Laura relented so that, between the two of them, they managed to get it onto the bed. Laura retrieved her cigarette from the ashtray. ‘Tell me when you’re finished with it. For God's sake, don't push it off the bed or it’ll end up in the lounge downstairs.’ Laura had to raise her voice at the end as Gail entered the bathroom, determined to take a quick shower. ‘Don’t be long. Our next stop is Westminster Abbey; resting place of kings and queens.’
Gail stuck her head around the corner. ‘Is Richard buried there?’
‘His wife Anne is but no one knows where he’s buried, if indeed, he’s buried at all.’
‘That’s strange, isn’t it?’
Laura considered the question. ‘There’s plenty about Richard Plantagenet that is singular in the extreme.’
‘Why didn’t you want to stand beside him at Madam Tussauds so I could take your picture?’
‘I’m not a complete tourist you know. Come on, hurry up.’
*****
‘Well, what did you think of Westminster?’ Laura asked over top of her wine glass. They had chosen their hotel restaurant partly because it offered an Early Bird Dinner Special plus, they were both extremely tired now and the knowledge that their beds were so close, appealed.
‘Beautiful, but honestly, you tell the most disgusting stories. Where do you get all that stuff from anyway?’
‘What stuff? You mean about Mary Queen of Scots execution being botched?’ Laura chuckled.
‘And what you said about Elizabeth the First blowing out her coffin because she hadn’t been embalmed properly. Cromwell being dug up, the body hung at Tyburn before being decapitated.’ Gail shook her head in disbelief.
‘Henry the Seventh has a nice tomb though, don’t you think? I especially liked the angels sitting on the lid making sure he can’t get out.’ Laura smiled wickedly.
Gail took a couple of sips of her wine. ‘Well, brat child that you are, if you insist upon relating your disgusting anecdotes and we’re planning to visit the Tower tomorrow, you had better tell me more of the Story. Last I heard Richard was wiping his blade on his pants and his brother was trying on crowns.’
‘My notes are upstairs.’
‘That's okay, I'll wait.’
‘Thanks a lot.’ Laura pushed her chair back. She was assisted by a member of the staff. Explaining the need to get something from her room, she made her apologies and left.
By the time she returned, Gail had finished her wine and had ordered another. Their meals had not yet arrived. Assisted back into her seat, she glared at Gail. ‘And what did your last slave die from?’
‘Never mind. Have you seen the dessert trolley?’ Gail’s eyes fairly danced with delight.
‘Not interested,’ Laura said with a shrug of indifference as she sorted through her notes. In all the years that Laura had known Gail, there was one constant - desserts. Gail had a passion for them; for anything sweet. Oh, Laura could, upon occasion, be tempted with a piece of chocolate, but Gail? Laura figured it would be only a matter of time before the trolley, laden with pies, cream tarts, custard, trifle, death-by-chocolate cake, would find its way to Gail's side totally unaided.
‘You need a sweet now and then to keep your strength up,’ Gail said in self-defence.
Laura had heard this argument before. ‘I don't want to keep my strength up and even if I did, I’d opt for a medicinal brandy, not a sticky cake.’
‘You drink too much,’ Gail huffed.
‘Perhaps, but by the time I’ve finish with this, you’ll probably need a stiff drink too. Ready?’
‘Ready.’
‘With King Henry out of the way, things began to settle down. The House of Lancaster had been virtually wiped out, with a few notable exceptions, and everyone was looking forward to stable government and an end to civil war. The second half of Edward's reign may have begun as Shakespeare suggested at the end of his play - Henry the Sixth, Part Three - with Edward's final speech.
And now what rests but that we spend the time
With stately triumphs, mirthful comic shows,
Such as befit the pleasure of the court?
Sound, drums and trumpets! farewell, sour annoy!
For here, I hope, begins our lasting joy.
‘Translated, it means “let's party”. There have been many and various descriptions of King Edward the Fourth, but one thing they all have in common is that he was a picture of a perfect king in his youth, but, as time wore on, his excessive nature began to affect his health and judgement. He was seen frequently outside All You Can Eat Dessert Bars and showed up at Council meetings with sticky fingers.’
Laura started to laugh and was kicked by Gail under the table just as their meals arrived, carried by a bemused waiter who had no doubt seen this little performance. Laura rearranged the table, allowing room for her meal and her notes. Years of study had given her the unique ability to read, converse and eat all at the same time.
Hardly stopping to admire their beautifully presented plates, they began to eat quietly and, except for the odd exclamation regarding the excellence of the meal, they ate in silence. Laura gave up first, unable to finish her plate. ‘Shall I continue?’ she asked, drawing her notes closer and her plate away.
‘Yes, please,’ Gail said, not looking up.
‘Not to put too fine a point on it, Eddie began to overindulge himself, not only with food and wine, but with women too, so that he became fat, lazy and lecherous in the extreme: a lesson to us all.’ Laura cleared her throat suggestively, took a sip of wine and then continued. ‘His Queen must have turned a blind eye to all this, perhaps seeing advantages in his adultery and its attendant guilt to press him for more and more favours for her family.
‘Richard was no doubt eager to get out of London and away from court. He may have disapproved of his brother's lifestyle, but he couldn't have done so too strenuously, since it would appear that he had a least one mistress and was supporting two bastard children, John and Katherine.’
Gail looked up, shocked. ‘Naughty boy.’
‘Mistresses, illegitimate children; it was no big deal in those days or any days for that matter.’ Laura shrugged. ‘Anyhow, since Edward was content to rest on his laurels, enjoying a good time at court, Richard took upon himself the task of securing the realm in his brother's name. I’m not going into all the grants, titles and land transfers with which Edward rewarded those faithful to him. Suffice to say that Richard benefitted greatly from his brother’s largesse, especially in the north.
‘Now, before leaving London to take up permanent residence in Yorkshire,
