~𝕭𝖊𝖙𝖗𝖆𝖞𝖆𝖑 𝖎𝖘 𝖔𝖓𝖑𝖞 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖇𝖊𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌~
Born the youngest daughter of Charles I, Duke of Bourbon, Constance of Bourbon grows up amidst comfort and splendour on her powerful family's estates in France. A shy child, she prefers her...
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~Christmas~
December 1469, Westminster....
Ever since King Edward returned from capture, there hadn't been a soul amongst the court who had not seen his Queen dancing around as if she were still the girl of fifteen that had stepped onto English shores! A new light glimmered in her eyes, gave a rosy glow to her cheeks; life to her steps that sprung merrily across the palace, each a merry dance she would perform over and over yet never grow tired!
While her brother missed his beloved Italy and the company of his Medici brothers, James settled into the English court easily!
Constance had always been of a generous nature, giving to the poor and bequeathing gifts to those who were loyal to her. She knew it was the duty of nobles to care for the less fortunate and always seen to it that she did but that Christmas season she seemed to have become the Saint of giving himself!
She spent almost the entirety of November giving gifts to the poor, visiting orphanages and poor houses where she worked tirelessly to find occupations for the unfortunate souls there. She funded them with gold from her personal coffers, paying for six new chapels and gifts for the orphans she met.
Their downcast faces engraved her dreams so they began to haunt her until she made a quick return. To see their smiles when they opened their gifts brought her almost more joy than liberating her husband had and she had found ten places within the royal household for the eldest!
The children's cries of joy could be heard several streets away!
For Marie she had six new gowns made, each befitting of a Queen which overjoyed the little girl beyond measure! Matching headdresses followed and soon the Princess was floating around Westminster in her newfound finery like a little beaming angel!
For her husband, Constance commissioned a new sword, made of the finest steel with the hilt possessing a polished ruby set in shining gold. Maxime Felix lay engraved beneath it and when Edward received his gift he had swept his Queen from her feet, covering her face with kisses before taking her to bed for the rest of the day!
For each of her ladies she had had new gowns made, each in a different coloured silk damask of the finest quality she could lay her hands one!
Each came accompanied with a precious jewel clasp, the hue of which matched their gowns and made their eyes glint with wonder. When the royal ladies had been given their gifts upon Christmas morning Edward remarked at dinner that he could swear to hearing their squeals of delight across the palace!
Constance simply laughed, kissing him as she had developed a fondness for doing whenever he parted those handsome lips of his!
