Anne O'Brien - Queen of the North

Which took my interest. I glanced at the Earl, whose face was inscrutable. Had not Lancaster already been generous in his promises? Was this another layer of negotiation which had passed me by? It should not surprise me that the Earl was demanding every drop of blood from this alliance.

Lancaster was unperturbed. ‘Then I will pay it, for your alliance in person and in military might is beyond price.’

Flattering indeed, and presumably I had been mistaken for the Earl nodded slowly in easy agreement. He moved as if he would take Lancaster’s hand, both now standing and facing each other. So it was all to be settled with Harry and I as mere spectators, watching the manoeuvring of these two powerful men.

And yet it astonished me that Harry had remained silent for so long. I could feel the tension in him as he allowed the Percy future to be decided, as if he were carried along by the ambitions of others, while I had the sense to bide my time. I neither could nor would add anything to this heavy debate in which my opinions would hold little weight, but how long would Harry remain a bystander? His compliance would be crucial to the whole venture.

‘God’s Blood!’

There it had come at last. The thrust of Harry’s muscles as he sprang to his feet, stretching out his hand in denial.

‘This is too precipitate. There is another matter that concerns us, that has not been addressed.’

‘Has he not answered everything to our pleasure?’ the Earl growled, his hand falling to his side.

‘As far as it goes, I’ll not argue against it. But there is one question that no one has asked or answered. There is the question of the crown itself. Who will be wearing it by the end of the year?’

Lancaster waited, and I saw the dark gleam in his eyes, as if he had been waiting for this all along, as indeed he must. Then: ‘Who do you think, Hotspur?’

‘I think it is all cast in shadows. I think you should state your ultimate goal here, Lancaster, before there is any clasping of hands.’ It was a demand that blazed forth in the confines of the canvas walls as Harry rejected the intimacy of the name Lancaster had bestowed on him. ‘You now have a powerful force at your disposal. You have much sympathy for your disinheritance. But if Richard does not comply with your demands, what then?’

‘What are you asking?’

And since it could affect my own family so closely, I decided to participate. I moved to stand beside Harry, presenting, I hoped, a formidable front. If no one else was prepared to commit himself to speaking the unspeakable words, then I would do it.

‘He is asking – we are asking – if you would consider taking the crown of England for yourself.’

The Earl scowled but Lancaster’s gaze rested softly enough on me.

‘So that’s what you think. But that would be treason, Elizabeth.’

‘It would indeed. You see our position if we throw in our lot with you. You are not Richard’s heir.’

‘No, I am not.’ It was admitted lightly enough, but he was watchful. ‘The last I heard Richard had recognised my cousin of Aumale, who by my reckoning has no right whatsoever to the crown. His father was King Edward’s fourth son. My father was the third.’

‘No, Aumale has no right by blood to wear the crown. There are others with better.’ I paused but only for the length of a breath. ‘But the Mortimers do have a claim. A claim that comes before your own.’

‘Ah.’ Tossing the empty cup onto the bed, Lancaster laced his fingers. He had expected this, and confirmed it. ‘I should have known that’s why you had come on this expedition.’

‘Richard recognised my brother Roger as his heir,’ I said.

‘Then promptly disinherited him when he considered him guilty of treason. If the Earl of March had not died in Ireland, your brother could well have joined Arundel and Gloucester, dead by some foul means or another. His role in Ireland was already terminated.’ Lancaster’s regard was open and honest. ‘It would be hard for you to make your claim for his son, your nephew Edmund Mortimer. What is he? Eight years old, I think. I understand your family loyalties but I doubt there are many who would support another child King.’

I shook my head, refusing to give way. The Mortimer family had much experience of minorities whose interests had to be nurtured. ‘So he is still a child. But there are many who would say that my nephew’s claim is stronger than your own, through the line of Lionel, the old King’s second son.’

‘Through the blood of your mother. A female line. It is not to everyone’s taste.’

It was stated unequivocally.

‘But has not the young Earl of March’s claim as Richard’s heir already been supported by parliament?’ Harry queried. ‘It is a delicate point, I accept, but one that brings us back full circle. What are your intentions, Lancaster? Who will wear the crown if it is not Richard? And you in possession of a powerful weapon in those men camped out there, under your aegis.’

‘We could not support any action that undermined my nephew’s claim,’ I said.

‘You see an undermining that does not exist.’

Harry, fast losing patience, was far more brutal in his choice of words. ‘If Richard dies without an heir I would not like to see you robbing my nephew of his rights. You know all about being robbed of legal rights.’

‘So I do.’

‘Are we participating in a usurpation here?’

The tightening of my cousin Henry’s lips seemed to threaten a squall of temper but his control was stronger than Harry’s and his reply equable. ‘I have not said that.’

‘Some would say it was a usurpation for you to land and collect an armed force. It questions the King’s supremacy.’ Harry pushed harder. ‘Do you intend to destroy it?’

‘Not if the restoration of my inheritance can be achieved any other way.’

Which I considered a supremely enigmatic statement. So much polite wording. So much circling. So much left uncertain.

‘Is it in your planning to remove Richard and take the crown of England for yourself?’ I persisted in plain words.

Now the Earl sighed loudly, moving from one foot to the other. Lancaster’s glance at me was brief and dismissive, before he addressed Harry. ‘Here it is. If I can convince you that my intentions are naught but good, will you give me your hand, Harry Percy? Your father will, but I need you too. You are well named, Hotspur, and there is no one I would rather have riding beside me as we face the unknown.’

‘If you can convince me, I’ll give you leave to call me Hotspur again. You see my concern. You have a following strong enough to play whatever hand you wish.’

‘So I have, but I also have integrity. I know a way to convince you all, I think.’ His glance slid in my direction again. ‘Even you, Elizabeth, with all your Mortimer loyalties.’

His smile held a quality that was hard to withstand, but I would wait and see if he could convince me. Family loyalties were one thing; family assassination was quite another. If Richard had no heir of his own body, my little nephew should be the next King of England.

‘You wish to know my intentions. Then you shall.’

Without more ado we mounted and reconvened at the House of the White Friars on the outskirts of the town of Doncaster; there we were received by the Abbot in full regalia who, without question, ushered us into the chapel. We were expected. Which reminded me never to underestimate my cousin of Lancaster. Foreseeing the doubts that would be raised, with masterful cunning he had made contingency plans to answer them. Expectation and holy awe rippled through my blood. What would be our participation in this sacred place? The saints regarded us with a flat judgement in their painted eyes, making me shiver.