~New Arrivals~

Late May Middleham Castle, North Yorkshire....

A warm summer sun poured over the hills; the valley in which Middleham sat, the air clean and fresh. The gardens had sprung into bloom and it was there Constance and Richard began to spend most of their days with their jailer prattling on about one boring thing after another.

Enveloped in the beautiful landscape, they couldn't find it in themselves to be irritated, though they couldn't deny they were relived when one day he was locked in his study attending to business, leaving the two to roam freely with a few guards dotted here and there and Constance's two attendants.

They strolled together, her hand curled around his arm, quietly chatting amongst themselves, admiring the flowers either side of the winding paths, smiling. It looked as if they were simply talking of simple things, their surroundings perhaps, the beautiful weather but, as always, they were plotting.

The past month letters had been flying back and forth between the Scropes and Richard, plotting a revolt to take Middleham back, an attack that would take the shrinking Woodville force by surprise, making it all the easier. Two days prior, Constance had received a new gown from the family, one she wore then, a beautiful light blue silk damask, the bodice and large sleeves decorated with pearls. In said sleeves, she'd found a letter cleverly concealed in a small pocket within the lining of the left one.

It appeared blank but when she warmed it over the fire, six important words appeared.

We are ready when you are

"What do you think the signal shall be? Or shall we simply send a message?" She asked Richard as they walked.

"Either" He replied, his hand coming to rest over the one she had around his arm, thumb subtly stroking her knuckles. Her smile grew a little "If we are able, I shall send a letter but if we are unable to for any reason then I have told them we shall send one of my men with a message"

"Our men" She corrected, glancing at him "I think I have the right to claim their loyalties now, just as you do!"

"Of course, of course!" He conceded "They are our men and when we take Middleham it shall be our victory then Edward shall be our King until he becomes a man. Well, actually he may be your King, you will after all be Queen Regent"

"Queen Regent" She sighed, she hadn't thought about the position for many months, it wasn't exactly at the top of her list of worries "Do you think I shall still be offered that position?" Richard suddenly halted in his steps, forcing her to do the same.

"Offered?" He repeated with a frown "Connie, that position is yours by right! Edward dictated with his dying breaths that you should rule England in your son's stead until he comes of age! The Lords of the council swore their allegiance to you and they shall do so again, as shall all the Lords of the realm"

Her smile returned at his assurance, a warmth blossoming in her chest as he spoke, words firm and determined - loyal.

"I know I can always count upon you to see Edward's wishes carried out" She said. He nodded, smiling too, the happy curve once again lighting his handsome face. In certain lights, there was something of Ned about him, she thought.

"And yours" He added "I serve my Queen as I serve my King"

"Milday! Milady, look!"
They turned around to see a smiling Martha, a basket full of beautiful flowers hanging from her arm as she hurried towards them. She curtsied - her curtsies had greatly improved since she was first introduced to Middleham's household, Constance thought "Me and Alice thought you should like to display some in your room, milady! Only they are so beautiful!" Constance smiled, nodding her thanks.

"I agree! They are divine, Martha! Now, let's see, ah!" She plucked a red rose from the array of blooms, its red petals the same hue as fresh blood, centre smelling sweet "Now this is a true beauty!"
"I disagree" Richard returned and pulled a white rose forth "We both know the white rose is superior to the red! I believe you should have this placed by your bed!"

That was the place she would see it most, and so would he upon his nightly visits. It would be a symbol of their hope, of the future of their house and a beautiful one at that! It would remind her of her children, of Edward, of him.

Martha looked to her Mistress for approval and Constance gave a small laugh, grinning.

"Well then! Attend to my Lord's wishes and have it put on the cabinet by my bed! The others you may arrange about the chamber as you and Alice wish!"
"At once, milday!" Martha returned happily, taking both roses and returning them to her basket before performing another curtsy and walking merrily away.

"So I am your Lord now?" Richard's voice murmured playfully in Constance's ear and she arched an eyebrow, turning to him.
"Do you object, Dickon?"
"Not at all! I am, as ever, your loyal servant and now your own dear Lord too!" Waving an arm dramatically, he swept a comical curtsy that made her burst into quickly hushed giggles, a hand covering her mouth.

"Arise, good sir!" She declared, eyes glinting with mischievous joy when she took his arm again "Escort your Lady about the gardens! I believe there is still much beauty to enjoy!"
"None as great as the one next to me" He said, earning a playful slap to the arm.
"Stop it!" She laughed but could not help the pleased heat flushing her cheeks.

"Lady Constance!"
They groaned quietly in unison at the familiar call, grimacing as Richard Grey invaded their peace.

"Oh joy" Constance muttered "A storm cloud has come to block our sun!" Sighing, she plastered her serene smile on her lips and turned, letting go of Richard's arm "Ah, my dear Lord!" She greeted, curtsying as he reached them "I was just about to send Alice to ask after you! Really you have spent so much of this beautiful day working your fingers to the bone, you deserve to enjoy the weather as you do graciously allow us to do so!"

"It is a heavy burden, I deny it not!" He replied "But I believe I bear a gift for you even greater than this fine day!"

"Riders approaching!" She heard a guard upon the walls of the other side of the castle call, his voice dissipating as the creaking sound of the drawbridge lowering sounded.

Grey smiled, offered her his arm, she took it.
"Come!" He said "Let me show you! You too, Richard!" He called over his shoulder as they began to walk away.

༻᯽༺

They made their way through the cool passages of the castle, Grey grinning from ear to ear, Constance's heart beating nervously in her chest as she wondered what she was being lead to. Was it to do with the visitors? She hoped to God it wasn't Arthur or Elizabeth.

Guards opened the great doors to the courtyard and the three entered into the sunlight once more, walking down the steps to the sight of a small wooden carriage being lead by armed guards on horseback coming to a halt. They did not carry royal banners (so it was not the Woodvilles she thought with great relief, they would never surpass a chance to display such things) and the red velvet curtains were closed.

Coming to the bottom of the stairs, Grey released her arm and stepped towards the carriage - still smiling.

He opened the door, there was a small shuffle, silence, and then....

"Mama!"

"Isabella!" Constance screamed as her daughter appeared, jumping to the ground. She rushed forward, her heart threatening to burst from her chest, collapsing to the cobbles below as her arms flew around her little girl, clasping her tighter than she ever had. Her breaths shuddered, she pulled back, eyes darting back and forth across Isabella's face, looking for injury, making sure she was real.

"Mama!" Another voice cried and she looked up with a sob to see Cecily and Aliénor clambering from the carriage, tears welling in their eyes, holding out their arms as they ran, throwing them around her.

"Oh my girls! My sweet sweet girls!" Constance wept, gathering them all to her, kissing the tops of their heads, their cheeks, their little noses and lips, stroking their hair "Oh my darlings! Are you well? Are you harmed?" The girls shook their heads and she nodded, holding them tighter still, sobbing as she felt their little, trembling breaths against her neck and shoulders. Their gowns were not ones she recognised and were all a plain dark blue, the sleeves tight, no adornment - identical to the ones she'd been given when first brought to Middleham.

"My babies" She whispered. She would make them new dresses, sew each stitch herself, clothe them in her love so they never felt far from her tender embrace "My dearest ones....you are safe....you are here....Issy, you are sure you are unharmed?"

"Yes, Mother!"
"And you, Cis?"
"I am well, even more so now I have you!"
"And Ally? Are you well?"

Her youngest girl didn't reply, only nodded into her bodice, little hands clinging to her sleeves "Aliénor?" Again she didn't reply and her Mother frowned.

"She doesn't speak anymore, Mama" Cecily said "Not for a long while now" Constance blinked.
"Does not speak?"
"No" Her eldest murmured "She's too afraid"
Her heart ached, the pain spreading through her chest like poison.

"Oh my sweetest love!" She cried, kissing Aliénor again, releasing her sisters and cupping her face "Speak to me, you are safe now. You will always be safe with me!" Aliénor only shook her head again before burying it in her Mother's shoulder "Oh, Ally...." She glanced up at Thomas Grey who was looking prouder than God on the seventh day of creation "Thank you!" She gasped, tears flooding her cheeks, but even then she did not forget her act - though she couldn't deny at that moment she wanted to embrace him too!

"You have returned my girls to me! Thank you! Thank you so much! I am in your debt!"
"It was the decree of the King, my Lady" He replied merrily "And I am glad it has brought you much joy!"

"Greater joy than I ever beheld!" She laughed and stood, holding Aliénor with one arm (her little hands clasped around her neck) and the other encircling the elder two who were pressed close to her skirts "May I take them to my room, my Lord? My girls? My daughters?"

