CHAPTER TEN: TEMPER,1461

EVERY DAY, SHE WOULD FIND HERSELF WITH DUCHESS CECILY. It's been a couple of days since she has been feeling better. She spent her time with Cecily in the gardens. They both sat under clear shade refusing to get a sunburn. "How you been my dear?" Cecily asked, she watched her closely then noticed Luciana pouring tea into the teacup, ever since she woke up days ago everybody has been silent refusing to say a word of what occurred, she really doesn't remember since her head did suffer trauma. "Thank you," she spoke softly noticing how Luciana didn't thank her back or said anything just to turn around going back into her place.

"I've been quite well," she continued ignoring what just occurred.

"That's good, my sons were there to saved you,"

Cecily muttered leaving her to widen her eyes. She thought maybe there was a reason.
They didn't want her to leave because of how much power she holds over them, she is the daughter of King Henry. No matter she couldn't trust Cecily of York, yet. After she is the mother of the four sons of York's

Then she remembers Erick, Arianna, and Rita. Her loyal handmaiden's, her childhood friends, and Erick, a man she grew to view as her father's loyal advisor. They were gone, the only thing she managed to hear about them was that there were executed. "They didn't have to kill them," she told Cecily. That's when Luciana landed her eyes on her, "They were just obeying orders from their Queen," when she said those words immediately Cecily snapped at her.

"Queen? Whoever speaks that way is treason!"

Catherine began to wonder. "Really? I'm her daughter, I was born and raised as Lancaster and I never knew anything besides that the York's are the enemies. Now, I've been left behind by my family who is raising an army against the York's in order to get their throne back. Forgive me, Duchess Cecily, if you think I'm not acting rational, I've been forced to be here, remain with people I have not known my whole life, and develop feelings, I don't want to feel." When she said those, she immediately stood by leaving Cecily speechless.

"Forgive me, I must be going." That's when her eyes peered looking through Luciana who stared at her with widened eyes.

"Catherine?"

She turned around to see Cecily looking at her, warily.

"I know your love for my sons is strong and I know that you'll never leave if you want, too. Just know, if you stay you'll see that you'll be protected the most." When she said those words, she got up as her ladies ran towards her leaving Catherine shocked, Cecily knew about her feelings for her sons yet she doesn't know who she loves the most.

Does she love Edward? Or Thomas?

○ ○ ○

Cecily of York entered the room only to find Edward and Thomas looking upon her. Thomas approached her giving her a kiss on the cheek leaving the room as she approached her son, Edward.

"Morning, mother?"

"Morning, Edward."

"What were you and Thomas discussing?" Edward smiled lightly. "The Battle of Towton. When I left for the battle months ago, there was discussion of possible marriage for Margaret, it's still under discussion."

"Margaret, she is young?" She asked, causing him to turn to her. "She is but old enough to be married, very soon." Edward didn't want to discuss this topic any further.

"The Battle would be remembered as the largest and bloodiest battle ever fought on English soil; the battle that decided the fate of a nation. Over 28,000 men had died upon these fields in a space of hours, bodies littered the floor just as grass littered a field. And, in the end, it was a Yorkist victory."

Edward had grinned triumphantly

"You gave us all hope," she informed him, seemingly savoring the taste of bread within his mouth, she found nearby on the table. She grabs to take pieces only for Edward to stared at her with caution

He sighed, "yet many died still."

"I've been telling Thomas this since his trip for the Northern of England. Trying to recruit some English men to our side. I received letters about them pledging their loyalty to me, ever since they found out of Catherine's marriage to him, I've decided to make him Duke of York?"

"What about George? Was he supposed to get that title?"

Edward shakes his head. "I don't need him to have a title just yet. Thomas is getting married to a former princess and needs a title, I should give it to them and let them have their happiness together." He said the last sentence distasteful, turning around refusing to see his mother's face.

"Once he is Duke of York, as a royal Duke he will possess an army of his own, and as a Yorkist." Even if he did not want to, Thomas could not help but see the truth in the man's words. For so long they had been fighting without stopping, he needed him to secure a future once he married Catherine.

"What about Catherine?" That's when Edward turned to look at her.

"What about?"

"Does she know about her marriage?" That's when it clicked him. He hasn't even told her that she is set to marry Thomas, the future Duke of York, and move in with him as soon as possible.

"They'll remain in court for now. I shall try to grant them a castle. I don't know until then, I shall try to get the north support before I move forward."

Cecily groaned. "Edward you're my son, Thomas should remain in court he is a child."

