~The House of Gloucester~

2nd of June 1473, Middleham....

"It's a girl!" Anais cried in delight as the twenty year old Duchess of Gloucester collapsed back onto the bloodied sheets of her bed with an agonised groan. She immediately tried to raise her head, anxious to catch a glimpse of her new babe, the babe that had caused her a day and night of agonising labour.

"Give her to me" she murmured, holding out her aching arms while Marie helped her to lean against her propped up pillows and took the small bundle of cloth that contained the baby from her fellow lady, handing her to the Duchess.

Eleanor's face immediately faded of all concern and pain, leaving only relief in it as she gazed upon the perfect face of her new daughter. The small baby wailed at the top of her little lungs, her little pink arms flailing left and right while her legs kicked impatiently at the blankets that bound her.

This was one child that would not be letting go of life any time soon even though just moments ago she had taken her very first breaths "shh, my little one" Eleanor cooed, rocking her daughter back and forth as best she could while she tried to ignore the pain that made her body tremble.

She sighed loudly as Marie pressed a cold cloth to her forehead, dabbing at her flushed skin (that was almost as red as her hair) with the upmost care and affection. Eleanor smiled gratefully at her friend, her grin widening as Anais approached, eager to once more see the baby while she replaced the bedsheets as best she could.

The Duchess tilted her child to the side a little for the younger woman to see and laughed when Anais' eyes began to shine with excitement.
"I vill protect her vith my life, your grace" she promised in a quiet voice, never looking away from the small face that had now relaxed as the child stopped her loud protests and took to staring at her mother with eyes of clearest blue.

"As shall I" Marie breathed, clearly enchanted by the little child and making Eleanor's heart swell with pride, a feeling of safety enveloping her as she allowed herself to relax into her bed. This little one was her third child. Her third!

She chuckled to herself, thinking of the times when she had promised herself that she would have no more children after Jacquetta. If only the Eleanor of her early marriage were able to see her at that moment. Content. More than content. She was happy and over the past year had lost her fear of admitting that. Yes, she was happy.

The North had become a safe haven for her, a true home. Within a few months of her arrival, all her fears, all her doubts within herself and her ability to rule the wild country that she had come to had melted away.

All of her servants, all of the village and the farmers that tended the land respected and loved her, had accepted her as their Lady but that affection had not all simply appeared out of the blue. Just as she had at Leeds Castle, Eleanor had made an effort to win the hearts of all as she settled into her position.

She spent her days with Richard, riding around the vast moors and coming to know the land like the back of her hand as the months flew by at a rate of knots. When her husband was not available then she would take Francis (or Anne) as her escort and had quickly come to enjoy the company of the merry blonde, found they shared the same sense of humour and took joy in racing back to the castle at sundown. This, of course, only served to puzzle her more on why on Earth his wife did not like him!

Rob had returned to his home in February, though in the months he spent at Middleham he had also laid claim to a close friendship with Eleanor. He cared for Bess, helped her wander around the courtyard during January when she had begun to take her first steps, making sure that she stayed away from any icy puddles and she did not pull off her woollen mittens every five seconds as she had a habit of doing.

Inevitably, this has endeared him to the Duchess and she had invited both he and his wife to visit Middleham that coming Christmas.

She had also taken trips into the village (often with Jack Howard, yet another friend she had quickly come to love, though he too was now returned to his home) to oversee the market in the square, speaking to those who ran the stalls, handing out coins of gold to the children that played and listened to any petitioner that came to the castle seeking aid.

None who came to see her with a problem was turned away. Not one. And Eleanor's determination to prove herself worthy, to improve the lives of her people had won her a secure place in their hearts forever. Had won her their loyalty and a gaze of pride that Richard held when he looked upon her as she interacted with the villagers and servants.

"Where is she? Where is my wife?" Richard's panicked voice now echoed loudly through the halls as he ran through the castle and bounded up the stairs.

When Eleanor had gone into labour he had been at a meeting in York, overseeing the council of the North, of which Edward had appointed him the Lord as a Christmas gift, but a message had been immediately sent to alert him.

Upon receiving the it, he had ordered for his entire retinue to ready and depart the ancient city immediately, riding to Middleham with Francis ahead of the rest. Now he had left his friend in the courtyard to tend to the horses, with a panicked Harry who had not slept a wink since Eleanor's pains had started, while he rushed through his home, praying with every fibre of his being that Eleanor and the child were well.

She smiled as he burst into their room, laughing as Marie and Anais dropped down into surprised curtsies which he waved away with a dismissive hand, seeing no cause for ceremony at that moment. Instead he walked towards his wife, throwing aside the thin summer cloak he wore and carefully kneeling by the bed, taking the hand his Duchess extended to him.

"How are you?" He asked anxiously, kissing her knuckles repeatedly "I came as soon as I heard, I swear it...."
"Hush!" Eleanor interrupted with a shake of her head, though she was secretly delighted at the blatant concern that Richard had for her health. Sending him a smile, she dismissed her ladies and shuffled a little closer to him as they left, lowering their new daughter onto the sheets "we have a little daughter" she announced, shame suddenly washing over her as she detected a slight note of hesitation in her own voice.

Richard noticed it as well and frowned, tilting his head.
"What is it?" He asked, watching carefully as he sat down, making sure that he did not jostle Eleanor and the babe "she is well, is she not?" 

