Westminster, November 1454
Richard of York sat at the large Council table in the seat normally reserved for the King with quill in hand as Lord Salisbury presented with one paper after the next, “...And this one, my Lord, is for the protection of the wool trade along the coast.”
“Are we certain this will be enjoyed by our friends to Burgundy?” Richard questioned.
Salisbury stood over him with a pleasant smile, “My son has done well to keep them happy at the now, my Lord. With French piracy as it is, we must spend more to keep the merchants and traders safe.”
With mild irritation, Richard scribbled his name at the bottom as ‘R. York’ before looking to the next, “Keep it to the minimum, sir. I aim to lower the debts...not raise them.”
“Of course,” Salisbury pulled another paper from his folio, “And this is to confirm fully the new Archbishop of Canterbury. He already holds the seat, but we should send proper word to the Papacy.”
“I hope you did not use too purple prose in it, my Lord,” Richard admonished, “We should satisfy the Holy Father but not bow to him.”
“Of course,” Salisbury acknowledged as Richard signed his name once more.
Prior to handing the Lord Protector another paper, the door to the chamber opened and the Duke of Buckingham entered, “Just where I thought you would be, Lord Richard.”
“Where else might I be?” Richard asked as he expected the next paper.
Buckingham stood in the doorway with a raised brow, “Did you not receive my note, my Lord? I should think mayhap Windsor at the now.”
“I read it,” Richard answered as he took the paper from the Lord Chancellor, “Did we not, Salisbury?”
“Indeed...we did,” the Earl answered.
Buckingham stepped closer, “Do you not think that improvement?”
“That the King utters all of two words?” Richard finally looked to him with mild curiosity, “I have also read Arundel’s reports and none speak to any further movement, my Lord. Not in body nor mind, sir.”
Lord Salisbury followed, “The Lord Protector would go to the King when there is recovery, my Lord. He wishes it profoundly.”
“I see,” Buckingham sighed.
“Do you?” Richard asked as he gestured to a chair, “Because while you go to visit the King...for reasons I know not...I still do not have your report on the finances of the royal household. The Crown’s finances remain in dire straights, my Lord. I would like an accounting.”
“As Lord Steward, I have provided...have I not, Salisbury?” Buckingham moved to sit, “If you might show the Duke my work?”
The Earl shuffled his papers and placed one in front of Richard. York looked to it with great interest and almost immediately placed a finger to the page, “Ah...here. The King’s Tudor brothers. Is there reason that they require such a large establishment?”
“As you say, my Lord,” Buckingham argued, “They are the King’s brothers. It is to be sure fitting that they should hold status with their rank.”
Richard looked to the Duke with another curious eye, “Do they not hold lands themselves? Can they not pay for their means?”
“King Henry would wish it,” Buckingham suggested plainly.
A slight laugh escaped York’s mouth as he took quill and began to scribble upon the page, “I am sure. Yet when he is able, he will tell us. Until then...I think only a chaplain, two esquires, two yeoman and two chamberlains enough.”
“That is equal to the King’s confessor!” Buckingham protested.
“Is it?” Richard asked with shock, “Then we shall have to peruse his entourage as well.”
Salisbury leaned in, “It is true, my Lord...the young Tudors may balk at such.”
“Then let them balk!” Richard looked to each of them with some surprise, “Did they not support our efforts from before? Do they not wish for the betterment of their brother the King? Our attempts here are to reduce and reform in the interest of economy and efficiency. If Henry himself is not to live in extravagance, then why should they? Not on his coin, at the least.”
Buckingham stifled his contempt and placed a finger to the table, “It may be seen as...directed. As if you mean to supplant them in place.”
“Myself?” Richard looked to the Duke with affront, “By God’s bones, man! I take little and less from this position other than what I bring to it! And it is directed! Yet not to them but to the French whore that lives among us! She is put to Windsor for reason and yet still does not produce a single jot! She is for herself and not the realm while I am the other way round. I will see this reduced!”
