I don't know if people are gonna see the new Duchess of Gloucester coming. She's been pretty invisible in so far.Awww I feel so bad for poor Magdalena, and I can understand her rage, while her husband tells her he cares equally about their daughters dying, he has no issue managing to sleep with another woman despite his "equal" grief. It is good that she is with child again, if only to give her something to live for, to look forward to. Nooooooooooooooooo not Mary and her child, while of course I feel bad for Richard I feel the worst for Phillippa, Joan, and Teddy to lose their mother at such tender ages... I hope that if Richard does eventually remarry he marries a woman that will at least respect his children by Mary, possibly even raise them as her own. Nice chapter as always!
The Sunne in Splendour: A War of the Roses Timeline
- Thread starter pandizzy
- Start date
She's 5'2'' and he's 6'4'' you're lucky she even managed to reach up for the slap.
I want Edward and Magdalena to reconcile but I think spending one or two years estranged from her husband would be good for Magdalena's body, she's had way too many pregnancies with little time to recover between them. I had no idea who the new duchess of Gloucester will be, I look forward to finding out and to the birth of the new prince or princess.
I wonder if the new Duchess of Gloucester is gonna be a Woodville. Why else show this tree?
It actually isn't. The governess for the Gloucester children is Mary St John, the half-sister of Margaret Beaufort by her mom's first marriage who married Sir Richard Frogenall
Yeah!! I'm pretty sure I mentioned TTL Arthur Tudor is gonna be born at eight months premature *wink wink*
I'm sure nobody will know any better except his parents haha, it also wasn't considered that bad for two people that were promised to each other to have relations before marriage provided that they were sure they wanted to marry and would do so soon after.
Yes, they were betrothed so he wouldn't be considered a bastard
June 1477.
June 1477. Windsor Castle, England.
Dickon promised himself he wouldn't cry.
He was a big boy now, nine and a half, with younger siblings who needed an example. Ned had said he was supposed to be the example when he was away in Wales because he was the eldest boy in his absence. Ned was the actual eldest boy, and child, but he had to live in Wales because he was the Prince of Wales and couldn't be home as often as they would have liked.
Magdalene was the next eldest, but nobody really listened to Magdalene. She was bossy, and haughty. Dickon heard Lady Hastings complain about it once, using those very words. Ceci was next, but she was foolish. Everyone said so, and she listened to Dickon more often than he listened to her.
So he had to put his big boy pants on and learn responsibility. He had to stop taking Catherine's dolls or sneak spiders into Mimi's bed at night. It was hard to be responsible, to obey Lady Hastings and to do as Mama said, but he had to. There was no other choice, especially now that he was to leave the nursery and take up his own establishment.
He took a gulping breath, tears bubbling in his eyes. He didn't want to go, but Father said he had to. Uncle Richard, Dickon's namesake, had lost his wife - they were all still in mourning - and couldn't be trusted to travel as often to the north as he did before. He had a family to care for, so Dickon had to take his place as the Duke of York and become the head of the Council of the North. Father had created the council after the Duchess of Gloucester died and Uncle Richard said he had to care for his children instead of politics.
When he entered the great hall, the herald banged his staff against the floor, calling out, "His Lordship, Prince Richard, the Duke of York."
His entire family was present, save for Ned and Ed. Even little Blanche, the Princess of Wales was standing between his mother's throne and Magdalene. She was Ned's wife, a beautiful little girl with bright red hair and sparkling blue eyes that was too young to travel to Ludlow and be a wife in truth for Ned. Lady Richmond, Blanche's governess, once told Lady Hastings that she would only go when she turned fifteen and that was more than eight years away!
Dickon bowed before the King and Queen, body heavy with the weight of his clothes. He was wearing a sable overcoat and a dark hat with a sapphire pinned to the top, with a silver sword hanging from his waist. He told himself not to cry, because Ceci was watching him and so were the babies. Well, baby. Dickon saw that only Mimi was present from the younger children and she was already four, wearing a white cap over her dark blonde hair and a blue dress. Peggy and Nan were with the Lord, with his grandfather and Ed was living in Warwick with their cousin and her grandmother.