"Of course you may!"
"And they are now in my care?"
"Under my jurisdiction, as you are, Madam, but they are yours to care for. You are their Mother"

And she didn't need any more assurance than that, turning and rushing past Richard, trying not to trip as she hurried up the steps and into the castle. The small taps of her daughter's shoes beside hers made her soul sing with happiness.

"Come along, my loves, come along" She said hurriedly, rushing inside her bedchamber and ushering them toward the bed "You are dismissed!" She called to Alice and Martha (who were arranging flowers by the window), ignoring their looks of shock and quick curtsies before taking their leave "Up you go, sweet ones" She whispered, helping her little darlings into her great bed, tucking them under the covers, now makeshift armour, before sliding in between them.

Cecily to her right, Isabella to her left, Aliénor cradled in her lap.

They were safe. They were safe with her. No one would ever take them again!

"My darlings....you are with me....you are safe"

"Kate is not" Cecily squeaked and Constance frowned, looking down at her, smoothing a hand over her hair.

"What do you mean by that, my love?"
The girl shook her head, pressing her lips closed.

"They tortured her" Isabella said and Constance's eyes fluttered shut as she grimaced, turning to the eldest "They....they did what?" She breathed, opening her eyes. Isabella did not even blink. Now her tears had subsided that was a blank expression on her face, no trace of emotion as she spoke such painful words.

"They tortured her, Mother, thumbscrews we were told. We could hear her screams from our cell. She can no longer write" She spoke as easily as if she was talking of the weather, a calm coldness to her voice, a maturity.....a numbness.

Her Mother's lips parted slightly in saddened horror.

She'd grown up. She was now beyond her twelve years.

The Tower had stripped her baby of innocence.

And Kate, poor, dear Kate, tortured by monsters. No woman had ever been tortured in the Tower before.....there were truly no lengths the Woodvilles would not go to.

"My dear friend.....Kate...."
"We were only struck once or twice" Isabella continued and Constance's eyes blew wide, her heart aching at the thought of any laying hands on her girls. Instinctively, she gathered them all closer "A nun ruled us for the first part of our imprisonment, before we were moved to the royal apartments. I looked after Cis and Ally, Mother, I swear it! Elizabeth came to see us. She tried to convince us to bend the knee to Arthur but I did not. We did not. We held firm Mother, strong in duty as you always said"

"Oh my dear, sweet girl" Reaching out, she cradled Isabella's head in the crook of her neck, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks and onto her bodice. How dare that witch speak to her girls, even look at them, breathe the same air as them, undoubtedly try to fill their minds with poison, drag them to her side out of fear, taint their memories with the screams of a woman they looked up to - loved. She had crafted nightmares that would never leave. Now Constance was even more determined to see her dead "I know you gave your sisters the best care in Christendom, my love, I am so so proud of you!"

Isabella nodded.
"I tried, Mama, I did all I could!"
"I know, darling, I know you did...."

Her head shot up as the door opened, blinking when Richard appeared.

"Uncle Dickon!" Isabella cried, moving to clamber from the bed but was quickly halted by her Mother's hand on her shoulder, keeping her in place.
"No" She murmured - she would not be one inch away from her girls. But that did not mean she did not wish for Richard to be there too "Come" She invited softly "Please, join us"

"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure" She nodded "Please...."
A ghost of a smile passed across Richard's lips and he slowly walked to the bed, placing himself just at the foot of Cecily's little legs. Constance was glad he'd chosen to be so close, he provided another layer of protection for her daughters, and for her.

He smiled at Isabella, it appeared easy but she could see in his eyes it was not; could tell he'd shed a few tears himself.

"How are you, dear niece?"
"Well, Uncle!" She replied "but I'm tired, very, very tired"

"Then why not go to sleep?" Constance suggested and Isabella's gaze dipped to the covers below.
"I....I don't sleep" She whispered "Not for a long while now" The two adults glanced at one another, anger and sadness in their eyes. Richard nodded, looking back to his niece.

"Is it nightmares that are your enemy?"
She nodded, an embarrassed flush colouring her cheeks. As if she could help the torment inflicted on her mind, Constance thought, there was naught to be ashamed of!

A soft smile appeared on Richard's lips and he sighed.

