~The Lady of York~

When her dearest George arrived three days later, Catherine could hardly contain her relief. She watched him ride into the courtyard below her chamber, pressing her face against the window and grinning at the sight of his tousled hair.

Jumping down from her window seat, she waited with excitement, brushing down her skirt and hopping from foot to foot; her eyes trained upon the door that was soon to open. Hearing footsteps along the corridor, she did not feel fear as she had done on the first night, she felt happy, safe and tilted up her chin, pushing her unbound hair behind her shoulders.

When the door opened, she could not restrain herself and as soon as George appeared she flew into his arms, wrapping her arms around him; clasping him close as tightly as she could. Georgie responded the same, lifting her easily from the ground and spinning her around.

"By God Cat I have missed you!" He exclaimed as she nuzzled into his neck, beginning to cry from relief.
"And I you, Georgie! Have you heard what is going to happen? What I am to be?"
"You are to be a Royal Duchess" He replied rather sadly, setting her down on the covers of her bed before he sat next to her "I shall miss having you as my little wife" She gave him a wry smile.

"And I shall miss you being my husband, but...." She hesitated a little, peering up at him like she always did when she had a question.
"But?"
"But you will always be my brother, won't you? You will always love and protect me as I will always love and try to protect you?"

George smiled, tears filling his eyes as he pulled her close and nodded, over and over again just like she did.
"I will always be your brother" He told her, hugging her tight "Always! And I will always love and protect you, no matter who your husband is" He rose from the bed, striding towards the door "You have gone from the wife of a Yorkist to the betrothed of a York Prince! Dickon is the brother of the King and therefore a Prince which shall make you a Princess"

He opened the door and Catherine feared for a moment he was leaving her. He could not leave so soon after he had arrived! She needed him here, at her wedding! But she did not need to worry, it was only moments before George returned, carrying a soft package in his hands, one of the lavender hue she adored so much.

"Since you are to be a Princess, I thought it only right that you should look so on your wedding day!" He smiled and motioned for her to shuffle along the covers. Catherine did, watching with curiosity and then awe as he spread out a beautiful gown upon the bed.

It was just as she had said she had wanted it! The lavender damask he had given her for their anniversary had been fashioned into the dress of her very dreams with hanging sleeves trimmed with white fur and a neckline formed into the fashionable V style.

"It's beautiful" She breathed in wonder, brushing a hand over the delicate work, the invisible stitches that held the glorious garment together. It did not take her long to recognise the work of Agnes and she instantly felt her worry return for the old woman "How is she, Georgie? How is our dear Aggie?" She raised her eyebrows in question, frowning when George's face suddenly fell.

He opened his mouth and closed it again, no words emerging when he stood to his full height, avoiding Catherine's worried eyes "Georgie? Georgie what is it?"
He paced to the window, looking out into the courtyard as she had done only ten minutes ago. Only he did not look out with excitement, he looked out with despair.

"She's...." His voice faltered and Catherine hung her head. Just from that one moment of hesitance she knew the worst. News did not have to be spoken for it to be known.
"She's dead, isn't she?"

He nodded, a shaking breath escaping his lips as he tried to control the sobs that threatened to break from his throat.

"You were taken from her so harshly....her heart could not take it....she spent her last days making that gown for you....her last gift...." He spun around on his heels when he heard Catherine begin to cry, pressing a hand to her mouth to try and conceal it "Oh Cat" He murmured, rushing to her side and drawing her into a hug "Do not weep. She made me promise that you would not weep, you do not want to break that promise do you?"

The girl shook her head, desperately wiping away her tears with trembling hands.

"Why does everyone I love die?" She asked through her stifled sobs and George clutched her closer, his heart twisting just like it had done on the first night of their marriage "She was like a Mother to me...."
"I won't die" He whispered "I wont die for a very long time, I promise" She nodded slowly, almost reluctantly. "Now, dry your eyes douce sœur, let us see you in your wedding gown!"

"But who will dress me, Georgie, Agnes is dead and I need a Lady do I not? Especially as a Duchess?"
He forced himself to smile, slowly rising and taking the lavender gown into his hands.
"I shall dress you now" He said "But there is someone that Agnes asked me for you to take on. Her niece, Margery of the Paston family. You may have heard of them? They hold large estates of Land in Norfolk and Suffolk?" Catherine nodded with a small sniff.

