~Laid to Rest~

May 1476, Warwick Castle....

Margaret departed England at the beginning of February and returned after three weeks, seemingly a changed woman! A new spring was in her step, her smile became common to see and, while she was still devoted to her prayers, she was far more inclined to fun!

Not a day went by where she didn't thank the Queen or sink into the deepest curtsy possible when the King walked by; replying with great reverence if he spoke to her.

When the Royal Household embarked on their summer progress, she was in the highest of spirits and remained so, taking delight in sitting with Marie to sew with her.

Near the end of May, the extensive party reached Warwick Castle, a place that dug up unwanted feelings and memories for both the King and Queen. The Last time they'd been present, he had been imprisoned and she had been leading an army to free him. It had been the beginning of the hardships that followed they found it strange to reside within the castle walls without the Nevilles there.

One evening Constance had found Edward in their chambers, sitting on the edge of the bed, his shoulders hunched and eyes glazed over. As she went to him, a single tear trickled down his cheek and he leaned into her embrace.

"My head hates him" He whispered "But sometimes my heart still grieves for his loss, for what we shared"
"Mine does too" She replied "I miss him at times, I miss the man he was and despise the traitor he became"

And so, as the days of their stay went by, they tried to remember happier memories, smiling when a happy memory was prompted and told. It felt that, perhaps, they could make peace with Warwick's memory at last.

"Will we be attending Ludlow this progress?" Katherine asked one afternoon as she and her fellow Ladies in waiting sat sewing in the queens chambers.

"We shall!" Constance replied happily, snipping the end of a thread with her tiny silver shears "We are to travel there once we have visited Fotheringhay. Ludlow is a shorter journey from here, mind you, but Edward has insisted we travel to Fotheringhay first. Why, I could not tell you!"

A knock came at the door and, looking up from her work, she called for entry, watching the page that entered and bowed to her.
"Your grace, Lady Florence Bouchier has arrived and waits in your chamber for your permission to enter" The Queen took a breath, pain sparking in her chest.

It had taken her many months to choose a new Lady's maid, at first declaring she would not replace Anne, but, as Queen, there could not be a gap in her household. Over weeks and weeks she'd looked at possible candidates presented to her and had finally settled on the unmarried Lady Florence Bouchier, Edward's first cousin through his Aunt, Isabel of Cambridge, his Father's only sibling.

She was younger than Constance, the same age as Richard at twenty four; born in 1452. With noble blood and a prominent name, she was the perfect choice.

"Bring her in"

The page bowed again, leaving and a moment later, the Lady entered accompanied by a priest who would see her sworn in as one of the Queen's ladies, an oath each of them had taken. Florence had fine features, Constance noted as she approached, a small nose and pale skin with rosy cheeks and golden hair, a silver crucifix beneath her sapphire necklace. Her eyes were bright blue and held an inquisitiveness to them she took to immediately.

When Florence came to the Queen's ornate chair by the hearth, she gathered her cerulean skirts and sunk down to her knees, bowing her head.
"Margaret" Constance called, placing a ringed hand on her swelling belly "bring my Bible" Margret was swift to obey, bringing forth the book with its bejewelled cover and gold lettering and holding it out to Florence.

"Please place your hand on the Bible, Lady Florence" The priest instructed and she did so, raising her head to meet the Queen's gaze "Will you promise to serve her grace, Queen Constance, faithfully honourably and discreetly? And will you promise and swear that your conduct will always be modest, virtuous and good, presenting at all times a godly spectacle to others?"

Florence nodded solemnly.
"I do so promise and swear"

Constance nodded and Florence removed her hand from the Bible.
"You may rise, Lady Florence. Please, sit with me"

She hastily moved to her feet and sat in the chair opposite the Queen "As you know you have now joined my household and will now serve me alongside my Ladies in one of the highest positions in the Kingdom" She looked to her Ladies and motioned them over, waiting until they all stood in a line, from the highest to the lowest in rank "This is her grace the Duchess of Suffolk, his grace, the King's sister, this is Isabella, Countess of Northumberland, the King's cousin, then there is Katherine, Baroness Hastings, wife to the King's most trusted friend and Lord Chamberlain, Lady Margaret Stanley and Lady Elizabeth Parr, all of whom are loyal to me and to our Lord, the King. You are the King's cousin, are you not?"

"I am" Florence returned, clasping her hands "and loyal to his grace and hope to serve you well for many years to come" Constance smiled at last, satisfied the formalities were seen to and leant back in her chair.
"I know you have many siblings, as do I! You are the youngest are you not?"
"The youngest living" Florence nodded.
"And yet you have not married?"

