~Mother~

December 1476, Windsor Castle....

When James came to her chambers, grim faced and brooding, Constance knew he'd seen their Mother.

Lady Agnes had arrived in early November and her daughter was shocked to see she'd retained almost none of the stunning beauty she remembered. Her face was worryingly gaunt (as was the rest of her body), her eyes sunken into her head and her skin was almost translucent. She needed the aid of her ladies to walk and almost always had a handkerchief pressed to her mouth to catch the blood she coughed up.

She'd weakly greeted the King and Queen at Windsor, wrapped in furs, almost falling when she tried to curtsy so Edward had to help raise her up again. It should've brought Constance to tears to see her Mother into such a state but she only felt the same sympathy she'd feel for any struggling stranger she saw - nothing more, despite the small smile Agnes mustered for her.

Once the dowager duchess entered her chambers, she didn't remerge, spending her days in bed with incense hanging heavily in the air, sleeping or having her ladies read the Bible to her. Constance had visited her a few times, finding it awkward to even step into the room, but James avoided her their Mother entirely, not even greeting her when she arrived.

"Jamie?"
He came to her place by the fire and slumped down into the chair opposite.
"Je l'ai vue" 'I've seen her' He mumbled and his sister sighed.
"Lui avez-vous parlé?" 'Did you speak to her?'
He shook his head.
"Non. Elle dormait. Je suis parti quand elle a commencé à se réveiller" 'No. She was sleeping. I left when she began to wake'

Constance nodded, knowing she'd been tempted to do the same on her first visit, watching as James leant his chin on his hand "C'était étrange... Je sais qu'elle m'a donné la vie, mais quand je l'ai regardée... J'ai senti qu'elle n'était pas ma mère. Je n'ai pas de mère, Connie, je n'en ai jamais, je n'ai jamais eu que toi" 'It was strange....I know she gave me life but when I looked upon her....I felt she was not my Mother. I don't have a Mother, Connie, I never have, I've only ever had you'

"Et notre père" 'And our Father' She reminded him, making him smile a little.
"Tu étais son préféré mais oui, nous avions Père" 'You were his favourite but yes, we had Father'
"Eh bien, tu sais que tu es mon préféré!" 'Well, you know you're my favourite!'
"Et vous le mien" 'And you mine' He returned, the firelight flickering across his face "Cela promet d'être un Noël intéressant" 'This promises to be an interesting Christmas'

On that they definitely both agreed.

༻᯽༺

Christmas Day....

The Christmas revels were still at full force in the great hall, with courtiers dancing, eating, drinking, telling bawdy jokes despite it being the day of Christ's birth.

The royal family had retired to the King's chambers with the children, Richard sitting with his eldest nephew (his namesake asleep in the nursery) and two eldest nieces, as well as his own son, while Edward conversed with James and Elizabeth who was saying she wished Isabel an easy birth at Richmond and it would be another boy for George.

Marie was sat happily on her Father's lap, drinking the third cup of wine he'd given her and giggling at everything James said, grinning, legs swinging back and forth beneath her crimson gown.

"Look at him" Cecily (who was seated by Constance) murmured with a smile, watching Richard pull his son onto his lap and pass him one of the beautifully carved and painted horses Will had had made for the children "I wish Anne were here but he is a wonderful Father for their boy"

"He is" Constance agreed "which reminds me, I have something for him, something long ago given to his Mother. When he is a little older I will give it to him, it is his to keep" Cecily nodded.
"And how is your Mother?"
Constance sighed, draining the contents of her goblet in the hope it would ease the conversation.
"You are my Mother. You have been for many years"

Cornflower blue eyes glinted with tender affection and Cecily placed a hand on her arm, tilting her head.
"In spirit and by law I am but not by blood, my dear" She said, in an almost wistful tone "How is she?"
"No better....I do not visit her particularly often but when I do I'm sure her health is ten times worse. She doesn't talk much but then again she never did, not to me at least...."

"Make your peace with her"
Constance raised her eyes brows, surprised.
"I do not have anything to make peace with her on"

"I wouldn't be so sure" She began to frown and Cecily sat back in her chair, placing her goblet on a nearby table "You do not think I didn't notice the yearning you had when you first came to England? You do not think I know why you bound yourself to me so quickly? I pride myself on thinking it is because you liked me but I was and am also able to recognise the yearning for a Mother's love in a child. You hardly ever speak of her and when you do you sound bitter, cheated, even if you do not realise it"

Taking in a sharp breath, Constance's gaze wavered to her lap. Perhaps she was right, perhaps even in being so adamant that Cecily was her Mother a bitterness towards Agnes showed.

