~Katheryn and John~

"All mine?" Little Eliza exclaimed in wonder as she gazed around the chamber that Eleanor had told her was to be hers.

"All yours" the Duchess confirmed with a fond smile, bending down to brush a stray piece of hair away from her niece's face. Eliza grinned before she turned and toddled merrily to the large bed, scrambling upwards and marvelling at the silken covers beneath her fingers.

It was a vast change from her convent life, that was for sure, and despite her confidence, Eliza had found herself shrinking back as she and her Aunt had approached the towering walls of Middleham that evening.

Now she looked up rather hesitantly as the door to her chamber was pushed open and two little girls a few years younger than she ran in, giggling at the tops of their voices. The little redhead in front of the pair all but dived for the bed, the only thing just saving Eliza from being tackled to her covers being Eleanor as she caught her eldest daughter around the waist.

The honey haired girl stopped running as she reached the Duchess' skirts, one of her small hands curling nervously around the fine wool of her red gown as she spotted the older child on the bed.

"Go see girl, mama!" Bess huffed impatiently, trying with all her one year old strength to wriggle from her Mother's firm grip so that she could get a better look at this newcomer in her home "Issy too!" She added, looking for support from her friend and frowning when Isabel stepped behind Eleanor's skirts, one of her waves of shyness overtaking her curiosity.

"All in good time sweeting" Eleanor cooed as she winked at Eliza, setting the girl a little more at ease. If her Aunt was happy with the fiery little one that was still struggling to gain her freedom, she supposed she could be too. Shuffling forward, she slipped down from the bed and sidled over to Eleanor, dipping down into a small curtsy, that made Bess giggle in pure delight, before she extended her hand.

"I'm Eliza" she said softly, momentarily worried that the redhead would reject her offer of friendship as she ignored the extended hand only to reach for her hair instead. Before she could step away, Bess had wrapped her little fist around a handful of Eliza's jet black hair and began to tug playfully on it.

"Like ravens!" She announced, looking behind at her mother proudly before her attention returned to the older girl in front "Liza raven!" She said happily, keeping her grip still firm as Eleanor finally lowered her to the ground.

"Eliza is your cousin" Eleanor explained "and I want you to love and care for her accordingly, Bess, so none of your teasing, sweeting?"
"No, no twe'sing Mama" Bess promised solemnly before she released Eliza's hair and grabbed Isabel's hand, bringing her forward, though she tried in vain to pull away "this be Issy"

"Issy" Eliza repeated, once more dipping down into a small curtsy, as she had been taught, though Isabel merely stared at her, her blue eyes wide with a clear hesitation that she always held around any sort of stranger.

Looking between the two, Bess quickly became impatient with the silence and took Eliza's hand, despite knowing the girl was much older than she, and began to drag her from her chamber.

Eliza had no choice but to comply, though seemed happy too, and Eleanor smiled after them as Bess declared her intention to go to the nursery, pulling her two cousins determinedly behind her.

꧁꧂

Pacing relentlessly across her chambers, Eleanor twisted the rings she had on her fingers back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth....trying to soothe herself as she waited for Richard to arrive with his children.

Ever since dinner had ended and she had retreated to her rooms she had been trying to prepare herself, had at first donned a steeple hennin with a trailing gauze veil then removed it, deciding that then was not the moment for grandeur.

She did not want the children to view her as cold and unapproachable. Did not want them to be intimidated by her as she thought they may be, especially after her absence from their daily lives during the time they had been at Middleham.

God how she regretted that now.

She thought about changing her gown, glanced over to the bed where she had had Marie place a silk scarlet gown with silver damask before looking down at the sage one she wore, momentarily leaving her rings to adjust the tight belt at her waist. No, there was no time to change, she decided and would certainly not manage it without the help of her ladies.

Fiddling with the fur that trimmed the low collar of her gown she finally made herself halt her pacing and sit down by the fire, fingers drumming against the arm of the chair.

'What do I say to them?' She thought in panic for she had still not decided. This first meeting had to be made a success, for her and Richard's sake as well as the children's yet if she could not even speak to them then how would that ever be managed?

The birds, dancing, games, music, riding....silently she tried to list the things that the children would perhaps take an interest in.

Perhaps she could win over Katheryn with the suggestion of new gowns? She had seen the way the little girl admired Bess and Isabel's dresses of velvet damask and their necklaces of gold and silver. Maybe that was the rout to take with her?

'But what of John?' Eleanor wondered. Little merry John who loved nothing more, it seemed, than to chase the birds from the courtyard every time one dared to land within his all seeing eye-line.

She knew that he loved sweetmeats of any kind and was glad she had sent for a plate of sugared plums that was now set by her chair. She intended to offer them to the children as they arrived. Perhaps John would be kept silent with a bribe of sweets? Though from the way she had seen him babble relentlessly away to Francis and to his Father, she highly doubted it.

