The Dragon and the Rose

The Dragon and the Rose Read Free

Book: The Dragon and the Rose Read Free
Author: Roberta Gellis
Tags: Fantasy
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every freedom he could, seeing to it that little Henry had the finest instructors in every branch of learning, in archery, swordsmanship, and jousting. He gave him rich gifts of arms and books. Margaret's fears ebbed under Herbert's mild wardenship, only to rise up with renewed strength when he was killed in one of the innumerable skirmishes that plagued the unsettled times.
    Who would come to take his place? No one came. Margaret was not greatly surprised. She had heard that Edward's strongest ally, the earl of Warwick, had turned against him. His throne was again in danger, and he had neither time nor men to spare. But the winds of rumor blew into a gale, reaching even to Harlech. Margaret rejoiced when Warwick, now a sworn upholder of the Lancastrian cause, landed in Devonshire.
    Wales welcomed Jasper as England welcomed Warwick. Now it was Edward's turn to flee, and Jasper returned to his beloved Margaret and Henry, bearing news of the restoration of Henry VI. Would the nephew he had not seen for almost ten years remember him? His fears fell away as the young man embraced him with a child's abandon.
    "Uncle Jasper! Uncle Jasper!"
    "Harry! Let me go. Let me look at you." Jasper laughed, returning the embrace as warmly as it was given. How could he be formal with this impetuous boy?
    They stood with clasped hands, gazing at each other, only to embrace again.
    "Am I to have no share in this welcoming?"
    "Margaret. How beautiful you've grown!"
    "Listen to your uncle, Henry. See how he knows just the balm to apply to a wounded woman?"
    Henry flushed slightly. Margaret had been teaching him courtly speeches, but for once he did not learn readily. He was graceful and could bow and kiss a hand with the best, but to offer flowery compliments to his mother seemed unnatural, and he had little opportunity to talk to other women. Margaret kept gentlewomen in her service, but none of sufficient rank to marry her son. She was truly pious, and her sense of duty kept Henry's contact with these women to a minimum. Had her son turned his eyes to the serving maids, she might have looked aside—or she might not. The question never arose; they were too coarse, too unclean, too stupid or uneducated for Henry's taste.
    "You are not betrothed, are you, Harry?" Jasper had remarked the flush.
    "No."
    Was there a shade of regret in eyes and voice? Margaret's trill of laughter caught Jasper's attention before he could decide.
    "Indeed he is not. Lord Herbert raised the question twice before he died, but each time Henry took to his bed with a fever, so the trip was put off."
    That raised a new anxiety. "Are you often sick, my boy?"
    Margaret laughed even more heartily, and Henry flushed again. "When it pleases him," she said.
    "You have never taken his frailty seriously enough, Margaret!" Jasper retorted unfairly. "When we go to London, I will have the king's physicians attend him. We will find the seat of these troubles and drive them out."
    "To London?" Henry asked. But a troubled Jasper was studying his flushed face. He smiled. "I do not need a physician, uncle. I am very well now—most of the time. It is true that I pretended to be sick to avoid the betrothal. When will we go to London?"
    "As soon as I am sure Wales is quiet. It will not be long. My people's hearts were never Edward's."
    Margaret smoothed her gown. "It will be pleasant to see the new fashions and have a reason to dress my hair. Jasper, Henry is almost a man. Let him travel through Wales with you to see more of the people."
    Jasper's hesitant nod could not cover his anxiety. "Will not so much riding tire Henry?"
    Mother and son laughed in chorus. Riding was Henry's strongest point; he was a remarkably fine horseman. "Oh, uncle! I have ridden in the hunt from dawn to dusk and come home only hungry enough to eat a good dinner and weary enough to sleep sound."

CHAPTER 2

    Henry VI's restoration had lasted only a few months and already there were grumblings of dissatisfaction.

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