~Henry and Edward~

June 1481, Ludlow....

Side by side, Eleanor and Margaret rode towards the town of Ludlow, the hoods of their cloaks pulled over their heads to protect themselves from the rain that hammered down mercilessly on them.

Each time they glanced up to see the road ahead their faces were drenched with rainwater and they would be forced to look down again, trusting their horses to take them where they were going! It had taken the Duchess of Gloucester much quicker than she thought to track down Henry Tudor and his Uncle Jasper and now the two had travelled from Brittany to Ludlow all while managing not to get caught. Secretly, she had rather thought they would.

But now, seeing Margaret's smiling face, she was glad that they hadn't. When smiling Margaret was actually rather pretty, Eleanor thought as she stole a glance at her companion before having to retreat behind her hood once more from the rain. Her cold features relaxed and her dark eyes sparkled, in a way. Eleanor grinned to herself.

Soon enough, they were trotting through the streets, pulling their hoods even further forward for fear of being recognised. Eleanor had worried that her brother Anthony or her nephew Tom would see her but she hoped they were both safely in the castle above the town and, in this weather, they most likely would be.

Water flooded the streets, poured down in mini waterfalls from the rooftops of buildings creating a flowing stream where cobbled roads were supposed to be and the citizens hobbled around in it, women pulling up the skirts of their gowns and men their cloaks to protect them.

"Is that it?" Margaret called after a while, pointing to an inn that held a Boar on the wooden sign for it. Eleanor nodded and the two pulled their horses to a halt. They dismounted as quick as they could, handing their reins to a boy who had rushed out to greet them.

"It looks as if arrangements have been made for us" Eleanor remarked lightly as they stepped inside, the warmth that filled the room flooding through her body, curling around her as a warm blanket might. She pulled back her hood and peered around the inn with almost the curiosity of a child in her eyes while she tried to wring a little bit of water from her soaked hair.

Eleanor had never been in a public inn before, had only ever stayed in them when castles or manors had not been available on the journeys to Middleham and back and even then the establishments were cleared out for the stay of a royal Duchess.

But now this new view on inns rather excited her as it would have her younger self as if she were doing something daring like sailing off to discover a new part of the world that was yet to be explored! Townsfolk gathered around tables, huddled together as they drank or gambled, trading cards and money between them and completely unaware of the woman watching them.

Eleanor looked to Margaret, expecting a reply to her comment but the other woman seemed to have been struck dumb on the spot! Her eyes were glazed over with a sort of shock and enchantment that trapped her entirely, rendering her blind to almost all, including her companion.

Eleanor recognised it as a look of pure love, the last thing she had expected to ever see from Margaret.
"Jasper" she heard her whisper before she had suddenly moved forward, leaving the Duchess to follow. As she did she saw a man with damp red hair, streaked with silvery-grey, and a curled beard that was cropped short, rise to greet Margaret, a wide smile on his face as he opened his arms to her.

Margaret rushed into them without hesitance, her pious and composed facade dropping entirely as a girlish laugh left her and she wrapped her arms around the man's neck, hugging him fiercely.

Was this Jasper Tudor, Eleanor wondered as he whispered something to Margaret and she nodded before they made towards the stairs at the other end of the room. She could only assume that it was. After all, how many other Jaspers could Margaret know that she would run off with so readily?

And so, she followed the pair, almost running to keep up with them as they seemed to fly up the stairs. She was nearly out of breath as she reached the top and gasped as she almost knocked over the man Margaret had disappeared with.

He was alone in the narrow hallway that had several doors either side of it and Eleanor immediately stepped back, stumbling over her apologies while the man merely eyed her curiously.

"Where's Margaret?" She asked as he leant back against the wooden wall of the inn and he jerked his head towards one of the doors, rain droplets flying from his hair "you must be Jasper"
"I am" he replied steadily the deepness of his voice slightly surprising her though she didn't know what else she had expected "and you must be Eleanor Plantagenet, the Duchess of Gloucester?"