She shook her head with a smile.
"I never wished to marry and as my Lord Father's youngest child he was content to keep me at home with my Mother. I am much drawn to the scripture, your grace, and if you had not honoured me by calling me to your service I think I should've joined the church and spent my days in prayer"

At that, Katherine gave a giggle.
"We've found you a friend, Margaret!" She teased, looking across at the other woman who shook her head, trying to stifle a chuckle of her own.
"You are very welcome, Lady Florence!" She said "I hope we may find friendship"

༻᯽༺

"Do you wish me to give birth at Fotheringhay, my love?" Constance asked as she untied the sash of her bed robe, smoothing a hand over her belly before climbing into the King's bed "I am to go into confinement in little over a month and I know it was the seat of your family before the wars began"

Edward, who had tucked himself in a nearby window seat, looked up, his arms loosely hugging his knees. He gave a heavy sigh "Ned?" Constance questioned, slipping from the covers and walking over to him, pushing herself up opposite him. The babe gave a small kick "Ned what is it? You have been maudlin for days now, I'm beginning to worry for you!"

"You have your new Lady?"
She nodded.
"Yes, she was sworn to me this Monday past but that is not my concern! My concern is you!"
Sighing again, he reached out and took her hand, giving a gentle squeeze.
"You are very sweet"
"And you are very sad" She returned "Now, tell me, what is wrong?"

After a moment, Edward nodded and leant his head back against the stone wall, staring out of the window.

"There is a reason I wish to go to Fotheringhay" He admitted before taking a deep breath "I wish to reinter my Father and Brother there. I wish to move them from Pontefract, I have already sent the order for their bodies to be brought.....what's left of them at least"
"Oh Edward...." Now it clearer than day why he'd seemed low, he was thinking of his lost kin.

"Fotheringhay was our home, my Father's favourite place. It is only right he and Edmund rest there"
"Of course" Constance agreed, squeezing his hand "Of course you must have them buried there, we will see it done and they will be at peace" Edward nodded, glancing at her before he shuffled to her side of the window seat, cuddling into her side almost in the same way their children did.

Her heart ached for him and she cradled him gently in the warmth of her embrace, pressing kisses to his hair. It had been fifteen years since the deaths of his Father and brother and still the wound of their deaths hadn't healed. It probably never would. She would be by his side every step, she thought, and see the memory of their kin honoured in death.

"Your Mother will certainly be pleased" She told him and he nodded silently against her bodice, wrapping his arms around her waist "She loved them so very much, just as you did....what shall we do with my confinement?"
"They will be put to rest by the end of June" He replied quietly "If it is postponed for any reason I will postpone your confinement" A smile plucked at her lips.

"You would go against tradition?"
"I am the King" He murmured "I can do as I wish and if I wish to have you by my side I will"

༻᯽༺

Fotheringhay Castle, June, 1476....

As the carriage bumped over another rock, Constance groaned, cradling her swelled belly and shuffling in her seat. The journey from Warwick to Fotheringhay had been the worst in her memory, despite knowing all of her children (but Aliénor) would be with her at the Castle. Her son had already arrived, having joined the royal procession with Richard a week prior, and rode in the carriage behind his Mother's with Marie, Margaret, Lizzy and Florence.

George and Isabel had also joined and the pregnant Duchess sat opposite the Queen with Isabella and Katherine, smoothing a hand over her belly with its growing bump.

"Has your sickness passed?" Constance asked with a weak smile and Isabel nodded.
"The babe shall be born in December and I hope it is another boy for Georgie. He says he shall name him Richard, for his brother"

Constance's eyes widened.
"Richard?" That was certainly a name she'd not expected! George and Richard had been at odds for years with no love lost between them.
"I know" Isabel sighed "but the reburial of his Father and brother has made him rather sentimental"

"Sentimental?" Beth repeated from beside the Queen "That's a word I never thought would be paired with my little brother but" She sighed, removing her light cloak "I suppose he grieved for our Father and brother just as much as the rest of us did. If his intentions are true then they are sweet and I commend him for it"

Isabel smiled happily, she loved when her George was praised - which was little. Constance still found her loyalty and love strange but then again, she supposed, she sometimes found her own loyalty and love to Edward strange! At least Edward didn't kindle rebellions against his own kin.

Feeling the carriage rattle beneath her again, she groaned and reached to pull back the nearby curtain.
"Are we nearly there?" She called up to James who rode beside the carriage "If I am jostled any more I shall have the babe right here!" Her brother chuckled and he pointed ahead of him.

"You may rest soon, sister!"

Looking out of the window, ahead of her, Constance breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of Fotheringhay Castle and the approaching gatehouse. It looked a fine residence, she thought, with its large stone keep and motte below which looked to contain a large hall, all surrounded by a inner high wall and a moat filled by the River Nene.

The outer wall was connected to the gatehouse and was behind a second moat that ran around most of the castle gardens behind, separating them from the rest of the castle.

"I can see why your parents favoured it" She said as Beth looked out the other side of the carriage, a rush of memories flooding through her mind.
"We were so happy" She sighed "I remember the day Richard was borne here....it was October and yet the sun has never shined brighter. This is where Father and Edmund will find peace"
"And your Mother?"
"Perhaps"

༻᯽༺

"I believe the servants have begun to bring our coffers to the chambers along here" Edward said, one arm wound around Constance's waist as he helped her up the keep steps; peering down the corridor the stepped into. Sure enough, servants were taking chests through a large door at the end and Edward gave a pleased hum "Perfect. You may rest now, sweetheart, you need not attend dinner, I know you will be tired"

She leant her head on his shoulder and sighed with relief as they entered large the bedchamber before spotting a lithe figure gazing out of the window by the grand bed, one slender hand resting on the windowsill.

