~Children of Middleham~

July 1473....

"Do you truly have to go?" Anne complained as she and Eleanor sat in the Duchess' solar together, both fanning themselves with their hands as the summer sun glared through the open windows.

"I do, I'm afraid, my dear" Eleanor replied with a sigh as she placed the letter Edward had sent her onto a side table, smiling tiredly at Bess and Isabel who were playing on a rug by the empty fireplace.

The two little ones were thick as thieves, though as different as chalk and cheese, quite like their mother's. Despite being the older of the two, little honey haired Isabel trailed after Bess all day long, as quiet as a mouse, though now she let out a giggle of delight as her little cousin knocked over the wooden bridge they had built together.

Anne had been happy to stay at Middleham throughout the past year, though it had turned out she had little choice in the matter and still didn't!

While George had handed over she and Isabel's guardianship to Eleanor and Richard he still refused to budge on any of the lands, determined to keep them for himself and leaving Anne penniless.

Once or twice Eleanor had suggested that she give the younger woman an estate in gift but those discussions had never lasted long as she had had other things to attend to. And Anne wasn't unhappy, she spend almost every day telling the Duchess that she was happier now than she had been in years!

Isabel was the apple of her eye, had become her purpose in life and Anne had blossomed into a very attentive mother to her, even more protective than Eleanor was over Bess and Matilda! Isabel was often by her mother's skirts, even when with Bess, but that was where she liked to be and so the two were content in that.

That morning a letter had arrived from Westminster, one Eleanor had been waiting upon for many months. Since she had been in the North, she and her sister had sent each other frequent missives and the Duchess had been overjoyed to learn that her sister was once again with child. Now, Edward had sent her a request, just as she had asked him the summer before, that she return to London for the birth of Elizabeth's babe.

She had given instructions for Anais and Marie to begin preparing for the long journey to London which was why she and Anne were residing in the stifling hot of the solar and not in the cooler rooms of her chambers.

She had already decided that she would leave her ward in charge and told the younger woman so then and there, despite the look of doubt Anne cast her way.

"I'm not sure if I can run a household?" She questioned, clearly unsure of herself and her abilities as she lifted Isabel onto her lap, kissing her hair. Eleanor merely chuckled and leant over to pat her friend's hand because she knew Anne was more than capable of managing Middleham.

"You can" she reassured her as she settled back into her chair and rolled up the sleeves of her gown, trying to find a way to cool herself down in the stifling heat "the people here respect you, my dear. And they love you, they will bow to your every command!"

Anne's cheeks reddened at the compliment and she looked at her feet, a faint grin curving the corners of her lips. Eleanor smiled fondly at the girl opposite her and rose from her chair to stand by the window, hoping that a gentle breeze would blow by as she looked out over the rolling fields and hills.

Middleham truly had become her home over the past year. She had always been fond of the hustle and bustle of the court, adored the feasting and the masques that Edward and the others would plan but now she loved nothing more than riding through woods with her husband, free to laugh and enjoy herself without the fear of being judged by the all seeing eyes of the courtiers.

It reminded her of her time at Leeds Castle.

Now she was to briefly return to the life of daily ritual and routine and she knew she would find it strange, what had once been so normal to her. But that was not the only thing that set her mind on edge at the thought of returning to court.

It was the thought of her Mother.
Even though it had been over a year since her death, Eleanor could still not bear to think about her dear Mother and was either overcome by tears or an unwavering bout of guilt that crushed her heart every time she tried.

She still blamed herself for Jacquetta's death, for the orphaning of she and her siblings and she knew that she always would. For it was her fault, was it not? She had been the one to request the charm to protect Bess, she had been the one to take her Mother's life away, causing untold misery to all of the Woodville children.

When she had finally written to Bella a month after Jacquetta's death (finding she did not have the strength to do so before) she had been unable to refrain from tears, her handwriting almost sprawling across the page as her hands shook.

Sighing heavily as tears flooded her eyes, Eleanor blinked furiously as she tried to push them back only to feel Anne's gentle hand on her arm when the younger woman rested her head on her shoulder.

Anne seemed to always be able to pinpoint the Duchess' emotions, it was one of the reasons Eleanor had come to value her friendship so dearly and she found herself feeling extremely grateful.

There was no need for words in that moment, only comfort and Anne knew it. So she stayed silent as Eleanor slowly tried to compose herself, pushing her beloved Mother from her thoughts once again.

꧁꧂

Determined not to cry, Eleanor reached out and took little Matilda's hand in her own. Francis was holding the small child, gently bobbing her up and down in his arms as her Mother said her farewells. He could see that the Duchess was trying to contain her tears in saying goodbye to her month two month old daughter but was struggling to do so and smiled reassuringly.

