York's Hope.

Chapter Thirty Two - Boredom

Lizzie and I returned to our rooms after speaking with the midwife. Maggie and Teddy joined and they were looking at everyone leaving

"Can you see my mother, Maggie?" I ask laying on my bed

"I think so." she replied. Teddy

  skipped over

"Let's ride on the horses. Hope can we ride on the horses?" Teddy asked me as I played with Lizzie's hair.

"No, Teddy. The horses are going somewhere else. But we could play pins or fox and geese." I suggested

"Yes! Pins! Or Fox and Geese!"

"At least we can have fun while they're gone." Lizzie chimed. The four of us made our way to the games chest that had been in the same place as always ever since we were children. I opened the chest yet it was empty.

"Where are the games?" I asked Ruth "Pins?"

"Pins!" Teddy copied me

"They've been tided away Your Grace." Ruth informed me

"Away?" I questioned one by one the shutters closed around the throne room, the candles were put out. Bishop Morton came in with my sister.

"The public rooms are being close while the court is out on progress." Morton explained

"We are not on progress." I reply

"Your rooms are being tended to." he answered

"Where are the games Hope?" Teddy questioned me as he ran about the room.

"My Lady, the Kings Mother has left instructions for your care." He continued talking to me as if I were a child.

"First off, I'm not a child. I am a woman and your Queen. Second, where is my Grandmother? The Duchess Cecily. I my mother is not here then I wish for my grandmother." I sat my self on the floor. Lizzie and Maggie joined me, followed by Teddy

"She will be brought to you, when you are in your rooms, Your Grace." He changed his tone.

"We might as well, seen as there is nothing to do here." Lizzie sighed and I had to agree so we made our way back to my rooms. We waited until the door finally opened and in walked my Grandmother. She was not my first or favourite but I did love her despite her attempts to knock down my mother.

"At last, I thought they'd never let you come." I breathed

"Yay, Granny Ceci! Will you play a game?" Teddy ran to hug her

"Oh yes." she smiled the came to join us "I cannot stay with you, Hope." She told me taking her seat across from me

"You can, I will make them"

"No, it's my choice." she let Teddy sit on her lap "I'm leaving." she told us

"But you can't." Maggie denied

"England is too changed. I never thought i would say this to you or to anyone, but I'm afraid." she admitted

"What of?" Cecily questioned

"They're barbarians. I am so sorry, Hope for your plight." she stood up "Oh you are so beautiful. You had such promise." she stroked my cheek

"I still do" she leant down to whisper in my ear

"Your faith now must rest with your mother." she told me then kissed my head "I am going to my daughters palace in Burgundy." she gave a comforting tap on the shoulder to Teddy

"At least there, there will be something to drink." she left us

------------------------

I had received my first letter from Henry about his first stop and how he was well received. He also went on to say how many touched his cloak as he walked past them.

"Hum."

"What?" Lizzie asked and I showed her the letter "Will you reply?"

"And say what? No when i have something to reply, I will, till then." I tucked it away and carried on reading.

A week in, Lizzie and I were so terribly bored, no more letters, not even from mother. The sky was heavy with rain.

"There is no news from anyone?" I sighed "Mother? Henry?"

"Perhaps she's not allowed to, Hope." Cecily suggested and I scoffed

"She would find a way, you know she would." I retort "Ruth isn't even here." I sat up

"Maggie will you go to the stables and ask Ned if he's been passed any letters?" I whisper to my cousin. She nodded and I laid my head back on Lizzie's lap as she played with my hair. A while later she returned

"No. No notes." she told me

"What is it Maggie?" Lizzie questioned

"Nothing, I just wish there was news." she replied sitting by the fire