~The Traitor's Daughter~

Late June 1471, Westminster Palace....

It had been over a year since Constance had laid eyes on her little protégé, since she'd had thirteen year old Anne Neville trotting at her heels like a loyal puppy.

She was no longer thirteen, Constance reminded herself as she smoothed out her cloth of silver skirts, sitting on her throne in the great hall of Westminster Palace beside her husband. Anne was now fifteen, a woman grown in the eyes of the world and she was sure that when she appeared before the court that day, she would prove not to be the little, innocent girl she'd known.

That innocence had been cruelly stripped away, yet another thing that fuelled her hatred of Warwick.

Ever since Anne had been brought back to London, Constance had not laid eyes on her nor spoken to her. She'd been placed in the household of her sister under a form of house arrest until the crown saw fit to forgive her "crimes" and the only ounce of contact she'd had with the girl was when she sent her a dress at the dawn of the month, thinking it would do well to show her a kindness, and a small, formal note of thanks had been sent in return.

It hadn't read like Anne, in fact Constance doubted it was her for she didn't know her hand well enough to tell but as she waited for the great hall doors to open, she disregarded that, knowing she was to see the girl for herself.

That day she was to come before the court, the royal family and her monarchs to beg forgiveness from the King. Constance had tried to persuade her husband from such a public act but he'd said a public act of reconciliation was the only way for Anne to be accepted amongst the nobility once more and perhaps he was right.

While she was guiltless herself, she was still known to all as 'the traitor's daughter' as the widow of Edward of Lancaster. Perhaps it was best for her to show she was not complicit? That she only followed her Father out of the duty to obey him as her Lord she'd been taught?

As soon as it was done, Constance was determined to protect her, after all, apart from her sister, she was all alone at court. Her Father was dead, her Mother had fled into sanctuary, she needed a protector and what better one than the Queen....

"Est-ce que tu vas bien, ma chérie?" 'Are you well, sweetheart?'

The sound of her husband's gentle voice brought her forth from her thoughts and she looked at him to see her watching her with tender concern. He took her hand, lovingly smoothing his thumb over her knuckles.

"Bien sûr" Of course' She replied, forcing a small smile "Je me demandais simplement si Marie s'occupait assidûment de ses leçons" 'I was simply wondering if Marie was diligently tending to her lessons' Edward grinned at that, arching an eyebrow which made her smile to to a genuine one.

"Vous voulez dire que vous vous demandiez si elle avait persisté à corriger ses tuteurs en langues?" 'You mean you were wondering if she's persisted in correcting her tutors in languages?' He let out a loving sigh at the thought of his clever daughter, one that made Constance's heart warm "Elle est audacieuse, Connie" 'She holds command, Connie' He continued proudly "La qualité d'une belle reine" 'The quality of a fine Queen'

"Vous êtes donc toujours déterminée à en faire une reine?" 'So you are still determined to make her a Queen?'

"Je la verrai couronnée" 'I shall see her crowned' He replied determinedly "et dans son règne, j'espère qu'elle est comme toi, mon amour" 'and in her rule I hope she is just as you are, my love'

As a coral blush painted her cheeks at his words, Constance pulled their joined hands towards her, pressing a loving kiss to the back of his before holding it softly against her cheek.
"Je t'aime" 'I love you'
He smiled.
"Je t'aime" 'I love you'

"The Lady Anne Neville"
The reedy voice of Lord Stanley announced.

He was not a man Constance liked nor trusted. He was always smiling, always pleasant but his smile never quite reached his eyes and his words were never trustworthy, at least by her standards. He was rather well built and tall, sporting his grey hair cropped with a long bushy beard and always walked with a degree of arrogance in his gait.

He and his brother were famous for placing one of them on each side to ensure the Stanley's stayed in favour no matter what the outcome of any battle and their lack of loyalty turned the Queen's stomach.