Taking a deep breath, the Duchess closed her eyes for a moment, settling back into her chair a little more as her hands smoothed out the invisible creases in her gown. She would find a way through. She was determined to meet these two children and knew it.

Her momentary grasp at reason and calm was snatched from her as she heard the click of the door and a slight creak as it opened. Her mind once more descended into panic and her eyes snapped open, back straightening, shoulders pushing themselves back as her hands griped the arms of her chair, her rings digging into her fingers.

"Good evening, dear heart" Richard greeted as merrily as he could, fully aware of his wife's nerves as he shepherded Katheryn and John into the bedchamber, one of their hands placed carefully in each of his.

The two children looked around in wonder at the Duke and Duchess' room, each taking in the vibrant tapestries that lined some of the walls and the countless jewels that glistened on the dressing table and encrusted most of the furniture. It was only as they neared the fire that they noticed Eleanor and immediately began to stare at her curiously.

She had, by now, forced a smile onto her face, determined to be welcoming as the two youngsters approached her, obediently sat at her feet as Richard had instructed them to do while he took a seat opposite his wife.

"You've been watching us" Little Katheryn said matter-o-factly as she stared up at the woman in front of her. Eleanor nodded, biting the inside of her cheek as she was proven that she was at a loss of what to say before she reached for the plate of candied plums.

She grinned as she saw John's mouth all but water at the sight, his gaze averted from his luxurious surroundings, now trained on the plate that was lowered down to his level.

"Would you like one, Johnny?" Eleanor asked, making use of the nickname Richard had for his son and John immediately beamed at her, reaching out to grab a plum with a hurried thank you passing his lips before they were full of the sweet.

She then turned to Katheryn, who was also now fixated on the sugared fruit and motioned for her to take one, feeling a little more at ease when the girl did not hesitate.
"Thank you, your grace" she said sweetly as she brought the treat to her lips and Eleanor found herself laughing lightly as she placed the plate back on its little side table.

"I would have you call me Eleanor" she said gently, nodding when both children looked up at her in question. They knew that she was a Royal Duchess, Richard had told them that, and that she was his wife which gave her a high position. That she was asking them to use her name had been unexpected by them.

"El'nor?" John repeated, though his mind was less troubled with pronouncing her name than finishing the already half eaten plum he held, the sugar coating his plump fingers and the corners of his mouth.

"Eleanor" she confirmed before her gaze flicked to Katheryn and she once more caught the five year old watching her with a mixture of curiosity and wonder "what is your favourite colour, Katheryn?" She asked gently, deciding that perhaps gowns was the best way to turn at that moment.

At the enticing question, Katheryn thought for a moment, stretching her legs out in front of her as she nibbled on her chosen sweet.
"Purple!" She announced at last, feeling pleased when the Duchess smiled at her again and she turned around to see her Father smiling too.

"Would you like to have a gown of purple then? Of silk or velvet?" It became clear at that moment that Eleanor had successfully won Katheryn to her side as the little girl's face lit up, a wide smile spreading across her lips while excitement danced in her eyes, as if she were hardly daring to believe her ears.

Eleanor grinned again, finding herself relaxing as she took note of the sudden similarity that had sprung up between her and the little girl sitting at her feet. At five, Eleanor would have had a similar reaction to being offered a green gown of her own, it had been one of her greatest dreams, just as a purple one seemed to be for Katheryn.

"Like Bess'?" The girl asked, making the Duchess chuckle slightly as she nodded.
"Just like Bess' if you so wish it" she affirmed, passing another plum to John who was now staring greedily at the plate of sweetmeats again.

"Can I truly have one, Father?" Katheryn cried, looking to Richard who nodded just as his wife had done, reaching out to ruffle her dark hair.
"If Eleanor says that you shall have it then you shall have it! She is a woman of her word, sweet" he told her, a fond note to his voice that reassured his daughter he spoke the truth.

"Father is a man of his word" she said thoughtfully, turning back to Eleanor who laughed once again before rising from her chair, offering out her hand and feeling a knot untie in her stomach when Katheryn took it. Together they walked to one of the Duchess' large coffers and Eleanor opened the lid gesturing for the girl to take a look through the gowns inside.

"You can see if there are any styles that you take a fancy to" she said invitingly, kneeling down herself and beginning to lift an array of gowns from the chest when Katheryn hesitated, unsure if she should be rummaging through such fine materials.

After a minute of consideration, she finally joined the Duchess on the floor, staring in wonder at the dresses that were laid out before her eyes. A multitude of jewels and furs lined and studded the sumptuous materials and she was sure could create a rainbow from all the different colours.

