The Earl of Surrey is dead, victim of his own ambition. Henry VIII's titanic presence comes to an end, leaving a nine-year-old boy to rule England. His uncles vie for power over him as he takes his place as king. Bound by solemn vows, James Longshawe departs once again to fight the king's war in Scotland with the Duke of Somerset. William Pike goes with him and must face his darkest demons. Intrigue draws in Edward Strelley, and he fights for survival against the powerful and ruthless Baron Sudeley, as he is torn between loyalty to Elizabeth and his enmity with Sudeley. George de Winter has to decide between his faith and his mistress as he guides Mary through the hardest decision she must make.
Join the four heroes who first appeared in This Matter of Faith as they choose between duty and love, honour and life itself.
Gilbert sits at his desk, reading through a ledger list.
“Good morning,” he says to Strelley, without his usual bluster. “I hear our great King Henry is not long for this world.”
“Do you? I understand that it is treason to foretell the death of the king.”
“Are you here for anything, or just providing me with legal advice?” Gilbert looks up from his list.
“The king wants something for the pain.”
“Tell him to go see the apothecary.”
“It's the truth. For Henry himself.”
“I know you,” Somerset continues. “You are the tutor's boy, are you not? You have taught the king himself once or twice. And you know full well that Her Majesty is granted the full rights of a queen.” Strelley coughs gently in reply.
“Indeed, Your Grace,” he says. “Her Majesty does not take her responsibility as queen seriously.”
“Master Strelley, I forbid you to obfuscate any further. Get to your point, or I shall dismiss you,” Seymour growls, his top lip curling.
“Very well. The queen resides at Chelsea Manor, as you no doubt already know, and she receives guests there...” Strelley pauses, sighs, looks at Longshawe, carefully building the tension. Seymour begins to shake his head. “Your Grace's brother has visited the queen. At night.”
“Master George de Winter, Madam,” Strelley says, bowing neatly. “Sent from-”
“My sister, I know. De Winter was one of your soldier friends, wasn't he?” She looks him up and down. “I see my sister has a little more income to outfit her retainers than I have here. Master Strelley does not follow the fashion, Sir. Master Grindal does not seem to be aware that it exists.”
“I thank you for the compliment, My Lady.” De Winter bends himself double. “Though I would ask that you reconsider your decision to receive my message in the company of others. Your sister, Lady Mary, asks that only you should hear it.”
“Then that would mean that my sister is impossibly naïve, and I don't believe it. Whether they hear it from you or from me, she must know that I would share her message with my advisors.”
De Winter suppresses a laugh at the word. He looks pointedly from Astley to Strelley and back again. Elizabeth watches as he does so.
“Do you not think my maid and my tutors worthy of giving me advice, Sir?” she asks, more than a little sharply. “At least I can trust that they have nothing of importance to gain from my decisions. Which is not something that can be said for my sister.” She makes a fuss of closing her reading-book, and putting it to one side. “Now,” she says decisively after smoothing her skirts, “tell me this message.”
Join the four heroes who first appeared in This Matter of Faith as they choose between duty and love, honour and life itself.
Gilbert sits at his desk, reading through a ledger list.
“Good morning,” he says to Strelley, without his usual bluster. “I hear our great King Henry is not long for this world.”
“Do you? I understand that it is treason to foretell the death of the king.”
“Are you here for anything, or just providing me with legal advice?” Gilbert looks up from his list.
“The king wants something for the pain.”
“Tell him to go see the apothecary.”
“It's the truth. For Henry himself.”
“I know you,” Somerset continues. “You are the tutor's boy, are you not? You have taught the king himself once or twice. And you know full well that Her Majesty is granted the full rights of a queen.” Strelley coughs gently in reply.
“Indeed, Your Grace,” he says. “Her Majesty does not take her responsibility as queen seriously.”
“Master Strelley, I forbid you to obfuscate any further. Get to your point, or I shall dismiss you,” Seymour growls, his top lip curling.
“Very well. The queen resides at Chelsea Manor, as you no doubt already know, and she receives guests there...” Strelley pauses, sighs, looks at Longshawe, carefully building the tension. Seymour begins to shake his head. “Your Grace's brother has visited the queen. At night.”
“Master George de Winter, Madam,” Strelley says, bowing neatly. “Sent from-”
“My sister, I know. De Winter was one of your soldier friends, wasn't he?” She looks him up and down. “I see my sister has a little more income to outfit her retainers than I have here. Master Strelley does not follow the fashion, Sir. Master Grindal does not seem to be aware that it exists.”
“I thank you for the compliment, My Lady.” De Winter bends himself double. “Though I would ask that you reconsider your decision to receive my message in the company of others. Your sister, Lady Mary, asks that only you should hear it.”
“Then that would mean that my sister is impossibly naïve, and I don't believe it. Whether they hear it from you or from me, she must know that I would share her message with my advisors.”
De Winter suppresses a laugh at the word. He looks pointedly from Astley to Strelley and back again. Elizabeth watches as he does so.
“Do you not think my maid and my tutors worthy of giving me advice, Sir?” she asks, more than a little sharply. “At least I can trust that they have nothing of importance to gain from my decisions. Which is not something that can be said for my sister.” She makes a fuss of closing her reading-book, and putting it to one side. “Now,” she says decisively after smoothing her skirts, “tell me this message.”