~Hunting Ghosts~

February 1472, Eltham Palace....

Frost glazed the windows and the cold hung heavy in the air for the first hunt of the year.

Constance had her ladies wrap her in her warmest cloak and softest gloves, making sure her gown was heavy and layered, keeping the swell of her belly snug; baby happy. He was growing stronger by the day, indeed, he kicked like a stallion in her womb, so much so he kept her awake some nights!

"Are you ready, my love?" Edward asked as he entered her chambers, slipping on his leather gloves while her ladies placed a long veil over the golden coif binding her hair "How fares our son? Is he well?"
"He is!" She replied taking his hand and slipping it beneath the folds of her cloak to her belly. A kick met his palm "See, he already knows his Father!"
"He does! Now, are you sure you should be attending the hunt?"

Constance chuckled as she waved her ladies away.
"I am sure! It will do baby and I good, Ned! You will take Marie with you, will you not?"
"Of course!" He replied "Our daughter is a fine shot with an arrow and I'm determined to make her the finest huntress this land has known! She's young but she never flinches at the blood, she only thinks of it as victory!"

"Like you then?"
Edward grinned, removing his hand from her belly to wrap an arm around her waist as he guided her from her chambers.
"If I walk with Marie, you should walk with Dickon! He shall be near the back as he always chooses to be so you shan't be tired out and I know you are fond of him!"

"That I am!" She agreed with a nod "I expect James shall join me before the excitement of the hunt claims him and he joins you and Will!"
"He too is a very good shot!"

The two smiled as they headed out into the courtyard where the nobles awaited, ready to begin the day in the palace's hunting grounds. Some stood with bows, others with their trusty hounds waiting to set them loose to catch prey. All bowed and curtsied as the King and Queen emerged.

Constance looked around, searching for the lithe figure of Anne Neville. She was nowhere to be found, only her elder sister and George could be seen. Her heart sank.

"Ah, my King, my Queen!" Richard greeted merrily, as she and Edward joined their circle of friends, bowing "I trust you are both well?"

"We are!" Edward replied happily "As is our growing son! The Princess should be along soon, Connie has bought her yet another selection of garments!" Constance smiled, hitting him playfully on the arm.
"You know I will not her have anything less than the best and she must have hunting outfits for each season!"

"We all do the same!" Will agreed "The amount of gowns my Kate and daughters demand of me will bleed my coffers dry if I'm not careful!"
"Well Kate has fine taste!" Constance returned "She has one of the finest tastes of my ladies when it comes to choosing jewels and dresses!"

"My Lord Father! Lady Mother!"
The King and Queen turned to see their daughter, accompanied by her nurses, skipping towards them, spinning before she curtsied to make her skirts twirl.

"Ah, my Princess!" Edward greeted as Constance kissed their daughter on the head, admiring her outfit of blue velvet "How do you fare today?"
"Well, Father!" She replied "May I still hunt with you?" He smiled, nodding and she stood proudly at his side, pushing back her shoulders.

"You look a Queen, little love" Constance complimented and Marie grinned.
"One day you and Father shall make me so!" She replied happily.

༻᯽༺

Cradling her belly beneath her cloak, the Queen ambled through the forest, the chatter of the court distant to her ears.

Neither she nor Richard were desperate for the company of prying nobles and, as they were at the back, were able to distance themselves from the rest of the hunt until it was merely them and two pages, far enough behind so they wouldn't hear any words the Queen and Duke spoke.

"If you ever tire, I shall escort you back immediately" He said for the fifth time that morning and she smiled.

"You are sweet, Richard" He inclined his head before scouring the trees for birds.
"I'll wager Ned already has ten!"
"You have five!" She chuckled, glancing behind to the page carrying his kills from the day "and you shall fetch more! See!" She pointed into the woods as a pheasant flapped by "Over there!"

Immediately Richard drew an arrow from his quiver and drew it back easily, narrowing his eyes and widening his stance as he fired. The arrow flew through the air, brushing blooming leaves before burying straight in the eye of his pray. The pheasant fell to the floor - lifeless.

"Six!" Constance laughed as the second page ran to fetch it "You shall beat Ned by evening!" Richard chuckled and on they walked, peacefully taking in the sounds of the forest as the noise of the court disappeared entirely "May I ask you something?" She enquired after a minute or two and he turned to her.

"Anything, Connie"
She nodded, making sure their pages definitely weren't in earshot before she spoke.
"Have you seen anything of Anne of late? Anne Neville?" If she'd glanced at her brother in law she would've seen the way his eyes darkened slightly with anger "I know she is in mourning and George says she is clasped by grief but...."

"George is lying!" He snapped and she stopped her steady walk, staring at him in complete shock. Richard rarely sounded so riled nor was he one for outbursts. Grimacing slightly, he bit the inside of his cheek, taking a breath, stopping his steps "Forgive me....but Anne is not in mourning" Constance frowned.

