~The Hunt~

February 1472, Westminster Palace....

"Can I come, Mother? Please, please, please!" Little Henry begged, jumping up at down at the side of his Mother's ornate dressing table while Margery dabbed rose oil on her neck.

"You know you can't, my lamb" Catherine replied gently, picking up the leather gloves, given to her a year ago by the late Lancastrian Prince, and pulling them easily on. Henry pouted, looking up at her with wide eyes that made her chuckle "We are going on a hunt"

"I'm three!" He protested and she laughed some more, pulling back her shoulders as Margery placed a heavy fur cloak over them, fastening the golden clasp at the front.

"Oh, I know" She said "You are growing up and one day you shall be old enough to go on a hunt!" Her eyes flicked to his and she leant forward, brushing a kiss against his forehead "But not yet, my love" Henry frowned, nodding his little head before he reached out and moved her cloak aside to place his hands against the swell of his Mother's belly.

At five months she had begun to show slightly and while her gowns still hid her bump, Henry had quickly discovered it!

Now, every morning she and Richard woke to their son free from the covers of his bed and sitting on theirs, staring at her curved belly with an innocent fascination. He hadn't believed her when she told him a little brother or sister grew for him within and immediately pressed his ear to the front of her nightgown, asking if he would be able to hear them talking.

"Not yet, lad" Richard had answered sleepily, lifting Henry onto his lap to allow Catherine comfort, but letting him still place his hands atop her belly "Gently" He told him and the little boy did as he was bade, stroking across the curved silk beneath him.

"Hello baby" He whispered, making his parents hearts swell with love and he did that now, placing his hands on Catherine's bump and murmuring his morning greetings.

"Baby soon, Mother?" He asked, looking up at her with excited eyes and she nodded, making him grin.
"Baby soon, my lamb" She brushed a hand through his flaxen curls "And when we go on hunts after they are born you can care for them!" Henry jumped at the side of the dressing table again, his happy little laugh filling the room.

"Is that my boy I hear?" His laugh turned to a delighted shriek as his Father strode through the door, tall and strong and dressed in the same winter attire as his Mother with gloves on his hands; a cloak over his doublet "Ah, come hear my little knight!" He cooed and Henry ran across the room, laughing again when Richard whisked him into his arms, holding him close as perched on the end of the nearby bed.

"Can I come to the hunt, Father?" He asked, widening his blue eyes and peeing upwards with an expression that made him look like a little angel. Catherine laughed, glancing, amused, at Margery who simply arched her eyebrows.

"You know what I have said on that, little one" She returned, adjusting her gloves "and the answer is no!"
"Indeed!" Richard agreed "You are too young yet!"
"But baby can go!" Henry protested and Margery chuckled, lifting him from his Father's lap to take him to the nursery.

"Because baby is inside your Lady Mother!" She said "Now come my little Prince, why don't we play with your cousins, the Princesses? Wouldn't you like to see Princess Elizabeth?"
"Lizzie!" Henry cried happily and was suddenly trying to wriggle from her arms to get to the door "Lizzie!"

꧁꧂

Catherine pushed back her furred hood and let the fresh air of the forest brush over her skin. All around her was a shining world of brown and fresh green, bright and lovely. A telltale sign of the coming new spring. Along the leaf covered forest path, new flowers sprouted like magical beanstalks from the earth, not yet blossomed but preparing to with their little covered buds hiding pretty petals.

The city of London was long left behind, the heady scent of smoke and cooked meat vanished, as the court entered into a new woodland realm filled with laughter and hunting hounds that danced around their steeds, pointed noses sniffing.

The King led, of course, sitting atop a black stallion with Jane settled happily behind him, her slender arms wrapped around his middle. They rode through the forest a merry party, although Catherine noticed her husband seemed more tense than jovial; watching her every move like a hawk tracking a mouse.

"Are you sure you should be riding, my love?" He asked gently as he guided his horse to trot beside hers and she laughed, placing a hand on his arm.
"Of course I'm sure! If I felt it wasn't safe for baby I wouldn't do it. You know how long I've longed for this child, Dickon"
"How long we've both longed for this child!" He smiled.

Catherine nodded her agreement and her free hand ghosted its way across her belly, feeling a happy little kick through her gown. Oh how she had missed those kicks since she'd carried Henry!

"There!" She exclaimed "Baby is happy!"
"Then I am happy" Richard replied as the court trumpets called out and the hunting party began to reign in their steeds; dismount to hunt on foot.

