~The Woodvilles~

There was always one matter resting daily on Constance's mind and that was the one of her household, an ever growing, ever changing system that demanded her constant attention. There were the accounts to see to, as well as the attendants, pages, maids, keepers of the royal wardrobe and many more including her Ladies in waiting who were the current occupants of her thoughts.

Bathed in morning light, she sat by the hearth with the Duchess of Exeter, a little table between them as they discussed the matter at hand.

"So, who do you wish to be one of your ladies?" Anne asked as she lay out cards painted with miniatures of the noblewomen at court, each candidates for the Queen's household. Constance sighed as she looked over them, fingers shuffling the small paintings around, eyes gliding over each pale face and bright gown "You shall have to pick at least one for Ned is plotting a marriage for Margaret!"

"I know" Constance replied, groaning a little as the baby in her belly shifted beneath her gown. In the three weeks since her husband's return, Edward had become fixated on a foreign alliance for England now the country was relatively at peace.

It was another fine way to secure his crown, as well as bringing an avenue of trade, and with Margaret being his only unmarried sister at eighteen, she was the one to create that alliance. Margaret's marriage had been a constant topic between the Queen and her husband, a hot brand they liked to toss between them when it came to selecting candidates.

She, of course, put up the candidate of France and was glad that Edward seemed to be swaying towards her idea but, of course, there were others who sought to form an English alliance for their countries, Spain perhaps "I shall take Isabel Neville" She continued at last, pushing the miniature of the eldest Neville girl in the Duchess' direction.

She was still young at twelve, Constance supposed, but it was time she learned how to run a household of her own and attend on her Queen.

Anne nodded, adding it to the miniatures of the current Ladies in waiting.
"What about Annie?"
Constance shook her head.

Little Annie was only eight and, though sweeter than strawberries, still as timid as a mouse! No, to put her in a position of such high servitude was almost cruel.
"I shall make her my little protege" She decided "A ward of sorts? It would please Richard"

"It certainly would" Anne conceded "Any chance to raise his family pleases him" She sighed a little "Well, you have me, my two sisters, Katherine, Isabel Neville....that makes five and Margaret may leave soon which leaves us with four, are there any others that appeal to you?"

Constance shrugged a little, the sea of noble faces all appeared the same to her when she thought and the advancement of her pregnancy had blurred her ability to concentrate. She was more focused on the babe in her belly and caring for him.

"Edward and I are welcoming new nobles to court today, for the summer hunts and such, perhaps I shall see possibilities there?" She suggested "I think it may be better to pick from fresh faces than masses that are poison to this court"

"Your grace?" The Queen looked up as the call of her name was said upon the lips of a young pageboy dressed in murrey and blue "Her Grace Duchess Cecily has sent for you"

Anne gave a small chuckle and shook her head at that, shuffling the cards as she gathered them.
"My Mother would send for God himself if she were able!" She said and Constance smiled, rising from her chair and placing a hand on her friend's shoulder as she passed to follow the boy.

༻᯽༺

At the sound of silk slippers patting across the tiled floors of the palace, Edward looked up from fiddling with his rings to see Constance rushing towards him.

"Mon amor!" He greeted, sweeping her to his arms and feeling excitement buzz within him at the feeling of her belly pressing against him. Their child!
"Ned!" She whispered with glee, looking up at him in childish joy before she took his hand and guided it to her belly. He looked up at her, bemused for a moment before he felt the outline of a little foot press against his palm and Constance beamed.

"Kicking...."
"Our boy is strong!" She told him, squeezing his hand "Our Prince is strong Edward! It is but three months till he is born!"
"And two months until I have to release you to confinement!" Edward groaned, kissing her neck. "Whatever shall I do without you?"

She elbowed him and chuckled as the little fist of their son pressed into her.

"It seems we both know exactly what you will do, Edward Plantagenet, but I don't want to hear it!"
"And I'm not going to tell you!" He retorted "I am simply going to hold you in my arms, my Queen, until the trumpets call for us and we are slaves to the court once more!"

With two fingers he tilted her chin up and kissed her deeply, slipping his tongue into her mouth when she allowed and smiling when her arms wound around his neck. They would happily stay there forever, trapped in their world of loving affection that seemed to bond them together each day.

When she drew away she gazed up into his handsome face, cradling her belly between them. Edward would be a good Father, she could tell already, he was so tender and loving with her and she could remember how much he'd adored James! Their children could possibly crawl all over him while he was trying to sign a peace treaty and he would not care, although she thought it was best not to put that particular thought into reality.

