Everyone seemed to know my destiny before I did. I am their Hope, I am His Hope. Hope is what I was names and Hope is what I shall bring. To my father, to my family, to my King.
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For the past few nights I have not slept in my bed but Henry's. The two of us were awake and I traced my finger of over his features, just as I leant in to kiss him. Things were getting interesting just as the door swung opened, braking us apart.
"Your Uncle is returned from Burgundy. Quickly now." Lady Margaret interrupted coming from what was supposed to be my rooms but now then leaving. I sat up.
"That doesn't annoy you? Just a door between your room and hers?" I questioned annoyed.
"Something's wrong." he got out of and went to dress. I sighed rubbing my eyes and returned to my chambers. Once I was dressed I joined Henry and the delegation from Burgundy.
"How could it have gone so wrong?" Henry questioned as I entered
"Who died?" I wonder
"Our Aunt's step-daughter Mary." Cousin John informed me.
"It was an accident. Yet they blamed us." Lord Strange continued.
"Why, if you were not to blame?" Lady Margaret questioned with a steel gaze.
"There was a competition which..." Jasper Tudor began to explain when he was cut off by Lord Strange.
"It was the girls own fault. She had to win at everything. And yours. If you hadn't been so wrapped up in the Duchess, then it might have been avoided."
"Wrapped up?" Bishop Morton asked and I spared a glance to look at Lady Margaret, as the throught crossed my mind it was proved by the way she stared at my uncle in law
"He was attentive to her." Lord Strange replied
"We should maintain the course that we are on. My Lady, The Kings Mother is already making matches for the York Girls with Tudor nobles." Bishop morton stated
"So they will not be snatched from us and used to breed York heirs." she sneered
"We are not cattle, Lady Margaret." I retort "Watch your tongue
"We do not know what the Duchess will do. She may do nothing." Cousin John suggested "We should be ready but not think the worst." Henry sat in his chair and Lady Margaret excused herself.
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Lizzie and I took Arthur on a walk, with everything that had happened it is just what we needed.
"Hope, Lizzie. I heard about the accident, I am sorry for our Aunt." Maggie ran over to us.
"I..." I paused and handed Arthur over to his nursemaid the took Lizzie and Maggie ahead, to talk with them somewhat privately
"Could this not be good?" Maggie asked "For Teddy. If the Duchess turns against the Tudors perhaps she'll send some men to rescue him."
"It is bad, Maggie. Henry is more fearful than before. The threat against the Tudors means that every York girl in our family must be locked in marriages to loyal nobles" I informed her
"Me as well?" Maggie asked
"I'm afraid so. You are another York Princess whose children could be heirs." I continued
"Well, who will I be wed to?" she questioned
"I don't know. I know not if you will be able to leave near Teddy either. I was not consulted yet again. But I have told my husband that I shall influence the rest of the matches. Lizzie and Cecily seem content with their union. Lord Alexander arrives tomorrow, but I will do my best for you." I promised her and continued on my walk.
I entered the Queen's rooms to see Cecily and Lady Margaret talking with each other.
"Hope, Look. This is me, the Queen" she held up a chess piece "with my intended John Wells. Then there is Lizzie with Lord Alexander. The pawns are our other sisters and this is our cousin Maggie and this is baby Arthur."
"Arthur, is too young to be betrothed." I denied
"But the King has said that he will win for him the Spanish Princess, Catherine of Aragon. Best Ally against your Aunt." Lady Margaret replied
"Yes, but I am his mother and I say you may suggest it,even discuss it but will not be bound to do so. While we on the subject, I will choose Maggie's husband." I removed his chess piece
"It is decided."
"Not by me and I am Queen, also know as above you, which means I will take the Queen's rooms now." I retort
"She is to marry Henry's loyal commander, Richard Pole." I scoffed
"Pole is beneath her and I would have you moved out today." I retort in no mood to be denied.
"They say he is a vicious brute who lost his arm and half the fingers on his hand but still fought on." Cecily stated
"Cecily, since we have returned you have been anciently annoying. Your loyalty to family is appalling, so unless you can learn to be less rude, don't speak until spoken to." She looked down
"The King has blessed the marriage and it is settled. As am I, in the rooms the King has gave me himself." I hummed and smiled
"Jasper Tudor needs a wife. Mother Aunt Kate is wealthy from her late husband and will bring funds to Henry's cause. I will suggest it, here Cecily." I handed her a chess piece "Good day." I smirk leaving to find Henry, he was storming somewhere.
"Henry, your mother must be removed from the Queen's rooms now." I tell him "It's time form me to be moved in long since passed in fact."
"Forget the rooms. They're saying your cousin has escaped from the Tower." he retorted and I followed him
"What?" I questioned
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Teddy had not escaped. He was still there and terrified, I had asked for Maggie to be brought along and now she was in front of us comforting him.
"I'm confused. Why would there be rumours saying he is free when he's not?" I question cradling my cousins who were upset.
"It will be Burgundy stirring up unrest." Henry replied
"What unrest? What else do you know, Henry?"
"They are claiming, that he is there with them. Using his name to raise an army against me." I scowled, that was their plan to lie their way to the throne.
"No, Teddy could never..."Maggie denied
"Maybe not. But my enemies don't know that. And he is a York heir." Henry took his leave
"Hope, please. Help him." I kissed Teddy's head and I followed my husband out of the tower.
"Henry, if Burgundy is stirring unrest then prove that they're wrong. Lizzie and Cecily will be married soon. Let us have Teddy at their weddings. I have spoken with him he has promised that if you give him a chance he will be good. If we show that he's living with us, a valued member of our house hold then he cannot be in Burgundy with my Aunt raising an army against you, against us. Anyone who says he is will be liars." I suggest
"And I suppose after the weddings that we must keep him from the Tower and with us.?" he walked away
"Yes, in my care if it makes you feel better. He's a child and I swear to you that I will help him grow into someone you cannot be afraid of. Henry you have a chance no one else had you get to shape their future for good and not fear. You've seen how scared he is. How lonely and unloved. You can't tell me you never felt that, not once. You are better than this. Show people the man you are and let him live with us again." He thought about it then nodded in agreement