"Let me think on it" She returned and Cecily nodded, moving away to talk to her daughter and soon being replaced with her son, still holding a tipsy Marie.
"Hello, ma Mère!" She greeted merrily, waving her goblet around like a sword "The wine is very nice!"
"I can tell!" Constance laughed, looking at her flushed cheeks and bright eyes "By God, Ned, how much did you give her?" He grinned.

"Not much"
"Not much by your standards!" She replied, shaking her head "She's only twelve!"
"Exactly!" Edward agreed, completely unperturbed and smiling "She's will soon be a woman grown!"
"I am a woman grown!" Marie protested, the frown on her face so comical her parents had to stifle fits of laughter "I'm just like ma Mère and I will be a Queeeen!"

"Alright, that's enough excitement for you, little love!" Constance giggled, plucking the cup from her hand at which Marie's eyes widened.
"Where did it go?" She asked, looking at her Father "my cup is gone!"
"Now even I think you've had enough!" He teased, chucking her under the chin while her Mother looked over to Elizabeth.

"Beth, would you mind taking the little ones to the nursery?"

"There is no need!" Edward answered, standing with Marie in his arms "I shall take them myself! Issy? Cis? Neddy? Time for bed!" The three children groaned, frowning "If you come now I shall read you a tale?" That lifted their mood and, with excited squeals, they jumped to their feet, following their Father as he headed to the door.

"I shall come too!" Richard said, also standing and giving a gentle kiss to his son's head as he followed, the women staring after them with wide grins.

"I can count on one hand the men I know who act so with their children" Beth remarked "particularly with daughters! I wonder why they do"
"Because I raised them" Cecily answered and the women burst into laughter.

༻᯽༺

"Hm, I like this one" Edward hummed as he climbed beneath the covers of his bed, admiring the sheer nightgown Constance wore "Is it meant to entice me?" He asked, pressing herself against him and swirling a finger around her left nipple, easily teasing it into a stiff peak.

"No!" She laughed, slapping his hand away "at least you shan't be touching me there! Our son is a determined feeder and my breasts are sore because of it!"
"Very well!" He acquiesced, settling back against the pillows and taking her hand instead "As a matter of fact I wish to speak to you about something"
"What is it?"

"You won't be pleased" He admitted and she frowned.
"Why?"
He sighed.
"I wish to talk of Marie's household....it is time she learnt how to command, how to conduct her own court....it is time we let her go"

Now it was Constance's turn to sigh and she did so heavily, staring up at the intricate canopy of the bed. She'd known it was only a matter of time until Marie had to leave her skirts, she was a growing girl, but it hurt all the same. Her little love had always been at her side.

"I am not displeased, Ned" She murmured "I knew this moment would come and, while it makes me sad, I know it needs to be done" Edward squeezed her hand.

"I am glad you think so, my love, and do not think I am oblivious to how much this shall wound you, I know how much you love her"
"I would have her live near Neddy" She replied and Edward raised his eyebrows.

"I thought you would want her to be near us?"
"And where is near us?" She returned, turning her head to look at him "We and the court move so much, particularly in the summer months, I would rather have her where a protector is always near. You know Richard would watch over her, go to her if she needs and we couldn't!"

He nodded, knowing she was right and admiring her strength to say so. Some would keep their children as close as they could even if it may not serve them well.

"Where would you have her live?" He asked and she had a ready answer.
"Berkeley Castle, where we stayed before I lost Edmund" She paused a moment "It is beautiful there and I think she shall love it well....as long as she has companions, she must have companions, Edward" The thought of her little love being lonely twisted her heart painfully.

"Of course she must!" He said, squeezing her hand again "Our little girl will have every comfort and the best girls around her! They will be even closer than you and your ladies for they will grow together!"
"And the best tutors?"
"The very best I can find, sweetheart, I shall make sure her governess is one loyal to us, kind and loving but strong, like you"

Sighing again, Constance rolled into his arms, unable to think about parting from her dearest daughter without being in his protective embrace "We will visit her" He whispered into her hair, winding locks of it around his fingers "just as we visit Neddy. And we can make it a tradition to visit Berkeley upon our summer progress if you'd like?"

Her head shot up and she smiled.
"Truly Ned?"
"Truly!" He laughed "If it would please you!"
"It would please me very well!" She replied, kissing him soundly on the mouth "Mayhap she will visit her brother or he her?"
"I'm sure they would like that, Marie does love to Mother him whenever she gets the chance!"
"And she shall love to hunt with him and Richard, showing them everything she was taught by you"

"I taught her well" He said, pride in his voice "She is a better shot than any man! Perhaps even better than me!"
"Better than you!" Constance crowed "My that is a great admission, my Lord! I once told Beth that Edward was your favourite but now I think it may be Marie!"

