~In Sickness~

"And you are sure of this?" Richard asked the next day, in disbelief when Eleanor told him what she had seen in Anne's chamber, quickly swatting at his arm as she told him to be quiet.

"Of course I am sure!" She hissed, glad that the merry music being played around them was loud enough to drown out her husband's shock "Do you think I could hallucinate a child and her mother being locked away?"

"Of course not!" Richard retorted with a slight frown "I just don't see why you did not speak of this to me last night, although I grant you it was late when you returned to our chambers, where were you?"

"With my mother" Eleanor sighed, for it was true, it had almost been two in the morning when she had slipped into bed, welcoming sleep almost immediately "she is sick"

"Sick?"
"Yes, Richard, my mother is sick. Why else do you think she has not been at the celebrations" she lowered her voice a little, grinning "you know how much she loves the gossip....but she shall not miss it for long! Illness never grips my mother for a week or more!"

"The King and Queen of England!" A herald announced and immediately the musicians ceased their song and the courtiers their chatter and dance. All swept down into their most benevolent bows and curtseys as the royal couple walked by, though it was clear by the King and Queen's faces that any form of Christmas joy was far from their mind.

Elizabeth left Edward's side almost immediately, an almost despondent look on her beautiful face as she walked on to her throne alone, while her husband greeted George with a laugh and a smile.

Automatically, Eleanor pushed her goblet into Richard's hand and walked through the crowds of nobles, barely acknowledging their greetings as she went after her sister. Going to stand besides the Queen's throne, the gently lay a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder and squeezed softly in a comforting yet silent message that the pair immediately understood.

"That's her" the Queen murmured bitterly as the dancers began to pair again, forming two lines before the thrones. She pointed quickly to a rather petite woman with a round face and kind eyes. Her gown was the palest shade of pink and her hair loose and long down her back in flaming red ringlets that Eleanor begrudgingly admitted were much like her own.

The Duchess did not need to be told who this woman was as she watched the courtiers begin to dance. For she could be none other than Jane Shore, Edward's mistress. Glancing to the King only confirmed her suspicions and she felt almost nauseated by the way he gazed longingly at her, his blue eyes full of lust and promise as they roamed Jane's lithe body.

"Damn him" Eleanor whispered angrily as Elizabeth's knuckles began to turn white from the iron grip she had on the throne's arms. Still, she could not ignore Jane as she danced. The woman seemed to draw every eye in the room, willing or unwilling, admiring or hating. A light laugh escaped her, as soft and as gentle as the coo of a dove and Eleanor suddenly found herself marvelling at the other woman's beauty; despising herself for it.

Suddenly, Jane's piercing eyes seemed to find hers and she blushed furiously, tearing her gaze away, shame washing over her as she felt heat creep into her cheeks and the whore smile at her before turning away to attend to the next dance step.

Eleanor could suddenly see why the King had become so enraptured by her yet this only served to infuriate her further as she watched how openly Edward flaunted his feelings. He stood as the dance ended, loudly applauding, much to the chagrin of all his Woodville kin, especially Anthony who looked as if he were about to commit regicide.

'I know how you feel' the look Eleanor and her brother exchanged seemed to say before they glanced at Elizabeth. Her mouth was set into a firm frown, one hand lying over her large belly as if to protect the child inside but her siblings knew that it was truly a message of her power.

She was the Queen. She was the only one that could give the King legitimate heirs. She had power and Jane had none.

Only all present knew that the latter was false. Jane had influence over the King which could dangerously prove more secure than a Crown. Eleanor sighed as she thought, wondering why Edward found it so difficult to stay faithful to his wife.

It was true, Richard had been unfaithful to her and it still hurt her to think on it (which was why she forced herself to dismiss it) but at least now she knew he would never again take a mistress. Edward would never be able to make such a promise, let alone keep it!

"I'm going to see mother" Eleanor muttered, dipping into a quick curtsy and leaving the hall as swiftly as she could, paying no more attention to Edward or to Jane Shore. She sighed with relief as she shut her mother's chamber door and went to fill two goblets of wine that lay on a table.

"Mother?" She called, frowning when she saw Jacquetta's chair by the fireplace was empty and the Countess was in fact in bed, a frown on her face "Mother?" Eleanor asked again as she placed down the jug of wine she was holding and walked to the bed, taking Jacquetta's hand.

The previous night she had seemed rather feverish but the Duchess had simply assumed (or rather hoped) that is was nothing more that a bout of mild winter flu, but now it worried her.

As her hand was taken, Jacquetta slowly opened her eyes, a smile curving the corners of her lips as she saw her young daughter.
"Ah, my child" she whispered "you have come to my side"
"Of course I have!" Eleanor returned, a worried laugh escaping her as she searched her mother's expression "I'm here to see that you get better!"

"I will not get better" Jacquetta said as gently as she could "my heart....it's beating strangely, Leena, it shall not beat strongly again...."
"No!" The Duchess cried, fervently shaking her head as she held her Mother's hand tighter as if her touch could heal her sickness "no....mother th-that is not possible...."