"What do you mean, Dickon?"
He sighed, glancing at their two companions.
"Search the bushes for prey!" He ordered and immediately they were away, his eyes following until they were out of sight "I have seen her" He murmured and Constance's eyes widened "I saw her last month. It is the first time I've seen her since she arrived at court"

"And?" She asked eagerly "is she well, is she content?" Richard grimaced again, shaking his head.
"George is all but holding her prisoner it seems. She says he wants the other half of the Neville fortune for himself. Apparently it's what he views as rightfully his and...."

"And it would make him one of the richest men in England...." Constance finished, silently cursing herself for not spying his plan earlier, for not pushing Edward harder for Anne's guardianship. She knew what he was, she knew he couldn't be trusted. She should've fought! She should've protected Anne just as she promised she would! "That bastard"

Richard hummed in agreement, clenching his fists just as he'd done the day he discovered Anne was to marry Edward of Lancaster.

"I tried to convince her to go along with him, to make it seem like she is going on along with him but she's a Neville and therefore she's stubborn" He was angry, that much was clear, but there were still traces of affection when he spoke of her, almost making her smile.

"I will go straight to Edward" She decided "Tonight, straight after the hunt, I will go to him, I will force him to give Anne to me, then I can protect her!" Richard nodded.
"Yes" He encouraged "Go to him, I don't know why I did not, I told her I would but I knew I had to approach him at the right moment"

"The same as I" Constance replied, placing a hand on his arm, her plan already forming in her mind, how she would convince him, how they would convince him "Come to his chambers after dinner, the two of us against him should be enough. With any luck we shall have Anne safe by morning"

Richard nodded again, glancing over his shoulder at the sound of the pages footsteps running through the grass to inform him prey was to be shot "Let us continue" The Queen decided and they began their steady walk again, her hands cradling their belly once more "I have something more to ask you and the time is now"

He raised his eyebrows.
"As I said, anything, Connie"
Now it was her turn to nod and she did so, taking a breath.

"You know my little Edward is to be taken from me when he turns two?"
"Indeed" A sympathetic smile graced his lips "And I know it pains you greatly"
"Well" She continued "I think I may have discovered a way to make it less so"
"Oh?"

"Yes....I have found him a guardian....you"
Richard stopped again, prompting her to do so and his eyes widened like two blue saucers, blinking almost as if he believed he'd heard her wrong.
"Me?" He repeated and she nodded, a smile finally gracing her face "You want me to take your son?"

"You are amongst those I trust most" She told him firmly "You have honour, courage and I know you would protect him with your life, just as you'd protect me or Edward or Marie or any of your kin!" The praise made his cheeks turn coral and he smiled, puffing out his chest a little, just as he did in private when Edward praised him.

In public he would only smile slightly, if not a little awkwardly.

"I would, you know that I would!" He assured her "It would be an honour to raise the Prince!"
"You will raise him into a King" She added "And imagine he shall be the finest England ever saw under your tutelage!"

From there, they walked on, hunting, talking, and it was only as the evening closed in that they parted ways at the palace. In the halls where nobles wandered (most retreating to their rooms to warm by roaring fires) Constance congratulated Marie on the many kills she and her Father had achieved. The young Princess was most proud of her victories and had a smile her Mother wagered would rival the sun in brightness!

After sending her with her nurses to change, she made to retire to her chambers but two figures caught her eye at the end of the hallway. George and Isabel. Rage boiled inside of her.

The Duke kept her captive and his wife, while she loved Isabel dearly she was unsure of her stance in this. She may not be aware of her husband's schemes but surely she knew of her sister's imprisonment? Why had she not tried to aid her?

Picking up her skirts, the Queen strode towards the Duke and Duchess, deciding to see if George would persist in his lies of Anne's grief.

"You needn't worry, my sweet love" She heard him say as she approached, Isabel's hand held tenderly in his. It was a strange sight to her eyes but genuine nonetheless "all will be well, you should rest" Isabel smiled.
"Are you certain?" She asked and George smiled too, tilting his head.
"Of course, Isa, now, rest, I shall see you at dinner"

Leaning forward, he kissed her gently on the lips before ushering her away with her ladies and watched her leave, smiling softly as her figure glided down the corridor. His gaze turned to Constance as she appeared by his side and he swept an elegant bow she nodded cooly at.

"Sister" He greeted.
"Brother" She returned "Upon my word I have had no sight of Anne these past eight months together? How does she fare?" George sighed loudly, an imitation of sadness, clasping his hands behind his back.
"She is entrapped in grief, sister, there is little that consoles her"
"Is that so?"
"It is, your grace"

Constance raised her chin, picking up her skirts again. It was clear he wouldn't relent, not that she'd expected him too, she'd expected him to act just as he did; to lie through his teeth.

