messenger." Henry sat down, aware that his pacing was a sign of his indecision, and he made it a rule never, on any account, to exhibit the fact that he had doubts and fears like any other man.
"Well, wild dreams are not Margaret's way," Jasper admitted grudgingly. Now it was his turn to rise and pace the floor. In his opinion, England's throne was as far out of Henry's grasp as the moon, and he should not throw Brittany away for a lunatic dream. Jasper stopped in front of his nephew and looked at his quiet face and relaxed body with a mixture of irritation and pride. "You have made up your mind already, eh? I never saw anyone like you, Harry. What to do in this case might drive a man mad, yet you think, decide, and, more wonderful yet, dismiss the matter from your mind so that it does not fret you."
Henry smiled, then burst out laughing in the manner that was so infectious if you did not look deep into his eyes. Nothing could be further from the truth, yet the impression Jasper had was exactly the one Henry wished to give. "But in this case, uncle, it is such an easy decision to make. I need only do nothing. If I do not prod the barons, they will not ask Francis to make the betrothal. Landois is not likely to become more sensible. I can lose nothing by patience and patience is one thing of which I have great stock."
"Do not be so sure you can lose nothing. Francis is not well. Remember the fit he had when he was insensible for an hour and then mixed in his mind for the rest of the day. What if a worse fit take him?"
It was something Henry had already considered, and although the possibility made him cold with apprehension no sign of that disturbed his smile. "Such matters are truly in God's hands, uncle. What good would it do me to worry? Even if I had decided to press for the betrothal, it could not happen tomorrow. And tomorrow Francis might have another fit."
"It never does any good to worry," Jasper growled in exasperation, "but I have never come across anyone else on whom that knowledge had any effect—except a fool."
"Sometimes it is of great value to appear a fool."
Jasper sighed. "That safety you will never have, Harry. When other men are thought fools, you are suspected of devious plans."
Henry laughed again. "That, too, may be of great value."
Suddenly Jasper joined his laughter. "It is the maddest thing, Harry. I know that I should be worrying for both of us, but your certainty that all will be well is like aqua vitae. Do you bewitch men into your faith?"
No, Henry thought, as he embraced his uncle fondly without replying, but I feed men on it as if I opened my body to let them chew my liver and suck my heart's blood. And so much as doing that is the pain it costs me.
The next news from England was all personal. Margaret was married and found Stanley much to her liking, even more than her previous husband. Jasper, reading between the lines, chuckled.
"She means, I suppose, that Stanley is a strong man of his hands with a wavering mind which she believes she can make up for him."
"Also," Henry replied, tossing a packet of coins and jewels from one hand to another, "that he is richer than Stafford and allows her more of her own income to play with. I hope she does not send me too much and make him suspicious."
For two months, they heard nothing more. Jasper grew restless and wanted to beg leave to return to the border, but Henry opposed this move. The last week in March, however, brought the information that Edward IV was very ill. A messenger a week later confirmed this, adding that his death was expected. Jasper bit his nails with tension, but Henry laughed and rode out hunting. It was very important to show the Breton lords how little the news from England affected him.
By April 9, 1483, Edward was dead. Now even Henry found the strain of seeming disinterested too great. If the government passed smoothly to Edward's heir, he wanted to take Anne to wife. He did not wish Francis or the nobles of
"Well, wild dreams are not Margaret's way," Jasper admitted grudgingly. Now it was his turn to rise and pace the floor. In his opinion, England's throne was as far out of Henry's grasp as the moon, and he should not throw Brittany away for a lunatic dream. Jasper stopped in front of his nephew and looked at his quiet face and relaxed body with a mixture of irritation and pride. "You have made up your mind already, eh? I never saw anyone like you, Harry. What to do in this case might drive a man mad, yet you think, decide, and, more wonderful yet, dismiss the matter from your mind so that it does not fret you."
Henry smiled, then burst out laughing in the manner that was so infectious if you did not look deep into his eyes. Nothing could be further from the truth, yet the impression Jasper had was exactly the one Henry wished to give. "But in this case, uncle, it is such an easy decision to make. I need only do nothing. If I do not prod the barons, they will not ask Francis to make the betrothal. Landois is not likely to become more sensible. I can lose nothing by patience and patience is one thing of which I have great stock."
"Do not be so sure you can lose nothing. Francis is not well. Remember the fit he had when he was insensible for an hour and then mixed in his mind for the rest of the day. What if a worse fit take him?"
It was something Henry had already considered, and although the possibility made him cold with apprehension no sign of that disturbed his smile. "Such matters are truly in God's hands, uncle. What good would it do me to worry? Even if I had decided to press for the betrothal, it could not happen tomorrow. And tomorrow Francis might have another fit."
"It never does any good to worry," Jasper growled in exasperation, "but I have never come across anyone else on whom that knowledge had any effect—except a fool."
"Sometimes it is of great value to appear a fool."
Jasper sighed. "That safety you will never have, Harry. When other men are thought fools, you are suspected of devious plans."
Henry laughed again. "That, too, may be of great value."
Suddenly Jasper joined his laughter. "It is the maddest thing, Harry. I know that I should be worrying for both of us, but your certainty that all will be well is like aqua vitae. Do you bewitch men into your faith?"
No, Henry thought, as he embraced his uncle fondly without replying, but I feed men on it as if I opened my body to let them chew my liver and suck my heart's blood. And so much as doing that is the pain it costs me.
The next news from England was all personal. Margaret was married and found Stanley much to her liking, even more than her previous husband. Jasper, reading between the lines, chuckled.
"She means, I suppose, that Stanley is a strong man of his hands with a wavering mind which she believes she can make up for him."
"Also," Henry replied, tossing a packet of coins and jewels from one hand to another, "that he is richer than Stafford and allows her more of her own income to play with. I hope she does not send me too much and make him suspicious."
For two months, they heard nothing more. Jasper grew restless and wanted to beg leave to return to the border, but Henry opposed this move. The last week in March, however, brought the information that Edward IV was very ill. A messenger a week later confirmed this, adding that his death was expected. Jasper bit his nails with tension, but Henry laughed and rode out hunting. It was very important to show the Breton lords how little the news from England affected him.
By April 9, 1483, Edward was dead. Now even Henry found the strain of seeming disinterested too great. If the government passed smoothly to Edward's heir, he wanted to take Anne to wife. He did not wish Francis or the nobles of
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