"Yes." Livia said excitedly.
"That letter could wound him."
"It may save him. Henry needs to be the one to act. If the king brings this forward himself, he controls the truth before the truth is used against him."
"The witchcraft rumour can be used against you now, my lady," he said. "It may delay the proceedings."
"If I know the king quite well, he will not allow it."
"And if the Church insists?"
"Then the Church will discover that Henry is a very difficult man to corner when he has decided something belongs to him."
Lionel was not entirely reassured. At last, he bowed.
"I shall ride for Whitehall at once."
"Thank you," she said. "Thank you so much."
*****
Henry walked back to his privy lodgings immediately after Lionel left Whitehall. His mind was not on council matters now. His thoughts had fixed on one thing.
Stephen, who had been beside him through more years than Henry cared to count had apparently concealed pieces of Henry's life.
