She looked up at the girl, who was clearly distressed. “I have not eaten all day,” she said. “Would it be possible for you to find me something to eat?”
“Oh, yes, my lady, I’ll get you something,” the girl said, clearly relieved to be able to escape this difficult situation. Turning, she ran off.
Adair sat down on a narrow cot. It wasn’t like Bess to overlook things. Something was very wrong, but what, she would not know until she was able to see her half sister. The servant returned with a small trencher of vegetable potage for Adair, who thanked her and began to eat where she was sitting. She ate it all, including the bread trencher. “Will you bring me something in the morning?” Adair asked her. “I shall have to return to the antechamber and wait until the queen agrees to see me.”
“I’ll help you on the morrow,” the girl replied, and then she hurried off again.
Adair slipped out of her gown and lay down, pulling her cape over her. She did not sleep well, listening as servants came in and out of the dormitory as their shifts began and ended. Her friend came in and lay down on the cot next to hers. Adair pretended to be asleep, forshe knew the girl was puzzled by how the queen was treating her own half sister. So was she. Finally, as the gray light of day was beginning to peep through the narrow windows of the dormitory, Adair arose and dressed herself again. The girl brought her porridge in a trencher, and again Adair ate it all, knowing it was unlikely she would see any food until after her audience with the queen.
“I will show you back to the antechamber,” the servant said, and led Adair back through the castle.
When they arrived Adair dug into her purse and drew out a ha’penny, which she gave the girl. “You have been more than kind,” she said. “I don’t even know your name.” She pressed the coin into the girl’s hand.
“It is Mary, my lady, and you are too generous. I was happy to help you, for I remember you when I first came into service here. You were always kind, and always said thank you. Few do, if they notice you at all.”
Then, with a curtsy, Mary scampered off down the corridor.
Adair stepped into the anteroom, which was already beginning to fill up. She went again to the majordomo.
“I am the Countess of Stanton. The queen sent for me.”
“Yes, my lady, I remember you,” he replied. “You must wait. You were not on the list yesterday, and I do not see you today, but I will send a page in to tell the king you are waiting.”
“Thank you,” Adair responded. She found her bench in the corner and waited again, watching as mainly men were called into the royal presence. Some she recognized by their bearing as noblemen. Others were obviously important men of business. There were one or two other women. Finally, to her great relief, the majordomo called out her name, and rising, Adair crossed the chamber and entered through double doors that had been flung open to allow her admittance. She walked slowly down the aisle toward the throne. Elizabeth was sitting to the king’s left, her chair just slightly below her husband’s. Adair smiled tremulously, but Elizabeth did not even look at her.How odd,Adair thought. Then she saw the king’s mother, her old governess, seated next to the queen. How elegant she looked, Adair considered.
Reaching the throne she curtsied low, and waited to be told to arise.
“Kneel before me, my lady Countess of Stanton,” she heard the king’s voice command. “Kneel before me, and beg my pardon for your treason.”
She was amazed and even startled by his words, but she fell to her knees before Henry Tudor, saying, “But my liege, I have committed no treason against you. You are my king, and I honor you. I will pledge you my fealty now for Stanton.”
“Did your husband, the Earl of Stanton, not come to the usurper Richard’s aid with a troop of Stanton men, madam?” the king asked coldly.
“Stanton has always supported England’s ruler, my liege, and King Richard ruled at that time,” Adair explained. “My husband and his men lost their lives at Bosworth.”
“In defense of a usurper, madam,” the king replied.
“An example must be made of those who would betray their country. And Stanton will pay the price for their defense of the usurper. Because your husband died following Richard of Gloucester I cannot punish him. God will judge him. You alone are left to atone, and so I am stripping you of your lands and title, madam. The title will become extinct. The lands I will give to someone who will be loyal to me, and to England.”
“But Stanton was not my husband’s,” Adair cried out.
“Stanton is my birthright as King Edward’s natural daughter, my liege. Please, I beg of you, do not take it from me!” Adair turned to the young queen. “Bess, you are my blood! We have been friends since the day I arrived at Westminster. Intercede for me, I beg you!”
Elizabeth of York remained silent. She would not even meet Adair’s eyes.
Tears were streaming down Adair’s face now. “Lady Margaret, I beg you to help me,” she pleaded with her old governess, the king’s mother.
But the king’s mother remained silent as well, turning her head away from Adair.
“Let this woman be an example to all who would betray their king,” Henry Tudor said. “I am England’s ruler, and I will remain so until my death. The conflict between Lancaster and York is now over and done with.
We will speak no more on it.”
“I did not betray you, my liege,” Adair said. “Nor did my people. It is unjust to punish us. Has England not suffered enough over the years, caught in this war between Lancaster and York? Aye, you are England’snewking, but that does not mean that those who followed England’s old king are traitors to you. This marriage between my royal half sister and Your Majesty settles the matter between your families, brings peace to England at last.”
The king stared coldly at Adair, and she felt her anger beginning to get the better of her. She knew better, and yet she could bear no more. Her husband was dead, and now they would take Stanton from her. She rose to her feet. “Yesterday, my liege, I sat in your antechamber waiting for my half sister to receive me. I listened to the foulest slanders against King Richard, and I remained silent. Why do you allow such vile mouthings to be spoken of your predecessor? Your own wife’s beloved uncle. It is not worthy of you, for I know the mother who raised you, my liege. She raised me as well.”
“You would defend a murderer of children then, madam?” the king demanded.