She suddenly gasped, beginning to cry as doubt and blame and anger began to blossom in her mind, making her heart ache painfully. Placing a hand to her belly Eleanor let the scorching tears that filled her eyes glide down her cheeks.

"That charm" she murmured, almost choking on her own words "the one we cast to protect my babe....you said to save a life a life must be taken....that life was yours...."

Jacquetta nodded, still smiling as she gently raised her daughter's chin with a shaking hand.
"And I knew it, Leena" she explained softly "I gave my life gladly for your babe....my grandchild"

"But I have killed you!" Eleanor wept, guilt filling her whole "my own Mother...."
"No, sweet child" Jacquetta replied "you have not killed me....I go to my death willingly, happy in the knowledge that my child and my grandchild shall be safe....and through you I shall have founded a line of Kings!" Her smile widened a little but her daughter only cried harder, lying down onto the covers of the bed "yes and Queens too I should think!"

"But I have no need of Kings or Queens!" Eleanor sobbed "my children are not in line for the throne and never shall be mother! I need you! Please....you cannot leave me!"

Jacquetta, bent leant forward a little, pressing a kiss to the top of her daughter's head as she held her close, placing one hand on her swelled belly and chuckling as she felt the child inside kick.

"I will be here for the birth of your little one" she whispered "but then you must prepare yourself"
Once again Eleanor shook her head, holding tight onto her Mother as if she were a small child again, seeking comfort from a nightmare.

"You cannot leave me" she cried "not now"

꧁꧂

January 1472....

"Is there anything I can get you? Anything at all?" Eleanor asked as she passed a goblet of spiced wine to her Mother and made sure that the blankets were tucked tightly around her chair by the fire.

It had been almost over a month since Eleanor had learnt of her Mother's near approaching death and since then she had hardly left her side. She had hardly slept, dared not to leave her Mother alone for long in case anything happened. It had been a joy when that passed week Jacquetta had managed to rise from her bed and now sometimes found the strength to move around her chamber.

While watching over her Mother's health, Eleanor had found time to solidify her plans on Anne and her little Isabel. She had discussed them with Richard and they were both agreed, Anne would escape to the North with them when they went.

At first the plan had been to stay at court until the summer months, to give the Duchess time to adjust to motherhood once more and time to recover from the birth but, despite his constant fussing, Eleanor had convinced her husband to let them travel in late April.

She did not want to leave poor Anne at risk from harm or separation from her child for a moment longer than was necessary and had secretly decided that she would prefer to share the first months with her new babe and Richard in the privacy of the North despite the land being unknown to her.

"You have done everything possible" Jacquetta said with a fond smile, patting her daughter's hand as she sat down beside her "though I still do not understand why you insist on missing the hunt today! It's the first of the season!"

"I'm with child! Heavily, I might add" Eleanor chuckled, settling into her chair and sighing as her baby kicked, their little feet pressing into her belly rather uncomfortably. It would not be long until they were born! "And besides, I want to keep you company!"

"You have kept me company all month!" Jacquetta returned with a nod, smiling as a knock came at the door.
"Who could that be?" Eleanor began only for her voice to trail away as she saw Richard standing at the threshold, one of her cloaks in his arms. Glancing between him and her mother, the Duchess sighed softly before she began to laugh "I do not have a choice in this, do I?"

"Not at all!" Jacquetta replied with a wave of her hand "go with your husband, I shall not fall deathly ill in your absence! In fact, I feel quite recovered thanks to your care!"
"Truly?"
"Truly, child, now be off with you!"

Leaning over to kiss her mother on her cheek, Eleanor slowly lifted herself from her chair and walked to Richard, pressing a chaste kiss to his cheek before she took his hand. He placed the heavy emerald cloak around her shoulders and tied the clasp at the front, bowing to Jacquetta, who nodded in return, before guiding Eleanor from the room.

"You do know that I am perfectly capable of walking without assistance?" She laughed as Richard placed an arm around her waist and they began to follow the rest of the courtiers heading toward the courtyard.

"I know" he replied with a small shrug "but I want to make sure that you are safe, sweetheart"
"Safe from what?" She retorted lightly as they headed out into the cold "my own feet?"

Eleanor frowned as she took in the scene before her, most of the court were huddled in little groups, rubbing their hands together and stamping their feet to try and warm their frozen limbs.

But not Edward.

He was stood in the middle of the courtyard, holding a bow with his free arm around the slender waist of none other than Jane Shore.
"For God's sake" the Duchess hissed as she saw her elder sister watching from a bench, a scowl on her face "does he have to flaunt his whores so blatantly?"

Richard visibly sighed, shaking his head as he too saw his brother and his mistress.
"I know that there is nothing to do to prevent Edward from straying from your sister's bed" he admitted "but I do wish he would be discreet! Or at least attempt to be!"

Eleanor's eyes narrowed as Jane let out a laugh, her red curls shaking as she tossed her head back, her rouged lips purposefully brushing across the King's cheek.

Had it not been for the horns of the hunt that called out, the Duchess was sure that she would have strode over to the King and spoken up for the honour of the Queen, but alas it was not to be and the court began to climb onto their horses, ready to leave the palace.