Still, she tried to ignore her dislike for him as two ladies of the court walked through the doors of the great hall, Anne Neville in two. Constance tilted up her chin, craning her neck to see the girl as she approached, anxious to see how she fared. She was disheartened to find she didn't appear well.

She wore the gown the Queen had gifted her, a simple black, velvet brocade (for her mourning) and her slender fingers lifted the front so she would not trip.

Her honey hair was tightly pulled back beneath a netted coif, covered by a black veil flowing to her knees. Her face was still delicately pretty and her frame still slim as if the smallest breeze would break her bones (despite the gentle curves of her breasts and hips now shaping her gown) but something in those blue eyes of hers, once so bright and full of life had become dark - dead even.

They carried purple crescents underneath, an almost unnerving contrast to her pale skin that only seemed to have become paler since she was last at court, worryingly so. She no longer smiled, indeed, her chapped lips seemed set in a permanent straight line to convey no emotion as if she were afraid that even the slightest hint of one to the people surrounding her would lead to anger, and then, retribution.

She was a shell of herself, a ghost of the girl she'd been, and Constance's heart wept to see it.

Her attendants left her and she finally walked forth to the dais, not daring to look at the figures on the dais as if she truly believed they would harm her.

Gathering her skirts, she curtsied before lowering herself to her knees, hands clasped submissively in her lap.

"Your grace" Even her voice had changed, Constance thought sadly, no longer bearing the lightness of youth "I humbly beg for your pardon and mercy" She raised her head a little, looking up at Edward "It was not my will to betray you....my Father ordered my marriage to the son of Marguerite of Anjou and she commanded I go with them" She dropped her head again, shaking it slowly "I had no choice but to obey...."

Edward watched her for a moment before rising to his feet, striding down the dais to where Anne knelt while the court and his Queen watched. Reaching down, he offered her his hands and Anne looked up in surprise, placing hers in his and holding her breath as she was raised to her feet.

"Rise, cousin"

Constance breathed a sigh of relief.

"You needn't look so afraid" Edward said, offering his young cousin a small smile "What did you expect from me? The rack?" She shook her head and he squeezed her hands "You know that Marguerite of Anjou is defeated and will never ride out against me again? And that her cause has no merit?"

"I know that now" Anne replied and his smile widened.

"Well that is good enough for me! I forgive you and pardon you! You are welcome here, at court and may live with your sister!"
"You are very merciful, your grace" Anne said, bowing her head in thanks and Edward released her hands, watching her curtsy before he returned to his throne.

Constance smiled at him, silently thanking him for his gracious words. Anne was led away by her ladies and she tried to catch the girls eye but to no avail. Her old friend had not looked at her once....

"Shall we retire, my Lady?" Edward asked and she nodded, taking his hand and nodding to the court as they bowed and curtsied. They retreated to the King's chambers, both settling by the fire with goblets of wine. Drumming her fingers on her goblet, Constance looked up at her husband, taking a breath before she spoke.

"With your permission, I should like Anne Neville to return to my service as my Lady in waiting"
Edward's eyes flicked to hers and he tilted his head, taking a sip of wine.

"I'm afraid that's not possible, sweetheart"
"Why not?" She argued "You have forgiven her? She it still your cousin and a member of one of the country's most powerful families! Dickon wants to marry her you know...."

Edward chuckled at the latter fact, he'd long since known his little brother wished to marry Warwick's youngest daughter and before the uprising wouldn't have denied him for one moment but now....

"We can forgive but we cannot favour, not yet, sweetheart" He explained gently "Anne played no part in her Father's treason but she is still known to all as the Kingmaker's daughter. We have only just reclaimed our position in the land, we cannot be seen to be soft on those perceived as traitors. She is safe. In time she can return to you"

Constance supposed he was right but she still frowned, taking a sip from her goblet.
"But she must be so lonely, Edward" She said "her Mother is in sanctuary, her Father is dead...."
"Yes!" Edward snapped, his voice suddenly terse "Her Mother is in sanctuary and her...." He swallowed "and that is where she's chosen to remain! Now, let that be the end of it, sweetheart"

Reluctantly, she nodded and averted her gaze to the fire. It was clear her husband would not give in to her then so she would approach him at a later date, perhaps then he would relent? Once the sting of Warwick's death had lessened somewhat.

