~Lives to come~

The Duchess of Gloucester sat beside the Queen's throne as her green eyes swept the hall that was alive with music and dancing. She had not spoken to her husband since the argument they had had three days before and now she did not see him within the large groups of brightly dressed courtiers. She was glad of that.

"Are you well?" She asked as she leant over to her sister who shook her head.
"Look who is coming towards us....and I don't think you shall be well either" Elizabeth replied sternly and Eleanor followed the Queen's gaze to see Lord Warwick striding towards the throne. She immediately rose from her seat, as did Tom and Rickon Grey.

"Your grace" the man greeted, bowing to the Queen before he turned to Eleanor who glared at him "and congratulations to you, your grace, as the new Duchess of Gloucester"

She gave him a clipped now before looking to Thomas as he stepped forward angrily, his fists clenched.
"You shouldn't even be here!" He cried but his mother put a hand out to stop him.
"Thomas" she scolded gently but her sister shook her head.

"Let the lad speak" she said through gritted teeth "for if he won't then I will"
"I'm only glad that he and his brother were not with their grandfather and uncle when they were butchered with your axe" Elizabeth murmured, trying her best to keep her anger in check as she glared at the man before her. He nodded in agreement, though the sarcasm in his expression was clear as it was in his voice.

"So am I, that would have been too awful for you"

Eleanor felt her hands curl into fists at his words, her rage rising with each second.
"How could you be so heartless?" She demanded, making a few people turn her way "you murdered my father and brother in cold blood, do you have no remorse?"

A harsh laugh left Warwick's throat and it was all Eleanor could do to to not reach out and strike him as she had done to his wife.
"I may be heartless" he said quietly, glaring at her "but you are naive, a far greater failing, wouldn't your agree?"

Unable to reply as her cheeks began to burn red with anger, the Duchess pushed past the Lord and stormed from the hall, the courtiers staring after her. She rushed through the palace as fast as her pride and composure would allow, but still she could not stop the tears that flooded to her eyes.

Warwick's words echoed in her ears, the images of her father and brother's heads stuck on spikes whirled around and around her mind, making her vision spin until she found she could stand no longer. Bile rose in her throat as she threw open the nearest window and leant out, vomiting right into the themes. Her chest heaved as she was sick, tears falling from her eyes until she felt someone gently grasp her hair, pulling it away from her face.

When she was finally finished, she stumbled back to find a strong arm encircling her waist and a soft handkerchief dabb at her lips. Looking up, Eleanor found herself staring into the eyes of her husband.

She tried to pull away but he kept his hold on her firm, guiding her to his rooms before he sat her on his bed. She watched him in silence, with suspicion as he shut the door and filled two goblets with wine, passing her the second.

"What happened?" He asked with a slight tilt of his head, though his expression betrayed no emotion "is the baby causing you trouble?"
Eleanor shook her head, finding herself actually relaxing into the pillows of her husband's bed.
"It was Warwick" she muttered and Richard arched his eyebrows "and before you scold me, my Lord I for once wish your had been there to hear him!"

Richard nodded, walking around to the other side of the bed and lying down beside her as he took a large gulp of wine and set down the goblet on the floor.

"I'm not scolding you, whatever may have occurred the other day" he replied calmly "and I hope you know I'm sorry for that. But what could Warwick have possibly said to cause you to to be moved to tears in public then throw up into the Themes!"

The Duchess sighed and placed down her goblet as he had done, placing her hands on the small bump that was concealed beneath her gown.
"It was not just his words....but his actions" she explained, looking earnestly at her husband "he executed my father an my brother! Murdered them, had their heads struck from their bodies and now....he's here! At court, swanning around as if nothing has happened and I am now expected to forgive him! You have told me I must, Edward has told me I must! But I can't!"

"We must have peace....but I do understand how you feel, my lady....."
"But I want revenge! You would not forgive Margaret of Anjou for tearing your father and brother apart would you?" She countered and Richard shook his head "well this is no different! And I shall have revenge on George too, someday, I know that he is your brother but...."

"Do not fret about that" the Duke interrupted with a small smile, snatching up his goblet again "I'm verging on hating my dear brother at the moment!"

"So I suppose we have finally found something we have in common!" Eleanor said with a grin, for the first time in four months of marriage a little more at ease with the man beside her who grinned back, gently taking and kissing her hand.
"Come" he said suddenly rising from the bed while she watched his with curious eyes "I have a gift for you"

"A gift?" She questioned, finally deciding to follow him out into the hallway "you did not tell me you were going to get me a gift! I would have sought one for you if I had known"

"Well" Richard replied with a shrug "it isn't exactly a gift gift, it is something that a Duchess needs. Ladies in waiting"
"Ladies in waiting?" His wife repeated suddenly stopping "but...."

