Robert was now raising an army to fight the King’s enemies.
She knew it was hopeless to pit his strength against men like Gloucester, Warwick and Arundel, the hero who had driven the French off the seas. Robert had never been noted for his military skill.
Launcecrona and she sat together talking quietly of the disasters. All the merriment was over now. They were both deadly serious.
And as they sat there the door was flung open and a groom came in.
They stared at him. The Queen rose in horror thinking the man had come to kill them. For what other reason would a groom break into the royal chamber?
Then Launcecrona gave a little cry.
‘Robert!’
Robert it was, scarcely recognisable as the dandy of the past except when he spoke.
‘I am in great haste,’ he said. ‘I have come to see the King.’
‘I will get him myself,’ said Anne, and left the husband and wife together for a few moments.
Richard came hurrying in. ‘Robert!’ he cried and they embraced. It was almost as though they were the lovers for their reunion was more poignantly loving than that of Robert and Launcecrona.
‘Robert, my dear, dear friend, what brings you here?’
‘Rout. Disaster! I am a fugitive, Richard.’
‘And in danger!’
‘Acute danger. Let me tell you quickly what happened. My men were routed by Arundel’s at Radcot. My men deserted me, Richard. They had no heart to fight Arundel’s men. Arundel persuaded them to desert me. There was nothing for it but flight. I only escaped by plunging into the river with my charger. I lost my baggage, my money … even letters of yours which I had always cherished.’
‘Never mind … never mind now,’ said Richard. ‘You must get away from here.’
‘Abroad. It is the only way. They are bent on bloodshed, Richard, depend upon it. They want scapegoats and they will choose those from your friends.’
‘Then, my dearest, go from here with all speed. You must have money.’
‘If I can get to the river I shall take boat to the Low Countries.’
‘Go, go!’ cried Richard. ‘I beg of you. My heart goes with you.’
They gave him food and money, and did what they could to make sure he escaped undetected.
Anne was sad, looking fearfully into the future. Of only one thing could she be certain: there would be no more jolly parties for four in the royal apartments.
It was good news that Robert had escaped to Flanders. But that was not the end of the matter.
The situation had not been eased. Robert might have dodged his fate but the others remained. There was the King to be faced and he must know the truth.
Gloucester and his friends planned together.
With a gleam in his eyes Gloucester expressed the opinion that Richard was unfit to rule and should be deposed.
Arundel agreed with him.
But there was caution among the rest. Henry of Bolingbroke had begun to make his presence felt. He said little, but his eyes were watchful.
He waited for the lords to say what he knew they would. The deposition of the King was too drastic.
Gloucester tried to contain his temper. They were thinking – and of course they were right – that if Richard were deposed, John of Gaunt occupied in Castile and Edmund Duke of York too lazy to want the crown, to whom would it fall but Gloucester?
Henry of Bolingbroke was not sure that would suit him now. Richard was a weak King but his father would not wish to see his Uncle Gloucester replace Richard. Who could say what the outcome would be in Castile and if John of Gaunt had to return once more, he was the eldest living son of Edward the Third; he was the one who would be next in line. Of course there was Lionel’s daughter, but she could surely be dealt with.
And if by some glorious turn of fate John of Gaunt became King, his eldest son would follow him.
No, this was surely not the moment to depose Richard. Even so Bolingbroke was on the side of the lords who had been raising their voices to save the King from his evil advisers; and he was with those who prepared to present an ultimatum to the King.
It was Christmas Day – a most uneasy one for Richard and Anne. In spite of the usual merriment, rumours had persisted; and the streets of London were filled not with merry makers but with those who whispered together and asked what would happen next. Even the mummers had lost their zest and there was no seasonal joy in the singing of the carols.
Richard, dressed with his usual splendour, glittering with jewels, was startled when the five lords burst in on him.
They joined arms – a gesture of their solidarity – as they marched towards him, each wearing the colours of their families. Gloucester, Arundel, Warwick and the two younger men, Mowbray and Bolingbroke.
‘What means this?’ stammered Richard.
Gloucester was the spokesman.
‘My lord,’ he said, ‘we have in our possession letters in your hand, captured at Radcot. These show that you sanctioned the raising of an army to make war within this realm. You have suggested that help might be procured from the King of France for which you would barter England’s possessions in that land.’
Richard felt sick with fear. They had the better of him now.
‘How dare you break thus into my presence … arm in arm as to come against me?’ he demanded.
‘My lord,’ said Bolingbroke. ‘Come to the window. Look below. See the forces gathered there.’
‘You have raised an army against me!’
‘We have raised an army, my lord, for your preservation and that of your realm.’
Gloucester came and stood beside them at the window.
‘There below you see men determined to fight for the right,’ he said, ‘but this is not a tenth of those that have risen to destroy those false traitors who have given you such ill counsel.’
Richard was trembling. ‘What would you have of me?’ he asked in a low voice.
‘That you come to Westminster that you may hear in Parliament the accusations which shall be brought against those who have put this realm in danger by their wicked counsel.’
He knew that he was beaten. There was a cold rage in his heart against those five who had dared march towards him arms linked to show they stood firmly together against him.
I will have vengeance on them … every one of them, he promised himself. But there was nothing he could do now but obey.
‘I will come to the Parliament,’ he said.
That was triumph for his accusers. How he hated them. Particularly when they left Bolingbroke and Mowbray to guard him and kept their soldiers stationed outside the Tower.
He sat with his head buried in his hands. Bolingbroke was with him.
A curse on you, Cousin, he thought. This is what I would expect of John of Gaunt’s son.
He clenched his fists.
‘By St John the Baptist,’ he cried suddenly, ‘why should I submit to this? Why should I be forced to betray my friends … those who have served me well … Who are these men to tell me what I must do? Am I not the King?’
Bolingbroke spoke very quietly. ‘Richard, Cousin … I do not speak thus for lack of respect but to remind you of the kinship between us. You have come very near to losing your throne.’
‘That is what Gloucester wants. My uncle … and my enemy.’
Bolingbroke did not deny that. ‘I have urged him to curb his rashness,’ he said. ‘Richard, if you do not do what is asked of you they will depose you. They will set up a new king in your place.’
‘Gloucester? He is not next in line.’
‘Gloucester is here and Gloucester is strong. Listen, Richard, you must do as they wish, if you would keep your crown.’