"Who's going to get married? I'm trying to grant them freedom, mother. He wants freedom and doesn't want me anywhere near Catherine!" That's when Cecily knew the truth. Edward had fallen in love with Catherine after all this. Her eldest son and her youngest son both loved the same girl.

"You love her?" She asked. Edward gives her a longingly look refusing to utter a word. He turns away, moving around at a fast pace.

"Don't say anything to me, Edward but I know by your attitude that you do, I just want to tell you it's okay to love her. What I don't get is why you have fallen in love with her? You're going to love many other girls ahead. You'll soon have a princess?" She was curious to know why would Edward, her son love a Lancaster girl it's not like she didn't support it, she is curious.

"Your set to married Princess Bona?" She went forward. "You are going to married a princess already. Why her? Edward?" She demanded to know why her son had fallen for the former Lancaster princess.

"She was a princess," he reminded her. Cecily sighed. It was an answer. Her son had always been stubborn, she needed the truth.

"What makes Catherine of Lancaster so different from the rest?"

Edward turned to her. "I love her because she is different from the rest. She told me straight up when I met her the truth about myself, it made me rethink the whole process. She told me she loved me, first. Yet, she has chosen Thomas."

Cecily smiled in delight. "Edward, you know very well to fulfill your duty. If you loved her, would you fight for her?" She leaned forward pressing a kiss on her son's cheek. She moved forward as her ladies followed her behind. "Mother?"

Cecily turned around. "Yes?"

Edward shakes his head. "Her and I aren't that different. No matter how far away or how close they are, we both have people on our sides trying to rule as we are their puppet." Edward smirk walking past her leaving the rooms leaving his mother in shock at his outburst.

○ ○ ○

Thomas had remained by his sister Margaret's side. "Thomas, I wish not to marry him." Thomas didn't know what to say only to remind her duty. "It isn't my choice, if it were up to me, I would stop this, make sure you're married to the man you'll love?" He smiled upon her trying to contain his happiness.

"What's wrong?" Catherine appeared looking at Margaret. "Edward arranged a marriage for me, I want to marry for, love." She complained to Catherine. Thomas looked upon Catherine to see how she'll respond. "That's horrible, any marriage that is arranged is a horrible treacherous idea." She replied in a small tone, and she turned to Thomas to offer a small smile. "I would like you to know being married isn't the best thing but it's something all girls have to go through.

The corner of Thomas' lips twitched upwards at the thought of Catherine. His mother might think he is mad for going at this rate. "Why would you think arranged marriage is treacherous?" Catherine then turned to face him, Margaret stood by curious. "You're nothing more than forced to be married by force. I wouldn't like it.'' He pressed his lips together. That's when their eyes met. "Then why do you agree to go ahead?'' She smiled.

"That's the question?"

"Nobody knows what the outcome would be.'' Thomas raised his eyebrows. "I don't understand.''

She smiled, "You never know if you're going to end up marrying a man then end up loving them, carrying their children.'' She smiled upon him as he smiled back, curiously. ''Supposed it's a man you know?" Catherine gulps. "The better.'' There was something he wasn't saying to her, she was curious and wanted to take him aside and ask him what he knows that she doesn't.

"Margaret, you're going to love it." She then continued. "But, I don't think you'll be married first. Your sister Elizabeth is older, I'm guessing she will be a better fit,'' she smiled upon the young girl

"Thank you, Catherine.''

Thomas looked at her, warily. All his life he grew under the shadows of his brothers. They would always grab the things he wanted, especially Edward. He wouldn't let him do it this time, especially with her. Margaret began to walk away, only for Catherine to turned around as she was about to leave, Thomas approached behind her, whispering in her ear.

"That's good to hear,'' He was about to leave but when she turned away he had the urge to call her back.

"Catherine," he hissed, staring at her from behind. "I'll respect you-," he said snidely.

When Catherine let out a pained gasp, Catherine changed her expression from derision to worry as she was about to faint. He quickly turned her around, feeling concerned. "It's okay," she said, a smile on her face. "I haven't eaten in days,'' she admitted. He holds onto her, feeling worried but he realized something. She finally got it, she is going to be his bride, she now knew.

"You know, Catherine, I've always found it interesting how often God's will matched your own," he remarked, his tone chilly. He loved her more than anyone in this world.

AUTHOR NOTE:
Wait there is more left. Hold on! Till tmr! so far there's going to be a time jump. Tmr chapter will reveal some secrets, then after that there's going to be a time jump.