~Jacquetta~

8th of May 1470....

Eleanor smiled as she watched Anais wrap her baby in a soft blanket, embroidered with York roses and golden Phoenixes, a piece Marie had worked diligently on for months and now looked upon proudly.

The Duchess could not remember a time where she had felt so tired nor so happy. For two days and two nights she had been in labour, only having given birth an hour prior to then, just as the morning rays of sunlight began to shine through the windows as if welcoming the little one into the world.

The birthing process had been more painful than Eleanor could ever have imagined and she was thankful that she would never have to be subjected to it again but even the memories of her suffering could not mar the joy she felt blossom inside of her as she gazed upon her newborn babe.

Now with fresh sheets on her bed, dressed in a fresh nightgown and her hair brushed and neatly braided, she held out her arms (though she found the movement difficult) and smiled.
"Bring her to me, Anais" she called softly and the younger woman nodded picking up the small child into her arms and carrying her to her mother.

Eleanor's body relaxed into the pillows propped up behind her as her daughter was placed into her arms, her inquisitive blue eyes staring upwards into her mother's green ones.

"Hello, my little one" the Duchess whispered, gently stroking the baby's wisps of red hair that slightly stuck up on her head "my little daughter" she giggled at her own words leaning down to press a kiss to the babe's nose before a small cough from Marie made her look up curiously.

She followed her Lady's gaze to the door to see Richard standing at the threshold, dark circles under his eyes which blatantly presented his lack of sleep and dressed in his shirt, trousers and boots, no sign of a fine doublet or shining chains of office.

"You may leave us" Eleanor instructed and Anais and Marie nodded, dipping into curtsies towards the Duke and Duchess before they left, closing the chamber door softly behind them "come in!" Eleanor invited with a smile as she watched her husband linger at the other end of the room, his expression almost anxious "come in and see her, Richard!"

The use of his first name seemed to snap him from his trance for it was the first time in his life she had ever called him by it and he slowly made his way over to the bed, staring down at the tiny bundle in his wife's arms. He carefully sat down, making sure that the mattress did not move too much under his weight and shuffled over to Eleanor, who was sitting in the middle of the bed, kicking off his boots.

The Duchess watched as Richard hesitantly held up a finger, brushing his daughter's cheek gently with it before he smiled watching as her small fingers uncurled and reached up to him. "She wants to see her father" Eleanor said and slowly passed over the baby to her husband, her smile growing wider as he cradled her in his arms.

"She's perfect" he whispered.
"You do not mind that she is not a son? An heir?"
"No...." he replied, never moving his gaze from the peaceful face that stared up at him "no, she is perfect....and you" Richard turned to Eleanor and she peered up at him through her lashes as he reached out a hand, gently cupping the side of her face "you are beautiful"

She felt herself blush a little and placed one of her own hands against her husband's, smiling at him.
"What shall we name her?" She asked and Richard frowned a little in thought.
"What about Jacquetta? After your mother? I find that there are already far to many Elizabeths in our family, n'est-ce pas?"

"Jacquetta of York....or of Gloucester" Eleanor murmured before nodding "our Jacquetta Plantagenet....my mother will be pleased!" She giggled as her daughter yawned, stretching her tiny limbs this way and that while Richard grinned at her, gently kissing the top of her button nose.

"It's strange" he remarked "I can never quite believe that babies are real....they seem too small....too helpless" the Duchess 'hm'd in agreement before she gently brought her daughter back to her, hugging her soft body close to her chest.

"Well she is real" she replied, feeling Richard put an arm around her shoulders "and I'm so very glad she is....do you think that we shall love her?"
The Duke smiled again and gently intertwined their free hands, bringing hers to his lips.
"I think we shall love her very well"

꧁꧂

"Are you sure you wish to rise, your grace?" Marie asked as she helped Eleanor get up two days later, holding her arm as she tried to walk to the window.
"Yes!" She said, though her voice was shaking and soon Anais was at her side, taking her other arm.

"You should rest!" Anais exclaimed "or you vill be ill, your grace...."
"Dress me" Eleanor ordered gently, smiling at her Ladies "fetch a yellow gown, Anna, the silk one that resembles the finest buttercups and has pearls around the neckline" Anais hesitated only a moment before curtsying. "And you, Marie" Marie looked up, her face displaying clear concern "fetch one of my diamond necklaces, I would have you braid my hair with golden thread to match my gown. And I shall wear my Duchess's coronet. It is a royal occasion after all"

Marie curtsied before walking away, glancing back over her shoulder to make sure her mistress was still standing. Eleanor raised her eyebrows at her friend before sitting down in the window seat.

It was true, it was a royal occasion. King Edward had ordered for Eleanor and Richard to present their child to the court as soon as she was strong enough and she thought that she was. And besides, it felt like an eternity that she had been in her bedchamber, she needed a change of scene and, of course, a chance to parade her newborn daughter around.

As Anais and Marie dressed her and arranged her hair, she kept her eyes on the cradle that Jacquetta lay in, clutching the little stuffed rabbit, that Richard had brought for her, to her chest, sucking contently on one of its ears.
"It's as if she never blinks" The Duchess murmured absentmindedly, watching as her daughter stared at her curiously "do you think she knows who I am?"