"Lady Mother?"

Cecily turned, hurriedly wiping away a tear and forcing a smile onto her face.
"Forgive me, I did not hear you come in"
"You needn't apologise" Edward assured her and she nodded, glancing wistfully around the chamber, at the fireplace, at the bed.

"These were our rooms...." She said quietly "Richard's and mine....he would always stand here" She placed her hand on the windowsill again "And he would gaze out as if waiting for something to appear on the horizon...." Constance's eyes widened.

"These are your chambers?" Queen or not she would not take Cecily's rooms! In a few words alone she had presented a whole world of lost love Constance would not occupy for the sake of tradition. No, it would not do "Edward and I shall find other chambers immediately!"

"Oh no!" Cecily exclaimed, shaking her head "You are the King and Queen and these are the best rooms! They are yours!"
"They belong to you and your husband whom we are here to see laid to rest with your dear son, I will not take them, Mother. Edward and I shall find other rooms, won't we Edward?"

"Of course" Edward agreed firmly when she looked up at him before waving to the servants "Move our belongings to the chambers along the hall" He ordered, turning back to his Mother who's eyes glistened with tears, shining with love and gratitude for the two before her "Forgive us" He said softly "These are your rooms and always shall be. This is your home"

༻᯽༺

June 1476, Fotheringhay....

Constance took a breath as her ladies draped a sheer black veil over her head, hooking her onyx rosary onto the black silk sash of her gown that matched with the hue of her velvet gown. Her stockings were black, her shoes were too. This was a day of mourning and she would support her kin in her grief.

"Are you well?" She asked gently as Beth placed her crown on her head. She moved silently around to face her Queen also covered by a veil and nodded "Why don't you go and see if Mother is well? I'm sure it would rally her spirits to see you"

A small, grateful smile graced Beth's lips and, offering a curtsy before leaving "We must all be by her side today" Constance told the others "And by the side of her grace, the Duchess of York. Today she is burying her husband and son, the latter of whom was murdered in cold blood. It has been but five months since she buried her daughter, we must pay her the greatest respect and give her the greatest comfort"

She would certainly have her blood around her that day. Almost all the kin of York were present, including Isabella's loyal husband John and their children, Elizabeth's husband and her children, Florence's Mother, the late Duke's sister, and her offspring. They were all there for Richard and Edmund, they were all there for Cecily and the House of York.

"I think it is time I attend the King" Constance decided "Wait upon me in the courtyard"

Without another word, she turned and slipped through to the adjoining chamber where Edward was standing by a window, just as his Mother had been, one finger tracing the diamond panes of glass. Dressed in black, he made an imposing figure as always but his shoulders were slightly hunched, the sigh he released; heavy.

She lifted her veil.
"Ned?"
He didn't move.

"I remember standing by this window....I remember Edmund by my side....we were visiting from Ludlow and he caught a cold, poor sod" He gave a weak chuckle at the memory "His nose was red like a strawberry! I came to see how he fared and found him in here, these were his chambers you see. We stood by the window together and watched the boats go along the river" His voice dwindled into nothing and Constance heard him take a shaking breath as he turned to her, face tear-streaked "I don't think I can do this"

"Oh my sweet love" Opening her arms, she went him and he needed no coaxing to lean into her loving embrace, to melt into the warmth of her tenderness "I feel I may know a little of your pain through the loss of our dear babes but still, you must walk through it. You are the King and you must do your duty. Besides" She pulled away, drawing her handkerchief from sleeve to dab gently at her husband's cheeks "Your Mother needs you, your brothers and sister need you. Every York this day is looking to you to lead them through this misery and pain and I know you can!"

Edward sniffed.
"You will be by my side"
She smiled, cupping his face.
"You know I will. Always"

In the corner of her eye, she glanced his crown sitting on a velvet cushion and went to retrieve it, taking up the heavy circlet. When she turned, she found her husband knelt and returned to his side, placing the crown gently on his head "You are the King, Edward" She told him as he gazed up at her "I am your Queen. We are one and always shall be"

After a moment, he nodded and rose to his feet, once more towering over her as he looped his arm through hers and she let her veil float over her face once more.

Together they walked through the palace and out Intro the courtyard where the procession awaited, garbed in black. At the front, two guards in black livery sat on black palfreys and behind them, an ornate cart pulled by two steeds, a canopy over the top bearing the arms of England. Below lay the coffins of the Duke and dear Edmund.

On a white horse, Cecily was mounted behind them, her back straight and face hidden by a veil, the same as the other ladies and behind her, two horses for the King and Queen, draped in royal livery. George and Richard followed, sombre in their jet doublets and caps, with the Duke and Duchess of Suffolk, John and Isabella and the rest of the house of York's kin.

In the middle of the nobles was a carriage where the royal children awaited in their own mourning garb and they all bowed their head when their parents passed.

The King and Queen ascended their mounting blocks and gracefully seated themselves on their steeds, Constance sending Edward an encouraging smile before facing the front. 'We are all with you this day' She thought as she looked at Cecily.