Jean Plaidy by The Reluctant Queen: The Story of Anne of York Page A

orders that he lost his head.”
    â€œWho lost his head?” asked my mother faintly.
    â€œThe Earl of Pembroke, my lady, and the Earl of Devon was killed.”
    My mother was aghast. She knew that my father hated those men. They were his enemies and blatant adherents of the Woodvilles; they were of that clique that had surrounded the king and lured him away from the influence of Warwick.
    There were greater shocks to come.
    â€œSo that was the end of Pembroke and his brother,” went on the captain. “But the real prize was Lord Rivers and his son, Sir John Woodville, and they were taken in Wales and beheaded at Kenilworth.”
    â€œThe queen’s father and her brother!” cried my mother in dismay. “And on the earl’s orders!”
    â€œIt is the Woodvilles this war is all about, my lady. What a prize that was!”
    I had rarely seen my mother so distressed, although she made an effort to hide it from the guests.
    I kept thinking about her and when she had retired for the night I went along to her chamber. She was on her knees in prayer and I stood for a moment in silence watching her.
    She was aware of me but she did not turn around immediately. Then she said, “Anne, my daughter, what are you doing here?”
    â€œOh, my lady mother, you are very unhappy. I wanted to be with you.”
    She stood up and I ran to her. She put her arms about me and held me close.
    â€œI am afraid, Anne. What does this mean!”
    I said slowly, “It means that my father is at war with the king.”
    â€œThey were killed on his orders. The queen is a hard woman. She loves her family. Everything she has done has been to promote them. She would destroy those who stand in her way…but to her own she gives everything. And they have killed her father…her brother…”
    â€œI think, my lady, that she will want revenge.”
    â€œWhat will become of us? My dearest daughter, what will become of everything?”
    â€œMy father is very strong, my lady. He will overcome all our enemies.”
    â€œYou are right, my child. Stay with me. Let us pray together.”

    Events were taking a dramatic turn and I was no longer outside them looking on.
    The change came one day when I was in one of the turrets and saw in the distance a large party of riders. They were, of course, coming to the castle. I ran down calling to my mother.
    She was already aware of the arrival.
    â€œYour father has come,” she said.
    We were in the courtyard when my father rode up and there was someone riding with him, a tall regal figure. I stared. I could not be mistaken. No one else was as tall and commanding in appearance. It could only be the king.
    He had dismounted, my father with him. My mother was about to kneel but the king put his hand on her shoulder and kissed her cheek.
    â€œMy lord…” began my mother.
    â€œThe king has come to visit us for a while,” said my father.
    The king smiled and said what a pleasure it was to see the beautiful countess and her charming daughter. “I do not see my dear sister-in-law.”
    â€œShe is resting, my lord. Her condition.”
    The king raised his eyebrows and said, “What good news! My brother is indeed a fortunate man.”
    Preparations for the arrivals were already in progress. The servants always went into action at the first appearance of visitors.
    My father led the king into the hall. That something strange was going on was apparent. There was about my father a certain triumphant air. And where were the king’s attendants? But the king was smiling and affable, as though there was nothing unusual in arriving thus.
    There was one chamber in the castle that was kept for royal visitors and here the king was installed. Through the castle there was that excitement that a royal visit always generated, but this was something different. Why had we not been warned?
    It was some days before I realized that the king