Chapter Six~

December 1469, Westminster Palace, City of Westminster

With Yule Tide upon us, we had learned that Lord Warwick and his family alongside George, Isabel's new husband, would be returning to the Palace. I knew that I must keep an eye out for Elizabeth, yet also keep an eye on Elizabeth herself. Her thirst for revenge had me afraid for what she would be willing to do to keep her family safe. The night before Lord Warwick and his family would return, I spoke with Mother in my chambers about how to procced now that we had chosen different paths.

"If you are to keep clean of revenge then you must put your necklace in the flame of a candle every night, and on the night of a full moon leave it where it can catch the moonlight. Do this and you shall be cleansed of the curses power." She told me before asking me,

"How do you plan to handle Lord Warwick and George?"

"Warwick I shall handle as one would an insect. As for George I never needed a reason to hate him until now, and now I will just treat him as the problem he is. As for Isabel and Anne—I feel they are mere pawns in their fathers game of trying to win power. I never blamed them for anything and still do not." Now Elizabeth, Mother and I watch as Lord Warwick, George and Warwick's family return to the Palace.

"They are here, and we are not even out of mourning." Mother says as we watch down in the courtyard Edward greet Lord Warwick and George by embracing them, Richard staying farther back though he caught my gaze in the window before the three of us moved away to meet Countess of Warwick and her daughters. Personally I was not looking forward to the occasion as I stood behind Elizabeth who sat straight as could be, Mother next to me with her hand white knuckled on the back of Elizabeth's chair. As the three entered the room I took hold of the back of the chair trying to school my expression as the three of them curtsied.

"Lady Rivers, Lady Kathrine, I am sorry for your loss." The Countess said though Elizabeth was quick to snap back at her. I knew there would be trouble when she called our Father and Brother's deaths 'the fortunes of war' and when the Countess tried to speak Elizabeth tried to stand only I took her shoulder just as the candle in the room went out. I watched Isabel and Anne behind their mother exchange glances as I held tightly to Elizabeth's shoulder who continued to speak making the woman stay and with biting words told her,

"You will go when I command it Countess Warwick, and all of you will dance to whatever tune I sing!" With that she stood shaking off my hand and stormed out of the room past the three followed by Mother then by myself who moved quickly to try and catch up to Elizabeth. By the time I entered the Great Hall, Elizabeth and Mother were already inside talking to Richard and Anthony was the one to find me.

"What happened?"

"We were greeting Countess Warwick and her daughters. Though the word greeting can be used lightly." I told him moving along the wall as the three in questioned entered as I watched them move closer to George and his Mother who I was surprised was here in the first place. Looking over at them, I told Anthony,

"I want to speak to the girls, find out what I can without the influence of their parents or George."

"Do you think they will talk to you now with them fearing our sister so?" He asked only I shook my head not knowing the answer as I watch Warwick moving over towards Elizabeth, Mother who was close by filled with fear and had to leave. Taking my own leave as Warwick went to speak to Elizabeth, I knew she would be in good hands with Anthony nearby. Finding Isabel and Anne alone for a moment, I moved towards them watching Isabel step protectively before Anne.

"Season's greetings, and I think congratulations are in order Lady Isabel." I told her with a tilt of my head trying to put on a friendly expression as she asked,

"What is it you want?"

"Other than to congratulate you, to apologize for my sister. She and my Mother are in a great amount of agony over the death of my Father and Brother. We have not even had time to properly mourn and it is hard for them to see your Father here. It's like pouring salt into a wound." I told them looking over at their Father as Isabel asked me,

"And yet you seem fine."

"Oh no, my pain is equal. Yet I will not let it rule me and take over my life. I do not wish for more pain on innocent people." Then turned to them to hopefully make them realize I meant I was talking about them both.

"So then, what do you want?" Anne asked gently as I told her with a smile,

"To perhaps start over?"

"Ah! There you are Isabel! You need your rest, you should not over excite yourself now that you are expecting your first son." Duchess Cecile said sweeping in and eyeing me with a smirk behind her goblet causing my face to pale. Turning to the woman in question who was looking at the floor, I went to find Elizabeth but could not find her in the crowd. Making my way out to find her, I was stopped when I spotted George and called out to him,

"Was it worth it then? Killing my Father and Brother for Warwick's gain?" He turned to me with a scroll in hand and said nothing as I continued,

"And was it worth it? Marrying poor Isabel when she wishes nothing but to make those around her happy? Yet your own selfish ambitions will never see anyone but yourself happy?"

"She knew what she was getting into." He tells me only I laugh saying with my hands in the air,

"Yes, yes she knew that her Father planned on kidnapping the King and trying to put you on the throne instead with her as Queen so she'd be playing puppet to her Fathers will! She knew all along!" Pointing a finger at me, he hissed,

"You know nothing!"