"That I am" she replied, unable to resist a small smile at the name he had used for it made her heart light up inside of her "though you are the first apart from my husband to call me Plantagenet, my Lord"

"Call me, Jasper, please" he said, also smiling for the first time as he extended a hand, rough from the handling of swords. Eleanor removed one of her riding gloves, placing her hand in his and expecting him to shake it, raising her eyebrows when he kissed it instead, his beard tickling her skin "I count you as a friend" he said more warmly now as he caught Eleanor's surprised expression "for it is you that has brought Mother and son together once more and for that you will always have my gratitude"

She smiled as he released her hand.
"I'm glad to have done so" she replied "Last year I suffered a loss of a son and I suppose it made me realise that the time with our children is precious, more precious than any jewel or crown"

"My deepest condolences" Jasper said with a nod, one she returned "though I do wonder where your husband is?"
"At war" she sighed "and I do not know when he shall return to me but I pray each day that he will, safe and sound" she paused, thought for a moment "I suppose you do not like him based on your loyalty to Lancaster?"

The older man shrugged slightly, mulling over his response while he hooked his thumbs into the dark leather of his sword belt.
"I've only ever seen him as a child" he admitted "I remember he had dark hair like his Father and was rather small though looked as determined as a six year old ever could" Eleanor smiled. That was definitely her Richard "but I have heard of his fierce loyalty to York and his hatred for Lancastrians so no, I do not like him....I suppose you share this same loyalty to York?"

"I am loyal to my husband, my children and to my friends"
"That's a rather cynical answer" he pointed out "are you not loyal to your beloved King Edward? And what of your sister?"

"You are wading into dangerous water, Jasper" Eleanor returned, knowing she must handle her words with care "but my relationship with the crown, especially my dear sister has been soured somewhat by numerous events I would rather avoid" Jasper raised his eyebrows but did not press further and Eleanor bit the inside of her cheek a little, glancing towards the door that Margaret was behind "I should be away" she murmured "tell Margaret that she should be at Ludlow Castle by nightfall and that I shall be waiting for her there....I think it is high time I saw my kin again"

꧁꧂

The servants at Ludlow castle had been more than surprised when the Duchess of Gloucester had ridden through the castle gates, soaked to the bone and without any guards accompanying her. Some had thought that there was a war and had rushed to alert the Prince of Wales and his guardians, only just catching Eleanor's cries that there was peace!

She had been rushed up the castle stairs in a flurry of wet skirts and chattering servants that barked orders to one another as they tried to ready a room for her at lightning speed. The chamber that was selected for her had been as cold as ice for no fire was built so she had been placed in her older brother's rooms where she would be warmer.

For a few minutes she had been sat in front of the roaring fire with a heavy blanket around her shoulders while she tried to stop her teeth from chattering and then two serving girls had arrived.

They had stripped the shivering Duchess of her wet things before placing a freshly warmed chemise over her head and dressing her in a new gown. They patted her hair dry and combed it through until it tumbled down her back in all its usual curled fiery glory; placed a pearl circlet on her head before curtsying and scurrying away again.

Warmer and now more curious, Eleanor had headed to the full length mirror that was mounted on one of the walls, twirling around as she admired her gown. It was a little old fashioned but beautiful none the less. A murrey kirtle with pearl buttons on the sleeves and a deep blue velvet overdress that felt like a soft heaven against her fingers.

One of the girls had said it had belonged to the Dowager Duchess of York when the family had resided at Ludlow and Eleanor tried to imagine Cecily wearing it, the late Duke Richard by her side.

The rightful Queen of England.
With the rightful King.

She knew that Cecily had been one of the most beautiful women in the land when she had been younger with golden hair and cornflower blue eyes that reputedly shone when she laughed. The Rose of Raby she had been called.

Had she laughed with her husband as Eleanor laughed with hers? Had Cecily and Richard loved one another as Eleanor and Richard did? She found herself hoping so.

Moving away from the mirror, Eleanor looked around the room. It was definitely her brother's. With hunting weapons mounting the walls and swords stacked up in a corner there could be no doubt!