"Parents are not meant to have a favourite are they?" He asked but she merely arched an eyebrow.
"You didn't answer my question!"
"I don't think I need to! Let us say I have a particular fondness for Marie and our eldest boy and leave it at that shall we?"

"Ah, our eldest boy!" Constance sighed, settling back into Edward's arms again "how long we have both waited to say that....did you know Marie has requested to study a new language?"
"I did!" He chuckled "German, isn't it?"

"It is!" She confirmed "She is already fluent in French, Latin, Greek and is studying Spanish and Italian! She has overtaken me when it comes to languages!"
"I do love to hear you two speak! Switching between languages as easily as you breathe! The looks of confusion I've seen on poor Neddy's face are golden!"

"He will learn, in time!" She said "He already knows both English and French and Richard says he is progressing well in Latin, though he does have a penchant for complaining about it!" That made Edward laugh and he affectionately shook his head.

"He's like me! I always preferred to be outside with a sword in my hand than cooped up indoors pouring over books! Edmund had rather a liking for it but he was happy followed me....I wish he still did" His voice went quiet and Constance snuggled into his side.
"I know, my love, I wish he did too"

༻᯽༺

Constance was hesitant as she padded into her Mother's chambers, the dizzying scent of incense assailing her nose.

"Votre Grâce" 'Your grace' One of her attendants greeted, sweeping a deep curtsy "Je suppose que vous souhaitez voir sa grâce la duchesse douairière?" 'I assume you wish to see her grace the Dowager Duchess?'

She was about to nod when she heard a soft murmuring from the bed and recognised her Mother's voice. Suddenly, she wanted to shrink away.
"Peut-être devrais-je revenir plus tard" 'Perhaps I should return later' She began to turn when the voice of her Mother's lady spoke again.

"Attendez, votre grâce, s'il vous plaît!" 'Wait, your grace, please!' She said and Constance reluctantly looked back "Je sais que ça lui ferait du bien de te voir" 'I know it would do her good to see you' She didn't think Agnes would be exactly ecstatic at her presence, more bored as she always seemed to be when she was girl, but who was she to deny a dying woman the presence of her daughter if it was thought to be good for her?

Sighing, she nodded her head and subconsciously brushed down her skirts, raising her head before she stepped fully into the dimly lit bedchamber and was met with the skeletal sight that was her Mother. Another of her attendants was sitting at her side but, at the sight of her daughter, she weakly waved her away, barely possessing the strength to raise her hand from the covers.

"Ah....Constance"
Constance swallowed, clasping her hands together.
"Dame Mère" 'Lady Mother' She greeted inclining her head as she searched for something to say "J'espère que vous vous êtes amélioré?" 'I hope you have improved?'

A huffed laugh left Agnes' lips, one that turned into a violent cough that shook her body, twisting her face in agony. Her eyes screwed shut, her hands clenched as she tried to raise them to her mouth and Constance found herself rushing to the woman's side, producing a handkerchief and pressing it to her lips, one arm helping her to sit up a little more.

"Désolé...." 'I'm sorry....' She whispered, oblivious as to what she was apologising for "Désolé...." 'I'm sorry....'
Agnes shook her head, sinking back into her pillows once her cough settled and Constance passed the handkerchief to a nearby attendant, sighing at the sight of crimson blood that soaked it. She had the white plague.

"Se reposer" 'Rest' She told her, softly tucking the warm covers around her thin body "Y a-t-il quelque chose que je puisse vous apporter? Quelque chose que vous voulez?" 'Is there anything I can bring you? Anything you would like?' In all honesty she wondered why she wouldn't like to go back to France, why she had requested to come to England in the first place. Agnes shook her head.

"Il n'y a rien...tout le monde peut faire, même si je suis heureux que vous soyez ici" 'There is nothing....anyone can do, though I am glad you are here' Constance still doubted that "Ils me disent que James est avec toi mais qu'il n'est pas venu me voir" 'They tell me James is with you but he has not come to me' 'I wonder why' She was tempted to say, remembering how her brother had reacted to just one glimpse of their Mother, but settled on shaking her head.

"Il est occupé, Dame Mère, le Roi le tient très occupé" 'He is busy, Lady Mother, the King keeps him quite occupied'

"Ah" Agnes sighed, folding shaking hands across her stomach "Bien sûr, j'avais entendu dire qu'il était pour, il a bien fait, tout comme vous" 'Of course, I'd heard he was in favour, he has done well, as have you' Despite herself, a part of Constance's heart jumped happily at the hint of long-sought approval and a girlish smile plucked at her lips.

"J'ai?" 'I have?'
"Vous avez" 'You have....' There seemed to be more to say on her chapped lips but just as she parted them another, far harsher, coughing fit overwhelmed her body and her ladies rushed to her side.