"Of course, your grace!" Anais giggled, straightening the hem of Eleanor's gown "she vill know who her mother is!"
"And hopefully her Aunt too?" Elizabeth said from the door, causing both Anais and Marie to drop down into alarmed curtsies.
"You may leave us" The duchess said with a nod as her sister walked over to her, beginning to lace the back of her gown.

"How do you find yourself?" Elizabeth asked with an affectionate smile, leaning forward a little to kiss Eleanor on the cheek "I see that you are standing? But do you truly wish to attend this ceremony? So soon after the birth?"

The Duchess sighed, turning to face the Queen with a determined frown on her face that reminded Elizabeth of the child at Grafton her sister had once been.

"I wish you would all stop pretending as if I am made of glass!" She said before walking (albeit a little unsteadily) to her dressing table where she picked up the diamond necklace and clasped it around her neck "yes I have given birth and yes I admit it is soon for me to be rising from bed but where my daughter goes, I go! And if Edward wishes to present her to the court then I shall be there with my husband and the King, and you, of course!" Lifting her coronet, she placed it onto her head and pushed back her shoulders, smiling at her reflection in the mirror in front of her.

"Of course" Elizabeth repeated with a nod "but all I wish is for you to be safe!" The Duchess nodded, though rolled her eyes slightly.
"I know!" She laughed "but as I said before, where my daughter goes, I will go"

Walking over to the crib where little Jacquetta lay, Eleanor lifted her into her arms and gently kissed her forehead before walking to the doors of her chambers and smiling as Elizabeth opened them for her.

"And here she is!" Edward boomed with a grin as he walked down the corridor to greet his sister in law "you look radiant, ma petite boule de feu, motherhood suits you!"
"Thank you, your grace" Eleanor said, returning his grin as she curtsied and turned Jacquetta so that her royal Uncle could see her.
"Salutations de Dieu à vous, petit" he said before looking to her mother "May I hold her?"

The Duchess felt her heart twist a little at the thought of someone else holding her daughter in their arms but she nodded, knowing that she could trust Edward with the task. She let the King take the small bundle of blue and murrey silk robes from her and watched with the eyes of a hawk as he smiled down at her babe.

"Do you find her to be a York, Edward?" She teased and he chuckled in reply nodding before he handed Jacquetta carefully back to her.
"She is a true Plantagenet" he conceded before clapping his hands dramatically as if he were about to make a most important announcement "come along!" He ordered jovially to all those who were around him "to the great hall so I may introduce my new niece to the court!"

"Not without me, I hope!" Richard said from behind him and Edward turned, grinning as his younger brother walked forward and bowed to Eleanor.

"My lord" she greeted with a small curtsy, smiling as he leant forward and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.
"My lady" he replied before looking down at his daughter and letting her wrap a hand around one of his fingers "and you, my little darling" he whispered gently, making his wife's heart leap before they took their places behind the King and Queen and began to walk to the great hall.

When they entered, Eleanor gasped as she saw that, just as the King had said, the whole court was in attendance, all in their finest garments. The ladies wore towering headdresses that the Duchess thought May hit the roof and had jewels sewn onto their silk damask gowns that appeared to come in every colour of the rainbow.

Her attentions to fashion were quickly diverted though and a slight fear formed within her heart as she saw Duchess Cecily waiting by the side of the King's throne. She felt Richard gently put an arm around her waist, pulling her a little closer to his side as he too saw his mother and his blue eyes narrowed slightly.

"Do not worry" he whispered as they stepped up the dais and went to stand beside the Queen "I will not let her harm our daughter"
"Or near her" she replied, finding herself taking his hand.

"What about me?" A merry voice said as the courtiers began to chatter amongst themselves for a moment and Eleanor turned to see John standing beside her husband "I decided that I ought to come and see my new little cousin and Ned also ordered me to court as he has something to speak to me of apparently!"

"I welcome your presence" The Duchess said with a nod while the Queen merely glanced up, her eyes narrowing as she saw John before looking away "and so does my daughter, Jacquetta of Gloucester....hush hush my darling" she said as she passed the babe to John.

The Lord beamed down at the small child and gently rocked her in his arms while Richard and Eleanor looked on proudly.
"She's a fine girl" he chuckled with a grin "and will grow into a fine lady!"
"Perhaps she will be the next Duchess of Bedford?" Richard joked while Eleanor's eyes widened and she gently nudged him in the ribs.

"She's a baby!" She said with a shake of her head "there shall be no talk of marriage for years to come!"

"Of course not!" John said with a smile "really, Dickon, you should not be playing matchmaker so soon! Now, take your daughter, be proud of her, as I see you already are, and present her to the court!" He passed Jacquetta to Richard and bowed, walking away before King Edward approached the little family, his blue eyes alight with excitement.

"It is time for the announcement!" He said and the Duke and Duchess walked forward while the King called for silence "my Royal Court!" He boomed with one of him most charming smiles. "It is with great pride and joy that I proclaim to all on this day that on the eighth of May in this the year of our Lord, 1470, the Duchess of Gloucester gave birth to a daughter, Jacquetta Plantagenet! Princess of York!"

"God save Princess Jacquetta! Lady of Gloucester!" The Court chanted and Richard and Eleanor smiled at one another, joining hands once more.