“It is not a contest between you and her, Richard,” Buckingham answered quickly.
York pushed away from the table and stood, “Good thing then! For if it were, then she should lose!”
“Dickon,” Salisbury offered softly.
Richard ignored him and directed his ire to Buckingham, “I was voted quite rightly to protect this realm and the King’s person while he is in such a state. This I shall do, sir. Whether it be Tudor kin, or some other, I care not. If feelings are hurt, then so be it. And the least feeling of them all shall most assuredly feel it if she is even able!”
“It will be seen as a means to deprive her,” Buckingham stood to meet York’s glare, “As punishment, my Lord.”
The Duke of York allowed another laugh, “Of course it will and I mean for it to do so! All should see that she no longer has the power and ability to reward her favorites if ever again given the chance and opportunity. I’ll not have it! If I cannot bring charges to Somerset then I will keep his purse empty and that starts with her!”
“Somerset remains to the Tower, my Lord,” Buckingham reminded.
Richard gave curt nod, “And she to Windsor. Where she will find her household also reduced. My God! Two hundred persons in all? That is absurd! The Prince holds another hundred. Also absurd! I will cut that by half and more still should she cry poverty! She holds little purpose at the now other than the restoration of her husband’s health and as your report to me states...yes...I did read it...she does little to that front!”
“I like the Queen no more than you, sir...” Buckingham began to say but Richard stopped him.
“Then do not act as her champion...sir!” he replied with growing anger, “I pull good men round me in this endeavor, my Lord, and I count you as one. Yet Buckingham...if you cannot let release of your own senses towards...that woman...then I shall find another.”
Buckingham stood tall, “You are welcome to do so, my Lord of York. Though I know not where you may find them. They are few and less as you go about your business. I believe that the word is...heavy-handed. Percy feels your pain as now also does your own son in law, Exeter. You are gaining few friends, my Lord. Who is it that you think to support you in future?”
“The Lords that placed me to this position!” Richard offered with increased irritability.
“They seem to be wanting...sir,” Buckingham challenged, “Your peers are already suspicious of motive and are unwilling to trust too deeply. More to that...they resent your manner.”
Richard threw up his arms, “Do you think that I stand here wishing more friends, sir? I hold aplenty. I require no more. What I do require is allegiance to the crown and that is not the one that sits atop...her...head.”
“Then I can say no more to you, my Lord,” Buckingham retreated to the door, “You hold my words in that document and what I say to you now. Do with it what you will. Look you there to the Lord Chancellor. Mayhap he may be able to speak some reason. For my part, I shall speak no more. I hold to the King...and not to you, Lord Richard of York.”
As he left, Richard turned to Salisbury with great question, “I think he holds to more than that. Do you agree with him?”
“I think that our efforts should not be seen as vindictive, Dickon,” Salisbury answered with helpful truth, “A reduction in costs is all well and good, but when put too plainly towards the Queen...it is seen as malice. For right or wrong.”
“Sir...” Richard argued, “...it is justice. And right justice at that! That the King speaks two syllables...that does not recover him and restore. And she will never be restored to her former position!”
“Brother,” Salisbury tried to counsel, “She is anointed Queen. Like it or not. And it is hopeful that King Henry speaks some word, don’t you think? You were never meant to hold this position forever. You are protector...not King.”
Richard moved to the window and looked out over the grounds below in silence. After a time, he finally answered in a low voice, “I like it not.”
“Like it or no...” Salisbury spoke over his shoulder, “...one event is all that it takes. While your reforms have been good and proper, there remain many wishing to be restored to power. You have the right of it with the Queen, brother, but your temper always betrays you.”
With a sigh, Richard turned to him, “I need my Cecily.”
“Am I not good enough?” Salisbury asked in jest.
“No...of course you are,” Richard answered as he calmed down, “It is just...ruling is not easy.”
Salisbury gave quick nod, “It is not, my Lord. So it is a good thing that you do not rule.”
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