“I will offer him a pardon to return,” said Henry to Dudley. “I will imply that this unfortunate killing will be forgotten.”

“You think it wise, my lord?”

Henry was thoughtful. There were matters of which even Dudley knew nothing. He spoke firmly: “Yes, I think it wise. I want Suffolk in England where we can keep our eyes on him.”

When Suffolk received the King’s messengers who arrived with the pardon, he decided that his best course was to return. So far he had committed no sin against the Crown and he knew that that was what Henry really feared.

So he returned and was received by the King.

Henry studied him warily, wondering about his activities on the Continent. Enemies of the House of Tudor abounded there, but he was not unduly disturbed about Suffolk’s attempts to raise an army against him. He believed that would meet with little success. He did wonder though what Suffolk and Sir James Tyrrell had talked about when they were together.

“Well,” said Henry affably, “that matter of affray in which a man was killed . . . we will choose to forget it.”

“I am glad of that. There was nothing else I could have done. I was insulted.”

“These moments arise and in the heat of them . . . well, it is understandable.”

Suffolk thought: Cold-blooded fish. Who could imagine his ever being caught up in the heat of any passion? His eyes were a cold pale blue—how different from Edward who would have blazed out, shouted and then in a short time they would have been laughing and drinking one another’s health. A man knew where he was with Edward. With the Tudor he could never be sure.

“So you visited Tyrrell at Guisnes,” said the King quietly.

“It was the first port of call, my lord.”

“And how was the custodian of that castle?”

“In good health, I think. His son is with him—a fine upstanding young man.”

“Yes, yes. It is good to have sons. Is he content with his life there?”

“It would appear so.”

“You must have had a great deal to talk of. I know what it is when a man meets someone from home. Did he talk of England . . . of his past life here?”

“Not much. We were not together very long.”

Henry was trying to probe the thoughts of the other. Had Tyrrell said anything? Of course he hadn’t. He wouldn’t be such a fool.

He changed the subject. He did not want Suffolk to suspect he was overinterested in James Tyrrell.

He brought the meeting to a close. It was significant now that the rift between Henry and Suffolk was over, but with each a little wary of the other.

That had happened just before the young Duke of Warwick was brought to the block and beheaded. Shortly before Perkin Warbeck paid the penalty for his recklessness.