"And hence the pity that he has such power of rank and wealth behind him with his new Countess, the Beaufort heiress."
"Aye—and what is worse, in her and her son lie the last hope of Lancaster."
"You mean the Earl of Richmond?" said Aymer. "I saw him a year or more ago at the Court of Blois. His appearance gave little promise of kingly blood or spirit."
"Nathless, my good friend, our own Duke of Gloucester would give a few hides of land to have that same Earl safe within these walls. York sits not firm on England's throne while the Tudor lives in freedom."
"It is a shrewd test of Stanley's faith—his step-fathership to this Richmond," De Lacy observed.
"Of a truth, yes; and one that will find him wanting if the trial ever come. Had not His late Majesty died so suddenly, this Margaret would have had a brood of treasons hatched ready for the occasion; and I doubt not that she and her adherents are, even now, deep in plottings with the Welsh and France's King."
"With Stanley's knowledge?"
De Wilton's only answer was a shrug and a jerk of his head toward the river.
"Here are two more of the Council," he remarked; and the Duke of Buckingham came rapidly up the path in company with Lord Lovel.
"Are we late or early?" Buckingham called.