I took him back to Newgate prison and the room I had been I slid back the slat and watched as the man brought in the prisoner. I nodded to him and the hood was removed.
"Who is this?" Henry asked
"His name is Noah Luff. He is sentenced to be publicly whipped and hanged. Yet he has struck a deal for a simple hanging only with a good noose so that it is quick. And in coins for his wife." I explained
"In return for what?" I nodded again and the prisoner was shoved forward
"I, Perkin Warbeck, the humble son of a boatman from Tournei, confess to a plot to kill the king and the royal family. I did falsely impersonate the dead Prince Richard, Duke of York..." he recited
"Stop, stop now." Henry ordered
"Henry, listen to me. All people ever talk about is that there is a prince in the tower and that they are ready to fight for him. Instead we show them this man and hang him at Tyburn. He confesses in public and what will people see? Not a prince but a criminal, a fraud, an imposter confessing of his crimes freely, breaking the rebellion, no war because there is no one to put on the throne instead of you. That man is 'the other way'." I continue to explain
"And then what?"
"He continues to live in the tower a nameless prisoner. He does not die, simply lives out his life and has a natural death." It was a good plan a plan that could work.
"I will not sanction this. Take him away!" Henry goes to leave but I stop him
"The York Lords will bring war if the believe he lives. They have already proved that they will not settle for you as King or me as Queen. They are bringing it now." I stress to him. He the moves to take my hands
"I have loved you, Hope. How I have loved you. I didn't know that I could love. You have been the grace and light of my life. But I never deserved you. And whatever happens you must be safe." he takes my cheek in his hand "Go to the Tower. Speak to him." he then leaves me standing there.
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The next day I go to visit my brother. The door closes behind me as the two of us are left alone.
"You have the look of our mother." he smiles "And that doesn't please you?"
"I loved her very much but I didn't always like her. Besides you know I was always my fathers daughter. His ambition was for the good of his family and country, rarely for personal gain. Unlike mother. Nothing else mattered but power." I answered
"She was a Queen."
"Yet look where we are from her ambition. Where you are? I wish I asked her if it was all worth it." I reply
"Hope, two boys died in this tower, but these two men will not. We will walk free. We will be restored, there will be justice. Vicious wrong will be set right." he told me
"And what will happen to us?" I question "And Lizzie?"
"Yours and Lizzie's children are my nieces and nephews. You will be honoured. And you are the King's sister. You will be a great lady." I clear my throat
"My husband?"
"He is a soldier. He has his honour. He will fight to the death." he answered
"That would be it? We would be widowed and fatherless but stay at court, no other factions rising for the Tudor claim, there would be peace." I conclude, a life without my husband. It is a life I had once wished for and here my brother was offering it to me.
"It is Gods will."
"But it is not." I tell him "It never has been because you were never meant to survive. I know that now." I nodded moving around as every thing has fallen into place, only now have i truly realised that.
"Hope, what do you speak of? Why do you say such words?" he scowled
"Our father named me Queen before he died? He saw it and it has come to pass. Yet what do I do now? Do I follow my fathers wishes and protect my throne as well as the one that my husband sits on. Or do I lose everything and pray that my lost brother protects me against those who would have me dead?" I wonder.
"The bird took the bread." Teddy cheered I laughed and smiled at my cousin "He took the bread from my hand."
"You are right, Hope." I turned my gaze back to Richard "You are your father's daughter, you even laugh like he did. You even scratch your eyebrow in the same way." he then glances down
"I remember you coming out of fathers room the night he passed. Lizzie comforted you then fixed it around your neck" I touched my necklace
"Teddy, come here. I'm going." He turns and runs over giving me a big hug which I return. "I love you little bug." I mutter then kiss his head.
"I love you too mother bug." he mumbles we pull away and I knock on the door. A minute later it opens and I leave.