~White Rose Pure~

August 1474, the Palace of Placentia....

The three sons of York and the Queen basked in the privacy of the King's chambers, able to relax without the prying eyes of nobles around. Even George was being amicable!

"Some more wine, Connie?" He offered with a smile as he sauntered over to the chaise lounge where Connie lay with Edward, her head resting on the cushions.
"Thank you, George!" She replied, holding out her goblet and watching as George poured the ruby red liquid into it.

Taking a sip, she offered the goblet to Edward who took a gulp before kissing her sweetly on the lips. It had been idea to move to the Palace of Placentia for the summer (instead of their progress which had been cancelled on account of Edmund's death) as they had done in 1471 to try and stoke some of the joy they'd felt then instead of the sorrow that had consumed her after Edmund's death.

To his delight, it had worked and little by little with walks in the gardens and picnics in the hunting grounds, she emerged out of the darkness. Her heart still grieved, as it did every day for all of her lost children, but she had started to make peace with it and could smile and laugh once again.

Edmund and James were playing in heaven, she liked to think, building towers and knocking them over with their other lost brothers and sister - just like little Edward did as a babe. They were happy, she thought whenever she felt sad, she may not be able to take care of her babes but God did and they would be happy in heaven.

"I expect the tourney will be a great event!" Richard remarked, making reference to the tournament Edward had arranged for the next week in honour of Marie's tenth birthday. Each day there would be jousts, melees, wrestling, archery, nobles flooding the grounds and castle and Constance looked forward to it immensely! She loved to watch tournaments (despite the violence) and looked forward to greeting the honoured guests that had arrived a mere hour ago.

Margaret of York and her stepdaughter Mary of Burgundy.

Richard had travelled to London to attend, leaving Anne at Middleham to care for the babe in her belly, wanting their child to be born at their childhood home, and he would be participating alongside the King! He would have Marie's favour while Edward claimed the Queen's!

"It shall!" Constance replied "Isabella is certainly excited, we haven't held a tourney since Cecily's birth but she is too young to watch!"
"She might not be!" Edward laughed, taking the goblet for another sip of wine "although she's only two she's an adventurous young thing, determined, she likes watching me train, I've promised to gift her a dagger one day!"

"What will we do after the tourney?"

Edward tilted his head, frowning slightly as George sat by the hearth and Richard's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean George?"
"I mean" He replied, pouring himself another goblet of wine "you wish to create a legacy do you not? Be remembered?"

"I will be remembered" Edward shot back tersely and Constance felt the hand on her waist tense. Of course George had to stir the pot of peace they had "and as for my legacy, I have crushed Lancaster and I have my son who will reign after me"

"But what have you taken?"
"Spit it out George" Richard snapped "What do you want" George raised his eyebrows.
"Steady, little brother! I was simply asking Ned what he's taken!" His gaze returned to the King where the Queen was now frowning too "Yes, you've claimed what's rightfully yours in England but what about your lands elsewhere?"

"Elsewhere?" Edward asked "What do you mean" George smiled.
"France"
Constance's eyes went wide.

"What?" She demanded, pushing away Edward's arm and standing up, fists clenched "What do you mean France? My country?" George shrugged.
"England is your country, Constance" He replied and immediately Edward was on his feet too and glaring at his younger brother.

"Careful" He warned and George sat back down but his eagerness was not curbed.
"Mad old Henry was crowned King of France why can't you be? And then there's the empire of our ancestors which lies in France? It is ours"
"It used to be ours" Richard corrected "It was lost long ago, you know that"
"But what is lost can be retaken!" George laughed "Ned has already proven that!"

Constance's heart beat wildly in her chest, her nails digging so hard into her palms she almost drew blood. Invading her homeland? Tearing it apart with war as England had been? It was one thing for him to think it, it was another to suggest it in her presence! Rage flowed through her.