Her eyes scanned each dress with the upmost care, her heart seemingly drawn to each one as she spied a particular element that she liked. The trim of white fur, the scattering of pearls across a velvet bodice, the hanging sleeves that she was sure she would trip over if she owned them but found them so beautiful, so elegant.

"I have always taken a liking to hanging sleeves too" Eleanor remarked as she caught Katheryn's gaze lingering on a gown of blue damask that happened to possess the said sleeves. She could feel herself warming to the little girl with each second that passed, her mind marvelling at how similar she seemed to her younger self.

Katheryn smiled, at last plucking up the confidence to reach out and take the gown into her arms, spreading out one of the sleeves onto her knees.
"I would like to have them" she admitted quietly "but what if I fall down the stairs? Or trip over in the gardens?"

"Dont?" John offered, making both Richard and Eleanor laugh at his keen hearing, rather surprised he had been paying attention as he delved into his third plum.
"What would you like John?" Eleanor called, making the little boy look up from his food, tilting his head in a habit that made him look more like his father than ever as he contemplated the question.

"Hm" he murmured, getting to his feet, food still in hand before he toddled over to Eleanor. In his mind, if this woman was prepared to give him gifts and sweets as his Father did then he could trust her, decided so as he plopped himself happily into her lap "bow to shoot birdies"

"A bow to shoot the birdies?" Eleanor exclaimed, slightly in shock from his actions, staring at the little boy that was once more happily eating his sweetmeat, now completely at ease with her. "what say you to that, Dickon?"

"Who's Dickon?" Katheryn asked before she let out a giggle as she realised it was her Father Eleanor spoke to "you?"

"Yes it is me!" Richard chuckled, walking over from the fireplace and sitting down by the coffer with the others, pulling his daughter onto his lap "and I say that we had best make sure the arrows of this bow are not sharpened!"

John pouted at that, a comical frown settling on his face that almost made him appear like a disgruntled old man.
"Real arrow, El'nor!" He protested, looking up at Eleanor who grinned back at him, daring to reach out and gently brush a black curl that had fallen over his forehead away from his face.

"You shall have your bow to shoot the birdies, Johnny" she told him and his wide smile lit up his face one more before he took to sucking on his fingers, one by one, cleaning them of the sugar that coated them "and you shall have your new gown, Katheryn"

When one of the maids came to collect the children a little while later, Eleanor helped them both to stand, taking their small hands in hers as they walked together to the door. After handing them over into the servant woman's care she leant down and kissed them both gently on the cheek to bid them a goodnight.

Closing the door as the children were led down the torchlit corridors to where their own chambers lay, Eleanor gasped as she felt Richard's lips against her neck.

"Did I do well?" She asked, melting into him while his hot kisses made their way along her shoulder, his hand pushing aside the sleeve of her gown and her chemise to give him access to her skin beneath.

"They like you already, sweetheart" he replied as she turned around in his arms "like and trust you! It was a very good idea to offer them gifts! And those sugared plums certainly enchanted them"

"As I hoped they would!" She giggled, momentarily escaping his embrace as she went to retrieve the plate of sweetmeats, picking up one of the candied fruits. Walking back to where her husband was leaning against one of the bedposts, she raised her hand and placed the sweet against his mouth "open, sweetheart" she teased, popping the plum into his mouth as he obediently parted his lips before sweeping her into his arms again.

Bending his head down to hers, he rubbed their noses together, making her giggle and clasp her arms around his neck. She grinned up at him as the proudest love shone in his eyes.

"Six children now reside at Middleham!" He chuckled, hands gently caressing her waist through the many layers of her gown as they swayed dreamily from side to side.

"Soon to be seven" Eleanor quipped in return, laughing when Richard's eyes suddenly became as large as saucers while her words sunk into his mind. He glanced down at the belt at her waist then back up at her face, his expression full of questions and a pure delight that made him feel as if he were floating above the clouds.

"Are you....?" He whispered and Eleanor nodded, removing her arms from around his neck to place them on her flat belly while a rosy blush tinted her cheeks.

"I've missed my course" she replied, voice brimming with glee at her news "and I have a sudden craving for strawberries as I did with Tild-a!" a sudden squeal left her as Richard lifted her effortlessly from the floor, swinging her around and around in his arms while he laughed "put me down, Dickon!" She cried, her sides hurting from mirth as she found herself being tossed onto the soft covers of their bed and her excited husband by her side in an instant.

He was wearing the look of boyish excitement Eleanor adored as he took one of her hands, kissing it repeatedly as if it were the finest jewel in all the world.

"My love you do not know the joy this brings me!" He announced and she giggled once more, shaking her head.
"I think I do!" She mused, her heart near bursting at his endearment "for I am sure that this one shall be a boy! And we shall have a son! A little Middleham Duke to follow in your footsteps!"