A Knight of the White Cross | Page 2

deepest disgrace."
"And yet it seemed," the queen said, "that by marrying his daughter to

Clarence he had bound himself more firmly than ever to the side of
York."
"Ay, madam," the knight said. "But Clarence himself is said to be alike
unprincipled and ambitious, and it may well be that Warwick intended
to set him up against Edward; had he not done so, such an alliance
would not necessarily strengthen his position at Court."
"Methinks your supposition is the true one, Sir Thomas," the queen said.
"Edward cares not sufficiently for his brother to bestow much favour
upon the father of the prince's wife. Thus, he would gain but little by
the marriage unless he were to place Clarence on the throne. Then he
would again become the real ruler of England, as he was until Edward
married Elizabeth Woodville, and the House of Rivers rose to the first
place in the royal favour, and eclipsed the Star of Warwick. It is no
wonder the proud Earl chafes under the ingratitude of the man who
owes his throne to him, and that he is ready to dare everything so that
he can but prove to him that he is not to be slighted with impunity. But
why come to me, when he has Clarence as his puppet?"
"He may have convinced himself, madam, that Clarence is even less to
be trusted than Edward, or he may perceive that but few of the Yorkists
would follow him were he to declare against the Usurper, while
assuredly your adherents would stand aloof altogether from such a
struggle. Powerful as he is, Warwick could not alone withstand the
united forces of all the nobles pledged to the support of the House of
York. Thence, as I take it, does it happen that he has resolved to throw
in his lot with Lancaster, if your Majesty will but forgive the evil he
has done your House and accept him as your ally. No doubt he will
have terms to make and conditions to lay down."
"He may make what conditions he chooses," Queen Margaret said
passionately, "so that he does but aid me to take vengeance on that false
traitor; to place my husband again on the throne; and to obtain for my
son his rightful heritage."
As she spoke a trumpet sounded in the courtyard below.

"He has come," she exclaimed. "Once again, after years of misery and
humiliation, I can hope."
"We had best retire, madam," Sir Thomas Tresham said. "He will speak
more freely to your Majesty if there are no witnesses. Come, Gervaise,
it is time that you practised your exercises." And Sir Thomas, with his
wife and child, quitted the room, leaving Queen Margaret with her son
to meet the man who had been the bitterest foe of her House, the author
of her direst misfortunes.
For two hours the Earl of Warwick was closeted with the queen; then
he took horse and rode away. As soon as he did so, a servant informed
Sir Thomas and his wife that the queen desired their presence. Margaret
was standing radiant when they entered.
"Congratulate me, my friends," she said. "The Star of Lancaster has
risen again. Warwick has placed all his power and influence at our
disposal. We have both forgiven all the past: I the countless injuries he
has inflicted on my House, he the execution of his father and so many
of his friends. We have both laid aside all our grievances, and we stand
united by our hate for Edward. There is but one condition, and this I
accepted gladly -- namely, that my son should marry his daughter Anne.
This will be another bond between us; and by all reports Anne is a
charming young lady. Edward has gladly agreed to the match; he could
make no alliance, even with the proudest princess in Europe, which
would so aid him, and so strengthen his throne."
"God grant that your hopes may be fulfilled, madam," the knight said
earnestly, "and that peace may be given to our distracted country! The
Usurper has rendered himself unpopular by his extravagance and by the
exactions of his tax collectors, and I believe that England will gladly
welcome the return of its lawful king to power. When does Warwick
propose to begin?"
"He will at once get a fleet together. Louis, who has privately brought
about this meeting, will of course throw no impediment in his way; but,
on the other hand, the Duke of Burgundy will do all in his power to
thwart the enterprise, and will, as soon as he learns of it, warn Edward.

I feel new life in me, Eleanor. After fretting powerless for years, I seem
to be a different woman now that there is a prospect of