~Cowards~

August 1475, France....

"I have negotiated with Louis, we are to have peace"

Eleanor, Richard and George all stared at Edward as if he had gone mad, their mouths agape with shock. They had been in France just over three weeks and already the King had all but ended the war he had taxed his country so hard to create?

It was true, since the moment they arrived on foreign soil, Edward had appeared rather jumpy whenever any of his nobles suggested advances into enemy territory. He could often be seen with a letter in his hands which was no doubt from Elizabeth, but still, this was something the three sat before him refused to believe could be happening.

Eleanor looked as if she had been struck dumb, her eyes wide and lips parted as she sought a response.

Richard's expression seemed to change each second, going from shock, to disbelief, to surprise, to disappointment and then to anger.

George merely glared at Edward and he folded his arms, eyes narrowing dangerously.

"Peace?" He almost spat, pushing back his chair as he stood, polished armour clanking "what do you mean peace?"
"And what do you mean you have negotiated?" Eleanor added, almost laughing in her shock "surely not in person? You would not be that stupid! And without your brothers too?"

Edward's face fell as they spoke. He had thought that they would be pleased at the news of coming peace! After all, Richard and Eleanor had never seemed particularly enthused at the idea, the only person he thought he would really be disappointing was George and his precious regency.

"We have exchanged letters, Leena" he said with a shrug, leaning back on his throne "and we have both agreed that there need be no French nor English blood shed!" They all jumped as George's fists suddenly slammed down on the table that separated the King and his kin, his anger rising by the moment.

"We didn't sail here to talk, Edward!" He yelled "we came here to overthrow Louis!"
"George!" Eleanor commanded firmly "for heavens sake lower your voice, you know how thin these tents are and what will the men think if they hear us squabbling between ourselves?"

"We came to win back England's honour!" Richard said, his voice surprisingly level and calm compared with the rest "and reclaim the land that should be ours!" George scoffed, carding a hand through his hair, though he did not shout again, biting his tongue as his sister gave him another look of warning.

"He has told me he will offer land, Dickon!" Edward explained "so you see we can win without a battle!"
"He cannot offer us dignity or glory!"

"And he won't make me regent, Edward, which is what we agreed!" George hissed, glaring once more as his brother rose from his throne, his patience quickly ebbing.

"We agreed on nothing brother" he retorted, walking around to where George stood while Eleanor and Richard watched carefully from their chairs, ready to prevent a fight if need be "I said that I would think about it yet you act as if you are entitled to it!"

George shook his head as he searched for words, looking between his brothers and sister in law before his fists came down upon the table once more and he stormed from the tent with a disgruntled yell.

"Well that went well I must say" Eleanor sighed as she stood from her chair, pouring herself a goblet of wine while Edward scoffed.
"I don't know why you two insist on acting as if I have done you some great wrong!" He said with a shake of his head "this peace treaty will make the both of you richer then ever and I thought you did not want this war in the first place!"

"This is not about us, Edward!" Eleanor sighed "this is about the people! About England!"
"Precisely!" Richard murmured, placing his hand atop Eleanor's as she rested one on his shoulder.

"And what do you mean by that?" Edward snapped.
"I mean that you have bled our country dry with taxes for this French war! And the people only gave you the money because...."
"Because I am their King!"

"No" Eleanor sighed "they did it because you promised them a victory over our greatest enemy!The people of England near starved this winter when you began to collect taxes! This is not about us Edward! You must not only look out for yourself and our family but for your people! If you return home with nothing to offer them! No stunning victory to cheer you through the streets they will not be happy and understandably so!"

Edward merely frowned at her words, turning away as he offered no reply. Eleanor suddenly found herself seized with a bout of annoyance. How could her brother be so blind? So foolish?

She for one would not let him wander into the arms of France as he was willingly doing! Striding forward she took hold of his arm, whirling him around to face her while a rather startled gasp left him.