The first hunt of the season was always one of great splendour and ceremony and that year was no exception. While royal hunting parties were usually reserved for the King's favourites, the entire court had been invited to celebrate and the woodland buzzed with merry chatter, almost drowning out the hum of sweet birdsong. In the wake of the avid group followed servants, saddled on white palfreys, their saddle bags laden with food to be served after sport was had.

Cold slices of meats, cheeses, bread and the finest wine would be served on the silver plates, for even in the wilderness, King Edward would have comfort at his court!

After a groom tied her reins to a nearby branch, Catherine gathered her skirts and made to dismount only to find Richard darting to her side, arms invitingly outstretched "You may be able to go hunting, ma belle" He murmured as she slipped happily into his embrace, floating to the floor "But I won't risk you falling from your horse"

"Thank you, my Lord" She replied, bestowing a chaste kiss to his lips and allowing him to take her arm, putting the other around her waist. Together, they joined the pack of nobles that swarmed behind the King and his mistress, collecting finely crafted bows and quivers of sharp arrows. Catherine reached for one but Richard gently moved her hand away, motioning for a page to take up two instead.

"You do not need to put yourself under any stress" He told her and she teasingly rolled her eyes.
"You are like an old woman!"
"Better an old woman than I don't care, no?" He simply returned, with one raised eyebrow she grinned at.

"Carry the quivers yourself" She encouraged "or take one....I wish to be alone with you like we were when we hunted at Fotheringhay!" Richard tiled his head, his eyes softening as he raised a hand to cradle her cheek "We hardly ever are at Westminster or Sheen!" A moment of thought and then he nodded, taking a single quiver from the page and slinging it onto his shoulder before he took up a bow.

"If that is what you wish, my love"
"It is"

"Dickon!" The pair looked up at the sound of the King's voice to see Edward grinning over the heads of his courtiers "Dickon! Cat! Come and join us!" "Forgive me bother but I think you have company enough!" Richard called back when he saw the slight shake of Catherine's head and the Shore woman beside his brother. He had no wish to be in the company of the King's whore.

"Very well!" Edward replied, too merry and hungry for sport to care much weather his kin joined him or not "Come, my friends! Let us begin!" Raising his bow, the hunting horns blew and hounds were released from their leashes, paws hammering along the thawing earth.
Turning to his wife, Richard took her hand, squeezing it and summoning a smile to his face which she returned.

"Come!" He said and began to pull her away from the sea of courtiers, leading her through undergrowth and around ancient trees.
"Where are we going?" She laughed, glancing over her shoulder at the retreating figures garbed in silk, their voices quickly fading. Richard simply continued to guide her through the woodland, throwing a mischievous smile over his shoulder.

"You said you wanted to be alone, did you not?" She nodded "Well then, what need done have of the court?"

꧁꧂

Angling his bow upwards slightly, Richard narrowed his eyes as he tried to focus on the plump little bird flitting amongst the tree tops. Pulling an arrow from the quiver, he aligned it with his bow string, pointing the sharpened tip at the small target, ready to fire when a sudden breeze tickled his ear and he accidentally let his arrow fly!

Far from burying in the little bird, it chose to bury itself in a nearby tree, the end snapping and falling to the forest floor!
"Damn it Cate!" He huffed for it was she who had sidled to his side and seen fit to blow gently on his ear.
"You have already caught many!" She laughed, gently kissing his neck and holding up the four birds she carried.

Richard arched a disgruntled eyebrow, watching the bird flit away out of sight and out of range "Oh come along you old grump!" Catherine teased, taking his hand and exploding onto giggles at the sight of his surprised expression.

"Old?" He repeated, allowing himself to be pulled along through the overgrown forest floor, covered in a carpet of dewy grass and wildflowers "I hesitate to remind you that I am nineteen and you are the same!"

"Ah but a month younger!" She countered, tugging on his arm until he was beside her and she could lean her head on his fur-covered shoulder.
"Is all well, ma belle? Are you tired? We can return if you..." She shook her head, rubbing the gloved hand that was hooked into his belt.
"No....no, Dickon, I just want to be with you"

A soft smile twitched at the corners of his lips and he glanced down at her golden head, placing a kiss atop it.
"And what else do you want, Cate?"
"I want us to go home" She murmured "I want you to take me to Fotheringhay. Let's go home, then we can truly start our lives together. You, I, Henry and" She took his hand, placing it gently on her stomach "this babe in my belly"

A babe she firmly wanted to be born at Fotheringhay.

