Читаем The Forbidden Queen полностью

‘It is no blasphemy, my lord,’ I replied. ‘The Blessed Virgin became a mother in a human sense. Her sons were brothers of Our Lord Jesus Christ and recognised by him. She would understand my need. Do not you, my lords?’

There was some murmuring.

‘There might be something in what you say, madam.’ Was this a possible ally in the smooth intervention of the Bishop of London? I thought he might be stating a position in opposition to the Archbishop rather than in support of me, but I would snatch at any vestige of hope.

‘The Holy Mother is full of compassion, my lord,’ I said, turning a smile of great sweetness on him. And on all the councillors.

‘Amen to that,’ the bishop intoned.

So what now? I shivered as a little silence fell on the proceedings, and again, astonished at my own temerity, I forced the issue.

‘Well, my lord of Gloucester? I have stated my case. Are we free to go? To live together, united by God, as we most assuredly are?’

And I sighed silently when Gloucester picked up my challenge without hesitation.

‘We are not finished here. Any man who weds you without permission will forfeit his property. You transgressed the law, and so must pay the penalty.’

‘But my husband has no property,’ I said gently.

‘Then he made a fine bargain, did he not?’ Scorn all but dripped from the walls. ‘Seducing a wife of wealth and influence!’

I dared not look at Owen. Every muscle in his body was taut with controlled outrage, straining for release.

‘There was no seduction,’ I said. ‘You dishonour both myself and Owen Tudor, my lord. Do I not have the wit to make my own choices? Neither did my husband set himself to seduce me. He had been Master of my Household all the years since I was left a widow. It is only of late that we were touched by love. I was not seduced or forced against my will.’

It was a strong argument.

‘It seems to me that it was not so great a bargain for him in taking me as his wife,’ I continued. ‘Why should a man have to appear before the King’s Council over his choice of his bride? Yes, I am a wealthy woman, but as for influence—what influence do I have? None, I would suggest. Owen Tudor would not work his way up the ladder to greatness by marriage to me. And that is not our intent. We do not seek a life in the full light of the royal court. We would live privately.’ I lifted my hands in appeal. ‘My lords, that is all I ask of you. Your recognition of my married state and permission to live as and where I choose.’

But Gloucester was not finished. ‘How could you choose a man in disgrace before the law?’

‘I chose a man of pride. A man of honour and integrity, my lord.’

‘A man of honour?’ Oh, he was inordinately, savagely pleased. He had found a weak spot, and I knew immediately what it would be. ‘And when is the bastard you carry due to be delivered?’

‘My child will be no bastard,’ I replied serenely. ‘He will be born within holy wedlock, recognised by his father and by the Church.’

‘He was conceived in sin.’

‘But he will live in the light.’ I stared at Gloucester, no longer dominated by him. How dared he speak so to me? ‘I find you presumptuous, my lord. Do I deserve such calumny? If you have nothing more to say—’

‘You are still to remain at Windsor in your son’s household,’ he ordered, grasping at straws, so it seemed to me.

‘No.’ I allowed a little smile even as anger beat in my head. ‘I will not.’

‘It is the law.’

‘Then I will ignore the law. I will live in one of my dower houses. They are mine, given for my use by the late king in his wisdom. I will live in them with my husband.’

‘And if we insist?’

‘Will you insist, my lords? The only means to determine where we will live is by the use of force. And if you do…’ once more I eyed Gloucester ‘… if you force me to live at Windsor, I will broadcast to the world the disgrace of your treatment of the once Queen of England, the Queen Mother, Princess of France. The wife of the hero of Agincourt. I think my royal state deserves respect. I think I will be given a hearing by the Commons, don’t you?’

Gloucester flung himself down into his chair, denying any respect.

‘God’s Blood, woman! Was it not possible for you to embrace a chaste and honourable widowhood?’

‘I could have. But I chose to be a lawfully wedded wife again.’

‘To a palace minion, by God!’

And since Gloucester at last stared at Owen, my husband bowed and replied, ‘I was not always a servant, my lord.’

‘And Welsh too!’

‘I consider that an honour, my lord, not a detriment. The law of England cannot dictate my pride in my birth.’

‘Pride in your birth?’ Gloucester’s disgust grew to vast proportions as he turned his ire on me again. ‘Could you not have let your eye fall on someone of your own status?’

‘I tried that, my lord. You refused Edmund Beaufort because his status was equal to mine.’