"You would let Louis triumph over us without so much as batting an eye?" She cried "You promised your people a glorious victory, a mighty defeat of our greatest enemy only to revel your intentions are to scramble for gold before you crawl back to your Kingdom without a sword drawn? Where is your honour Edward? Where is the mighty warrior that fought at Barnet? At Towton? For I do not see him!"

That made Edward listen. Suddenly he straightened his back, something akin to anger flashing in his eyes as he leant forward a little.
"Do not question me on this again, ma petite boule de feu" he said softly, though there was undoubtedly a note of warning to his words "or I fear you will not like the consequences"

"And you will not like the consequences if you ever dare to threaten Leena again" Richard replied, slowly rising from his chair and curling an arm protectively around Eleanor's waist while he glared at his older brother. Edward raised his eyebrows before he nodded, turning and leaving the tent with the Duke and Duchess staring after him.

꧁꧂

Château de Picquigny, one week later....

Eleanor stared at the embroidered curtains that were drawn across the windows of her rooms at the Château de Picquigny, the castle at which she and the rest of the English nobles that had accompanied King Edward were to stay until they returned to England.

The King and his retinue had moved there two days before after he had signed the treaty of peace with the King of France! The ceremony at which the peace had been completed had been attended by all, apart from the Kings two brothers and sister in law who had each refused to be part of such a matter!

He had spent near upon three days threatening them with different punishments in an effort to make them appear at his side but they would not be swayed, with Eleanor once declaring that she would rather see France invade her homeland than be apart of the dishonest bargain that her King had struck up with Louis.

France was to give England fifty-five thousand pounds in repayment for the expenses of the war and five thousand each year after. But not only that, no, Edward had agreed to give his little Lizzie in marriage to the Dauphin of France!

The two Dukes and the Duchess (along with Rob, Jack, Francis and Harry) had begun to formulate a plan to return to England as soon as the treaty was signed and from the coast they would return to Middleham together but Edward had soon put a stop to that plan. He had ordered that they stay until after the treaties 'celebrations'.

Celebrations which were now taking place at the other side of the castle while Eleanor sat in her chambers with Anais and Marie quietly sewing opposite her. The French King had bough Edward and his nobles the best whores and wine and the English had spent the day, that was now quickly fading into night, drinking and whoring their way to an early grave.

And the English army were no different, had descended upon the nearby towns with all the enthusiasm they could muster, filling the brothels and the inns and ale houses to the bursting point! Their drunken singing could be heard from the castle and Eleanor wished that it would cease.

Richard had been forced to attend the 'festivities', though he had loudly protested against his brother's orders and Eleanor could not wait for his return to her. Then they would be able to make a plan for when they returned to England for they were now both out of favour with the King and the Queen which could not bode well!

"What troubles you, mon cher?" Marie asked gently, her soft voice a form of balm to Eleanor's nerves as she placed down her embroidery. The Duchess tilted her head a little. She had long since wondered what her friend thought of the war with France, after all, she was French herself!

Marie had never voiced her opinion on the subject, though, had seemingly kept on with her work as if she were not with the retinue of nobles seeking to conquer her own country.

"Many things trouble me, Marie" Eleanor replied after a moment "....though at the moment I worry over my family's position more than anything! I fear Richard and I shall face a storm if we are not careful upon our return to England! And then there is Richard himself!"

"What about his grace?" Marie questioned "is he well?"
"Yes" Eleanor sighed "he is in good health as am I....but if he continues to worry so as he is doing! Over Edward! Over our people! Over England! I fear he will drive himself to illness, I simply wish there was something I could do to relive his stress or at least make him forget for a while"

Marie nodded before a small smirk spread across her lips and her brown eyes brightened slightly with mischief, something that was hardly ever seen.
"I may have an idea, your grace...." she said slowly and Eleanor lifted her head, her ears pricking up as she awaited the long sought solution "if you are willing to listen"

"I am!" Eleanor said anxiously, slightly leaning forward in her seat as she gulped down the remaining wine in her goblet.
"Well....how long has it been since you lay with him?"

