~The Lady Anne~

September 1471....

As she lay in the dark, Richard's arm around her waist, Eleanor put a hand to her belly, tears slowly gliding down her cheeks. She dared not wake her husband, did not want to worry him with troubles of her own but ever since she had told him of her pregnancy, almost a month prior, her nights had been filled with naught but anxiety.

She did not know what had brought this fear to light, to the forefront of her mind where it resided during the dark hours of the night but she was terrified it was a warning from Melusina. That her second Mother was trying to warn her and that was why she could think of little else....

For she was scared her babe would die.

Over and over she began to relive her little Jacquetta's death, remembered how she looked, her rosy cheeks pale as she lay in her little cot, almost as if she were merely sleeping.

What if this was a form of seeing? What if all these fears were a true warning that death was to come....that Eleanor's baby would not survive. She knew in her heart she could not bear it, that her heart could not take the death of another of her children.

Perhaps she was never meant to be a mother, her mind would suggest, though she was quick to push the thought away.

Perhaps it was merely God's will?
God's will....

In an instant she bolted into an upright position, Richard jerking awake with her sudden movement.
"Eleanor?" He asked hurriedly, though still trying to fully wake, taking her face gently in his hands and frowning when he found his palms wet with tears "Eleanor whats the matter?"

"Nothing" she whispered with a shake of her head "it's nothing, Richard, I'm just being silly tis all....I was just....thinking of my Father....h-how he will never get to see his grandchild...."

The Duke looked rather unconvinced at her explanation but could tell that then was not the time to press for a true explanation and so simply gathered her into his arms, pressing soft kisses to the damp trails left by her tears on her skin.

"Your Father shall watch over our children from heaven" he told her as she trembled slightly against him, trying to keep her breathing in check for her excuse had in fact brought on an entirely new wave of sadness "as shall your brother"

Eleanor merely nodded mutely, wrapping her arms around Richard's neck so that she could press herself gently against him, the need for his warmth almost overwhelming her. Closing her eyes, she tried to push away her remaining tears and focus on the steady beat of her husband's heart, hoping that would soothe her mind.

Though, she knew, that her fear would only return come dawn, most likely more daunting than ever before.

As she sat at her dressing table the next morning, Eleanor could not help but stare at herself as Anais gently brushed her hair, every so often tucking a stray strand behind her ear.

She put a hand to her belly, knowing that soon she would have to expand the waist of her gowns for the child was growing, albeit rather slowly, and she did not want for them to be damaged by the confines of belts and sashes.

'Perhaps their strength is a sign of good health?' A small voice in her head suggested and the Duchess was momentarily inclined to take the sunny thought and keep it safe within her heart until she felt her child kick and was throw into doubt once more, jumping slightly.

"Vas that the child, your grace?" Anais asked brightly, unaware of Eleanor's distress as the Duchess offered no verbal reply before picking up a ring and taking to playing with the ruby that adorned it.

"Have you heard of the Lady Anne Neville's well-being at all, Anna?" She asked, deciding to divert the topic of conversation away from her child until she found a solution. Anais, as always eager to talk, immediately jumped at the inviting question and nodded, though it was a rather solemn nod, Eleanor noted.

"The servants say none have seen her" She relayed in a hushed voice, as if they could be overheard by others and were not alone in the bedchamber. "Ever since she went into the Duke of Clarence's care, she appears to have been shut away....they say he wants her fortune!"

Eleanor groaned slightly as she glanced up at the ceiling, quickly praying that this was not a rumour that would prove true.
"Is that truly what the servants are saying?" She asked and Anais nodded again, threading a strand of gold silk through the eye of a hairpin before she began to weave it through the Duchess's red hair.

"The courtiers have long suspected it too!" She added, rather pleased to be privy to the court gossip even though she knew both Eleanor and Marie would not approve.

"I hope you did not add any fuel to the fire?" The Duchess asked, arching an eyebrow as she caught her Lady's doubtful look in the mirror before she chuckled and shook her head, at last placing the ruby ring onto one of her fingers "as long as you do not fan the flames then I allow you to keep your ears open!" She murmured "though do not tell Marie I said so or I shall end up with a slapped wrist!"

"Tell me what, your grace?" Marie asked as she entered the chamber with a fresh jug of water in hand, trying in vein to adjust the veil of her steeple hennin "is something the matter?"

"Not at all, Marie!" Eleanor replied, sending a wink to Anais as she rose from her dressing table and dipped her fingers into the rose scented water her other lady was pouring into a china basin "I was simply telling Anna that I should ask you to order new silk and velvet for the winter, there are new fashions now and with the baby I must have new measurements taken!"

"Of course, your grace" Marie said with a small curtsy, at once taking Eleanor's words for truth, after all, it was a perfectly plausible explanation and not exactly a lie! "The Queen has asked for your presence"

"She has?" Eleanor asked, dabbing her hands dry on a soft towel before she nodded and asked for a cloak "a light one" she added as Marie went to fetch what she asked "it is barely Autumn yet!"

Wrapping the cloak that was passed to her around her shoulders, the Duchess at last left her chambers and headed toward the courtyard where she was almost certain her sister would be waiting and was proved correct.

Anthony and Jacquetta stood in front of the Queen who had a scowl set on her face, a scowl she had worn for almost a month now for she had discovered yet another of Edward's whores. It turned out that Elizabeth was also with child and had been excited to tell her husband the news only to find him lying with another woman.

