Page 55 of The Rose at Twilight

A LYS HAD FORGOTTEN SHE was naked, and looked down at herself with greater dismay than ever, while Lovell, still grinning but ever gallant, strode across the room, snatched up the quilt, and tossed it to her.

“Cover yourself, madam, and then perhaps you will tell me how you managed to get hold of that poker.” Bending to wipe his blade on Sir Lionel’s sleeve, he returned the sword to its scabbard and shot a last look at his victim.

“They told me below that the covetous snudge had you here alone with him,” he said, “so I expected to find you ravished and needing comfort. I discover instead that my assistance was scarcely required.”

“Oh no, sir,” she replied, drawing the quilt tight about her, welcoming its warmth but wishing for skirts and a bodice in its stead.

“Your entrance was a timely one. I had put him briefly off his guard, but as you saw, I could not hold him. Though perchance,” she added, “I might have managed to snatch his sword from its scabbard and then killed the villain myself.”

“Nay, madam, for his scabbard hangs free. Even had you managed to lay hands upon the sword, it would have resisted your efforts, but it were no threat to me even had I not taken him unaware. Look at mine own weapons”—he gestured toward his sword and dagger—“lashed to my thighs, so that I can draw each with but a single hand. That scoundrel must needs have had both free to draw his. ’Tis a pity, though, that he had not the chance to do so.

I should have liked to kill him in a fair fight. ”

“I am glad you did not try, sir.”

“No time for it,” he said simply. “Chivalry is all very well, but I’ve men below who depend upon me to lead them.

We did not think to find this castle occupied by more than a scattering of servants, whom I had hoped would prove loyal to our cause.

’Twas so once before, when we did require sanctuary. ”

“Roger showed you the secret of the gate,” she guessed.

“Aye, and I learned only recently of his death,” he said quietly. “I am sorry for your loss.”

“That villain murdered him,” she said, nodding toward the corpse on the floor.

“In London, they said only that his death was mysterious, but Sir Lionel gloated that it was not mysterious at all. His meaning was plain, and he meant next to murder Sir Nicholas, and take me and mine inheritance for his own.”

“Such a plan might have prospered,” Lovell said, frowning, “but look here, lass, we have little time. I had thought to escape the worthy Sir Nicholas’s notice by hiding where he would least expect to find me, but with you in residence—”

“God save us, I sent for him!” she exclaimed. “My servant left in the night to search for him, to bring him to our rescue.”

“And he will come hotfoot, I make no doubt.” His expression was wry. “Almost you put me out, lass, but needs must when the devil drives, and Sir Nicholas has been driving us hard.”

“Your insurrection did not succeed, then?”

“No, thanks to your husband. The man fights like seven demons, and that black monster he rides is nearly as dangerous as he is himself. I prefer not to mention at all the ugsome giant who rode so close beside him as to be mistaken for his shadow. God grant me strength! With such men as that, even a soldier as poor as Harry Tudor is might keep his throne.”

Pride in Nicholas vied in Alys’s breast with her disappointment that the Tudor had won yet another round. “Was it dreadful?” she asked sympathetically. “Were many killed?”

“Not so many, but we failed to capture the king, as we had hoped to do. Harry knew he was in danger, and rallied supporters to meet him at Barnsdale. Sir Nicholas was but one of many who answered the call. By the banners we saw, not only had Lincoln and Northumberland joined him but a disgusting array of Yorkshire knights, as well. ’Twas a sad sight, since many had fought for Dickon at Bosworth.

The worst was Lincoln, his nephew and heir! ”

“I am surprised he does fight at all,” Alys said. “He was always so cautious, so carefully gallant.”

“Aye, the man never talks straight, always with an ‘if it were so,’ or an ‘it has been credited,’ never just saying, ‘it is.’ But today he did fight, and without a single caveat.” He sighed, then went on, “The army we encountered was larger than we had anticipated, but we might have won still, for they thought we were but knights newly come to join them. We took advantage of the error by riding straight at Harry Tudor and the men nearest him, hoping to snatch the king off his horse and be away with him before anyone else had gathered his wits to think what to do. ’Twas the very devil of a ride, but if we’d taken Harry hostage, we’d have been in an excellent position to name our terms.”

“Aye,” she agreed, “so why did you not take him?”

“Because Sir Nicholas and that giant beside him were more awake than the others. I doubt that they recognized me. How could they when they saw me only that one time, with my pretty locks hanging over my face and my motley clothing all awry? But something warned them, and we nearly lost more than our dignity. Happily, Harry himself got in Sir Nicholas’s way, slowing him sufficiently so that many of my men and I were able to scatter and disappear into the forest whilst he was diverted. ”

“So you did not fight him,” Alys said, relieved.

Lovell shook his head, his expression grim.

“I am thankful to say I did not, and thankful, too, that he is not a murderous man. When I looked back, they were taking captives, not simply dispatching them. Harry Tudor’s habit is to punish half his captives and pardon the other half.

’Tis a disconcerting quirk, since one cannot know in which half one will find oneself. ”

“What will happen now?” Alys moved to sit on the bed, her bare feet tucked up into the quilt for warmth.

Lovell shrugged, watching her. “I make no doubt that Harry will ride on in great splendor to York, where the mayor and aldermen will welcome him with feasting and speech-making.”

“I wish they would bar the gates instead,” she said. “That would teach him. York was Richard’s city.”

“It was, but despite their grief at Dickon’s death, the city fathers have no wish to be martyrs in his cause.

Their prime concern is the defense of their corporate privileges, and they want only to ingratiate themselves with the new king.

But, look here, lass, we must not waste time with such chatter.

Your husband will be here only too soon, and there are matters—”

“Indeed, sir, you must fly. I cannot think what keeps Gwilym so long. I had thought he would come up at once. If he discovers who you are, even the fact of your having rescued us—”

“Who is Gwilym?”

She stared at him. “But, surely, sir, you said it was the men below who told you I was here.”

“Aye, the covetous snudge’s men did tell us. But they are in the hall still, all trussed up like Shrove Tuesday birds.”

“Sir Lionel’s men sent you to protect me from him?”

“Ah now, let us say more properly that one of them was encouraged to chat with us of everything he knew.”

His eyes twinkled, but she had no wish to ask for details.

Instead, she said, “Then Master Gwilym Merion—my husband’s brother—and Mistress Fenlord, and the others are still locked up in the dungeon and do not even know you are here.

That is just as well, sir, but you must leave before Nicholas arrives! ”

“Aye,” he agreed, “but first, lassie—”

“Hark!” She slid off the bed, hastened to the window, and opened the casement to hear more clearly the sound she had heard even over that of his voice. “A horn, sir! They come!”

“The gates are closed, lass, so they will not be immediately upon us. They will wait to see if there is resistance first. Now, before they do come, tell me if you are well acquainted with the lad in the Tower, the one called Edward of Warwick.”

Surprised by the question, she said, “You know I am. Neddie was at Sheriff Hutton with Elizabeth and me.”

“You are certain the lad in the Tower is the same as the one you knew at Sheriff Hutton?”

“Aye, sir, I saw him, walking on the green. Why?”

“Only that I should be distressed to learn that any harm had come to him,” he said. “We intend to make a little mischief.”

“With Neddie? But what about Richard of York? Oh, sir, do not tell me he has come to harm. I have feared so. You cannot know what a trial it was to me to be so near in Wales, and yet I might as well have been in Scotland for all the good I could do, for I could not get across the Brecon Beacons into Glamorgan.”

Amusement lit his eyes. “What would you have done, lass?”

“Why, I do not know, but something. Even to have discovered for myself that the prince is safe with Sir James Tyrell would have been a good thing. I cannot credit it for truth, sir, for Sir James appears to be at one with the Tudor.”

Lovell’s countenance grew unusually stern. “Do not meddle, Lady Alys, for you may do harm. We trust the prince is safe. In the next few months, the whole truth may well be revealed.”

“How?”

“I am for Flanders, to seek sanctuary with Margaret, the Duchess of Burgundy.”

“Richard’s sister.” Alys nodded. “Aye, she will help.”

“She has done so already. I was with her on your wedding day, lass, on Simnel Sunday.” He grinned, adding with a knowing look, “’Twas but a brief visit to set certain matters in train, to see what manner of real support we can muster here, but her sympathies are certainly with us, and with her nephews. ”

“There have been rumors that both princes are dead,” Alys said with a sad sigh, wondering how he could be so cheerful.