He had laboured for peace both in field and council, and that very evening he had striven to guide the ruler of England.

Assuredly he had done a citizen's duty and might now rest.
His thoughts turned to his family--the brave girl and the worthless boy.
He believed he had expunged Jasper from his mind, but the recollection had still power to pain him.

That was the stuff of which the King's faction was made, half-witted rakes who were arrogant without pride and volcanic without courage....

Not all, perhaps.

The good Tony was a welcome enough son-in-law, though Cecily would always be the better man.
The young Oxfordshire squire was true to his own royalties, and a mortal could be no more.