"Well, do give her my regards and tell her I shall pray for her" She said and with that, glided away, ignoring his deep bow.

༻᯽༺

Twisting her rings back and forth, Constance paced before the fire in Edward's reception chamber, the train of her gown rustling behind her. Anxiously, she looked toward the great doors again, hoping for the figure of Richard to walk through them. Edward would arrive soon, having been delayed in a meeting with some of his men but she knew his brother wasn't one of their number!

He'd agreed to come to her after dinner and yet, an hour had passed and he was nowhere to be found. It was odd to say the least, worryingly so, Richard was the epitome of punctuality and always kept his word. He wanted to protect Anne as much as she did, mayhap much more, he wanted to save her so why on earth would he squander the chance of doing so?

All too soon, Edward entered, flicking through a stack of papers until he looked up, surprised to see her standing by his desk.

"Sweetheart!" He greeted, placing his papers on the desk and wrapping an arm around her waist "I thought you would be resting for baby" Kissing her gently, she smiled against his lips.

"I wished to speak with you" She told him and he arched an eyebrow as he pulled away. It was decided, if Richard wasn't coming, she would have to convince Edward herself.
"Oh?" He asked and she took his hand, leading them to the hearth where they sat opposite one another "Is something troubling you, Connie? Are you well?"

"I am well" She assured him "As is baby. Your son is strong" As if to demonstrate, her little one stretched inside her womb, pressing little arms and legs into her "It is Anne Neville I fear is not well" Edward frowned.

"Anne?" He repeated "I admit I have not seen her but she is pardoned and she is in mourning it is not surprising she is not seen!"
"Richard and I spoke today" Constance pressed "He's spoken to her and she believes George is...."

"It is an outrage! It's a scandal!" Yelling at the top of his angry lungs, the devil they were speaking of banged into the King's chambers, slamming the doors behind him. Constance jumped and Edward stared, bewildered, as his brother stomped before them, hands on his hips like an angry washerwoman "It is treason!" He raged "Vile treason!"

"What is?" Edward huffed "You have burst into my chambers unannounced yelling about God knows what and you'd better have a damn good explanation for it!"
"He's run off with her!" George yelled, pacing angrily "Richard has run off with Anne Neville!"

"What?" Constance cried, practically jumping to her feet "Richard and Anne have run away?" George looked at her.
"Well at least someone is reacting appropriately! What are you going to do about it?" He asked "She is my ward"

"Just as her fortune is supposedly yours?" Constance returned but he only rolled his eyes, halting before his brother and tapping his foot impatiently.
"So? What will you do? I demand they be brought back!"

"If we don't know where they are then they can't be brought back" Edward replied, now surprisingly calm and George's eyes bulged.
"So you aren't going to do anything? You're not going to help?"

Edward shrugged, leaning back in his chair.
"If his intention is to marry her, which I know he's long wanted, then I give them my blessing"
"Without consulting me?"
"You are her guardian" Constance reminded him sharply "Not the King, that is Ned and his word is final"

Glaring at the King and Queen, George let out an enraged yell before storming from the chamber again and they were left alone.
"Well well well" Edward murmured as Constance sat and then he began to laugh, loudly, heartily, until the jolly sound reached up to the rafters and she joined him in mirth.

So, she thought happily, Richard had had a reason not to attend after all! She only hoped the two were safe.

༻᯽༺

10th of April 1472, Eltham Palace....

Lizzy mopped her brow as Anne and Beth held her hands, telling her sweet encouragements while she pushed. Her Mother in law prayed by the bed, her ladies brought water and sheets, the midwives talked amongst themselves, watching and aiding the birth.

Her shift was rucked up to her waist, drenched in sweat, legs splayed and blood pooled between them as she laboured for the sixth hour that day, working to push the babe from her belly.

"You are so close, your grace" Lizzy whispered "Your son will come soon, I am sure of it"
Constance simply screamed, squeezing the hands of her kin as she pushed again, feeling like knives were being pushed into her belly.

"Lord above save me" She whispered, collapsing against the damp pillows behind "Sweet Mother Mary preserve me and my child"

"You are doing so well" Cecily praised, smoothing her hair back from her face "Be strong for your son, be strong for Ned and yourself" Constance nodded, trying to breathe as agony racked her tired body. It was her shortest labour thus far but it still pained her beyond belief. Sometimes, she mused she'd rather fight on a battlefield than in childbed!

"Where is Edward?" She groaned "Where is he?"
"At a council meeting with Will" Katherine said, gently cleaning some of the blood from between her legs "But he shan't be concentrating on a word his men say, he never does when you are in labour"

"I can see the head!" A midwife called and relieved sighs swept the room "Not long now, your grace!"

