It was then that the duke had laughed. ‘Dorset believed this? That even suspecting Rivers as the possible instigator of my brother’s death and with full knowledge of his intended malice towards myself, I would – for expediency’s sake – take him into partnership as the new king’s guardian?’
Andrew nodded, the tuck at the corner of his mouth twitching. ‘A self-serving pragmatist will always believe other men capable of the same, your grace.’
‘As an idealist, and no pragmatist, I now consider the good marquess even more foolish than I had previously supposed,’ smiled the duke. ‘But are you, Mister Cobham, then considered so estimable and intimate an advisor that I make no plans, even of such a nature, without informing you?’
Andrew bowed briefly. ‘Since I am the Lord Feayton, and a nobleman of unusual subtlety, secrecy and intelligence; indeed it seems so, your grace.’
The duke laughed again. ‘And in consideration of this, Mister Cobham, I shall tell you that my intentions towards Earl Rivers are of a very different nature. In my capacity as Lord High Constable and Lord Protector, I have already instructed the Earl of Northumberland to instigate investigations into the plots against the realm and my person that preceded Rivers’ arrest. The trial will take place within the month, and may result in his summary execution.’
‘Once his suitability as the power behind the throne is seen to be entirely eliminated, your grace, there will remain only one other.’
The Duke of Gloucester continued to smile as he leaned back in his chair. ‘Indeed. In order to oust me, the man the Woodvilles put forwards must be of sufficiently high office. Without Rivers, there are few remaining candidates. I doubt Stanley would consider it. Buckingham has more to gain from my life than my death and he distrusts his wife’s Woodville relatives. The dowager queen naturally intends to influence her son and profit from him, but as a woman she can expect few official positions.’
‘It leaves only Lord Hastings, your grace. He has not entirely repudiated the suggestion but as yet nothing has been agreed. There is only hinted subterfuge. But the bait has been taken.’
The duke spoke softly, summarising to himself. ‘If Dorset and the dowager are now led to believe in Rivers’ release, they will need to keep Hastings hovering until they are sure. Having first been courted, Hastings will now find himself held at a distance. His dreams of renewed prominence will be suddenly undermined. Yet Hastings knows of my own plans concerning Rivers. He will therefore fail to understand the change in Woodville focus. Hastings will probe and so become vulnerable. Meanwhile you, my fine conspirator, will get me evidence. Hastings has been a good friend in the past and I will not move against him without proof.’
Andrew paused, gazing into the sunbeams striping the table beside him. Then he said, ‘I am at your service, as always.’
‘You hesitated, sir.’ The duke frowned. ‘Yet we have already established the need for you to inform me of every detail. Do you once again hold back in accordance with your own judgements?’
Andrew nodded. ‘No man speaks his mind without careful consideration, when the information is of a particularly delicate nature,’ he said softly, ‘and when those details are potentially dangerous, even to himself.’
‘Hastings again?’ The duke leaned forward once more, eyes narrowed.
‘No, my lord,’ Andrew answered. ‘Though his knowledge of this matter is more specific and of far longer standing than my own. But in relating this information, even in accordance with your grace’s instructions, I will be speaking certain treason.’
The duke’s fingers tightened around the silver bowl of his cup. ‘You are no traitor, Cobham. What nonsense is this?’
‘I must inform your grace that this final matter greatly concerns his late highness.’ Andrew sighed, and looked directly into his employer’s frowning grey eyes. ‘It equally concerns his highness Edward V. It further relates to your lady wife’s late cousin, the Lady Eleanor Butler. You may possibly have heard rumours in past years, my lord. And undoubtedly dismissed them. But from an entirely different quarter, these rumours are about to be unearthed again, and made impossible to ignore.’
The Duke of Gloucester momentarily closed his eyes. ‘Poor Clarence’s story,’ he said quietly to himself, ‘for which he was eventually executed. I still regret my brother’s ill treatment, though his own folly preceded it. It is, after all, not an easy matter to be brother to a king. Now this story surfaces again? Not only rumour but truth, then, and must be publicly accepted after all?’
It was half an hour later when the duke rose. He looked wearily across at his companion. Andrew also stood. ‘Enough,’ nodded the duke. ‘I go to Mass. Immediately afterwards I shall have a message taken to the Bishop of Bath and Wells. Stillington need no longer wrestle with his conscience. I shall send for you if I require you again today, Cobham. In the meantime, Brittany ceases to be a priority.’
Mister Cobham bowed, left Crosby’s and returned briskly to the adjacent building. He was no longer tired.
Tyballis was waiting in the small parlour. ‘I have been positively demented,’ she informed Andrew in on his return. ‘You’ve been gone hours and I didn’t know if you were with the duke or back at Westminster. Don’t you ever sleep?’
Andrew grinned. ‘I’ve been speaking with Gloucester. There’s a great deal afoot, which you know full well, my love. And the danger escalates.’
‘I didn’t know it could get any worse.’
‘Unfortunately, yes. So I intend teaching you something more of self-defence. Where is the knife I gave you?’ Andrew, smiling, did not seem cowed by the danger he evidently expected.
Tyballis frowned at her lover. ‘More? Didn’t you think I did rather well yesterday? You said you were proud of me. I was proud of myself.’
‘Yes, you did well, my love. But there can always be improvements.’ He had crossed to the window but turned now, taking her hands in his. ‘It seems you followed the moves I taught you, but you ran too late, giving time for him to follow. Had I not been immediately behind, he could have killed you.’
Tyballis was disappointed. ‘Then I wasn’t clever, after all.’
‘Both clever, and brave. For a first attempt, remarkable. But now you are known, and in direct danger.’ He squeezed her fingers, curling them up into fists. ‘I shall teach you how to kill me,’ he said.
Tyballis glared at him. ‘As if I would. As if I could.’
‘On the contrary.’ He was laughing. ‘You are probably the only person who could, my sweet, since I allow no one else close enough. You share my bed, you share my life, even my secrets. I trust you as I trust no other except the duke. You could kill me – perhaps easily. I shall teach you how.’
‘I don’t want to. Teach me how to kill Casper. He’s back from your errand,’ Tyballis said. ‘An hour ago. And I know where he went, too. You told him to go and get rid of Lacy’s corpse.’
Andrew smiled apologetically. ‘Not the sort of thing to leave lying around,’ he explained, ‘especially since I prefer not to be instantly implicated in his death. I had no time last night.’
‘Yes, because you wanted to get me out of the way as quickly as possible,’ nodded Tyballis. ‘You see, I do understand.’ She paused, contemplative. ‘He did deserve to die, didn’t he Drew? I have been feeling a little guilty.’