Dickon tried not to cry again, not just because he was sad to go, but because he just realized there were many missing. He was one of ten, the ten children born to the Queen, but only four of his six sisters were present. And none of his brothers were there. Ned was in Wales, Ed in Warwick and George was in Heaven with their grandfather. Peggy and Nan were in Heaven too. Only Magdalene, Ceci, Catherine and Mimi were there to see him off.
He bowed again when he came close to the King and Queen. His father was wearing his royal regalia, with a tall golden crown and his mother was too, though her dress was looser because she was with child again. Mama liked to hide her hair, and shave her eyebrows to make her forehead look bigger, but she had stopped doing the latter. Now, wisps of brown brows were just barely visible.
"My Lord Father," Dickon said, trying not to stumble over his words, "I ask for your blessing this merry Tuesday."
His father offered him a hand and Dickon kissed the ruby ring on his finger, just like Lady Hastings told him to do. When he finished, the King touched his head and Dickon remembered he was supposed to take his hat off in front of him. His cheeks flushed and he bit his lip not to cry.
But Father did nothing that would speak of his mistake. Instead, he simply smiled and said, "God bless you, my son." Dickon let out a harsh breath and stepped back, relieved. His father was smiling when he raised his eyes again and so was his mother. "Richard, the Duke of York, you are and have always been our most beloved son. We trust you will find great success in your new endeavours."
Dickon nodded and bowed again. "Thank you, Your Grace." The King nodded and arched his light-coloured eyebrows slightly, as if to remind him of something. Dickon felt his cheeks flush and he turned slightly, looking at his mother. "My Lady Mother, I ask for your blessing and for the kiss of farewell, to send me well to keep."
His mother touched his cheek, saying, "I give my blessing freely, my dear York." She pressed a kiss to his forehead, then to his lips, smiling broadly. She swiped at his cheeks softly and he realized he was crying. "There, now. It's alright, my Richard."
He nodded and walked down the line. Dickon didn't want his mother to see him cry so he brushed a quick and cold kiss to Magdalene's cheek, before he finally came to Ceci.
His sister was crying, but trying to pretend not to do so. She took in big deep breaths as the tears slid down her face, cheeks flushed.
"I will write to you every week," she murmured. "Even when I'm in Burgundy."
"I will write to you too," said Dickon. Ceci was his best friend in the family, to whom he was the closest. He didn't want to leave her behind, but he had to. He was going to live in York and one day, Ceci was going to marry their cousin in Burgundy. They couldn't be best friends forever.
Ceci pulled him into a tight hug, kissing his cheek. He kissed hers as well and she whispered in his ear, "Be brave."
Catherine was crying, pouting deeply. Dickon felt sorry for her, he truly did. Her dog wasn't allowed to attend the ceremony and everyone knew Catherine felt safer with Lady Regina present. Now, without her there, his little sister, prone to nerves and fits of tears, was sobbing profusely.
"Please, don't go," she whispered. "Please, stay."
"I can't," said Dickon. "I go where the King orders me to."
"I'm going to be queen someday," said Catherine. "Papa said it. You have to listen to me too!"
"You will be Queen of Denmark," Dickon responded, "Not England. I won't be your subject, Cate."
"Not fair," she answered. She gulped, lips curling into a deep pout. "Please, Dickon. Don't go."
Dickon shook his head and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I'm sorry," he murmured. "Be brave, Catherine. You can't be afraid of your shadow any longer." She sobbed and nodded, rubbing her face. Dickon kissed her again, because he thought she needed it then he stepped away.
He didn't want to cry but Mimi was smiling, bouncing on her heels when he got to her. She had light blue eyes with small white teeth, a large gap between the two in the front.
He kissed her cheek and knelt in front of her, pulling Mimi into a tight embrace. "When you ride for Scotland, you can come and visit me," he said. "I will escort you to the border, little sister."
"I miss you, Dickon," Mimi said, hugging him back. "When I go to Scotland next week, I will see you!"
Dickon shook his head. "You will go in ten years, Mimi," he said, still holding her. "When the Duke of Rothesay turns fourteen, that's when you will go."
And not before.
Last edited: