A sad scene

I missed some interesting historical happenings during my bout with bronchitis, so I will try to catch up in coming weeks. Meanwhile, on April 30th, 1483, Richard III, then Duke of Gloucester, reached Stony Stratford and arrested the young king’s uncle, Anthony Woodville, after being warned that the Woodvilles were planning to defy Edward IV’s dying wishes and refuse to recognize him as Lord Protector of the Realm. The sad scene below comes from Sunne, page 684-685
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“Edward, I should like to talk with you.” Richard waited, watched the boy come forward reluctantly, sit stiffly beside him on the settle. “You think I don’t know how you’re feeling, but I do. I know better than most. I was just your age when Ned did quarrel with our cousin Warwick. I did love them both, Edward, learned a bitter lesson in irreconcilable loyalties.”
Edward said nothing. He was studiously staring down into his lap; all Richard could see was a crown of bright hair.
“What I’m trying to say is that I understand how confusing this is for you. You love your Uncle Anthony and you don’t know me all that well. But once we’re in London…..” And what difference would that make to the boy? Their problem was not one of geography. He was the wrong uncle.
“Edward…..” What was there to say? That he’d loved Ned? That should have been a bond between them, and yet Richard sensed that it was not. Edward had raised his head, was looking up now with Ned’s eyes. No, not Ned’s. Guarded eyes that gave away nothing.
“If you’re ready, lad, we can ride back to Northampton,” Richard said and, without thinking, started to put his arm around the boy’s shoulders as he would have done with his own sons. It was the first time he’d touched Edward; he got a response neither one of them expected. Edward stiffened, jerked back as if stung. The withdrawal was involuntary, and for that reason, all the more telling.
Edward quickly recovered his poise, even looked slightly embarrassed. “I did not mean to be rude,” he said, very politely. “You did startle me, that’s all.”
Richard was stunned, for he’d read in Edward’s recoil more than mistrust. There’d been fear, too. Before he could stop himself, before he could think better of it, he said softly, “Good Christ, what have they told you of me?”
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