"I shall never forget Hexham." she said, for it was no use my trying to stop her thoughts going to the past, and with me beside her she must speak of those terrifying events in her life.

"That was a bitter defeat for us. The enemy were in command of the field. Henry had escaped. He never had a taste for battle and was always eager to get away from it as soon as he could. I was there with my son ... a little lad then. I knew they would kill him if they caught him. He was only a child, but he represented a threat to them. He was heir to the throne and while he lived there would always be a rival to York. He was more important to them than Henry. Henry would never be a true ruler, but if Henry died the rightful king would be my boy. They would take the first opportunity of killing him. What could we do? We were without men, even without horses. I took the boy's hand and fled with him into the forest."

"Where were you going?""I did not know. All I wanted was to put a distance between us and the Yorkist army. So into the forest we went. I told myself we would meet someone who would be loyal to us ... who would help us. But we had not gone far when we ran into a gang of thieves. They surrounded us. I shall never forget how their eyes glinted when they saw the jewels on our clothes. They proceeded to rob us. We had stepped from one danger to another."

I reached out and took her hand.

"Please do not speak of it. It distresses you."

She smiled sadly.

"It is over. I have suffered far worse than that encounter. I would rather be in that forest surrounded by robbers than here in this doleful prison. We had good fortune there, for while the robbers were quarrelling among themselves over our jewels, I saw the opportunity to escape. I took Edward's hand and we plunged into the forest. The trees were thick and close together and we were soon out of their view."

"You will escape from this place," I said.

"I know it. Your spirit is too strong to be suppressed. Was it not always so?"

"But now I am old I have no one to care for."

"You have your home ... your father. You love him. You would rejoice to see him again."

She nodded.

"Yes ... yes, that is true. And in the forest there was some good luck. We had not gone far when we came face to face with another robber. He was different from the others a tall man of rather noble countenance and somewhat courtly manners. He was an outlaw. I presented my son to him. I said, "This is the son of your king. Save him." I had taken a chance, and it was strange, for a change came over his countenance. He was touched, perhaps by my pleading, perhaps by Edward's beauty and dignity. He said, "Follow me," and he took us to a hut which he inhabited with his wife. They fed us and led us to safety."

"Who was he?"

"A Lancastrian gentleman who had lost his home and fortune in the wars and taken to the life of an outlaw in the forest."

"It is an inspiring story." I said.

"I am glad you told me. Does it not put new hope into you?"

"You comfort me," she said.

"Tell me. Why did they let you come to see a dangerous prisoner such as I?"

"Perhaps they do not think you are dangerous."

"As long as I live they will regard me as such."

"I think the Duke of Gloucester pleaded with his brother the king, because he knew how much I wanted to see you."

"I shall remember that," she said.

"It will help me through the days of darkness."

"Then I am doubly glad I came."

Still gripping my hand, she said: "Life is strange. Here are you, the daughter of the man whom for so long I regarded as my greatest enemy, and out of your compassion you are the only one who comes to cheer me."

"You were friendly with my father at one time."

"That was not friendship. For him it was vengeance on the man he had set up and who had defied him. He used me for that purpose. As for myself, I knew this. I merely wanted to use his revenge for my purpose. That is not friendship."

"How I wish it had never been."

"The tragedy is that that is the wish of most of us at some time in our lives."

"I must go," I said.

"My visit was to be only brief."

"I shall never forget that you came."

She took me into her arms.

"The pity of it," she said.

"You and I have known true friendship. In spite of ourselves, love sprang between us."

"I shall pray for you. I told her.

"And I for you. All happiness to you, my child ... who should have been my daughter."

"I always loved Richard of Gloucester." I said. She smiled at me sadly and the guard came to take me away.

When I returned to Warwick Court, Isabel was waiting for me. She listened, not very attentively, to my account of my visit to the Tower and then suddenly burst out: "George is displeased!"

I looked at her in astonishment.

"Why?" I asked.

"It is really about you and Richard. He does not think it is right."

"I do not understand."

"He says you are too young and inexperienced for marriage."

"What does he mean? Most people of my age would be married by now. I should have been married already if Edward had lived."

"George is against it, Anne."

"It is not his affair." "It is, because the king made him your guardian. I believe you cannot marry without his consent."

"This is nonsense. Richard had actually talked of our marriage with the king who has given his consent."

"George insists that the king has made him your guardian and your betrothal therefore is his responsibility."

"It is all a misunderstanding, I am sure."

"George is truly angry."

"If George is displeased by the match I am sorry, but that is not going to stop Richard and me doing what we want to."

"I think it could, Anne."

"I never heard anything like this."

"George says that Richard only wants to marry you because you are an heiress."

"I am sure Richard thought of no such thing."

"Don't be simple, Anne. Of course he thought of it. You know our father was the richest man in England. Our mother has a great deal, too. You and I have a large inheritance."