"Let me explain" he said, placing his hands on her shoulders while she stared at him, open mouthed "I know that you have friends at Leeds castle but you are a Royal Duchess now and must have proper ladies to attend you....the two girls I have selected are both from noble families so they will be suitable and....well I hope you get along with them if you do not I shall send for others....and besides your retinue shall probably expand over time!"

Eleanor thought for a moment, staring at her husband before she made herself smile and nod her head.
"Thank you" she said before they continued to walk again "and you? Do you have a retinue?"
"Of a sort" the Duke replied, clasping his hands behind his back "though it is mostly made up of men I have known since boyhood! Perhaps you will meet them someday?"
"Perhaps" she replied before a silence fell.

The pair reached the Duchess's chambers a few minutes later and walked in with their heads held high, looking like true royals as two young women curtsied low before them.

Eleanor watched them, taking in their appearance. A golden haired, blue eyed girl who looked a little younger than her and a brown haired and eyed woman who looked a little older. Gesturing for them to rise, the first girl stepped forward and the Duchess nodded a little at her.

"This is Lady Anais de Cloet" Richard said and Anais smiled at Eleanor, her eyes alight with wonder and curiosity as she curtsied again.
"Your grace" she greeted before stepping back and the other stepped forth.

"And this is Lady Marie Raoult" the Duke said. Marie nodded her head as Eleanor had done before curtsying.
"An honour to meet you, votre grâce"

Eleanor looked to her husband with a small smile, once again thanking him before he bowed to her and exited the room, leaving the Duchess and her new ladies alone.

She crossed to the chair that lay beside her window and gestured for the other two to follow, watching as they sat at her skirts.
"Tell me of yourselves" she commanded quietly "your ages, where you come from....if you are to be my ladies, my trusted companions then I must know you....as you shall know by now, I am Eleanor Woodville, Duchess of Gloucester, Countess of Rutland, sister to the Queen and wife to the King's brother....now speak"

"I am Anais, your grace, and I am sixteen!" Anais immediately said, a bright smile appearing on her face "but most of my friends vill call me Anna! My parents vere from France but moved to Burgundy vhen I vas small. From there they joined the Burgundian court and vhen I vas fourteen I came to England!"

As she came to an end, Eleanor smiled at her kindly, enjoying her open and bubbly seeming nature and finding her heavy Flemish accent was pleasant to her ear. Instantly she knew that she would get along with this girl before she turned to the other and nodded for her to speak.

"I am Marie, your grace" Marie said, clasping her hands in her lap, a rather solemn look on her face "and I am twenty years of age. My parents are French nobles though I know them little. They were mostly at court and when I was twelve I was sent here to be trained as a lady in waiting"

"Then why have I not seen you?" Eleanor interrupted with an arched eyebrow "surely I must have at one point or another?"
Marie shook her head, smiling for the first time, a smile that softened her features; that was gentle and kind.

"You are the sister of the Queen of England" she replied "and were away from the court for over a year! Granted, I have seen you many a time, your grace, but there is no reason why you should have noticed me!"
"I wonder how much I do not notice!" The Duchess returned, her brows furrowing in thought "perhaps I should pay more attention to what is around me?"

At once Marie's face became alarmed and she shook her head.
"Je ne voulais pas offenser, votre grâce" she said quickly but Eleanor laughed, shaking her head.
"Offend me?" She asked "how could you have offended me, Marie? No, you have enlightened me! If anything I'm rather impressed that I understood your French for mine is more than terrible....now, go and prepare your chambers, I believe they are next to mine"

"Ve shall know the vay!" Anais told her brightly as she rose with her fellow lady and curtsied before they both went to find their chambers.

Eleanor herself went to return to the feast, clutching the charm around her neck as she prayed to Melusina for Warwick's death and of George's too. She near jumped out of her skin as she spotted Richard waiting outside her door and was tempted to curse him there and then if the servants and courtiers were not also in the halls.

Laying her hand on his arm, they walked towards the great hall again.
"Why were you waiting for me?" She queried, waiting for her answer as they were announced and advanced into the large chamber, nodding to the people that bowed and curtsied to them.

"I have someone I would like you to meet" Richard said "I thought it would be rather a good idea after our conversation earlier....it may change your opinion a little"

'I doubt it' she was about to say but stopped as she was brought in front of a tall man with tousled dark hair that fell to his shoulders in the same way Richard's did. His smile was warm and welcoming as he bowed and the Duke grinned at him, pulling him into a fond embrace though Eleanor found she could not return the pleasantries as she noticed how much this man resembled Lord Warwick....