"They are distant cousins to me through my Mother's side but I've never met any of them" She stifled another sob, her heart threatening to break at the loss of her companion and Motherly figure that had filled her life for the past five years "b-but if it is what Agnes wanted then I will be happy to take Margery as my Lady. I dare say it will be an honour for her!"

"There we go!" George encouraged, helping her to her feet while he started to untie the laces of her dress. Midway down her back his deft fingers suddenly halted, hesitating slightly as a tut passed his lips "You do not have any other gowns do you Catherine?" She shook her head, turning around to frown at him for a moment.
"Why?"

George raised his eyebrows at her, continuing to unlace her gown until he could slip it from her and reach for the lavender gown he had brought.
"Well, Cat, this is supposed to be your wedding gown but it can be used for tonight as well...."
"Tonight?" She asked and he tilted his head.

"Yes. Edward has invited you to a dinner with his entire family"

꧁꧂

"This is insane" Catherine hissed as she walked down the torchlit corridors of Nottingham Castle, hand in hand with Georgie who had been all but laughing at her nerves for the past hour!
"It is not insane!" He told her "It is kind, I think. Warwick did not let us meet before our wedding did he? Edward wants to get you to know the lad you are to marry now and I think that is a good thing!"

"Well think it is insane!" Catherine retorted "My dear brother, there is insane and then there is insane! This is the latter" She scoffed a little bit and shook her head.

There was no denying that she felt beautiful in the lavender gown she wore. The hanging sleeves trailed gracefully along the floor and the Percy emblems embroidered upon the fabric made her feel a little stronger. Plaited and twisted by a maid, her hair was just as it used to be, braided into one of the intricate styles she adored and that too made her feel a little bolder.

To feel the luxurious fabric draped around her body made her feel as if Agnes was somehow still with her.

Georgie's presence helped most though.

Every few steps he would squeeze her hand, reassuring her and would speak words on any topic to keep her distracted.
"You look very pretty, Cat" He told her as they passed the great hall where shouts of prominent Yorkist Lords and their families could be heard, the sounds of feet tapping merrily against the tiled floor.

She was not to dine there, that was a small something that set her at ease. She was to dine with the King's family in his chambers where they could not be spied upon by his ever curious courtiers who she knew would each be wondering why their Edward was marrying his little brother to a Lancastrian and not one of his own.

The only downside to such a setting was that she could be directly scrutinised by each and every one of the Yorks that were to sit at that table. Georgie would not be one of them. He was to leave her.

"How could young Dickon not fall for you? Love you?"
Catherine sighed a little.
"I don't want him to love me" She admitted "I don't want a York to ever love me because if he did....I might fall for him in return" George chuckled, shaking his head that was filled with worldly knowledge.
"That will change, I am sure of it" He told her "You are resistant to affection from him now but you won't be later"

"I am a Lancastrian" Catherine retorted, a little sharper than she had intended "He is a Yorkist, a York, we can never be anything more than civil to one another!"

She thought back to the night when Dickon had held her, comforted her and helped her to bed, that had certainly been more than civil. But that was when she had had no control, now she did and she was determined to play the Percy she was.

Besides, she already had a love to claim her heart. Her Prince Edward who was now somewhere she knew not!

"You will see" George muttered under his breath but she simply rolled her eyes, this time being the one to squeeze his hand "A girl such as you cannot live a life without love"

"Many have done before me. And many will do after"
"But many don't have a choice. You do"
"I don't"

"You...." He began to retort but stopped himself as he and Catherine came to the pair of great oak doors, painted with the golden sun in splendour. Two guards stood either side, garbed in the blue and murrey Yorkist livery and they both bowed to the Lord and Lady that stood before them "Lord Bergavenny and Lady Ber....Catherine Percy" George said "Though you need not announce me, I am leaving for the great hall!"

Looking down at the little girl beside him, he gave her one last smile, one last squeeze to her hand before releasing her, not just to the chamber behind those doors but to her life.

This was his goodbye as her husband, she realised, watching him retreat down the hall, his head held high but his shoulders slightly slumped with sadness.