"I thought our father's estates would be confiscated, for according to the king, he died a traitor."

"I do not know about that. Many of his estates were brought to him by our mother and George says that because I am his wife they now belong to him and me."

"Shouldn't they belong to our mother?"

"We are not sure whether she is judged a traitor or not. She is really under restraint and cannot leave Beaulieu, so she is in a way a prisoner. I had not thought of these things, but George knows, of course."

"Is that why George married you?"

She flushed hotly.

"George and I were in love when we were at Middleham."

"So were Richard and I"

"Well, George is against it. He is going to the king to protest."

"Richard will also go the king, I am sure."

Then it will depend on which one wins with the king."

"It will be Richard, of course."

"Why?"

"Need you ask? Not so long ago, George was fighting with our father against the king. He wanted the throne for himself, and he married you because you were our father's daughter ... a great heiress. All that time Richard was faithful to his brother, the king. So I am sure that he will choose to be on Richard's side in a conflict like this."

"I do not believe that. He gave his word to George that he was to be your guardian."

The guardian of my fortune, do you mean?" I thought Isabel was going to strike me. She turned and walked deliberately away.

Later George made a point of seeing me. He was suave and his anger had evidently calmed a little: I just saw a gleam in his eyes which betrayed it.

"My dear Anne," he said.

"I wanted a word with you. I believe Isabel has spoken to you?"

"She told me that you do not approve of my proposed marriage."

The king has appointed me as your guardian, and your happiness is a matter of concern to me."

"It would not seem so my lord, for my happiness lies with Richard."

He smiled at me with a show of patient indulgence.

"My dear little Anne, you are young. You know nothing of the world. Why, but a short time ago you were betrothed to Henry's son."

"I was considered to be old enough by my father."

"A marriage of expediency that would have been."

"It would seem that many marriages are, and if one can make one for love, how fortunate that is!"

"Romantic dreams are very pleasant, but they are often out of touch with reality. Do you think your marriage to my brother would be one of love on his side?"

"I know it. You forget, Richard and I know each other well. We were together at Middleham."

"Do you know what Richard wants?"

"He wants to marry me, for he has told me this."

"He wants to marry your fortune, child."

"As you did Isabel's? No. Richard does not want that."

"You speak foolishly. I married Isabel because I loved her as she did me."

Then, as you were not greatly concerned about her fortune, you will understand our feelings ... Richard's and mine.""I was never concerned about such matters, but I cannot say the same for my brother."

"You are indifferent then to money ... to power? You lack his ambition?"

He knew it was a reference to his traitorous act when he had believed he had a chance of gaining the crown.

"I am as ambitious as most men, but I know what is more important." He was lying, and he was aware that I knew it. I guessed that soon his anger would break out.

"I should tell you," I said firmly, "that I intend to marry Richard."

"Remember that I am your guardian and I am determined that you shall not be forced into marriage with the first fortune hunter who comes along."

"You speak of Richard thus?"

"Richard wants your fortune, and therefore he can be so termed. But I shall protect you from him ... and from yourself. It is my duty."

I said: "I believe Richard will not submit to your wishes."

"I repeat: he seeks marriage with you because of your fortune. The Earl of Warwick's estates are large. He wants a share. It is as simple as that. He would marry you and then make sport with his mistress. Did you know he had a son not very long ago?" He was watching me closely, expecting to see the horror on my face.

I said coolly: "I did know of this. Richard told me."

"And you said, "Very well, fair sir, I am content. Marry me and enjoy your mistress to your heart's content!" Is the title of the Duchess of Gloucester worth such humiliation, Anne?"

"I believe you yourself, my lord, were not entirely chaste before your marriage. Most young men are not. Marriage is sacred according to Holy Church. When we are married Richard and I will be faithful to each other."

"When he.had his hands on your fortune, you would see."

I understood perfectly. Isabel and I were joint heiresses. If I married we should have to share. He did not want that. He wanted me to remain unmarried. Then the whole would be Isabel's ... which meant his.

He sat there smiling, watching me. But it was an evil smile.

I was trembling a little, and I was afraid he would notice.

I stood up as firmly as I could.

"I will leave you now," I said.

"And I assure you that both Richard and I intend to marry each other."

He gave me a look of assumed sadness and said: "I am your guardian. I must do all I can to protect you." I turned and left him.

Ankarette talked to me when I was retiring for the night.

The Duke of Gloucester came to Warwick Court today." I said.

"But the guards would not permit him to enter."

"What?" I cried.

"How could that be?"

Ankarette paused, the gown which she was about to hang up still in her hands.

"There is a quarrel between him and the Duke of Clarence. The guards were uneasy. I should think so! They will have offended the Duke of Gloucester mightily. To call on his brother and be refused admittance!"

"What... is this quarrel?"

She lifted her shoulders.

"They say the king is involved ... and he does not know which one to favour. The king loves his brothers well and when they are fighting together over some matters he wants to please them both."