"My dear wife" Richard announced, snapping the Duchess from her worried thoughts, making her gaze turn back to the man in front of her "this is my most beloved cousin, John Neville, Earl of Northumberland. John, this is my wife, Eleanor Woodville" At last Eleanor found the strength to dip into a small curtsy but still her expression remained suspicious "John here has remained loyal to the house of York all his life" Richard continued "he has never once strayed from our side, no matter what his brothers have done"

Before she could protest, Richard had linked Eleanor and John's arms and strolled away, clearly satisfied with himself.

"So....you are Warwick's brother, my Lord?" The Duchess's asked as the pair began to walk the hall, wandering in and out of groups of courtiers.
"I am" he answered "but whatever his actions I assure you I do not condone nor have any part in them....so may I offer my condolences on the loss of your father and brother....I lost my own brother at the battle of Wakefield and my father just a day later so I know what pain will be in your heart....and anger too"

"I never thought of that..." Eleanor murmured "Warwick lost his father and brother just a day apart....which makes his actions all the worse for he must have known what pain he would put me and my kin through....but I thank you for your condolences, my Lord....and....I thank you for the loyalty that you have shown the house of York throughout this rebellion....most would chose to follow their family....you did not"

John smiled slightly and nodded, patting Eleanor's hand.
"The Yorks are my family but I understand what you mean. My brother is blinded by a need for power, a need for control and a hatred for your family. But just because I am his brother does not mean that I will join him in treason. Unlike brother Richard I have a stronger loyalty! His depends on the amount of power our family gets mine does not. I believe that if you pledge your loyalty to someone then you keep that pledge"

"And you have just soared up in my good opinion" Eleanor remarked, suddenly genuinely smiling at the man beside her "truly I thought all Neville's hated my family....perhaps I was wrong....how long have you known my husband?"

"Ever since he was a boy! Around nine I should think. I trained him at Middleham with my brother and I must say that he is one of the best swordsmen England shall ever know" he lowered his voice a little, a smirk playing about his lips "and don't tell Ned or George this but he's better than both of his elder brothers combined. How do you get along with him?"

The Duchess scoffed a little as they sat down at the edge of the hall, watching the dancing couples who were all wearing bright smiles on their faces.

"We....we do not get along" she began and John raised an eyebrow in question "you see, we seemed to have always disliked each other too a point ever since I first came to court and then suddenly we were married! Neither of us were happy about the arrangement....sometimes we are civil to one another and then other times I think we could probably pull in the sky with our arguments!"

"So love?" The Lord began only to be cut off.
"Love?" Eleanor repeated, trying to laugh though there was a hint of pain in her voice which John managed to detect "love is as gone from my life as sure as the day is gone when the sun sets"

"And you are sure of this because do not forget that the sun always rises again, does it not?"
"I am sure....the only thing I have now is the child I carry....and I pray for a girl" the Duchess noticed that surprised look John gave her and smiled as she shook her head playfully "I know most women would wish for boys to secure their husbands line but I want a daughter. One, because I think I could raise a girl better then a boy. And two if I had a son I fear my husband would take him away from me....not for spiteful reasons but because he forever speaks of his boyhood in the North and I fear that he would send my son there!"

A slight grin lit up John's face and he leant back against the wall, crossing his arms while his brown eyes glinted.
"You don't have anything against the North, do you? Because it's home to me! To Dickon too I should say"
"Not particularly" Eleanor answered with a sigh "but I have never been there and I must stay by my sister, the Queen's, side! And to have my child taken from me I could not bear!"

The Lord nodded in understanding, patting the Duchesse's hand before he continued.
"Perhaps you would let your son go to the North when he is older? And you have other children to care for?"

"Other children?" Eleanor cried, looking at John as if her were insane "forgive me, my lord but after this child there shall be no more! Of that I can assure you!"
"I see, have you told Richard that?"
"I think he understands plainly enough!....do you have children, my Lord?"

At once John's expression seemed to lighten as he smiled brightly, nodding.
"Aye!" He replied "five daughters, Anne, Elizabeth, Margaret, Lucy and Isabel and then one son, George"

"Ah" Eleanor murmured as she thought "George is the one who is to be made the Duke of Bedford is he not?" John nodded and she returned the gesture, knowing what her sister would want her to say. Something venomous that promised a battle but as the Duchess looked at the man before her, she could not help but smile. "I'm glad that the title is going to one who is worthy of it" she said before she stood and walked away, a hand on her growing belly.