"Would you like a walk in the gardens, Con?" His voice was softer now, a silent apology for the way her spoken to her moments ago. Constance sighed and smiled, placing her goblet on the table beside her as he rose and offered her his hand.

"I would like that very much!" She replied "The roses shall be in bloom by now!"

༻᯽༺

August 1471, Palace of Placentia....

At the beginning of July, the royal family moved to the Palace of Placentia, along the river at Greenwich, for the summer. The nobles of the court went to their own castles and manors in the country when the plan to return to London at Christmas. It had been Edward's suggestion while he and Constance lay in bed one night, a retreat from the world, a chance to truly relax after the harrowing year they'd had.

The plan was to hunt, to dance, to picnic in the gardens and to gain back the time they'd lost in exile. Only their closest friends were invited to join them. Anne remained at Westminster, having been placed under George's guardianship, something Constance highly disagreed with but decided to dispute quietly, slowly working Edward down until he would relent and give Anne into her care!

She was sure it would work.

Within the first week of the royal residence at the Palace of Placentia, Edward fulfilled his longtime promise to his daughter and took her on her first hunt. Marie was delighted and her nurses could barely get her into bed the night before she was so excited!

She didn't sleep a wink!

In the morning, her Mother brought her a beautiful hunting outfit - boots made of the finest leather, a pair of leather gloves with the arms of England embroidered on their cuffs, a gown made of green velvet and a matching cap with a beautiful white plume! She even gifted Marie a diamond brooch in the shape of a York rose to pin to her breast!

The Queen helped her daughter ready herself, making sure all was in place and placing her hair beneath a golden caul before setting her cap on her head and leading her to the courtyard where the King awaited. She let out a squeal of delight, letting go of her Mother's hand to dash down the palace steps where her Father held the reins of a beautiful chestnut palfrey with a diamond on its nose!

"This is Marianne!" He told her, a loving twinkle in his eye when he looked down at his daughter in her new riding habit "The finest palfrey in England for the finest Princess!" Her own eyes shone.
"Is she really for me, Father?" She breathed, removing one of her gloves to stoke a hand along the horse's back. He nodded "Oh, thank you! Thank you so so much!"

"Only the best for you, perle de mon monde!" He replied as she hugged him tightly around the middle and he bent down to kiss her on the cheek. Marie named the hunt the finest day of her life when she, her Father and Richard returned that evening and had seldom ceased talking about it since!

It was in the privacy of their Palace that the Yorks celebrated Prince Edward's first birthday, an occasion that served as a relief as well as a joy to his parents! Prominent members of the Yorkist nobility were invited to the Palace for a week of celebrations. There were feasts and dancing every night, plays, a special Sunday service in the Prince's honour!

Each guest brought a fine gift for the boy, gold adornments for his clothes, bejewelled toys, new caps and weapons for when he grew older! Little Edward sat on his Mothers lap in the great hall while the nobles came forth one by one to present their gifts and smiled at all happily, reaching for the objects he liked best.

"He has fine taste like you, my Lady!" The King chuckled when his son reached for a dagger covered in precious gems Will had commissioned for him "Thank you, my friend, it is a fine blade!"

Edward's actual birthday was spent with family alone - the day before the nobility arrived - and consisted of a picnic in the afternoon and a private meal in the evening. He was dressed in a purple velvet gown embroidered with gold thread and was made a fuss of the whole day by all! It was a happy time indeed.

Once the nobles had departed, the royal family and their close friends were left to enjoy their peace again and it was a few days later, Constance walked into her husband's office to find him talking with his brothers. Edward stood behind his death, Richard perched on the edge, George in a nearby chair.

