As the great shell keep of Berkeley Castle rose above the Gloucestershire countryside ahead of them , the ancient stonework glowing warmly in the late afternoon sun , Philippa marvelled at the vast , uncountable numbers of Henry's supporters encamped outside the castle's defences .sx Lords' gay silken pavilions jostled with makeshift shelters erected by men - at - arms , archers and camp followers :sx the servants and tradesmen , not to mention the women ready to accommodate the needs of the men for a fee .sx The red rose of Lancaster and the Lancastrian version of the Royal Arms fluttered from almost every pole , counterpointing the splendidly charged pennons of the impressive array of magnates whose support Henry had enlisted .sx Young Wat Instow had ridden ahead to discover the situation , Giles's personal badge - an acorn - painted on the arms of his leather jerkin making his allegiance plain for all to see .sx The party from Alban Castle , under Sir Malcolm de Boyes , had already pitched their tents , and it was from Sir Malcolm that Wat had elicited his information .sx " The castle is almost full , lord , " Wat reported , riding out to meet them as they approached .sx " Edmund of Langley , the Duke of York , is here !sx " .sx " Is he indeed ?sx As keeper of the Realm , he has come to meet the King on his return from Ireland , no doubt .sx How did he greet Henry ?sx " .sx " Amicably , I gather .sx They are in conference now .sx Room can be found for Lady Philippa and her woman in one of the domestic dorters in the eastern bailey , but we shall have to camp here overnight .sx Sir Malcolm already has your pavilion erected .sx " .sx " 'Twill be no hardship in this weather .sx I thank you , Malcolm , " he added as the night strode over to greet them .sx " Did all go well at Alban this morn ?sx " .sx " Aye , lord , as far as I know .sx We left before Sir Walter and the Earl and his family were - " .sx " What was my father's condition ?sx " cut in Philippa anxiously .sx Sir Malcolm bowed in her direction .sx They had not dismounted , and he lifted his rather nice brown eyes to her face .sx " Much the same , my lady .sx Though I believe he had articulated a word or two , and was able to move the fingers of his hand .sx The physician gave his permission for him to travel .sx " .sx " What of Sir William ?sx " asked Giles .sx " He has not arrived as yet ?sx " .sx " Nay , lord .sx He expected to be a day at least carrying out your orders .sx " .sx Giles frowned .sx " So long ?sx Were the stores so vast ?sx " .sx " I do not know , lord .sx I left , as ordered , before he had properly taken inventory .sx " .sx " No doubt he'll catch up ere long .sx Meanwhile , I will escort the Lady Philippa to the castle .sx " Giles turned to Philippa with formal courtesy .sx " Come , my lady .sx You should rest comfortably again tonight .sx " .sx Philippa followed obediently as he prodded Panache forward through the embattled entrance and , having ascertained the direction , threaded his way through the throng to cross one bailey to reach the other .sx Her thoughts were far from comfortable .sx Her father seemed to have improved slightly , but , although the journey might not harm him in itself , he would resent having to make it .sx Her stomach turned and the sickness returned .sx Frustration at his helplessness might bring on a relapse .sx Still , she consoled herself , forcing down her panic , Mary would be well able to cope , and was fond enough of her father - in - law to do her best .sx She herself could have done little apart from offering her presence , but she would have given much to be with him .sx Memories of home filled her momentarily with nostalgia .sx Alban was small compared to this vast edifice .sx Thrusting her anxiety behind her , Philippa eyed her surroundings with growing interest , noting the frenetic bustle of all the officials and serfs as they carried out their orders , while tired Lancastrian retainers lounged idly by .sx The farriers' hammers rang around the yard , horses stamped and neighed in impatience or protest .sx Pigs , chickens and geese scattered at their approach .sx There seemed hardly room to move within the castle walls .sx Ignoring the ancient tower and passing the more recently built Great Hall , Giles drew rein before the entrance to the newish building containing the living quarters .sx He called a servant , who showed them the way to a small , bare , closet - like chamber which contained two pallets crowded together to leave a small space for movement near the doorway .sx " You are fortunate , " remarked Giles drily .sx " You will have privacy here .sx " .sx " Except that there is no door to the chamber , which , being designed for the use of servants , leads directly from that used by the ladies of the castle , " returned Philippa sharply .sx " You have an arras to shield the doorway .sx I will find you better lodgings in Bristol , " promised Giles .sx " We will meet again shortly in the Hall , at supper .sx Farewell , Philippa .sx " .sx Philippa shifted uneasily and voiced an awareness which had been growing on her since entering the castle .sx " Is this not where the King's great - grandfather was murdered ?sx " she asked , and cleared her throat to free it of a sudden thickness .sx " Aye .sx " Giles met her eyes steadily .sx " Edward II met his end somewhere in this castle .sx " He smiled grimly .sx " Richard should have learned from his ancestor's mistakes .sx The second Edward was extravagant , and attempted to rule through favourites , rather than through Parliament .sx Richard has not only been profligate and taken bad advice from his cronies , but has tried to take power into his own hands .sx He thinks he is above the law , a law unto himself .sx He must be shown that he is wrong .sx " .sx " And you and Henry Bolingbroke are appointed by God to show him the error of his ways ?sx " scorned Philippa , suddenly angry again .sx It was better than being scared .sx Henry has been wronged .sx The duty of every true knight is to see all wrings righted , be it with or without the King's writ .sx Richard must answer to Parliament .sx He has no real power without its consent .sx " .sx " Richard is King , " stated Philippa flatly .sx Giles bowed .sx " On the least we are agreed , my lady .sx We meet at supper .sx " .sx Ida found a page to send for water , which arrived in pitchers carried by a file of churls .sx The fact that it was cold did not matter , since the weather was warm .sx Sponged down , changed into her spare kirtle , her hair freshly braided and held in the silken frets , Philippa began to feel better .sx She would see Henry at supper .sx And the great Duke of York , Henry's uncle .sx Richard's uncle , too .sx How must the old man feel , she wondered , caught between his nephews ?sx Yet he owed duty to Richard , who had left the Realm in his uncle's safe - keeping while he himself went to Ireland to put down a rebellion by that troublesome and elusive chieftain , Art MacMurrach .sx Philippa had led a sheltered and uneventful life , seldom venturing further from Alban Castle than Tewkesbury or Evesham , though once a year the whole family travelled to one of the Earl's other castles or manors while Alban was sweetened .sx These expeditions had seemed like a holiday , and Philippa had made the most of them .sx Once she had travelled to the beautiful manor house of Acklane in Oxfordshire to meet Giles's parents .sx But she'd only been twelve at the time , and memory of that important occasion had dimmed .sx She didn't want to be here at Berkeley , of course , but she could not help a feeling of importance , of excitement , of destiny , almost , at being caught up in great events .sx How many women would be able to tell their grandchildren that they had actually seen Henry Bolingbroke on his way to confront his cousin ?sx If she ever had grandchildren .sx The knowledge that if she did they were likely to be Giles's too brought a flush to her cheeks and a pout of rebellion to her lips .sx Philippa felt quite lost in the vast , lavishly decorated Hall , and was betrayed into a feeling of gladness when Giles strode to her side , and escorted her to a seat beside his own - not at the high table , but well above the salt cellar .sx Trumpets flourished .sx Lionel , Duke of York , strode in , followed by a procession of men which included his nephew Henry Bolingbroke , the Henry Percys - father and son , Ralph Neville , Earls of Westmorland , Archbishop Arundel , and others who had been with Henry in Paris .sx Philippa had the feeling that , had it not been for her presence , Giles would have been among them .sx " See young Thomas Fitzalan , Archbishop Arundel's nephew ?sx " he shouted in her ear .sx She would not have heard him , else .sx " The one in red brocade ?sx " speculated Philippa in return .sx " Aye .sx He , too is out to regain the inheritance taken from him two years ago when his father was executed for treason .sx Did you hear of that disgraceful episode , and of the even more disgraceful murder of Richard's other uncle , Thomas , Duke of Gloucester , in Calais ?sx " .sx " I heard something of the scandalous accusations made against the King , " muttered Philippa .sx " They were not made without just cause .sx Richard swore by John the Baptist that his uncle's exile would bring good to both of them , and that no harm would come to the Earl of Arundel .sx Both men are now dead .sx Do you wonder that others now lack trust in his assurances ?sx " .sx " Mayhap not , " admitted Philippa reluctantly .sx " You may not remember - you were only a child at the time - but some ten years ago the Earl of Arundel dared , with Gloucester and others , including Henry Bolingbroke , to attempt to limit Richard's excesses .sx And succeeded , for a while .sx They became known as the Lords Appellant .sx Despite appearances to the contrary , Richard never forgave any of them .sx " .sx Philippa digested this in silence .sx Politics had never previously touched her life .sx Despite his advanced age , Lionel was still a handsome man , his easy - going nature evident in his face .sx Lavishly robed in purple velvet and ermine , a chaplet of gold set with glowing jewels resting on his sweating brow , he had escorted his nephew to the table and , with the utmost courtesy , placed him next to himself .sx Before Grace was said , he ordered a flourish of trumpets , and rose again , commanding silence by the lifting of his hand .sx " Most here support my nephew Henry Bolingbroke against his cousin , our Sovereign Prince , King Richard , in the matter of his inheritance , " he began .sx " Let it be known that I , too , render him my support .sx I believe the King has been led into error .sx I will use my utmost endeavours to bring peace between my nephews , and thus to this Realm .sx " .sx A great cheer rang around the vast Hall .sx Men sprang to their feet , lifting their mugs and goblets to drink to the Duke , Giles among them .sx " Even he has deserted the King , " scowled Philippa in disgust .sx " Not deserted .sx You heard him .sx He hopes to mediate between the cousins .sx No one can deny the justice of Henry's cause .sx And remember , Thomas of Gloucester was York's brother .sx No doubt he feels as insecure as the rest of the great lords under Richard's capricious rule .sx " .sx Philippa's head began to whirl .sx Only yesterday life had seemed so black and white , right and wrong so clearly distinguished .sx Suddenly , there were vast areas of grey in between which she did not wish to examine too closely .sx She fixed her eyes on the source of all the confusion , admitting to herself that Henry was an agreeable surprise .sx Another handsome man - but which Plantagenet was not , according to popular acclaim ?sx Not as tall as his uncle , rather stocky in fact , but reputedly an able soldier , strong , agile , an accomplished jouster and swordsman .sx Red hair curled into his nape from under a golden chaplet , a serpentine moustache and neatly trimmed beard edged his mouth and chin .sx His chaplet and robes were simpler than those of the Duke , though the high collar of his houpplelande was studded with costly jewels .sx There was definitely something about him .sx .. A charisma .sx An innate air of command which York lacked .sx No easy - going face , Henry's , but one full of determination and authority .sx He would be no easy man to defeat .sx