an odd smile. “I proposed his hasty marriage to you, a York heiress. It served me twice. Henry benefits if you are tied to a Lancaster man and Giles enjoys two titles. His sons will inherit Somerset and Langley. I pray you deliver many healthy boys for him.” She indicated the wine and I poured a glass for both the king’s mother and myself.
    Henry the seventh’s mother is my mother-in-law, I marveled.
    “You have not answered my questions.”
    My baby stirred. “Questions?” Stunned by her revelation I could not recall them.
    “Do you have a good marriage? Do you love him?” My heart soared at the mention of Giles and our marriage.
    “Yes, he’s everything I ever want. I believe he is pleased with me.” She nodded sagely but her fingers tapped the chair.
    “He insists you are trustworthy, loyal and faithful. If he is proven wrong I can do nothing further. I will not try. You understand there is no place for traitors among the Beaufort family.” She sipped the wine.
    Giles saved not only his king but also his wife. The Tudors would have me executed without thought, after my child arrived. Margaret Beaufort worked for her sons, not herself, and Henry, the only known and legitimate son, must be placed far above lesser mortals.
    “I will give neither you nor the king any cause for concern. Family comes first, milady.”
    She stood up. “Live by that motto, Blanche Langley. Family comes first. You will be free of the tower tomorrow.”
    Tomorrow. I almost fainted.
    She called out to the guard and the door opened. Giles stood in the doorway with a grin on his face and swept a courtly bow to his mother. She extended her hand and he knelt before her accepting her gracious attention.
    “This must go no further, Lord and Lady Somerset,” she commanded, “I demand complete discretion.”
    “You have it, madam.” Giles kissed the ring on her royal finger and she held his hand for a moment. A look passed between them. If I hadn’t known him to be her son a pang of jealousy may have shot through me but my heart glowed for him and his connection to his mother.
    As Margaret Beaufort made her exit, my hand curved around my belly and Giles gathered me into his arms.
    “I have been mad with worry over you,” Giles whispered into my hair, his hands sliding to my enlarged waist. “You look beautiful, as always.”
    “My lord, I’ve missed you and prayed for you everyday since you left.”
    “I am grateful, but no danger threatened me.”
    “You saved the king.”
    “I saved you, that’s all I care about.”
    “But Henry, he’s your...”
    “Yes, but you’re my wife.”
    His hands pressed over my roundness and the baby moved. Giles smiled in delight. “This is the happiest moment.”
    We embraced tenderly, then eagerly with great care we undressed and slid into bed.
    Giles held me all night, my last night in the tower of London. We talked and kissed, and drank wine until the black sky brightened with a large moon. Hidden by the covers, I found a way to relieve his pressing need and after he stroked and petted me until I shuddered in his arms we drifted into a wonderful sleep.
    We lay together in the quiet stillness before the dawn, holding hands, our foreheads touching. “I thought I had lost you, Giles. When you left so quickly after the discovery of Pole’s plan, I imagined you considered me a faithless wife or an enemy. I prayed for your safety and nothing else.”
    His lips pressed mine.
    “Is your true father…?”
    “Yes, but we