"Are you all well?" She asked with a smile as she entered, closing the door while the men bowed respectfully at her arrival.
"Is that a new gown, my love?" Edward asked, eyeing the deep crimson dress bearing hanging sleeves lined with cloth of gold approvingly.

"I commissioned it from Burgundy in celebration of our son's birthday!" Walking around his desk she bestowed a kiss to his cheek. He chuckled.
"You should buy one for each of his milestones!" He suggested but she only smiled again.

"We both know I need more gowns than that, my love! Now" She leant against the desk "What are you discussing?"
"Our boy" Edward replied "About the construction of his own household" Constance's smile dwindled slightly at that, pain striking at her heart.

It was the custom for noble children to be raised in a separate household to their family and for royal children to have their own households away from their parents. She'd always known it would be the fate of her sons (at least her first one) to be raised mainly away from her but she'd had little time to think on it since her boy was born.

Ludlow was where Edward had grown up with Edmund and it was where he intended his son to be raised. As the castle was near the Welsh boarder, he believed it proper but the very thought of him being taken from his Mother again, even if it was into safe hands, caused Constance's heart to skip a beat. She needed to be there for him.

"So....he is to go to Wales?"
"The people must know him from childhood, Connie" Richard said gently, a sympathetic smile on his face "That way they will love him and that is how we will break Welsh loyalty to the Tudors"

"It is simply a matter of choosing the right guardian" George added and she raised an eyebrow at him. He would certainly not be filling that post!
"Then I shall choose his guardian" She replied, noticing her voice quivered slightly "I am his Mother and I shall choose who's care he shall go into. I shall choose who shall raise him into a King!"

Edward took her hand.
"Brothers, leave us"

The two Dukes rose and bowed before striding from the study, Edward making Richard promise to meet him after supper that night before he left. A moment of silence hung in the chamber's air before Edward smiled, stepping in front of Constance and taking her other hand.

"Why did you dismiss them?" She asked. He smiled, kissing her forehead.
"Because I can see you are about to collapse with worry, sweetheart" He said it with an edge of jest to his voice but was sincere all the same, squeezing her hands when she peered up at him, worried.

"How can I not? I waited so long for a living son and now he is to be taken where I cannot see him, where I cannot reach him without weeks of travel! What if something happens, what if he falls sick or he...." Her voice became quicker and quicker, her breaths shorter, panic rising within until Edward shook his head, halting her.

"When has he ever fallen sick?"
She bit the inside of her cheek.
"Never...." She mumbled before her voice grew again "but children fall sick, Edward....James did. Children fall sick and children d...." His hands suddenly cupped her face, lips pressing to hers to cease her words, preventing from speaking the word they both feared.

"Don't" He whispered when he pulled away, shaking his head again "Don't ever say that, Connie, never say it"
"I can't let go of him...." She replied "I can't let go of my son, I can't have him live so far away from me" They both knew it would happen but she spoke her greatest fears anyway, letting her heart free. He would understand.

"All will be well, our son will be well" Edward told her, told them both, and she swallowed.
"Sons...."

His eyes grew wide and he felt his heart skip a beat for a moment as he took in the single word that could send him to the stars with happiness. She managed a small smile and he beamed.

"Sons? You....you're with child?"
"I'm with child" She confirmed, leading their hands to her belly that hopefully would round as the little life grew within her.
"Oh, my sweetest love! This is the greatest news!"

He hugged her, wrapping his arms tightly around her small frame as if to protect her from all the evils of the world. If he could, he would, if he could bring back all of their lost children for her, he would.

"I hope to bear you another son" She murmured against his doublet, hugging him in return "but somehow, my pregnancy makes me more fearful for the son I already have"

Edward nodded, kissing the top of her head.
"We will find him a guardian" He told her firmly "and he will be raised into the strongest King England ever knew" Constance swallowed.

