‘Peace is to be followed,’ said Lilias, amazed at the tone in which her friend mentioned it.
‘Peace at home! Ay, but peace at home is only to be had by war abroad. Peace abroad without honour only leaves these fiery spirits to fume, and fly at one another’s throats, or at those who wrought it. My mind misgives me, mine old friend, lest wrangling lead to blows. I had rather see my Richard spurring against the French than against his cousins of Somerset, and while they advance themselves and claim to be nearer in blood to the King than our good host of York, so long will there be cause of bitterness.’
‘Our kindly host seems to wish evil to no man.’
‘Nay, he is content enough, but my sister his wife, and alas! my son, cannot let him forget that after the Duke of Gloucester he is highest in the direct male line to King Edward of Windsor, and in the female line stands nearer than this present King.’
‘In Scotland he would not forget that his father suffered for that very cause.’
‘Ah, Lilias, thou hast seen enow of what such blood-feuds work in Scotland to know how much I dread and how I pray they may never awaken here. The blessed King Harry of Monmouth kept them down by the strong hand, while he won all hearts to himself. It is my prayer that his young son may do the like, and that my Lord of York be not fretted out of his peaceful loyalty by the Somerset “outrecuidance”, and above all that my own son be not the make-bate; but Richard is proud and fiery, and I fear--I greatly fear, what may be in store for us.’
Lilias thought of Eleanor’s vision, but kept silence respecting it.
Forerunners had been sent on by the Duke of York to announce his coming, and who were in his company; and on the last stage these returned, bringing with them a couple of knights and of clerks on the part of the Cardinal of Winchester to welcome his great-nieces, whom he claimed as his guests.
‘I had hoped that the ladies of Scotland would honour my poor house,’ said the Duke.
‘The Lord Cardinal deems it thus more fitting,’ said the portly priest who acted as Beaufort’s secretary, and who spoke with an authority that chafed the Duke.
Richard Nevil rode up to him and muttered--‘He hath divined our purpose, and means to cross it.’