It was as if her words had triggered a storm for suddenly Anais' blonde head had snapped upwards; blonde curls flying and mouth falling agape as she stared in shock at her friend.
"Marie Raoult!" She cried in disbelief, hardly believing that the words had left the prim Lady's lips "vhat do you know of such things?"

"More than you think believe it or not" Marie replied, smoothing out her skirt as Anais all but threw her embroidery aside so that she could listen "my education was rather thorough and the years I have spent at court have provided me with....intelligence, shall we say...."

"Intelligence that you vill oh most definitely be sharing vith my keen little ears!" Anais said brightly while Eleanor grinned at her, as surprised as she to find Marie knew anything about matters of the bedchamber!

"I will not!" Marie scoffed waving a hand in dismissal "I am sending you to fetch food for our Lady!" Anais immediately scowled, her bottom lip sticking out slightly just as Bess' did, almost making Eleanor break into laughter, though she did as she was told after a moment, despite all but stomping from the room "well now that dear Anna has gone we may speak freely!" Marie chuckled and the Duchess nodded.

"W-we have not lain together since January" She said quietly "I was heavy with child of course and then we have had this war, though I am thinking of ceasing to call it that! Love making simply isn't something we have thought of I suppose"

"I see" Marie said slowly before mischief entered her eyes once more and a playful smile curved her lips "then what do you say you enter his bed tonight with a little, comment dirais-je cela, vigour? Tell me, Eleanor, how long has it been since you were last on top in the bedchamber?"

"Since I was last what?" Eleanor's eyes became as wide as saucers at the question and she could see Marie was trying to refrain from blatant laughter at her bemused expression.

"You know surely!" Marie chuckled before her initial amusement gave way to a sudden seriousness "you do not mean to tell me that you have never made love from above, so to speak, before?" Eleanor shook her head wordlessly and suddenly her friend's eyes were as wide as hers "in all of your six years of marriage you have not once...."

"No" The Duchess finally managed, finding her cheeks suddenly heating as she flushed a deep red "I did not even know that....that I could be....on top of Richard...."

"He has not prevented you from trying has he?"
"No! No of course not....I suppose have never thought about it before....but I have never been unhappy in our love making! No, I have always found it to be the most enjoyable thing I've ever had! And Richard is more than able to....pleasure me as I hope I pleasure him!"

Marie began to laugh, outrightly this time, though it was not in a mocking sense, more at her surprise of the seeming remaining shred of innocence that the Duchess held. Shaking her head slightly she forced herself to cease her giggles, leaning forward in her chair as Eleanor watched her.

"Well" she replied with a smirk "would you like to try this new revelation, mon cher?" Her smile widened as Eleanor hesitated slightly before she nodded, her green eyes suddenly lighting with excitement as she mulled over the idea presented to her.

She truly had never wondered about being on top before! Had always been more than happy to let Richard take the lead in their love making....but perhaps that was something she was about to change? However, a small frown settled on her face as a question popped into her mind.

"How...." she began, trying in earnest to find the right words as she began to blush again "if I....if I am on top....how will Richard....enter me....?"

"Doux Jésus" Marie whispered while Eleanor simply stared at her, waiting for an answer "I think it may be easier for the both of us if I simply show you this process, mon cher. If you feel comfortable, of course?" Eleanor nodded, taking the hand that Marie extended and letting herself be led to the bedchamber.

Marie closed the doors behind them, making sure they were securely locked before she turned around to give Eleanor a reassuring smile "onto the bed" she instructed gently, watching as the younger woman climbed onto the covers before she walked over "now" she said softly "if at any point you wish for me to stop then you only need say, mon cher" She smiled again as Eleanor nodded before carefully climbing on top of her so that she was comfortably straddling her hips.

A soft gasp escaped the Duchess as she suddenly found herself staring up into the smiling face of her friend, gulping slightly when Marie took her hands. She guided them to her waist, chuckling as Eleanor watched curiously, tilting her head on the pillow.

"You must take control, Leena, and then once you do, simply watch as he drowns in pleasure at your very hands for I assure you he will" she said.