~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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~Visions Sharper than a Thousand Knives~
October 1474, Westminster Palace....
"Do we have to go, ma Mère?" Isabella whined as her nurses packed around her, safely stowing away gowns, jewels and other costly possessions in the numerous coffers she and little Cecily would take to Eltham with them.
"You do, my dearest" Constance replied, holding Cecily on her hip while the little girl babbled to herself, playing with her Mother's jewels. "Mama!" She gurgled and Constance smiled. "Yes, darling!" She looked back to Isabella as she sat on her bed "You will like Eltham, you like it already!"
"But you not there!" The little girl argued, clambering up beside her "No you, no Papa!" She could speak far better than any of her siblings had been able to at her age, she could understand better too and wasn't keen on being made to do things she didn't like. For a two year old, she could argue rather well!
"You will see us, little one" Constance assured her, the thought of being separated from her girls making her heart hurt, but she had to be cheerful for them "Most royal children have their own households, your brother does! It's so you are safe!" "Safe?" Isabella repeated "Papa keep me safe! Keep Cissy safe! And you!"
Her Mother sighed, gently setting Cecily on the covers between them and cupping Isabella's face. "Ton Père et moi te protégerons toujours, mais nous ne pouvons pas toujours te protéger du poison de la cour, mon amour, c'est pourquoi tu vas ailleurs" 'Your Father and I will always protect you but we cannot always protect you from the poison of court, my love, which is why you are going somewhere else'
"Marie n'est pas" 'Marie is not' She pointed out, switching from one language to the other as easily as she breathed and her Mother smiled again.
"Marie est plus âgée" 'Marie is older' She replied "Elle comprend, elle a grandi dans cette mare de poison qui, à certains égards, la rend immunisée. Maintenant que nous sommes en paix, ni vous, ni vos frères et sœurs n'avez besoin de faire face à cela. Marie n'aurait pas dû, mais elle devait le faire" 'She understands, she has grown in this pool of poison which, in some ways, makes her immune. Now we are at peace, neither you, nor your siblings need to face that. Marie shouldn't have but she had to'
Constance sighed, pressing a kiss to Isabella's forehead "Serez-vous bon? Pour moi et ton Père?" 'Will you be good? For me and your Father?' After watching her for a moment, the girl nuzzled into her hand, nodding.
"Je serai bon" 'I be good' She promised and that was good enough for her Mother.