"Pardonne-nous, ta grâce" 'Forgive us, your grace' One said hurriedly, rushing to help the Duchess sit up "mais vous devez y aller" 'but you must go'
Without a response, Constance turned on her heels and left, her heart pounding in her chest, her expression the same grim one her brother had held. She made for his chambers.

"Vous avez parlé à Mère, n'est-ce pas?" 'You've spoken to Mother, haven't you?' He asked when she burst in, eyes shining with unshed tears.

༻᯽༺

January 1477, Winchester Palace....

"Have you decided upon a Governess for the Princess Marie?" Florence asked as she, her fellow ladies and the Queen sat sewing in the Queen's chambers. Constance looked up from the little blue gown she was sewing for baby Richard and smiled.

"I think I may have found one, Florrie" She replied, using the sweet nickname she'd adopted, finding it suited Florence's honeyed disposition "Lady Alice Neville" Lizzy's head shot up, her eyes full of surprise and then glee.
"My Mother?" She asked eagerly, almost dropping her needle and Constance laughed, nodding.

"Beth showed me a number of candidates and I liked her! She knows her of course from her childhood, being her cousin and you, Isabella, her sister in law, and says she is of a merry disposition with a keen mind and firm command! Do you agree, Lizzy?" The younger woman continued nodding eagerly.

"She is!" She vouched, making the others smile "She opposed my marriage and while she did not succeed in her efforts to postpone it you should've seen the way my Father cowered at her rage! I think the Princess would like her very much, they are both intelligent with a passion for learning and, of course, my Mother is loyal to you and your husband and the house of York! My Father is dead now so she is free to jump to your command and, indeed, I think she would love to do so!"

"What a testimonial" Katherine teased and Isabella nudged her, smiling at Lizzy who was practically buzzing.

"You are right, dear niece" She said before turning to the Queen "and she also has a fun streak I remember all too well! I think her a fine choice, Connie, she will love Marie and take fine care of her!"
"And her companions?" Margaret asked "Have you chosen them?"

Constance shook her head.
"Not yet but...."
The door burst open, causing everyone to jump as the oak slammed against the stone walls and Edward stormed in, face twisted with anger, a letter crumpled in his hands.

"He's gone mad!" He yelled, turning to her "he's gone fucking mad, Constance!"
"Leave us" Constance murmured but her ladies were already placing their embroidery aside and made a hasty exit, Beth closing the door behind them.
"This is the last straw I swear to God and his saints!" Edward raged, pointing at her "This is the last straw!"

"What is, Ned?" She asked hurriedly, trying to go to him, to calm him but he pulled away, rubbing a hand across his face, throwing the letter at her feet.
"Isabel is dead"
Her arms fell to her side, struck dumb at the words that were spoken with barely a fragment of emotion, his only feeling anger. But she felt. She felt her heart fall. Both of the Kingmaker's daughters were dead?

The birth, she thought, tears brimming in her eyes, it could only be the birth, but she barely had time to grasp the information when Edward began his torrent of rage once more.

"And do you know?" He shouted "do you know what my fool, that fucking fool of a brother has done? Do you?" She shook her head wordlessly "He's only gone and had one of her ladies dragged from her home and executed without trial, accusing her of killing Isabel! He's murdered a most likely innocent woman and made a mockery of my justice! He's lost his mind!"

"He's lost his wife...." Constance whispered but he didn't hear her, too busy pacing back and forth, and she didn't repeat herself, dizzy with the news. She knew George loved Isabel dearly but this? Murder? She felt her heart only drop further when she realised she knew he'd commit it all too easily. He was quick to anger at the best of times but in grief....perhaps he had truly lost his mind?

And Isabel, poor Isabel, succumbing to the same fate as her dear sister, another life cut short and leaving innocents behind. Did the babe live, she wondered, was it well? Tears spilled down her cheeks.

A heavy thump alerted her to reality again and she saw Edward had slumped down into a nearby window seat, his face ashen and a look of disbelief pushing away his anger. Even after all this time, she thought, even after all the times he'd declared he had no love for his brother, after all the times George had betrayed him, he was still shocked, saddened even, by his acts.

"What has he done?" He whispered, eyes flicking back and forth across the flagstones, figure full of blossoming despair. He hid his head in his hands as if protecting himself from a blow "What has he done, Connie?"

"I don't know" She breathed, almost choking on a sob and rushed to his side, pulling him into her embrace. Edward melted into her, his strong arms, sliding around her middle, holding tight as he buried his face in her neck "I fear he's out of our reach now...."
He nodded into her shoulder, swallowing heavily.

"What will our Mother say...."