"Then tell me what I should and should not know! I would love to hear it from the wise man's own words!" I snapped shoving his chest and for some reason feeling tears on my cheeks continued to shove before I was able to move him aside and storm down the hallway in search of anyone to find comfort in. To my surprise when I found myself in the gardens and found Isabel Neville there too. Upon hearing me she turned and was clearly surprise seeing me crying.

"Are you alright?" I could only nod and try to dry my face with the back of my hand and stifle my sobs to not cause any more of a scene.

"I meant what I said before, about starting over Isabel. I do not want any bad feelings between us, even if you and your sister hate mine." I told her taking a seat on a bench and taking deep breaths closed my eyes trying to find peace within myself. For a long moment I thought she had left until I felt her sit down beside me.

"I am afraid of your sister's wrath at my Father for what he did to you all. She is Queen after all and my Father did try to take Edward off the throne. But—I honestly did not know about your Father or Brother's deaths until our Mother told us." She said softly to me.

"I believe you Isabel, and that is the sad thing of it. I think you and Anne are pieces for his game to play. That is why I am not angry at either of you." I said turning to see her worried expression before letting out a tiny laugh and saying,

"I guess I should congratulate you again?" With a tiny smile, she looked down at her stomach telling me,

"I am afraid." Slowly reaching for her hand fearful she would not let me take it, I held it loosely and told her softly,

"It's alright to be."

"Isabel!" A voice cried and staying still she turned towards the voice and stood calling back to whoever it was. Quickly gathering her skirts, she made to leave before pausing to take my hand making me look up at her. With an understanding smile, she quickly hurried off leaving me feeling better and hopeful. That night as Mother had instructed I took off my necklace and let it dangle in the flames of a candle by my bedside, saying softly to myself,

"Free me from revenge." Then when my chest felt lighter I removed the necklace from the flame and placed it beside the lantern and blew out the candle to climb into bed to sleep. I do this every day for the rest of December and all through January, all through February until one day in April our peace is broken once again when Mary knocks on the door telling me that Elizabeth wanted to see me quickly. She helped me dress filling me in on what she had heard. Something about an uprising. By the time I had found Elizabeth she was with Edward who was dressed in armor.

"What is going on?" I asked as Edward turned to me saying,

"An uprising in favor of witless old Henry, with a leader who will not announce his name!"

"Could it be a herald from Margaret of Anjou testing how much support she can raise before she can land her troops before freeing her husband?" I ask looking between Elizabeth and Edward as he makes quick work of putting away papers and documents.

"I will make quick work of him, it is my crown and I must defend it. I must put my neck on the line with the men who love me." Edward told us both only Elizabeth begged him not to leave saying,

"Edward, I am with child again. And this time I am SURE it's a boy." And as he stopped his work I turned to her silently damning her and Mother knowing they had done something for this to happen. As the two embraced I silently looked out the window knowing I would have to have a conversation with Mother later until Edward told us,

"It is all the more reason I defend my crown for my son to inherit. My prince, we will call Edward." As he leaves the room I walk over towards Elizabeth asking her,

"What did you and Mother do?" Only she smiles and says,

"What is a baby spoon worth?" Leaving the room after Edward, I set my jaw in a frown and follow her despite my anger. When I find Mother she is in her chambers watching the fire with a cup of tea in her hands. Now more often than not she does this, a comfort to her now that her husband and son are gone.

"Mother," I call upon entering and watch as she turns to me and sighing she says with a knowing smile,

"You want to know about Elizabeth's child."

"She seemed oh so excited about a baby spoon." I tell her taking a seat by her side as she exhaled deeply and says longingly,

"For Elizabeth to be safe on the throne she must have sons. If Isabel has one with George and Warwick continues to scheme your sister will never be safe. You know this as well as I do."

"Isabel is innocent." I tell her as she turns to me saying,

"And she along with her family have returned North to her Father's lands and no one has seen George. By now Isabel should be ready to give birth if what we know is true. If Edward is to lead his men against a rebellion and Warwick along with George is nowhere to be seen,"

"Then what might we be up against." I finish for her making her nod as she finishes her tea and sets the cup aside. Taking her free hand, I hold it in my lap as we stare into the fire silently for several long moments which feel like hours.

"Now we have everything to gain, and everything to lose." I said giving her hand a squeeze before leaving for my chambers and that night I knelt before the window and prayed for Edwards safe return, that he may come home to his family, and that Richard come home too. For several days and nights, Elizabeth and I pray in the chapel, sometimes silently and sometimes together. Spells and curses have no power now—it is up to God to see this battle through and bring Edward and Richard home. I watch Elizabeth's face grow pale every day and feel powerless to stop it, doing whatever I can to help her. Finally a message comes and I stand as Elizabeth tells us that Edward is safe but it was a trap as we all feared. He was going after Warwick and George who had fled from battle who had planned to kill him in battle. However the death of Welles, the child of Lady Beauchamp and half-brother of Lady Margaret Beauford gave the Beauford family a new cause against Edward. Now we have a new enemy against Edward, another dark cloud has descended upon the House of York.