"I always thought...." She ventured "I'd always hoped that....Warwick would raise our boy" Edward's sharp intake of breath was enough to tell her she'd struck a painful nerve but he only kissed her again.

"I'd hoped so to but we both know that is not to be, we shall have to find another candidate....and it will be done, sweetheart, have no fear! What you must focus on now is happiness, for the sake of the babe and for my sake too! It is summer, it is a time of joy!"

Joy, she mused, yes summer was a time of joy and she adored it. She would find the greatest joy if her past hadn't been so troubled and she feared each day would bring pain and another lost babe "I shall distract you" Edward promised, coaxing a small giggle from her at last "And as for our precious Prince, there are no lengths I would not go to to protect him. He will be safe and we will visit"

"I will write to him. Every single day!" She said and Edward's face brightened as he pulled away, gazing down into her eyes.
"That sounds perfect, my love"

༻᯽༺

August 1471....

"Would you like another strawberry, sweetling?" Constance cooed, holding up the red fruit and smiling when her boy took it. He already had evidence of his previous sweet delights smeared around his plump mouth and eagerly consumed more, chewing happily.

That day, the Queen had thought it perfect for a picnic so the royal family, her ladies in waiting and Edward and Richard's friends made their way out to the gardens. They made their camp beneath a great oak tree, it's grand green leaves shielding them from the bright rays of sun that lit the sky.

Once their feast was set out on velvet blankets, an array of drinks, fruits and cold meats, the King dismissed his servants and the party began their merriment. While the men and woman talked, the Queen's ladies and Cecily taking turns feeding the little Prince, Richard duelled with wooden swords with Marie!

It wasn't ladylike but her Mother and the others didn't care, the Princess was smiling and laughing and that was enough for them. The ladies forwent their headdresses, the men their swords (though they kept their daggers to eat) and the picnic proved a very merry afternoon!

Little Edward grinned at all around him as he finished his strawberry, holding the green stalk and red remnants for his Father to see.
"Another strawberry I see?" The King chuckled, ruffling his sons golden curls "You are growing strong, lad!"

The one year old babbled his delight, dropping his strawberry to reach for another plate on the blankets "Come here, my boy" His Father said and Constance's heart swelled in her chest as Edward took their sons little hands and helped him to stand!

He'd learnt to stand, with aid, the week of his birthday and the women cooed and clapped when he began taking wobbly little steps towards a plate holding lemon cakes.

"I don't think you'll like them!" Will laughed, offering the boy a slice of ham he eagerly took, wobbling as he turned to show it to his Father before stuffing it into his mouth.

"He certainly has an appetite!" Edward remarked as he passed their boy back to Constance and she smiled, dapping at the corners of his soft mouth with her handkerchief.

"The same as you!" She teased, bending her head to kiss her son's button nose "How goes the battle little love?" She looked up to where Marie had clambered onto Dickon's back with her sword and was commanding him to gallop around the gardens while George chased them.

"Well, Lady Mother!" She called with a wide smile and Edward stood up.
"I think I shall join in this game!" He joked, drawing his dagger and standing opposite his brother and Marie "Come at me, daughter!"

"Charge, Dickon, charge!" She cried and Richard ran forward while she raised her wooden sword, grinning "Have at it, Father!" The sword and dagger clashed in the air and Richard tripped, sending him and Marie to the ground in fits of laughter.

"I win!" Edward declared, sheathing his dagger and whisking his daughter from the floor while his brother stood, grinning "Now, what shall I have as my prize?"
"A kiss!" She declared, pressing her lips to his cheek "Fair Maidens always bestow kisses to noble knights in the books ma Mére reads to me!"

"How about I read to you tonight?" He suggested as he carried her back to the blankets and Marie beamed, nodding eagerly.
"Please do Father! Bring ma Mére and Neddy too!"

Planting a kiss on her hair, he set her down next to her Mother and she pulled her brother onto her lap, laughing when she saw his face was once again covered in strawberries.