"Get out" She told him "Get out now"
"Do it, George" Edward said and George rolled his eyes, his smile fading.
"Fine" He grumbled and stood, sauntering out of the room "Think on it, on the glory" He called before shutting the door and Constance huffed, beginning to pace up and down the chamber.

"How dare he, how dare he!" She yelled "suggesting you invade my homeland, kill my people! England has seen enough of war fighting against itself, the last thing this country needs is to go to war against another!"
"I know, I know" Edward murmured, catching her by the arm when she passed and pulling her into a firm embrace "he had no right to speak thus, particularly in your presence"

"But of course he did!" Richard sighed, draining the last of his wine from his cup "He is insufferable and you'd best be wary, he will not relent now he's grasped this idea"

"I will not have it" Constance replied sharply, moving from Edward's arms "nor will I think on it....I shall go and greet our guests"
"Connie...." Edward called as she walked away but she shook her head.

"I need distraction" She declared before leaving and gliding through the halls, her head held high as nobles and servants alike bowed and curtsied to her. They did not desire a war with France, she thought, she was almost sure of it. How many of them had lost Fathers, sons, to the war of their own land?

'Cease thinking on it' She told herself and made herself smile as she entered the rooms assigned to Mary of Burgundy. Inside, the seventeen year old was perched on the end, chatting happily to her ladies maids in French. She had grown all the more beautiful in the three years since Constance had seen her for the first time, almost the exact image of Isabella in her face and the Queen smiled.

"Mary, mon cher!" She greeted and Mary looked up, instantly making to rise and curtsy as her ladies did "Bienvenue en Angleterre" 'Welcome to England' She continued when her niece rose, clasping her gently by the shoulders and pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek. Mary smiled, taking her hands when they brushed down her sleeves "C'est un plaisir de vous accueillir ici" 'It is a pleasure to have you here"

"Le plaisir est tout à moi, votre grâce!" 'The pleasure is all mine, your grace!' Mary replied happily "C'est un honneur d'être invité à votre cour, c'est magnifique!" 'It is an honour to be invited to your court, it is beautiful'

"Merci" Constance replied, a pleased flush spreading across her cheeks. She adored whenever her court was praised, particularly by outsiders and squeezed Mary's hands "et qu'en est-il de votre belle-mère? Je la verrai bientôt, mais est-elle en bonne santé?" 'And what of your Stepmother? I shall see her soon but is she well?' Mary nodded.

"Très bien!" She answered, waving for her ladies to continue unpacking "Elle a apporté beaucoup de cadeaux, votre grâce, tout comme moi, notamment une longueur de damas chacun pour mes petits cousins!" 'She has brought many gifts, your grace, as have I, particularly a length of damask each for my little cousins!' Her kindness, much like her Mother's, made Constance's heart warm and smiled again.

"Tu es trop gentille, nièce et tu dois m'appeler Dame tante, au lieu de ta grâce!" 'You are too kind, niece, and you must call me your Lady Aunt instead of your grace!" Mary's cheeks flushed a pleased pink and she nodded, kissing her regal Aunt on the cheek as she'd done to greet her.

"Sister!"

Constance turned and let out a cry of glee at the sight of Margaret of York in the doorway to her stepdaughter's chambers, dressed in deep purple and her dark hair adorned with gold; strings of polished pearls. There was no ceremony between the two as the Duchess and the Queen rushed forth, easily falling into each other's arms and embracing warmly.

"It has been an age since I saw you, Meg!" Constance sighed happily, relishing the familiar hug.

"It has" Margaret agreed "But I am glad we meet in happier circumstances than we did prior!" Pulling back, she took Constance's hands, beaming "Edward is on the throne once more, your son is the Prince of Wales, your children are safe...." Her happy tone dwindled somewhat as her mind stumbled on a memory "I heard of your little Spring Prince and....I am very sorry you were made to endure the pain you've suffered so many times before"

Looking behind at Mary, Constance managed a smile before she looped her arm through Margaret's and they stepped out into the ornate hallway. She needn't have an audience to her confessions of grief.