She missed the great hall and it's large, open windows, the quiet rooms that did not flow with mindless gossip. She missed the bailey and the bedchamber she and Richard shared with the nursery not far away. She missed the gardens and the courtyard, the solar and Richard's study with its warm fire. She missed Roland who would lie at her feet in an evening and watch over her son....just as he would watch over the baby within her.

"Our child will be born at Fotheringhay" Richard murmured, proving once again he could read her mind and they were as one "I will not have the fuss of a royal birth and I do not want you to have that either! You need peace and rest!"
"Will your Mother be there?"

He chuckled, nodding, his mind now far away from hunting in the peace of the forest, like hers.
"I don't think there is anything you can do to keep her away!" He replied "She favours you and will do almost anything to escape the Woodville Court"
"George is the same!" Catherine groaned "But if he comes within ten miles of Fotheringhay I swear I will rise from my childbed and throw him into the river!"
"Amen to that, my love!"

Together they wandered, leaves and frosted grass crunching under their feet as they listened to the chirp of birdsong. After a while, she began to tire, the weight of the babe taking a toll on her body, a toll she remembered well from her first pregnancy.

"Might we rest a while?" She asked and immediately Richard was all concern, spreading his cloak at the base of an elm tree before he settled her onto it, frowning. Removing one of his gloves he pressed his hand to her forehead but she batted it away with a shake of her head "Nay, Dickon, I am not ill! Simply tired!" He appeared rather unconvinced but relinquished the rest of his usual ministrations for settling beside her, one strong arm around her shoulders. He truly was like a fussing old nurse at times!

Reaching into the pouch at his belt, he produced a ripened apple and offered it, holding it up to her lips while she took the first bite. A familiar sweetness flooded onto her tongue, a taste of summer and home and she smiled "Perhaps my Mother shall be at this birth?" She wondered aloud, cradling her softly swollen belly, and Richard nodded.

"Indeed" He replied "After all, she is my Mother's niece and I liked her the last time we met"
"And she liked you"
He chuckled, biting into the apple when she held it up to him.
"For the sake of you, no doubt. Your Mother is the same as your brother: Lancastrian. But I would like to make peace with them"

Now it was Catherine's turn to laugh and she cuddled closer, laying her head on her husband's strong chest. One day he would be proclaimed peacemaker of England, she was sure, and often wondered where his taste for peace came from when he'd been raised on war. The wounds of his childhood had still not healed (like hers) she supposed and so drove him in the opposite direction to the weapon that'd inflicted them.

"With my Mother you may be able to!" She replied truthfully "But with my brother, I sincerely doubt it!" Richard sighed behind her and she did too "It is not because he is in the North plotting day and night, I think that if he is left alone then he will leave York alone but....he has been angry ever since he was a boy, ever since he and I were taken by your kin and our Father killed. He sees the Yorks and Yorkists as the ones who fractured our family and..." her breath hitched somewhat "in truth you did, well not you personally, Dickon, you have given me naught but love!"

"Your brother does not see that?"
"He does not....he almost fainted when I told him I'd bedded you and borne your child willingly! That I wanted too! He didn't think it possible!"
Richard sighed again, tossing the remains of the apple over his shoulder.

"That says enough in itself. We shall have to make do with your Mother then!"

꧁꧂

As dusk approached, the court rode back to Westminster with their kill and it was then Catherine saw her in a flash of green and black velvet with her hair hidden by a veil. Her heart jumped with joy and she handed her steed over to a page when they reached the ancient palace, telling Richard of her sighting before she made to follow the Neville girl.

Anne had skilfully tucked herself in an alcove near to the courtyard, her lithe body able to slip between the intricately carved stone until Catherine appeared, a smile on her face. Anne did not return it but she emerged from her hiding place with a sense of mischief in her eyes.

"You escaped then?"

She sighed, leaning back against the cool stone.
"If this is escape I cannot imagine captivity!" Her smile broadening, Catherine began to walk from the courtyard and Anne followed, her skirts fisted in her hands just as they'd been that past May. She still didn't trust her old friend, that much was clear, she feared her in a way "Did you enjoy the hunt?" She asked tentatively "Only I couldn't see you and Richard, you disappeared!"

"Ah yes!" Catherine chuckled, slipping her hands beneath her cloak to cradle her small belly again "Well there were interesting matters to attend to and we did not wish the court to pry into them!" Anne nodded and looked to the front of her gown; tongue flicking her lower lip.

