𝐶𝐻𝐴𝑃𝑇𝐸𝑅 𝐿𝐼𝐼

                                    

                                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          

~When All is Broken and Lost~
February 1475, Raby Castle, Durham....
Raby Castle was certainly a fine residence, once the seat of the Neville family, one of Cecily Neville's favoured properties and where she had been born. The court moved there after Christmas, leaving Isabella and Cecily at Eltham while Marie travelled with their parents and young Edward was brought by his Uncle from Middleham. 
Constance was overjoyed to have her boy back in her arms and pleased she could be nearer her dear Annie when her baby was due to be born! With any luck she would be able to attend the christening! The only thing that marred her content disposition was the great rift between her and the King. Ever since their encounter four months prior, Constance had made good on her promises and they were as distant as they could be. 
They slept and resided in separate apartments, resorted to using their titles whenever they spoke, which was little, in fact, the only time the two could be seen together was during court occasions or at dinner when they didn't dine alone. When they did appear, all seemed normal to the courtiers (who assumed the Queen rested so much because of the babe) because the King and Queen acted so but behind closed doors, there was naught but silence. 
It was lonely, Constance couldn't deny and it saddened her greatly when sometimes she would reach out in the night only to find the sheets cold, she even found herself missing Warwick to talk to, but her anger did not wane. Her belly swelled with her pregnancy and, while she sometimes wished to go to Edward so he could feel the child kick, she did not do so once. She kept it to herself as she'd become accustomed to keep everything to herself. 
She'd said she would go to his bed after the baby was born but couldn't imagine lying with him only for duty and not for love, without sweet caresses and kisses. It would have to be that way, she supposed. 
Day after day they grew further apart and, while she was angry, she sometimes feared they would drift so far away they would never be able to return to one another. Was that what she wanted? She often wondered. 
She saw little of Jane Shore but she was undoubtedly the King's mistress, the entire court knew and she was waiting on the day when red-headed Jane turned into the she-wolf Elizabeth. 
She would fight, she told herself, she would fight with all she had. 
One February morning, when frost glistened on the grass and swans sailed elegantly on the large castle lake, Constance stood at the water's glassy edge, a heavy plum coloured cloak around her shoulders and gloved hands cradling her belly. With a heavy sigh, she looked over the surface alone, having dismissed her ladies long ago. She and Edward had first spoken at the edge of a lake, she recalled. How different things had been then. 
The baby gave a small kick and she smoothed her hands over the bump. 
"I know" She murmured "I shouldn't think of such things, it shall only make me sadder and I must be happy, for you, my love"