"I love you, Connie" He whispered and she smiled.
"I love you too, Ned"

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Sat upon their thrones, high above the rest, Edward and Constance welcomed the string of eager nobles stretching around the palace, to court. All that was needed was a nod and a smile, a few polite words from each before each family were sent on their way so it did not prove too taxing but still Constance found herself tired.

She tired easily as the weeks drew on, as the baby became heavier and her belly expanded. Her body ached as it tried to adjust and she often found herself retiring to her chambers early. Now, upon her throne she could feel her lashes beginning to fan her cheeks while a swirl of sleep consumed her but the sight of a sea of blonde heads suddenly made her bolt upright once more.

Gliding through the doors of Westminster Hall, a procession of golden haired dolls or perhaps angels, with a few men dotted here and there among their vast number, strode through the crowds, heads held high. Constance watched keenly as the two leaders (a man and woman) swept forward towards the dais.

The woman wore a gown of the most fashionable style, made of blue silk with a diamond clasp on the tight sash around her waist. She was tall, uncommonly so, and her stature was only accentuated by the steeple hennin she donned, bearing a white veil that floated past her shoulders where two coils of golden hair lay braided around her ears.

Her face was pretty, elegant even, with a certain shrewdness about it that showed intelligence, though there was a confidence, an aloofness, in her pursed pink lips.

The man beside her was comparatively shorter, plump with cropped grey hair and a matching beard that curled at the ends. He held his wife's hand proudly but there could be no doubt that she was the true leader between the two. Constance gathered that those who trailed upon their tails were their children and by God there were many of them!

One....two....three....four....five....six....

She tried to count them by sight but failed within moments as the blonde procession continued to move forward, finally coming to a halt at the edge of the dais.

"Baron Rivers, his honourable wife, Lady Rivers, and their family" William Hastings announced and Constance sat a little straighter on her throne; hands curving around the carved arms. Something about this large golden family made a coil of unease tighten in her stomach. Stood together they looked perfect, too perfect she thought, like a pride of lions waiting to pounce, and placed one hand protectively over her belly.

"Your graces" Lord Rivers boomed and stopped into a low bow, his kin following with their customary bows and curtsies "We are honoured to be here at court"

"And we are pleased to have you" Edward declared in his usual merry manner, turning to his Queen who only gave a prim nod in response, eyes still trained on these blonde angels.

Lady Rivers suddenly looked up, an elegant smile gracing her lips as she curtsied once more.
"Your graces" She said "Please permit me to introduce my eldest, Lady Elizabeth Woodville, widow to the late Lord Grey" She and her husband moved aside in unison and from between them stepped forth the most beautiful women Constance had ever seen!

With golden hair and porcelain skin, blue eyes that captivated souls at the merest glance and lips that were a natural shade of red; undeniably inviting, especially when she smiled, revealing pearly teeth, Elizabeth Woodville certainly was a vision of loveliness. She was garbed in a blue silk gown, much like her Mother's, but wore no veil nor headdress, simply held her flaxen tresses in an intricate braid woven with pearls and gems so that her hair appeared spun gold in the hall's light.

She looked down, demure, casting her eyes to the floor beneath as she curtsied but something told Constance there and then that this facade of submission was merely an act. A net, if you will, like one fishermen would use to catch fish, although the Queen suspected this beautiful woman sought to catch something far greater.

"Rise" Edward's voice slightly startled her with how soft it had suddenly become and she turned to see him staring at the blue-eyed beauty before them, enthralled. Elizabeth peered up at him from beneath sandy lashes, appearing for all the world as innocent a maiden as ever could be but it could not be so, the Queen was sure of it "I hope you enjoy the summer festivities" The King continued and Elizabeth nodded.

"I am sure I shall, your grace. The English court has no rival I am told" As was her face, her voice was beautiful; sounded like birdsong, sweet and gentle "It is above all else in its beauty which of course is presented in our Queen"

With a rustle of skirts she turned towards the second throne and dipped into another curtsy that Constance could only nod at until she forced herself to speak.

"Welcome to court"

Elizabeth smiled at her, a charming effortless smile that many a soul would melt at. Hers didn't, there was something in this woman's eyes, the way they swept the Queen, her throne, her growing belly with almost a hot envy in their sapphire depths.

Yes, with this one she would be careful, she thought as the Rivers family finally moved away, though the King's gaze followed them, almost as if he were in a trance.

Elizabeth Woodville
Something within Constance told her that name would one day haunt her as a ghost all its own.

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June 1464, Arundel Castle, West Sussex....

Constance smiled as she watched the eight year old Anne Neville skip happily by her side, absorbed in her own world of childish merriment. She had liked her ever since their first encounter at Baynards and since then her fondness for Warwick's youngest daughter had only grown!