"Well well well if it isn't the little Duchess of Gloucester?"
"Anthony!" She whirled around at the sound of his voice running to her brother and jumping into his arms; squealing as he spun her around as if she was a child again. When she was set down her smile widened as she saw Tom Grey leaning against the bedpost of his Uncle's bed. 

When she had last seen him he had been a boy of 17, now he was a man of 26, strong and tall with dark brown hair that he had to brush out of his eyes when it fell across his forehead.
"Leena" he greeted with a grin opening his arms and chuckling when she rushed into them, swinging her around just as Anthony had done "I must say you do not look a day older than when I last saw you!"

"I'm glad to hear it!" Eleanor chuckled, punching him playfully on the arm once he had put her down "you look like a true man now, Tom! A soldier if ever there was one!" Tom grinned in response and combed a hand through his hair before he turned around, looking towards the open door.

"Come on Eddie!" He said brightly "she won't bite! She's your Aunt!" Eleanor peered over his shoulder, finding she had to raise herself up onto her tiptoes to do so and smiled at the nine year old boy that appeared at the door. The Prince of Wales.

He didn't look much like his father, was almost all his Mother with his green eyes, that matched Eleanor's own, and silvery blonde hair. He was dressed in a rich burgundy doublet and wore a chain of office on his shoulders, one that looked far to heavy for a young boy but he carried it with a regality that made the task look easy.

That was the part of him that belonged to Edward.

The young Prince made his way into the room and towards his Aunt, his gaze assessing her from head to toe. Eleanor curtsied. She found it strange, curtsying to her own nephew, and a ten year old at that! She never curtsied to his siblings but she knew them better. She had not seen Edward since he was two and knew as Prince of Wales he would expect a curtsy from her.

"Please rise" he said softly, his voice rather high pitched. Eleanor obeyed and Edward smiled, a smile exactly like Elizabeth's though unlike his Mother, his smile reached his eyes held a certain warmth and charm that would come in useful when he was King, she thought "You are my Lady Mother's sister?"

"I am, your grace" Eleanor said with a smile that made Edward's widen as he shook his head slightly.

"You must call me Eddie, Aunt" he said brightly, perching himself on the end of the bed "why are you here? It must be something exciting! You arrived with no guards and drenched to the bone I'm told!" Eleanor chuckled and sat beside her nephew, warming to him even more as he grinned boyishly up at her.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Eddie, but the truth is far less colourful than that! I was travelling to see some of the castles that belong to your Uncle Richard and I on the border!"

"But why no guards?" He asked. She smiled.
"Why so many questions?"
"Because I'm curious, Aunt!"
"Very well, the guards came down with the flu last night and are staying at an inn nearby. My Lady Margaret Stanley stayed behind to nurse them, she should be arriving tonight, if you will have her?"

Edward looked to Tom and Anthony.
"May we have her here?" He asked and they both nodded. The boy grinned; jumped down from the bed "goodbye Aunt!" he called before he practically skipped from the room, all three adults grinning after him.

"I like him" Eleanor remarked as she stood, smoothing out her gown and looking to Tom "he reminds me of your brother Rickon when he was that age!" Anthony grinned.
"How could we ever forget either of those two when they were young! Pure chaos!"
"We were not!" Tom protested, folding his arms while Anthony snorted.
"You were!" He replied "and you, Leena, were just the same! Galavanting around Grafton without a care in the world!"

"Well I'm not nine now!" Eleanor laughed "I'm twenty eight"
"And carrying another child!" Anthony quipped, smirking as Eleanor's eyes widened and Tom downright laughed.

"How the hell did you know?!" She cried.
"Whoah, easy ginger!" He said, holding up his hands in mock surrender "Our Mother was pregnant most of the time as, I hear, you are, I know the signs well! This must be your.... tenth?"

"Eleventh" she corrected before marvelling at the number "Jesus Christ this is my eleventh child"
"How many months gone are you?" Tom asked.
"Four, they will be born in November!"

"Mark my words" Anthony proclaimed "you shall surpass our Mother's fourteen babes with flying colours by the time you are thirty five!"
"I hope not!" She laughed "birthing is a painful procedure" her face suddenly fell a little, her voice growing softer "and even after your children are not safe"