"You needn't be shamefaced, I am much the same"

Isabella raised her eyes to his.
"You are?"
"I am" He gently told her "Ever since I was a boy of eight years old, yes, truly Issy, and they have never gone away, they likely never shall but I have learnt to face them and they have lessened greatly and I shall help yours to do the same. We each have our demons but we can conquer them and I shall not rest until you can sleep without fear"

"Will you help me, Uncle Dickon?" Cecily asked and he reached out, taking her little hand in his own.
"Of course I shall, Cis, it would be a great honour"

Aliénor's fingers curled around his wrist and she nodded to him. He tilted his head.

"And I shall help you to speak again....my brother, George, was the same after we lost our Father. He helped me get to exile in Burgundy but, once we were there, he fell silent for an entire month but he spoke again, hell, he ended up speaking far too often! I know you should certainly like to cheer for your brother at his coronation, would you not?"

"Shall he even have one?"
"Issy...." Constance murmured as she and Richard looked at one another.
"Girls" He said, smiling again at them "Wait here, I must speak to your Mother for a moment" He stood, holding out a hand when Constance did not follow "Come, Connie" He instructed as gently as if she were a child too "We shall speak by the fire"

At long last, she nodded and slowly peeled her arms from around her girls, taking his hand and walking to the fire. They did not sit, their voices would carry too easily, so they stood, looking down at the roaring fire in front.

"I take it you shall wish for the girls to sleep with you for the time being?" He whispered.
"Of course!" She replied sharply "I will not have anything else. I shall not have them from my sight"
"And I do not fault you for that, it is only, how are we to meet? We cannot speak of our plans in front of them. Not only may the younger two accidentally talk but for them to know anything places them in danger! I likely shouldn't have even mentioned Edward's coronation"

"Then what is there to do, Dickon?"
"We will conduct more meetings in the chapel again, take chances to speak when eyes are averted"
"Not too often though, we could arouse suspicion"
Richard hummed in agreement, stroking his chin, still gazing into the fire's flames.
"Now that we have your girls, we can advance our plans, we can truly begin to make our moves"

Constance had not considered that yet but it was certainly true. The Woodvilles no longer had her girls, they could no longer hold them over her head as leverage - particularly when things began to unfold.

"Why not ask Grey if we may go riding tomorrow"
Constance shook her head.
"No. I do not want to leave my girls"
"It is for their sake that we must do all we can!"

She drew in a breath at his sharp tone. He'd never used it before, not with her. She bit the inside of her cheek, he sighed "I'm sorry, Connie" He whispered and a gentle hand appeared on her arm "I only think of you and them. Now we have the girls, we must advance! It means our time is near at hand"

He paused. Constance had been separated from her daughters for well over half a year, feared for their lives every day as they sat imprisoned in the tower, completely at the mercy of their half brother and his Mother.

Only minutes ago she'd been able to hold them in her arms again, been assured of their safety.

Surely it could do no harm to their cause to wait a day or two? A week at most before they returned to their plotting. Yes, he thought, Constance deserved that, the girls deserved that - a little peace before true war began.

And after all, he could always communicate with their allies, he and Constance had discussed their plans at length, he knew what was to be done and could continue to arrange it without having to trouble her! She needed a rest.

"Forgive me" He said, voice soft again "Of course you should spend time with your girls. Instead of a ride, why not ask Grey if we may take our dinner into the gardens? The girls would enjoy that and the weather has been glorious as of late. Besides, they shall be able to run and dance as they please. They shall have freedom"

Constance looked up at him, an affectionate smile on her lips. Her hand covered the one of his upon her arm and she nodded, knots of tension within her clearly unraveling as her frame relaxed.

"I believe that a very fine plan" She said "I would like that very much. I can show them Jest! I believe Cecily should like him very well and Issy shall like the flowers. Aliénor" She sighed, her smiling fading a little as she glanced over to the bed where her daughters were staring at her and their Uncle. She turned back to him "I think she simply wishes to be held for the moment"

"Then hold her we shall" Richard said "Now, I believe they would perhaps enjoy some food? Some sweetmeats and fruit tarts?" He called to them, eliciting a giggle from Cecily and fervent nods from she and Aliénor. Isabella merely smiled.

"We should like that very much, thank you, Uncle" She replied "But please, do not bring any sugared grapes. I do not believe me or my sisters shall eat them for a long while"