True to her word, she'd taken on Anne (or Annie as all seemed to call her to save confusion between her and her York cousin) as her little protege and companion, which the girl was most pleased about! She trotted at the Queen's heels like a faithful little hound, ever smiling, curls bobbing, and by then had been doing so for little over a month.

Constance decided that she would educate this little angel of shy innocence, train her to be a Lady of rank and help prepare her for a life lived out at magnificent courts and castles. It would be what her Father wanted. And so, when Isabel entered into her household, so did Annie, now an ever present addition to the Queen's party that appeared at her side, a golden haired shadow watching the world around her.

When the court moved from Westminster to Arundel Castle, one of the grandest and largest estates in the land, for the summer festivities, Annie began to emerge from her shell. She was content to walk the gardens with her Queen, looking at flowers and, when they were alone, beginning to confide her thoughts of the world.

Constance found them most interesting to listen to, the girl always said them so hesitantly, as if she feared she would be heard! She was everything a noble girl ought to be, well mannered, proper for her age, and yet, as the Queen got to know her, she saw flickers of an unknown fire in Annie's eyes.

Just sparks, warm embers, ideas yet to bloom but, with the right guidance, these sparks could be fanned into a blazing flame!

The girl was beside her as they walked the castle courtyard together a vast expanse of open space, carpeted by green grass enclosed by the stone walls around them. The day was sweltering, so much so that many had stayed in doors for fear of the heat, heaven forbid the Ladies of the court catch even a ray of sun upon their delicate skin!

Constance basked in the warmth, taking delight in the beams of sunlight that bathed the earth in hot rays of molten gold. She did not mind the heat, it reminded her of the summers in France, of the endless days she had spent with her Father picnicking by river banks and watching tourneys her brothers vied for their sisters favours! Even though she was loyal to England now, she could not deny she missed her homeland. 

Annie skipped ahead of her, a daisy in hand, picking off the white petals one by one and watching them float to the ground.

"He loves, me, he loves me not" She heard her whisper and smiled, watching as she skipped back inside the castle before a familiar voice sounded from behind her.

"I see you have taken to the youngest Neville girl?"

"George!" She chided as she turned to face the grinning boy behind who had his arms folded confidently across his strong chest "You're supposed to be at your lessons!" The young Duke groaned in comical fashion.
"You sound like my mother!" He murmured, much to her amusement.

"You're my brother George, it's my duty to care for you and your studies. And as for Anne, she reminds me of myself you see....and you? Have you taken to the elder?" She had seen the way Isabel looked at George, even the way he looked at her, though she had come to know since his return that he was a master at concealing his emotions beneath a thick veil of distinguished arrogance.

"Issy?" He asked, rocking back and forth on his heels "I suppose so? Perhaps?"
"Well then you must know that you have my blessing, brother" A small smile curved his lips "If you ever wish to think of, well....do not rush into anything!"
"But do not hold back neither" He countered with a grin that Constance nodded at, placing a hand on his arm.

"Listen to your heart's desires but never forget your duty" Another groan escaped George's lips.
"Now you sound like Dickon!"

"Then Dickon is a wise boy!" She replied, thinking of the grinning dark-haired lad that was often caught lingering at the back of feasts instead of dancing, a fact that amused her greatly.

Looking to George, she could see his blue eyes staring around at the great number of windows carved into the castle walls. He was afraid of capture but she decided she would not place him back in the hands of his tutors, the day was too beautiful to have adventures dashed! "Be off with you!" She ordered, swatting at him with a chuckle "before Edward comes looking and berates you for missing your studies!"

"He was never very attentive as I recall!" George declared over his shoulder as he bounded away. She liked him; was happy to count him amongst her great number of brothers!

"I see you have let George free of his studies?"
"Jesus Christ, Dickon!" Constance yelled, almost toppling over when young Richard appeared behind her, one dark eyebrow arched.

"It's too hot to study!" He complained as she tried to catch her breath "I thought I would melt!" Jumping to her side he guided her to a bench surrounded by white roses when she stumbled, suddenly too hot under he glaring sun "Our tutor denies us the luxury of open windows!"

Constance linked their arms, smiling down at him and his crown of ebony curls.

"I see" She answered slowly "Well, seen as I have allowed George to escape I do not see why you should not be afforded the same opportunity!" His young face lit with innocent hope "Why not come hawking with me? It will be quiet, but I think we are likeminded, Dickon and I should like to know my little brother better!"

The boy suddenly frowned a little, a small pout forming on his lips when he crossed his arms.
"I'm not little" He protested and Constance held up her hands in playful surrender.
"Not at all!"

"Then may I ride beside you?" He asked with a grin that only widened with her approving nod.
"Someone has to protect the queen apart from the guards do they not? And who better then Ned's own noble brother?"