"Thank you, sister" She answered after a moment, the same pain thrumming through her heart that appeared whenever she thought of her little Edmund "the deaths of all six of my lost children have caused great pain but, I admit, the death of my Edmund wounded me all the greater, just as James' did" Coming to a large window with a curved window seat ladened with cushions, they sat, Constance fiddling with her rings.

"He had a name..." She whispered, feeling tears fill her eyes "I saw him breathe....I heard him cry" She looked up, blinking as two heavy tears rolled down her cheeks "He was alive, my boy was alive....and there was nothing I could do but watch him die in my arms, Margaret" Her fingers reached for the onyx rosary at her waist and they ran over the cool beads, soothing her as they always did.

Edmund was at peace, she reminded herself, he felt no pain, suffered no sadness, he was at God's side in paradise - safe in his care.

"He is with our Lord above now" She continued, plucking forth a handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbing her tears away "I must be content with that and focus on the joy I have in my life, the four living children that walk the earth with me....I have missed you"

Margaret tilted her head, a small smile full of affectionate warmth gracing her lips.
"I've missed you too, Connie"

༻᯽༺

That night....

Glancing at Edward in the mirror of the dressing table in his chambers, Constance lay down her ivory brush and smoothed out the soft linen of her nightgown, taking a breath.

"I do not feel the children are safe at court"

Edward glanced up from where he lounged on the bed, flicking through the pages of a book he immediately forgot at his wife's words. Surprise lit his eyes.
"What do you mean, my sweetheart?"
She turned to face him.
"Exactly what I said, Ned....I do not feel the children are safe at court, it is a mixing pot of danger and schemes and if there is talk of war then...."

Edward sighed, tossing his book aside and striding from the bed to her in three long steps.
"George has disturbed your peace of mind, hasn't he?" He asked, taking her hands to raise her to her feet before leading her to the bed "insufferable bastard"

"He has" She admitted, watching him with a loving gaze as he tucked the bedcovers around her before climbing in on the other side. Reaching out, he pulled her gently against him, kissing the top of her head "It tears my heart in two to say it but....I believe the girls should be moved, at least Isabella and Cecily should"

Edward nodded.

"If that is what you wish, my love, I know you hate to be parted from our little ones"
She did. She always would but she would not have them in danger and if she was to be parted from them, she would ensure it was on her terms.
"I think Eltham would be a suitable place to set up their household. Tis not far from Westminster so we could pay visits to them and have them at court when we wish"

Edward hummed but inside, his mind roared with rage. One of Constance's worst fears was being parted from her babes and now, with one word of war against her homeland, George had made her suggest it herself! Only the greatest fear would do such a thing, he knew. He also knew it was best to follow whatever would settle her mind when it came to their children. If she wished them to be away from court for a while, he would do all he could to make it easier for her.

"Do you wish for Marie to stay with us?" He asked gently and Constance slowly nodded, laying her head in the crook of his arm.

"She is old enough" She sighed, peering up at him "Little love is ten now and it is only a matter of time until she is given her own household in some corner of the country or another. Our darling girl is older than her years, Edward, I should like to keep her close until I have to let her go to the world"

༻᯽༺

Gasps of awe and excitement flew from the crowd as knights dashed back and forth on armoured mounts across the tiltyard. Metal crashed, wood splintered, men fell from their saddles, landing with a crash on the hard earth.

Nobles watched from stands either side of the canopied royal box where the Queen, eldest daughter, the Duchess of Burgundy and her stepdaughter sat. The King was absent, readying in the royal tent to ride against his brother. Each of the ladies watching held delicately crafted circlets on their laps, crafted from reeds and flowers in the hue of their house colours.

They were favours to bestow on the contenders that asked for them who would then proudly bear them on their lances as they rode. Constance hoped hers would bring Edward luck, she'd carefully chosen the flowers for her favour, as Queen she could choose any, and looked at her favour of white roses and common broom, the little yellow flowers the root from which the Plantagenet name stemmed.

