The Dragon and the Rose by Roberta Gellis

marriage to her father invalid on the grounds that her father had been previously betrothed to Lady Eleanor Butler. If she were betrothed to Henry of Richmond, she would be safe. She went to the table that held her writing desk and drew forth paper, quill and ink.

    Margaret spent a tense and unhappy period in Gilbert Talbot's home wondering whether Morton's judgment of Buckingham's disgust and dissatisfaction was accurate, wondering whether Buckingham would use her plan as a ruse to get Henry into his power so that he could remove another claimant to the throne either for Richard or ultimately from his own path. Before the second week of August was over, however, Reginald Bray, steward of Lord Stanley's household, arrived unheralded at Shrewsbury.
    "Has something befallen my husband?" Margaret asked anxiously.
    If Margaret did not love Thomas Stanley with the deep passion she could have felt for Jasper—if that had not been forbidden by the laws of her church—she came closer to it with him than with any other man. His warmth was contagious; she could not help but respond to it. And the more she responded, the more eager Thomas was to fulfill her every desire.
    "No, madam, nor does he know of my journey. I left a message that I was called away on business, that is all."
    "Out with it, then."
    But Margaret's tone was gay, for Bray was smiling broadly and she knew he was devoted to her. What was more, she did not for a moment believe that Thomas was ignorant of his steward's business. He was blind because he wished to be, not because he was a fool. He had hinted as much to his wife, indicating that he wished to be clear of any involvement only so that he would be capable of protecting her if her plans should go awry.
    "Buckingham sent for me to advise you to obtain Queen Elizabeth's consent to the marriage of Richmond and her eldest daughter. If your son will take oath to make that marriage and no other, Buckingham will raise England in Richmond's favor."
    Margaret almost held her breath. "That I have already. You may make a copy of the letter I have from her. Did he speak of his plans?"
    "Most fully, madam. We were in Brecon, where he is safe, and Morton sat beside him all the while. If the bishop of Ely is treated as a prisoner, so am I. It is no trap. Richmond is to come with as large a force as he can muster, and Buckingham will raise the south of England in rebellion as near the day Richmond arrives as may be arranged. What of Richmond's agreement? Do you have that?"
    "Is it like that my son will refuse a crown? But an army must be shipped and paid. Has Buckingham considered that?"
    "Oh, yes. When he is sure of the old queen's consent, he will dispatch a man to make the proposal in his own name and to bring Richmond gold and letters of credence. I know the man, Hugh Conway by name, and naught but God's will could stand in Conway's path." Bray laughed. "Hugh could outface and beat the Devil at his own games."
    "I will send Thomas Ramme by different ways bearing the same news. He must also go to the dowager and obtain the letter and token from Princess Elizabeth that were promised me. In addition, Conway must bear Buckingham's own letter saying he knows that the first act of legitimation of my grandfather Beaufort carried no reservation of royal succession and that Henry IV's act, which inserted that phrase, was not valid. My Henry does not know this. I did not wish him to be burdened with the knowledge nor to be burnt up with hopeless ambition."
    Bray nodded and set himself to copy the letter Margaret gave him. He had been in the saddle almost constantly for a week and a half, yet he was ready to ride out again that day. Margaret, however, said that a few hours could not make or mar and that Bray should have at least one good meal and one night's rest before he left for Brecon again.

    Henry Tudor was not happy. Of course, he was used to pressures, but those had alternated before. One time it would be lack of money that