"I hear you are with child?"
"I am!" Catherine answered brightly, coming to a halt under a stone arch that led to the gardens below the palace. Turning to the Neville girl, she held out a hand, not commanding, but offering and felt hope spark in her heart when Anne placed her own in it. She smiled again and guided it to her belly, gently placing it on the bump that rounded her gown. Anne's eyes widened when she felt a little foot press into her palm.

"By God he's eager!" She exclaimed, gently moving her hand to see if she could get the babe to kick again and they did, this time pressing a hand to hers. Catherine giggled, sliding hers atop Anne's.

"It is my hope" She murmured "That this baby will be a new beginning for us" Anne looked up and tilted her head but she did not pull away "You know I can never apologise for what I did and I do not ask you to forgive me, only that we can move forward and maybe be as we once were....friends" The girl blinked, letting a rare smile flit across her lips and she nodded.

"Perhaps....in truth....I've missed you"

꧁꧂

Sitting before the fire, Catherine was settled on Richard's lap, garbed in her nightgown while he fed her slices of sugared oranges. Henry was curled up on the bed behind, sleeping sweetly with a pillow tucked under his arm.

"Do you think Henry shall like his brother or sister?" Catherine asked, guiding Richard's hand over her belly as she rested her head on his shoulder. He smiled.
"Of course he will, he already does! He says good morning to baby each sunrise and has suggested a variety of names!"

"Most of which he's made up!" Catherine chuckled "And I'm sure he has suggested Henry at least ten times!" Richard nodded his amused agreement. Their son certainly was excited for the arrival of a sibling, (although he definitely didn't understand how that would come about) and they hoped he would be as fond of baby as he would be of the other children they hoped for.

A dozen babies Richard once said they would have and both of them hoped for that as they stared into the flames before them. Their nursery at Fotheringhay would be full, filled with laughter and the mewls of newborn babes. All Yorks born from their love!

"We shall return to Fotheringhay soon, my darling" Catherine said, tilting her head up to kiss his neck "But we must stay here for now.....Elizabeth needs me" A sad sigh escaped her "You've heard about Jacquetta?"

"The whole court has heard, ma belle" Richard replied "She grows weaker by the day and I know you wish to support the Queen but you must also keep in mind that you will not be able to travel after a time"
"I know but...."

A hurried knock came at the door and little Henry looked up from his pillow, stirred from sleep.
"Enter" Richard called, helping Catherine rise and the two frowned when a lady in waiting rushed through the door, one they both recognised from the Clarence household. She dipped into a hurried curtsy and did not wait one moment to thrust a letter into the Duke's hands.

"It's in Anne's hand" Catherine murmured as Richard tore open the seal and his eyes widened at what he read, hardly believing it.
"Oh God damn it George...."
"What? What is it?" She asked, waving her hand in dismissal at the lingering woman.

"It's my lovely brother" He murmured "He's going to send Anne to a nunnery"

"A nunnery?" She cried "How? W-when?" She had spoken to Anne just hours ago! She'd earned a sliver of freedom! How could she now be being sent away to a nunnery? Surely that wasn't what she wanted, that wasn't what any Neville wanted "We have to get her out! We have to get her out now!" She made for the bed, reaching out to grab her cloak when Richard took her arm.

"You cant!" He exclaimed and she scoffed.
"Why? Why not?"

"Because it's freezing, you're in your nightgown and you are carrying our child!" She put a hand to her belly, letting her fingers slacken around the heavy velvet of her cloak. Richard shook his head, gathering her into his arms and pressing a gentle kiss to her head "Don't fret, sweetheart....I will get her away from Westminster" Blue eyes stared up at him, instantly glowing with love.

"Tonight?"
"Tonight" He replied and Catherine hugged him tight. If anyone could aid Anne in escape it was Richard and he would succeed! She knew he would!

"Take her to St Martin Le Grand" She whispered and looked to the bed when she heard a rustle to see Henry waddling towards them, arms outstretched "Come here, my lamb" He clambered eagerly into her arms and she was reminded when one of his little feet brushed her belly that she would not be able to hold him thus for much longer. Richard smoothed a hand over his son's golden hair and nodded.

"St Martin Le Grand it is" He agreed, moving away and reaching for his cloak "I shall return soon, Cate and then...."
"Then we will have Anne transferred from George's care into ours" She finished.