"C'est merveilleuse, dame tante!" 'Tis wonderful, Lady Aunt!' Mary remarked, watching as pages paraded below with the two standards of the men next to compete.
"Baron Hastings against Sir Thomas St Leger!" The crier in York livery announced and Constance glanced to where her ladies sat in the stands.

Katherine clasped her hands at the sound of her husband's name, girlish giggles escaping her lips in excitement. Anne watched eagerly too, hopeful that her husband would prove himself worthy of her in the eyes of the court that day! Edward had not been the only one who disapproved of the match and a tourney was an apt opportunity make them change their minds!

The two rode valiantly, respecting their opponent, keeping their lances steady when they aimed, but, in the end, it was Sir Thomas that prevailed, unhorsing Will and sending him to the floor with a thump. While Anne jumped to her feet, applauding, Katherine let out a small squeak, smiling with a relived sigh when her husband rose to his feet and waved to her.

He and the victor left the tilt yard the the court began to buzz with excitement for the next opponents, the King and his youngest brother. They were evenly matched, both strong, both quick, both skilled and, while Edward had more experience, that never appeared to stop Richard weather it was on the battlefield or in a tourney!

Some wondered weather he would allow his older brother to win but Constance knew Richard had been given strict instructions not to keep any of his strength at bay and also knew he would obey.

"His grace King Edward against his grace the Duke of Gloucester"

The crowd sat up in their seats at the two rode out from opposite ends of the tilt yard holding their lances, confident on their steeds who bore caparisons each with their coat of arms and bedecked with their personal badges. Their armour shone in the midday sun, Edward's a striking black while Richard's was almost white it was so thoroughly polished!

They cut fine figures both of them as they rode forward, trotting towards the royal box where they reigned in their horses and lifted their visors. The King was the first to preset his lance, lifting it and tilting it towards his wife.

"My beloved Queen, I beg the honour of being bequeathed your favour so I may be granted victory in this tournament" He spoke loudly so all could hear and Constance smiled, rising from her throne with her circlet in hand.

"Of course, my King" She announced and the crowd applauded. Placing a kiss to the wreath of flowers, she placed it on the tip of his lance, watching it slide down the wooden pole to him where he kissed a white rose "I wish you the best of luck!"
"Thank you, my lady, I shall ride with you in my heart"

He bowed in his saddle, she curtsied where she stood before returning to her throne and watching with a large grin as he rode away to his position on one side of the jousting track. Richard then moved forward, lifting up his lance and tilting it to Marie who beamed down at him.

"Princess Marie, beloved by all and beloved by me, I beg you to bestow your favour upon me this day so I might triumph"
His niece giggled happily and hopped down from her seat, taking her circlet of lilies and violets to the front of the royal box. Raising herself slightly onto her toes, she placed her favour onto his lance and watched it slide down to him.

"Good luck Uncle!" She called and the crowd applauded again as she slipped back to her seat and Richard rode away.

"Tu t'en es très bien sorti, petit cousin!" 'You did very well, little cousin!' Mary praised as she sat 'Vous avez beaucoup de grâce en vous!' 'You have much grace about you!' The younger girl blushed with pride at that, pushing back her shoulders, pleased to be complimented by someone so beautiful and elegant as her Burgundian cousin.

"Merci" She replied happily and Mary smiled, a fondness for the girl clear in her eyes.

The King and the Duke rode to their positions, lowering their visors to shield their faces and sitting proudly in their saddles. The Queen stood, drawing her handkerchief from her sleeve and raising it high. The crowd held their breath, waiting for her to cast her arm down and, when she did, they erupted.

Two rounds the King and his brother fought, Richard landing the first blow, his lance shattering against Edward's shield but it was the former that claimed victory, landing the best blows to his brother and almost knocking him from his horse. The crowd cheered and chanted and when the two men dismounted, the embraced, clasping one another's arms with grins on their faces.