Read Online Jean Plaidy by The Reluctant Queen: The Story of Anne of York - Free Book Online Page A

father did not know that George would ask Isabel yet. He meant there to be certain negotiations…then we could have been sure that all would be well.”
    â€œIs all…not well, my lady?”
    â€œOh yes…it will be. George, of course, will have to have the king’s consent.”
    â€œAnd you think the king may not give it?”
    â€œYour father thinks it an excellent match and the king will think so, too.”
    I looked at her disbelievingly. Even I knew that those days had gone when the will of the Earl of Warwick was the king’s.
    â€œIsabel is one of the greatest heiresses in the country, as you will be, my child. Your father is, after all, the great Earl of Warwick. Most young men would find that irresistible, but this is particularly agreeable, for it is not as though George and Isabel were strangers. They were drawn to each other from the first, so it is an ideal match. But we have to keep quiet about it.”
    She paused and sighed. I guessed she was wondering how much it would be necessary to tell me. I know I appeared older than my years and, being my father’s daughter, although leading a sheltered life at Middleham, I had been aware of events.
    She went on: “You will have heard that the Woodvilles have taken over the court…more or less. There are so many of them. Your father might have been reconciled even to the queen if she had not brought in her numerous relations to take charge of everything. As I said, Isabel is an heiress. It may well be that one of the Woodvilles would seek to marry her and the queen would wheedle the king into allowing this.”
    â€œAgainst his own brother’s wishes?”
    â€œThe queen has her methods of getting her own way. But enough of that. Suffice it that your father and I do not wish this proposed marriage to be discussed until it is ripe to do so. There is another matter that could mean delay. There is a blood relationship, between Isabel and George, so there will have to be a dispensation from the Pope.”
    â€œI had not thought of that.”
    She smiled at me. “Well, I have made the point. Do not mention this to anyone. It is a secret just as yet. Isabel was very indiscreet to tell you but, dear child, she was so happy. So…let us rejoice with her and pray all goes well and that soon she will be George’s happy wife. You understand?”
    â€œYes, my lady,” I said meekly.
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    My uncle George Neville, Archbishop of York, arrived at Middleham. He was the most important of my father’s brothers and completely dedicated to the advancement of the Nevilles; thus he worked in close contact with my father.
    Uncle John, who had recently been so uneasy about the relationship between the king and my father, was torn between his loyalty to the crown and to his family. Not so with Uncle George. He was wholeheartedly for the restoration of power to the Nevilles.
    As Chancellor and Archbishop, Uncle George was a very powerful man and he had been asked to Middleham for a purpose.
    At the time I was not sure what that purpose was but later I learned that he had come to discuss the dispensation that would be required from Rome before the marriage of George and Isabel could take place.
    My uncle was involved in two missions in Rome: one the dispensation and the other his hope of receiving a cardinal’s hat. Both must be kept secret from the king, of course, because it seemed likely he would approve of neither.
    So during my uncle’s stay at Middleham, there were many secret meetings between him, my father, and the Duke of Clarence.
    I was rather disturbed. I could not help wondering what Richard would think of all this. That he would deplore it, I was sure, but it would mean that these three were not working in unison with his brother Edward.
    Isabel, however, thought it was immensely exciting. Whether she was in love with George or the prospect of making a brilliant