Catherine turned her gaze to the front, stepping forth as the King's doors were opened to her and her eyes were suddenly struck with bright light from a blazing fire. Warmth flooded through her body, inviting, welcoming and she was enticed to shuffle forward a step or two more, looking at the table at the centre of the large chamber she entered. A woman, a girl and two boys sat at it, laughing and drinking with one another, clearly at ease out of the sight of the court.

The King sat at the head, resting his strong hands on the carved arms of his throne while he grinned around at his kin. The woman sat to the right of him could be described as nothing less than beautiful. Her golden hair was loose from the confines of a caul or hennin, remaining simply crowned with a coronet studded with diamonds and rubies. The Neville colours.

This was the King's Mother, Cecily Neville, and what a woman she was with her ringed fingers that glimmered and a smile so enchanting Catherine was almost tempted to smile herself. Beside her was a young girl, eighteen or so, one who held the beauty of Cecily, her Mother, but her hair was not of the same golden hue. It was dark like oak and too, was loose, falling about her shoulders in gentle waves.

Across from her was Dickon, the one person at the table that brought Catherine a little solace. He did not smile nor laugh as much as the others but a small grin lit his lips all the same. Another boy sat beside him, on the left of the King with hair the same hue as the girl's but with eyes of piercing blue like the King's. He wore as many rings as his Mother opposite him, and smirked instead of grinned.

There was something about him, something that Catherine saw as soon as she looked at him. His eyes moved quickly like a snake's, flicking from figure to figure around him....like Warwick's did. He reminded her of Warwick and that almost scared her but she did not let the fear consume her as it had done the first night.

Now was a time to be brave and she raised her head as she was announced.

"Lady Catherine Percy"

In an instant, the familial chatter that emanated around the room ceased to exist, leaving a cold silence in its place while five pairs of blue eyes turned to the little girl just over the threshold. The heavy doors closed behind her and she felt the urge to shrink back against them under the gazes of such powerful people.

Her enemies, now intended to be her family.

She gulped, unsure of what to do and cast her gaze to the ground, sinking into a deep curtsy from which she rose with her head still bowed; skirts rustling.

"Well, do not linger in the shadows!" She heard Edward say, an edge of amusement to his voice that still did not make her move. Instead it only froze her to the spot, making her hands clutch her gown until a chair suddenly scraped back and a beautiful voice, so melodic it could have belonged to an angel, addressed her.

"Ah, my dearest, great niece!"

Catherine looked up to see Cecily Neville gliding towards her, her gown of cream and crimson almost dazzling to the eye with the golden girdle around her slim waist. Her glistening hands outstretched in welcome, she appeared an angel of mercy and smiled her enchanting smile as she gathered the young girl before her into a fond embrace "Do not be afraid" She whispered against her ear and Catherine could not help but smile, nodding into the silk covering her face.

With a serene sigh, Cecily released her and led the way to the York table where the others still watched curiously, leaving the young girl to follow. When she came near, young Dickon rose from his seat, pulling out the one next to him with a small smile.

"There's a seat here, Catherine, if you'd like it?"

Catherine nodded gratefully and sat down upon the sturdy chair he had offered. The older boy next to him whistled, another smirk quirking at his lips but one stern look along with a tut from his Mother silenced and sobered him.

"George" She ordered sternly and the boy shifted in his seat, much to the amusement of Edward who simply grinned, still looking at the newcomer.

"Thank you, ma mére" He said "And welcome to our honoured guest, Catherine Percy, daughter to the Earl of Northumberland!" Catherine nodded her greetings unusually shyly for her, taking solace in scrunching up the skirt of her gown in her fists. She took the goblet of wine a page offered her with enthusiasm, gulping down the contents until her mouth and lips were stained a flushed red, causing the girl across from her to smile.

"I'm Princess Margaret" She proclaimed, nodding to the boy next to Dickon "And that's George"

"Duke of Clarence" George added quickly, addressing Catherine directly for the first time since she had entered the room. He offered his hand out and, as protocol demanded, she offered hers in return, letting his lips rest gently upon her knuckles for a moment before he released her. She almost flinched at the momentary contact, his lips, though cold like his fingers clasped around hers, burning her like a roaring flame.

