The White Duchess - The White Queen

Ludlow Castle, Ludlow, Shropshire, England, Spring 1456

Most children, especially children born early are hurriedly baptized. Edward tells me that he was born a month early and that he was quickly baptized in the side chapel because, although he was born strong and kicking and screaming, his mother was deathly afraid he would die any time. I suppose it is a good idea, just in case so a soul does not have to suffer forever in prison walls of Purgatory, but we delay Lizzie's baptism. 

"I want the entire family to be there," Edward tells me one day when I ask why we delay for so long. "She is my first born, and I will have only the best for her."

Edward's pride at the birth of his first child and her daughter is obvious to everyone. The amount of pride borders on pathetic. I am churched quickly and we plan the baptism for May when the Duke of York assures his wife that he can travel to Wales. I know that Cecily Neville is excited about this. She is pregnant again, for the first time in four years and she is very eager to have her husband back with her. She is also very eager to see her children again, who are left in London when she and Alice Montagu set off in a hurry to Cardiff. 

And so we pass our days at Cardiff quietly. My 16th birthday goes by and we don't make a big fuss. A small cake is brought into my room and for the evening it is simply Edward, Lizzie, and I. It is small and dignified, just the way I like it. And the evening gives me a chance to be alone with Edward and my daughter, probably the last time that will be alone before we are swamped with York relatives.

We have settled into a routine until one day everything changes. Edward, who usually comes in to eat breakfast with my daughter and I does not come and I found myself curious as to his whereabouts. It does not take long for he is only an hour late and when he does come back he is mad. He is frustrated. He is angry. He marches into my room, his face full of thunder as he slams the door and orders my ladies in waiting out.

"Edward, what is it?"

"It's the damn queen again!" He yells furiously as Lizzie begins to cry and I make my way over to her crib to shush her. I'm rocking her back-and-forth in my arms as Edward continues, "She has taken her husband, the witless king, back to the counselors and has declared before them all that he is now sane enough to rule. We all know that he is not, but since he does not stumble over his own belt or drift off into dreamland, we must obey her commands. And so now he is back in control, or his wife is, and my father and family are exiled from court once again!"

I can hardly believe it. I couldn't believe that there was not a precaution in place for this. But it would be so easy for Margaret to get power back into her hands again. She has the king, and she has the air. This could be endgame. This could be a danger to my daughter in the future I was building for her. 

"Can you father not do anything about it?" I ask him, trying to hide the fear in my voice.

"No," he says irritably, "For Margaret of Anjou has made sure to pack the council with her supporters and they will not hear a word against her as they were all once Somerset's lackeys and they are as loyal to him and death as they were to him in life. And so this country is divided again!"

There is a cautious silence as I see him taking a few things and shoving them into a traveling bag before I ask him, "What are we to do?"

"Us? Well, we must travel. We have to meet my family at Ludlow castle. My father, Salisbury, Warwick, and I will regroup from there. We must decide on our next move before that witch of Anjou can turn this country on its head again!"

"And the baby?" I demand. "She must be baptized Edward!"

"She shall be baptized at Ludlow," he reassures me as his stuffs some writing materials into his bag, "But for now we must move faster than Queen Margaret. We must get to Ludlow."