"Of course!" She replied, once more staring at the little face that peered up at her "it's just....I-I promised you a son, did I not?" Another bout of shame filled her as she spoke and she felt herself reddening as Richard raised her chin with a finger, looking deep into her eyes.

"I do not care, sweetheart" he said softly as he leant forward to brush his lips against hers "we will have sons, of that I have no doubt....but now we have a new daughter to care for and I love her already!"
"Truly?" Eleanor whispered with a weak smile that brightened as Richard took their baby into his arms and cuddled her close to his chest, kissing her forehead.

"Truly, Leena" he replied gently, though there was a firmness to his tone that made her relax, her spirits restored as she watched her husband grin down at their newborn "Matilda!" He announced suddenly as if it were the greatest idea that had ever come to his mind "That is what we shall name her, for the founder of my family's dynasty. Just as we shall be the founders of our own dynasty! The Gloucester dynasty!"

"The Gloucester dynasty!" Eleanor repeated with a laugh, all feelings of disappointment or the like simply receding into the shadows from which they had crept forth. She would give Richard sons, she told herself steadfastly with a silent nod.

What did it matter if this little one was a girl? Elizabeth had had three girls before giving birth to her York Prince, had she not? Besides, she had always held the belief that women could be just a as strong as men and certainly believed that she was more than a match for her husband, definitely for George and even the King himself!

Her wit and agile mind had proven thus many times over the years! She could be a match for any man. And she would raise her daughter's to be exactly the same!

"Matilda Plantagenet" she said, remembering what she had been taught about her new daughter's namesake, the founder of the Plantagenet dynasty, Empress Matilda "perhaps she shall one day be a Queen of sorts?"

"I think either of our daughters would make fine rulers of any kingdom!" Richard said, pride clear in his voice that made Eleanor realise that as soon as she allowed it he would be parading little Matilda around the castle for all to see. But then, she frowned, a sudden thought crossing her mind, a question she wasn't sure she should ask dancing on her lips.

"You would never take them away from me.... would you? O-our daughters?" She dared to whisper after a moment, deciding that she needed an answer there and then "you said that you would with Jacquetta....I remember....but..."

"Never!" Richard protested loudly, though he clearly remembered the words he had uttered in 1469, how he had threatened to send Jacquetta away to another noble family when his little son and daughter came to Middleham.

Never since then had the couple discussed any such arrangements but he knew it sometimes lingered in the back of his wife's mind and he knew she needed to be put as rest. At the sound of a raised voice, Matilda gave a little cry of discomfort and he instantly tried to soothe her, lowering his voice as he spoke again "what I demanded was wrong, my darling, should never have even entered my mind let alone passed my lips and never shall I ever part our children from you, I swear it"

Nodding, Eleanor leant into his arms, the need to be embraced suddenly overwhelming her, the need for Richard's embrace. She knew he spoke the truth and so allowed her mind to rest again while he cradled her and their new child against him.

"Mama? Papa?" The soft voice of little Bess called from the door as she toddled into the room, Anais close behind with an adoring smile on her face.

The one year old made a beeline for the bed almost immediately, her little wooden wolfhound clutched firmly in her hand as she came to the side of it. Her brows knitted together as she stared upward, wondering how she would get onto the covers. A free hand curled around one of the copper curls that brushed against the shoulders of her pale green gown, tugging slightly on the strand of red hair as seemed to be her habit when she thought.

"Ama!" She demanded, looking around at Anais for help "up!" Anais was quick to respond, lifting the little girl up onto the bed and placing her carefully between her mother and father as Eleanor sat up. She nodded to her Lady and Anais curtsied, quickly leaving the room again as the Duchess put an arm around her daughter's shoulders, kissing her hair.

"Who vis?" Bess mumbled as she shuffled towards the baby in her father's arms, her little fingers prying back the soft covers and her rosy lips forming into a plump frown as she stared at her little sister "who?" She repeated, peering around at her mother who was watching her daughter's exploration with love in her eyes, now smiled.

"This is your little sister, Bessie" she explained gently "Matilda" Bess frowned as she heard the name, her mouth opening and closing silently as she tried to figure out how to say this new word.

"Tilda?" Richard suggested and Eleanor nodded in agreement, perhaps Bess would manage to call her by that for a time? After all, the little one had only uttered her first word in early May!

Mama it had been and brought Eleanor tears of joy when she had heard it. She had been helping her daughter built a tower from wooden bricks Jack had fashioned at Christmas when Bess had spoken and immediately whisked her into her arms, calling out for Richard at the top of her voice.

He had burst into the room with his sword drawn and Francis at his heels, thinking a ruffian had broken in only to find tears shining in his eyes as he discovered his daughter's achievement.

"I...I....Ilda!" Bess now tried, grinning around triumphantly before she placed her wooden dog on top of her little sister "Ilda!" She repeated, seemingly confused when the baby did not reach out and take the offered gift only gave a muffled cry and began to screw up her reddened face, wriggling.

Richard quickly removed the little toy, laying it to once side while Eleanor pulled Bess onto her lap, smoothing out the creases in the green silk of her gown. The little girl began to suck on the sleeve of her dress, though her mother tried to move her hand away.

"We do not suck on our sleeves, dearest" she chided softly, though Bess only moved onto her thumb as she continued to gaze curiously at Matilda.

"Our family" Richard whispered, his eyes flicking between Matilda, Bess and Eleanor, smiling as he observed the similarities between them all "and I have three beautiful girls to call my own"