"Either Anne or I will be with her at any time of the day" he said in an assertive tone that made Eleanor look up at him gratefully, nodding "and when you return both she and Bess will be as well as when you left them!"

"Be good for your Uncle Francis, Tilda" she cooed softly, leaning forward to brush her lips against the silky red hair that curled on her youngest child's head "and your Uncle Harry too!"

As if he had been waiting to be summoned, the Duke of Buckingham strolled out into the courtyard with a giggling Bess sat on his shoulders, the paper crown he had fashioned for her on her head.

Despite them being from the 'Woodville brood' as he called it, Harry really did care for Bess and was coming to like Matilda too, found their constant babbling and squeals of delight amusing!

In any case, the children certainly liked him, Bess and Isabel often trailed through the castle halls when they escaped the nursery, in search of him. He lifted the little girl down from his shoulders and into Richard's arms as the Duke smiled, tapping his daughter on the nose before he complimented her crown, making her giggle.

"Your grace?" Anais called from behind as Eleanor continued to stay by her daughter's side, loath to be parted from her even for a moment "ve must begin now if ve intend to reach any shelter before nightfall"

"Of course!" Eleanor replied, forcing a smile onto her face as she turned to face her Lady and adjusted the hood of her cloak, smoothing out the lilac silk "but do you not want to say goodbye to Francis?" She chuckled to herself as Anais immediately began to turn red, looking to the floor as strands of golden hair fell over her face.

It had been clear from the beginning that Anna had fallen for Francis Lovell the moment she had laid her eyes on him and Eleanor found it rather amusing to tease her friend every so often on that subject, despite the disapproval that she held at the back of her mind.

Of course, she knew Anais could not help loving him and it was evident that Francis returned her feelings, despite him being a little more subtle in his actions, not blushing every time she glanced his way as she did. And yet, still Francis was married. Unhappily so but still married all the same.

And even if Anna Lovell was as disagreeable as Francis always described her to be and they disliked one another as much as he said, she was still his one true wife. And Eleanor knew how it felt to have a husband hold a mistress, though Kate had been there before her.

That was why she felt she could not approve. She did not wish for the misery of two of her dearest friends but she could never condone a relationship between them more than the constant flirting and dancing that was a daily occurrence.

In truth she had spent many nights and quiet moments deliberating her feelings over the situation but was always forced to set it to one side as it conflicted her. She did not believe that Anais would become Francis' mistress, sweet, innocent Anais. She simply couldn't imagine it, did not want to.

And so she simply continued to smile and pat her Lady on the shoulder before leaving the two to say their hushed fair wells, sighing hopelessly as she saw Francis brush a stray flaxen curl behind Anais' ear, as was his endearing habit.

She decided to make her way to her husband and eldest daughter, laughing as Bess saw her and instantly let out an excited shriek, reaching for her mother. Eleanor nuzzled into her daughter's hair as the little one scrambled into her arms, clasping her little hands around her neck.

"I shall miss you, dearest Bessie" she murmured and Bess began to babble happily, unaware that her Mother and Father were to be away from her so soon and a part of Eleanor was glad of that. She knew that her little girl would remain happy, would not shed any tears during their farewell as she was in danger of doing and so quickly kissed her plump cheeks before handing her back to Harry with a nod.

"Are you alright, sweetheart?" Richard asked, concerned by the hurried goodbye his wife had given their daughter as they made towards their horses. Eleanor suddenly ceased her walk, refusing to look back towards the steps as she pressed a gloved hand to her mouth to conceal a sob.

At once Richard's arms were around her, cradling her head against his shoulder as he nodded for the children to be taken inside. By now he knew how much Eleanor loathed to show any form of uncontrolled emotion in front of others and so was glad when their friends also headed into the castle.

"I cannot bear it" she whispered fearfully "I cannot bear for them t-to be away from me!"
"I know, my darling" he soothed, stroking her hair to try and calm her, just as she did to him whenever he was distressed "we do not have to go to court....if you..."

"No" she ordered, her voice suddenly firm as she straightened her back and pushed herself away from her husband, though tears still shone in her eyes "I have a duty to my sister. I will be with her when this babe is born" hurriedly turning away, she strode to her horse and swung herself gracefully into the saddle.

Tightening the grip on her reins, she tilted her head upwards to the sky, breathing in a deep breath of air as she one more grasped onto the right facade of composure she longed to keep and nudged her steed into motion.

For she knew the longer she stayed, the harder it would be to go.