"You hear that, Connie?" Anne comforted as Constance pushed again, gritting her teeth so hard she was in danger of breaking them "It is not long!"
"My son!" She panted "I need my son...."
"And you will have him" Beth replied "Push, sister, push!"

She did as she was bade, pushing with all the will she possessed, over and over until a small cry broke the hot air in her confinement chamber and she collapsed against the pillows again.

"You've done it!" Lizzy comforted, mopping her brow again "The child is here"
"A boy?" Constance called, lifting her head to gaze on the squirming child the midwives were cleaning of blood from. Cecily peered over their shoulders and shook her head, sighing but smiling all the same.

"'Not a Prince, my dear, but a Princess, a healthy Princess"

"Healthy...." Constance whispered. She'd hoped for a second Prince but boy or girl, that word meant the world to her. Healthy meant strong and, mostly, strong meant living. James had been so but with Edward and Marie she had hope, more than hope, she believed "Bring her" She commanded, sitting up on the pillows with urgency - if not great difficulty "bring my girl to me"

Cecily took the little girl and wrapped her in a blanket of ivory silk she'd embroidered with white roses while in confinement with the Queen. The baby mewled, flailing her little fists and legs, cheeks bright red as she was carried to her Mother. Constance held her arms out readily, cooing when the little bundle was placed in them, it's weight robust and she let out a small sob of joy.

"She is healthy" She laughed, gently shushing the little girl, rocking her tenderly back and forth until she was silent; looking up at her Mother with eyes of emerald green just like her own.

"Bonjour mon petit" She whispered, bending her head to nuzzle into the soft wisps of dark hair crowning the baby's head "Vous êtes les bienvenus chez moi, comme tous mes bébés l'ont été. Marie t'adorera. Elle aime votre frère, bien sûr, mais elle sera si heureuse d'avoir une petite sœur!" 'You are very welcome to me, just as all my babes have been. Marie shall adore you. She loves your brother, of course, but she shall be so pleased to have a little sister!'

"Et je t'aime aussi" 'and I love you too' She continued "comment puis-je ne pas le faire quand tu es fait d'amour? De moi?" 'How can I not when you are made from love? From me?'

"She's beautiful!" Lizzy breathed, staring at the babe who reminded her so much of her own Anne.
"She's a fine York Princess!" Cecily agreed and Constance sighed, glancing up at the Duchess.

"What shall Edward say?" She asked "All throughout my pregnancy we have been determined this babe was a boy! He was so sure, I was so sure!" Cecily merely tilted her head.

"You remember how he greeted our dear Marie do you not?" Constance nodded "Then have no doubt, he shall love his second daughter as much as his first or I shall box his ears!"

Giggles exploded amongst the ladies and Cecily smiled "Just because he is King doesn't diminish my power as his Mother!"
"Which we are all very glad of!" Anne chuckled "Now, let us have you cleaned sister and then bring the King to greet the Princess!"

Her ladies helped her into a warm bath once it was brought and Cecily cradled her daughter as she washed, watching the baby every second. When she emerged and was dry, she was settled back in bed in a clean nightgown and her hair braided over one shoulder.

She held her daughter carefully, gazing down on her perfect little face as her ladies and Mother in law filed out, all curtsying to the King as they passed him in the hall. Constance held her breath when he entered, his eyes immediately falling on the small bundle in her arms. A tender smile graced his lips.
"A daughter I was told?"

"You were told right!" She enthused, smiling in return as he sat gently at her side, careful as always. Tilting his head, he gazed at the little face of their newborn daughter, his heart filling with love ever second he stared.

"She's as perfect as our beautiful Marie" He whispered "May I hold her?" Nodding happily, Constance relaxed back against the pillows as Edward lifted the baby into his arms, whispering soft words to her when she let out a tiny cry that tugged at her Mother's heart "There now" Edward comforted "You needn't cry, little one"

The girl quieted and her parents smiled "Already she has all the grace of a Princess" Her Father said "Will you feed her yourself?"
"I will" Constance replied "I have decided that unless I am unable to do so I shall feed all of the children I bear for you" He smiled again.
"Of course, sweetheart, and a name?"

Leaning her head on Edward's shoulder, she sighed softly, reaching out to stroke a finger along one of her daughter's plump cheeks.

"I knew my sister, Isabella very little as she married when I was ten and my memories of her had faded but she gave me the greatest comfort in the world on our wedding night. She soothed my fears and provided the love our Mother could not. I wish to honour her"

Edward hummed, gently kissing the little girl's forehead, watching as she drifted to sleep content in his arms.

"Princess Isabella of York" He murmured before turning to look at Constance as she raised her head from his shoulder "Thank you, sweetheart" He said "For giving me such a precious jewel"