To Hold the Crown: The Story of King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York by Jean Plaidy Page A

perpetual unrest culminating in the Battle of Bosworth had impoverished the country. He was determined to crush extravagance, and she would not dream of asking for unnecessary luxuries.
    But she would have liked to ask for her mother to come back to Court, though she accepted the fact that it would be impossible because her mother had really committed an act of treason.
    Now there was this matter of Cecilia’s marriage.
    He came to her smiling. He would lead her to the bed and they would make further attempts to get another child. It was the ritual when they were together. She believed that Henry had no greater liking for the act than she had for they were both aware of a certain relief when it was over, though it brought with it a sense of achievement which they hoped would be rewarded and a certain respite gained. Sometimes she thought of her father and all his mistresses. How different he must have been!
    “Henry,” she said, “there is something I have to tell you. I hope it will not anger you.”
    He was alarmed. She sensed that rather than saw it. He never showed his feelings but she was aware that she had made him uneasy.
    She said quickly: “It is my sister, Cecilia. I am afraid she has acted rather foolishly.”
    “How so?” he asked.
    “She has married.”
    He looked puzzled. But she could not tell whether he was angry or not.
    She said quickly: “To Lord Wells.”
    He remained silent for a few seconds. Cecilia married to Wells! He was not at all put out. He had been watchful of Cecilia. In his mind had been the thought that he might have had to put her in Elizabeth’s place. He was a man who calculated all eventualities. Life had made that necessary in the past and once a habit was formed with him, it generally continued. Moreover it was as necessary now as it had ever been. He had visualized Elizabeth’s dying in childbed as so many women did and perhaps the baby with her. Then there would have been no alternative but marriage with Elizabeth’s sister Cecilia. Cecilia was the one. The others were too young. So therefore he had kept Cecilia in the background. He had made sure that she should not be offered on the marriage market. He had looked upon her as a reserve. And now . . . she had married John Wells.
    Wells came of a family which had always been loyal to him. He liked John Wells.
    “You do not speak,” said Elizabeth, watching him fearfully.
    “I am taken by surprise.”
    “Of course it was very wrong of them.”
    “But natural I suppose. We have been inclined to think of Cecilia as a child. She has shown us that she is not that.”
    “Oh Henry . . . are you . . . ?”
    He said: “What’s done is done.”
    He was thinking: I am safe now. I have Arthur. As long as I have an heir who is half York and half Lancaster all is well. It is a pity Arthur is not more robust. However, it is no use thinking of Cecilia now. There is Anne . . . Very young as yet. But Elizabeth is still here . . . and strong. . . .
    He had always kept a firm control on his emotions and that habit never failed him. Always he liked time to think, what is best for Henry Tudor? what is safe for Henry Tudor? while his quick shrewd mind worked out the answer for him. He believed that he had come as far as he had because of this.
    He said now: “Why are you trembling, Elizabeth? You must not be afraid. You are not afraid of me, are you?”
    She lowered her eyes. She could not tell a blatant lie.
    “You must not be. You did right to tell me. I should not have liked to hear this from another source. But it is done. I trust John Wells. He has always been a good servant to us. Perhaps I shall tell him that he has been a little hasty. You may like to tell your sister that. Well, then let us wish them happiness and a fruitful marriage, eh . . . ?”
    “You are so good,” she said with tears in her eyes. “I shall never forget that scullion boy . . . and now Cecilia.”
    “Lord and Lady Wells would not relish being compared with