Each of her family had tried to assure her that this was just one of Edward's passing fancies but Elizabeth seemed to think different.
"She is not the same!" She would protest just as she did now "she is different!"

"She is no different" Jacquetta said sternly, pointing at her eldest daughter "besides, have you tried asking Edward?"
"And what should she say, Mother?" Eleanor asked as she joined them "Edward has always had mistresses, everyone knows that...."

"He is a King with a King's appetites" Anthony remarked with a shrug, ignoring the way Elizabeth pursed her lips, looking for all the world like a discontented cat intent on the kill.

"Thank you Anthony" Eleanor murmured, frowning at him before she looked back to her sister "whoring is merely a sport to Edward!" She said, attempting a small smile "as hunting or jousting!"

"She is different!" Elizabeth protested once more "he cares for her! I saw it! And I'm going to find out why!" Rising from her bench, she stormed away, without a second glance towards any of her family, simply leaving them to follow after her.

They began to do just that but Eleanor caught the sleeve of her mother's gown, waving her elder brother on. If anyone could help her with her troubles, she was sure her Mother could and drew her quietly back to the bench, sitting down.

"Is this about the child you carry within your womb?" Jacquetta asked and Eleanor's gaze flew upwards in surprise.
"How did you know?" She breathed "I have not told you!"
"I am your mother" Jacquetta laughed, gently brushing her thumb against her daughter's cheek "I notice every change in you....good and bad" a slightly pensive look crossed her features, pain seeping a little into her expression before she smiled and took Eleanor's hand "now, tell me what troubles you....is the baby well?"

Eleanor nodded. Then shook her head. Then nodded once again, finding tears filled her eyes.
"I fear my child will die, Mother" she whispered, hardly daring to utter the words out loud "it's all I can think about and I cannot bear it....I cannot lose another child....not ever again...."

Calm, as ever, Jacquetta nodded.
"Has Melusina sent you a seeing, have you foreseen the death of your babe?" She asked gently and Eleanor shook her head.
"Not exactly" she mumbled "but I see no other reason why I should fear it so unless it was some type of warning!"

"I see" her mother whispered, nodding again absentmindedly, pausing slightly before she continued "I think I have a solution....to keep your child safe...."
"You do?" Eleanor replied, looking up with a hopeful smile "truly, Mother?"

Jacquetta nodded once more, placing her hand to Eleanor's cheek.
"Meet me by the river tonight....all shall be revealed then...."

꧁꧂

As she walked into the palace, glancing back at her mother to smile at her serene figure, Eleanor felt a sense of relief soothing the pain in her heart. If her mother had found a solution to her problem then her child would be safe! She was sure of it!

"Issy? Isabel? Issy listen to me, please!" The small yet determined voice of Anne filled the hallway and Eleanor looked around her, almost immediately catching sight of the small girl that was wrapped in seemingly countless shawls that obscured her thin figure.

"Anne?" Eleanor asked and the girl turned momentarily. The Duchess began to head towards her, questions forming on her lips before she found her path blocked. Looking up to tell whoever had stepped in her way to move, Eleanor arched an eyebrow as she found herself staring up into George's face.

"George" she greeted, her suspicions rather high after what Anais had said to her that morning. He had a sickly sweet smile on his face, one she hoped did not conceal a wicked truth, though she was forced to admit to herself that George was more than capable of what the servants whispered.

"Eleanor" he returned pleasantly "and who may you be looking for"
"Who said that I was looking for anyone?" She replied with a smile that matched his own "I have just come inside from the gardens"

George nodded, becoming a little more at ease as she spoke. But what could she possibly have done to unnerve him, she wondered as he took her arm, steering her away from where she had seen Anne and back towards her own chambers. Glancing over her shoulder she could see that the girl was nowhere in sight and it worried her.

"I believe congratulations are in order!" George said brightly as they began to walk together and Eleanor automatically put a hand to her belly, unable to not smile.
"Richard has told you then?" She chuckled with a shake of her head and George placed his hand atop hers, as if he was hoping to feel the child kick.

"And Edward" he added "he is overjoyed, Leena, and when babykins is overjoyed he can never stay silent for long as you will probably know by now!" She nodded with a smile, remembering one summer night where she had caught Richard red handed writing to Francis with news of her pregnancy as excited as if he were a small child receiving his first dagger.

"He says that once the babe is born he will take us to the North with him" she said happily while George merely scoffed.
"He wants to take you to that desolate wasteland?" He asked with a disapproving shake of his head as Eleanor elbowed him.

"It's his home" she protested "and he wants our child to know it! As do I....I want it to be my home too, George and I do not care if you make fun of me for it!"
"I won't" he told her warmly, putting an arm around her shoulders "but you must swear not to keep the child shut away in the cold for too long, I want to see my little niece or nephew!"

"And you will" Eleanor promised as they came to a halt outside of her rooms "although if I grow to love the North you may have to make an effort and travel there!"

George grinned at her and swept a dramatic bow.
"Only for you, my dear!" he said before turning and walking back in the direction he had just come from.

"George?" His sister in law called out after him, stopping him in his tracks. Glancing over his shoulder, he smiled at her, inclining his head in a signal for her to continue "be kind to Anne"