August 1466
Elanor Woodville has not had a happy confinement. King Edward had told her that he loved her, that he would stand by her in her time of need. Yet he spends his days with his wife, and his nights with his other women, Jane Shor and Elanor Talbot, and Elizabeth Lucy, leaving young Elanor Woodville all alone with a growing belly and a court full of people silently judging her. Her comfort during this time is her family, her mother, though furious at her, not so much for falling pregnant, but for betraying Elizabeth, will still stand by her daughter. Ever a practical woman, Jacquetta suggests the two sisters work together to share the King, and so monopolize his attention from the other mistresses, a suggestion that appalls both Woodville girls. Her greatest comfort is her youngest sister Mary, who with a child's sense of wonder, declares that she cannot wait to meet her little niece. Seeing one person happy to welcome her child into the world is enough to keep Elanor going.
In mid-August, Elanor Woodville gives birth to a daughter, who in her words is "the most beautiful creature to ever grace the Earth." The love of a new mother aside, all agree that the girl is a pretty child. Out of recognition of the kindness her younger sister showed her, she begs the king to let her name their daughter Mary.
Edward, suddenly interested in pleasing "the spare Elizabeth", as he sometimes flippantly refers to Elanor, agrees. A few weeks later the King tries to return to Elanor's bedside but the young woman declares that she would rather spend her time with her daughter and that she is happy that Edward has so many other women to visit, Elanor Talbot, Jane Shor, and Elizabeth Lucy, or visit her sister, who would surely be delighted to have him close during her pregnancy. To his credit the King, though a philanderer', is not a monster, and so he lets her be. If anything denying him what he wants makes him want her more. Which of course is what Elanor wants. Oh she loves her little girl. More than anything in the world. This is why she needs to stay in the King's affections. To give her daughter the future she deserves.
The Queen for her part greets the birth of another bastard with resignation. Greatly scared by her miscarriage the Queen has taken her time rebuilding her relationship with the King. Doctors have advised them to wait for a little before conceiving another child. Given the news from France, this will prove a good idea.
September 1466
Queen Catherine of France, like Charlotte before her, is rarely seen at court and instead devotes herself, and her circle of ladies, to educational and cultural pursuits, and to her two children and her stepdaughter Anne, who she loves as though she were here own child. To this she owes an enormous debt to the late Queen Charlotte, who amassed a great collection of books.
Louis will visit her in early September and she will use this as an opportunity to tell him that she is pregnant again. He smiles and kisses her and tells her that it is wonderful. This may seem like basic human decency but coming from Louis it is the equivalent of the most tender of embraces.
Poor Charlotte's death has shaken him. She was never very pretty but she was pious and kind, and had truly loved Louis, and she had been so young. He had treated her poorly. Louis has vowed to do better by his new wife and has dismissed his mistresses. Catherine is pleasing to him not only personally, she is a major political asset. With this marriage, he has managed to win the Duke of Bourbon to his side. Louis's continued support for the Anjou claim to Aragon has gained the allegiance of that family as well. A happy home life and a mind free from the folly of chasing skirts has given Louis more time to do what he does best. Scheme.
A week later his brother, Charles the Duke of Berry arrives. His guard is down. Louis is notorious for keeping women away from court. He figures all he will have to do is fuss over his nieces. Louis greets him outside the Chateau and embraces him. Inside he is met by Catherine and the children who talk his ear off about domestic things. Wine is drunk and songs are sung, though only those appropriate for women and small children, it's not all that boring. Then the music dulls and Louis produces a letter. Louis smiles mischievously and a chill runs down Berry's spine.
"My darling Queen, would you like to know what our dear Charles has been up to?" He then reads the correspondence aloud. It seems Louis, often known as "the spider" was not the only man weaving webs. The nobility has gotten sick of the centralizing tendencies of the Valois monarchy. They have united into a coalition calling themselves "the League of the public wheel" and seek to turn France into some backward monstrosity like the HRE where the princes can do whatever they like. The figurehead of this whole operation is the Duke of Berry. As for the conspirators, well it would be easier to list who amongst the high nobility wasn't in on the plot.
The two most important loyalists are the Duke of Bourbon and the Dukes of Anjou and Loraine.
And the rebellion's two most important backers, apart from Louis's traitor brother Charles are the Dukes of Brittany and Burgundy. Both of whom are of course, brothers-in-law of the King of England. Oh, and of course, Edward is planning to land a force next year and join the men in a rebellion against the King in exchange for getting Gascony back. The King shakes his head as if in shock at the treachery of the world. "Given the cruel and outrageous way he has treated our sister, it should come as no surprise that the King of England has proven himself a dishonorable cur."
Louis then turns to a shocked Queen Catherine and asks her what she would like to do with Charles. The Queen, who spends her days managing little children thinks of the first solution that comes into her mind. Charles will be sent to his room without supper. Of course his room is a Chateau and his real sentence is House arrest, but Louis loves his wife's naivete and weaves it into his brother's punishment going out of his way to make the Duke of Berry's confinement as emasculating and humiliating as possible, all the while making him watch as his associates are hung drawn and quartered before his eyes (of course the Queen is not shown that part.)
He then moves on to the most isolated target, Francis of Brittany. John ii of Rohan claims the Duchy of Brittany through marriage to Francis's former sister-in-law Marry of Brittany. Upon the King's word, he rises in revolt against his cousin, reinforced by a contingent of royal troops. Charles of Burgundy rallies to protect his beleaguered allies. With England ravaged by famine and his brothers-in-law under attack, King Edward has some tough decisions to make.
Tired of a life of debauchery, having fallen so low as to sleep with all of the adult Woodville sisters in an obvious pimping operation by their mother, and disgusted by himself King Edward returns to his most sober activity, the one he is best at, war. He and his brothers will lead an army to France to rescue the Duke of Brittany, free the imprisoned nobles, force King Louis to reduce the powers of the crown, and if possible, get Gascony back.
. Will have to do a family tree soon.