He reminded her undoubtedly of Warwick. There was something about that boy so Neville that even Cecily, as a true Neville, did not possess! Perhaps it was not to do with Nevilles, Catherine wondered, perhaps it was to do with personality and intent?

Still, if nothing in her life was clear, one thing was.

She did not trust George Plantagenet.

꧁꧂

Dinner was an altogether talkative affair, with laughter raising up to the rafters! The Yorks seemed a close knit family, that much was apparent as the evening went on while various courses of delicious food were delivered to their plates. Catherine was not one that much took to the talking, instead satisfying herself with daintily devouring the morsels that were brought to her.

Princess Margaret was quite like Edward, she found, possessing the same wit and humour, the same enthusiasm for her jokes which had the whole table roaring with laughter, or her brothers, at least. Cecily reserved herself to small smiles or graceful chuckles as she sipped on her wine, ever the refined lady.

Dickon was not one for much laughter either, keeping the same little grin on his face as he had held when she had entered. He truly was a serious boy, Catherine noted, almost the complete opposite of the child she had met five years before but still, that had been half a decade ago. Much had happened since they last met, more than happened in some others entire lives!

"How do you find Nottingham?" Edward suddenly asked through a mouthful of ham and Catherine looked up from her plate, finding the eyes of the table upon her.

"Very well, your grace" She stammered and the York King grinned, clearly amused by her answer.
"Very well indeed" He murmured, tilting his head to one side "You shall not be married here" Cecily looked up, almost warning her son but Edward, being Edward, payed not the slightest attention "You shall be married at Westminster, three weeks from now"

Catherine simply nodded.
"Very well, your grace"
Edward's smile grew at that and he took a sip from his goblet.
"You are not a very talkative one, are you, Lady Cathrine? I thought you may be? A little sun to brighten my little brother up?"
The girl did not respond, only looked down at her plate, wringing her hands together.

Cecily's airy laugh filled the chamber to sweep away the tension that surrounded them and she placed a hand on her eldest son's arm.

"You should know, my son" She chuckled, squeezing hard enough to know she wanted his silence. He may have been the King but she was his Mother and, without a Queen to guide him, she took precedence. Even when there was a Queen, many doubted she would relax her grip "Women of our rank are not taught to talk by our families! Catherine and I are both the daughters of Earls and educated in the delicacies of that position. We only talk truly with those we are comfortable with"

Another hard squeeze and she released Edward's arm, sending a serene smile in Catherine's direction.
"Ah" George quipped "So our little Lady is uncomfortable then?"
"My Lady" Dickon sharply corrected and his brother snorted, signalling for another cup of wine.
"So protective already brother? You cant think she likes you! You're such a sullen little thing that...."

"Boys!" Their Mother commanded, forcing them into silence within a moment "You will not fight at this table nor anywhere else! I will not have the House of York fighting itself when it has already lost" Her strong voice suddenly faltered a little "Has already lost so many...." She hung her head and Catherine saw her close her eyes, teardrops dampening the sandy lashes that fanned her beautiful face.

"Ma mére...." Dickon began but Cecily shook her head, pushing back her chair and sweeping away in her robes of crimson and white satin, one tear slowly gliding down her cheek.
"Think of your poor brother before you fight again" She ordered quietly, all but fleeing the room and trying to hold her head high as she strode through the chamber doors.

Her children stared after her, their merriment suddenly saddened by Cecily's grief that mirrored their own. 
"She has never been the same since Father and Edmund died" George murmured quietly while his younger brother and sister nodded solemnly, crossing themselves.

"She has lost a husband and a son, George" Edward bit out sharply, pushing back his throne so harshly it made the others at the table jump "Would you ever be the same if that happened to you?"

"I've lost a Father and brother, I think our pain is equal, your grace" George retorted, pushing back his own chair and storming away before his King could stop him. Margaret sighed, shaking her head in defeat while Dickon merely hung his, fiddling with the tablecloth.
"He never never learns does he?" She asked and Edward shook his head, walking away towards the door,

"I am going to comfort ma mére" He replied gruffly. "Dickon, escort Lady Catherine back to her chambers before you join me. We ride for London in the morning"

And with that, he was gone.