Notorious by Virginia Henley Read Free Book Online

arrow.”
    Wolf cuffed him across the ear, then stood up and whistled for their horses. When both animals obeyed the summons, young de Beauchamp gave him a worshipful glance. “That’s another trick you must teach me.”
    â€œFirst, I’ll have to teach you to stay alive, you young fool!”
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    By the end of May the Marcher barons had taken back all that belonged to them and more besides. King Edward and Hugh Despencer fled back to London. As they traveled east they were met with jeering crowds and surly, disapproving Londoners. It was a marked contrast with the cheers that Queen Isabelle evoked when she rode out. The people loved their beautiful young queen as much as they hated the Despencers.
    On Hugh’s advice they moved into the impregnable Tower of London for safekeeping and the king ordered Isabelle to her own apartments in the Tower. In mid-June the king put the tower of London into the queen’s custody. It was a wily move, since Edward and Hugh knew that the people would never attack the fortress if it were in Isabelle’s keeping.
    The Marcher barons, flush with victory, rode north to meet again with Lancaster at his magnificent castle of Pontefract. They held a private parliament and the earl reconfirmed his alliance with the Marchers. At the end of June they issued a condemnation of the Despencers and vowed to have them disinherited.
    â€œI propose we give the king a month to rid himself of his favorites. If he does not banish the Despencers, I intend to take my army to London and expel them by force,” Mortimer declared.
    â€œWe must make it clear that our threat is directed at the Despencers and not the king’s person, or we could be charged with treason,” Warwick warned.
    Wolf Mortimer made a suggestion. “If our forces wear livery bearing the royal arms it will show our loyalty to the Crown.”
    His father agreed. “Spread the word. We march in one month.”
    â€œThough Lancaster’s castle of Pontefract is renowned for its lavish hospitality, I don’t believe Thomas will be overjoyed to host all the Marcher barons for a month,” Guy de Beauchamp pointed out. “I shall spend the time at my own castle and offer Warwick’s hospitality to any who wish it until we march south.”
    Roger Mortimer grinned. “I accept your generous offer.”
    â€œCould I billet my men at Warwick?” Hereford asked. “We have our own campaign tents.”
    Warwick nodded. “I shall send a message to my wife, telling her to expect us.”
    Wolf stepped forward. “I volunteer to deliver the message, my lord earl.” He smiled inwardly. He had spoken to Brianna in a dream last night and forewarned her that he would visit Warwick.
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    The early July day was warm and Brianna had spent the morning visiting Warwick’s ailing inhabitants and dispensing her herbal curatives. In the afternoon she had taken Venus on a five-mile ride along the lush banks of the River Avon. On her way back she decided that her horse deserved a swim before she returned her to the stables.
    She slipped down from Venus at a place where the rushes grew tall and the water was fairly shallow. A small skiff that she and her brother used for fishing was moored to a willow and it rocked gently as a pair of waterfowl glided by.
    Brianna unsaddled Venus and watched her palfrey wander downriver a short distance, then watched her walk to the water’s edge and dip her head for a drink. Brianna sat down in the skiff and removed her boots and hose. Her eyes followed an iridescent dragonfly as it hovered above a bright yellow kingcup, then swooped down to the water.
    Brianna loved the River Avon and the cool water lured her. She gave in to temptation almost immediately. She removed her dress and, wearing only her shift, waded in until the water was breast high. She laughed when the ducks quacked a protest at being disturbed and paddled off.
    As Wolf