Andrew sighed. ‘My beloved, can you doubt it? I have slept very little in that time, and eaten less.’ He smoothed the tangled curls from her forehead and tucked them behind her ears, one of his many familiar habits which she had been missing so desperately. ‘Do you need such reassurance? Then let me tell you it is a new experience for me to miss a woman, but for the past few days I have considered little else. I have thought endlessly of that enticing valley between the rise of your hip and the curve of your belly where I run my fingers, leading me straight to the curls at your groin. In my mind I touch you there, so they grow damp and tight.’ She was silent, and he grinned down at her. ‘Do you believe me so callous I could lose you for so long and not miss every inch of you? While reporting to the duke, it’s the image of your smile I see in my mind. Gloucester’s face fades and instead I see your hands reaching for me. Your breasts are firm and full and white. I dream, and feel your nipples hard as buttons against my palms. I trace them very lightly, and you breathe deep. I hear you moan as I press. My fingers wander lower where your skin is soft as silk in the hollow just below your ribs.’ He sighed. ‘That’s how I should be holding you now, but if I do, it will inevitably end one way and until you are recovered, I must wait. But I can promise you this, my own, these threats and abductions will cease. By tomorrow there will be peace in the country, and I doubt I shall risk letting you out of my sight again.’
‘Those are lovely things to say,’ Tyballis whispered.
Andrew said, ‘But forgive me, I must know everything, my love. Both for your sake, and for the information you can give –’
Ralph’s voice interrupted, calling, ‘We are back, Mister Cobham. Are you here? Is Tybbs safe?’
At the same moment Casper roared, ‘Come quick, afore I kick this little shit into the kitchens where he belongs.’
Then as Andrew swung his legs from the bed, somebody squealed, a thump of feet resounded on the stairs and Felicia shouted, ‘What? What?’ as the child Harry began to yell.
‘What’s that nasty bugger doing here?’ Harry shouted in aggrieved surprise. ‘That ain’t proper – no, nor decent neither. You says how you brung me here to tell on them. Now who’s gonna tell on who?’
Chapter Seventy-Three
The council chamber at the Tower was cold. Since the window openings were small, the daylight was obscured, allowing only a pale gloom to enter. Huge wax candles were lit in the sconces and their shadows flared like leaping demons across the ancient stone walls. A charcoal brazier stood in one corner and oil lamps were set upon the tables.
Eight members of the council had been called to attend, and as Protector of the Realm, the Duke of Gloucester greeted each man as they assembled. Finally he signalled for them to sit as he slumped within the deep-armed chair, one hand resting on the table to his left, a pile of folded papers held flat beneath his palm. The scratching back of chairs and shuffling of position was brisk. He remained quite still until every man had settled. Buckingham took the place to the duke’s right, the Lord Hastings to his left. Behind each chair a small group of the lords’ aids and secretaries jockeyed for space.
Then, slowly pushing back his chair, the duke stood. He looked down over the company of men before him, and paused. Then he gathered up the papers he had brought, and addressed the council. ‘My lords, I bid you welcome. Today I have called you here, for we have many pressing matters to discuss. I am forced to speak to you both as Lord Protector and as High Constable of England in dealing with a grave threat to this realm and its government.’ He spoke quietly, forcing the company’s silent and concentrated attention. ‘I intend to uncover a conspiracy,’ he said, ‘which has for some weeks threatened the peace of our country. There are plans to abduct his grace the king from his royal lodgings here in the Tower, to cause my downfall – and ultimately my death.’
Amongst the gathering were faces more surprised, those more alarmed and those more frightened than others, but every man, for different reasons, was shocked from his lassitude as the great doors opened and a small troop of armed men entered and stood against the walls to surround the chamber, barring the way out.
The duke turned first to Hastings, who now appeared white-lipped in the lamplight. ‘You, Lord Hastings,’ the duke said, ‘who have always spoken against insurrection, injustice and treachery, what would you advise, sir, as the penalty for conspirators such as these?’
Hastings rose to his feet. He looked defiant, gazing directly into Gloucester’s eyes. He spoke loudly and did not flinch. ‘I would, your grace, be impelled to recommend execution as the rightful punishment for such treachery.’
Gloucester bowed. ‘So be it, Hastings,’ he said, pausing to look around the chamber before speaking again. His voice remained quiet and controlled. ‘In my capacity as High Constable of England, I now proclaim this council chamber my Constable’s Court. By right of legal precedent and royal prerogative, this court is hereby empowered to try, pass judgement and sentence without appeal. Lord Hastings, I am satisfied the evidence against you is conclusive, and amongst these rebels your powers of array constitute the greatest threat to peaceful government. These papers I now present in evidence include treasonous documents bearing the signatures of those I hereby accuse, together with written depositions given under oath by witnesses presently held in custody.’ A great intake of breath shattered the utter silence, and the candles across the chamber flickered, as though caught by the breeze. The duke waited a moment, and then continued. ‘I herewith order the immediate arrest of the barons Hastings and Stanley, his lordship the Bishop of Ely and his grace the Archbishop of York.’ This time the Protector raised his voice, and turned directly to face Hastings. ‘The others shall be taken into custody forthwith. Arrests of other persons involved but not here present are taking place at this moment across London. I have this morning before dinner signed the necessary warrants. You, my lord, may speak now if you have anything to say in your defence.’
The armed guards moved suddenly, laying hands on those under arrest. Men stood quickly, their chairs tipping behind them. Lord Stanley roared, ‘This is a mistake, your grace,’ and pounded his fist on the small table before him.
The Lord Protector frowned, holding up the sheath of papers. ‘Those rash enough to put their names to this agreement have incriminated themselves. One of these signatures is that of Reginald Bray, receiver-general in your lady’s household, sir.’
‘Damnation,’ spluttered Stanley. ‘Every man here knows I am not the governor of my lady’s household. Damn it, I haven’t even seen the woman in two months.’ As he was led to the doors, a muted and carefully muffled chorus of sniggers echoed around the chamber.
‘Your protest is noted, my lord,’ said the duke. ‘But amongst the culprits named here are those whose whereabouts are unknown.’ The duke continued speaking as the papers to which he referred were passed for scrutiny amongst those lords remaining. ‘The Marquess of Dorset, the principal example, has already escaped. The ports are being watched, but I do not expect his immediate arrest, nor do I consider him the principal danger. Lord Marrott, his friend, has also signed here. But although I believe Marrott’s actions have been devious and destructive, I consider him little more than a dupe. His escape is unfortunate, but he is no leader of men.’ Once again the duke turned to the Lord Hastings, still standing ashen-faced in the lamplight, his arms now pinned to his sides. ‘My lord,’ the duke said, ‘without your involvement, your power and status, this plot would soon have wavered, crumbled and failed. I hold you responsible for giving prominence to a gathering of arrogant fools and blunderers. Your own arrogance led you to dream of becoming the power controlling a puppet king, a child in thrall to his mother. Deceived by urgency, you overlooked how haste breeds error. Having lost my favour for reasons you well know, you chose not to wait and work for the return of that favour, but instead to jeopardise the peace of our country in order to satisfy your own ambition.’ He paused a moment, looking around at the other shocked and avid faces. Finally his gaze returned to Lord Hastings. ‘Will you speak now, and address your peers in this chamber, or have you no defence, my lord?’