HOW KING EDWARD ARRIVES AT THE CASTLE OF MIDDLEHAM.
On the ramparts of feudal Middleham, in the same place where Anne had
confessed to Isabel the romance of her childish love, again the
sisters stood, awaiting the coming of their father and the king. They
had only, with their mother, reached Middleham two days before, and
the preceding night an advanced guard had arrived at the castle to
announce the approach of the earl with his royal comrade and visitor.
From the heights, already they beheld the long array winding in
glorious order towards the mighty pile.
"Look!" exclaimed Isabel, "look! already methinks I see the white
steed of Clarence. Yes! it is he! it is my George, my husband! The
banner borne before shows his device."
"Ah, happy Isabel!" said Anne, sighing; "what rapture to await the
coming of him one loves!"
"My sweet Anne," returned Isabel, passing her arm tenderly round her
sister's slender waist, "when thou hast conquered the vain folly of
thy childhood, thou wilt find a Clarence of thine own. And yet,"
added the young duchess, smiling, "it must be the opposite of a
Clarence to be to thy heart what a Clarence is to mine. I love
George's gay humour,--thou lovest a melancholy brow. I love that
charming weakness which supples to my woman will,--thou lovest a proud
nature that may command thine own. I do not respect George less,
because I know my mind stronger than his own; but thou (like my gentle
mother) wouldst have thy mate lord and chief in all things, and live
from his life as the shadow from the sun. But where left you our
mother?"
"In the oratory, at prayer."
"She has been sad of late."
"The dark times darken her; and she ever fears the king's falseness or
caprice will stir the earl up to some rash emprise. My father's
letter, brought last night to her, contains something that made her
couch sleepless."
"Ha!" exclaimed the duchess, eagerly, "my mother confides in thee more
than me. Saw you the letter?"
"No."
"Edward will make himself unfit to reign," said Isabel, abruptly.
"The barons will call on him to resign; and then--and then, Anne--
sister Anne,--Warwick's daughters cannot be born to be simple
subjects!"
"Isabel, God temper your ambition! Oh, curb it, crush it down! Abuse
not your influence with Clarence. Let not the brother aspire to the
brother's crown."
"Sister, a king's diadem covers all the sins schemed in the head that
wins it!"
As the duchess spoke, her eyes flashed and her form dilated. Her
beauty seemed almost terrible.
The gentle Anne gazed and shuddered; but ere she found words to
rebuke, the lovely shape of the countess-mother was seen moving slowly
towards them. She was dressed in her robes of state to receive her
kingly guest; the vest fitting high to the throat, where it joined the
ermine tippet, and thickly sown with jewels; the sleeves tight, with
the second or over sleeves, that, loose and large, hung pendent and
sweeping even to the ground; and the gown, velvet of cramousin,
trimmed with ermine,--made a costume not less graceful than
magnificent, and which, where compressed, set off the exquisite
symmetry of a form still youthful, and where flowing added majesty to
a beauty naturally rather soft and feminine than proud and stately.
As she approached her children, she looked rather like their sister
than their mother, as if Time, at least, shrunk from visiting harshly
one for whom such sorrows were reserved.
The face of the countess was so sad in its aspect of calm and sweet
resignation that even the proud Isabel was touched; and kissing her
mother's hand, she asked if any ill tidings preceded her father's
coming.
"Alas, my Isabel, the times themselves are bad tidings! Your youth
scarcely remembers the days when brother fought against brother, and
the son's sword rose against the father's breast. But I, recalling
them, tremble to hear the faintest murmur that threatens a civil war."
She paused, and forcing a smile to her lips, added, "Our woman fears
must not, however, sadden our lords with an unwelcome countenance; for
men returning to their hearths have a right to a wife's smile; and so,
Isabel, thou and I, wives both, must forget the morrow in to-day.
Hark! the trumpets sound near and nearer! let us to the hall."
Before, however, they had reached the castle, a shrill blast rang at
the outer gate. The portcullis was raised; the young Duke of
Clarence, with a bridegroom's impatience, spurred alone through the
gloomy arch, and Isabel, catching sight of his countenance lifted
towards the ramparts, uttered a cry, and waved her hand. Clarence
beard and saw, leaped from his steed, and had clasped Isabel to his
breast, almost before Anne or the countess had recognized the new
comer.
Isabel, however, always stately, recovered in an instant from the joy
she felt at her lord's return, and gently escaping his embrace, she
glanced with a blush towards the battlements crowded with retainers;
Clarence caught and interpreted the look.
"Well, belle mere," he said, turning to the countess, "and if yon
faithful followers do witness with what glee a fair bride inspires a
returning bridegroom, is there cause for shame in this cheek of
damascene?"
"Is the king still with my father?" asked Isabel, hastily, and
interrupting the countess's reply.
"Surely, yes; and hard at hand. And pardon me that I forgot, dear
lady, to say that my royal brother has announced his intention of
addressing the principal officers of the army in Middleham Hall. This
news gave me fair excuse for hastening to you and Isabel."
"All is prepared for his highness," said the countess, "save our own
homage. We must quicken our steps; come, Anne." The countess took
the arm of the younger sister, while the duchess made a sign to
Clarence. He lingered behind, and Isabel, drawing him aside, asked,
"Is my father reconciled to Edward?"
"No,--nor Edward to him."
"Good! The king has no soldiers of his own amidst yon armed train?"
"Save a few of Anthony Woodville's recruits, none. Raoul de Fulke and
St. John have retired to their towers in sullen dudgeon. But have you
no softer questions for my return, bella mia?"
"Pardon me, many--my king."
"King!"
"What other name should the successor of Edward IV. bear?"
"Isabel," said Clarence, in great emotion, "what is it you would tempt
me to? Edward IV. spares the life of Henry VI., and shall Edward
IV.'s brother conspire against his own?"
"Saints forefend!" exclaimed Isabel; "can you so wrong my honest
meaning? O George! can you conceive that your wife--Warwick's
daughter--harbours the thought of murder? No! surely the career
before you seems plain and spotless! Can Edward reign? Deserted by
the barons, and wearing away even my father's long-credulous love;
odious! except in luxurious and unwarlike London, to all the commons--
how reign? What other choice left? none,--save Henry of Lancaster or
George of York."
"Were it so!" said the weak duke; and yet be added falteringly,
"believe me, Warwick meditates no such changes in my favour."
"Time is a rapid ripener," answered Isabel; "but hark! they are
lowering the drawbridge for our guests."