Son of Hope

Chapter Five - Better Mood

Edward returned from his ride as Catherine was leaving. He came to a stop beside her and she looked up to him.

"Your Highness, have I been gone that long that your meal with my father is over and you return home?" he wondered

"It has indeed."

"Then while I'm still here, allow me to escort you back." he offered her his hand and Catherine looked back at her ladies "My father would have my head if I kept misplacing my manners. Come." She took his hand and was lifted up onto the horse. he turned around and left once more taking her back to her lodgings. They rode in silence for the ten minute ride back and then he helped her dismount

"I will stay till your ladies have rejoined you." he stated as the stood outside the small manor on the street. "Catherine i hope you will let me offer you my apologies."

"For?"

"Since my mothers death, my heart has hardened in a way. Out of all my siblings I was more closer to her. Following her passing my feelings became heightened and my manners lessen. I am sorry for how I have been to you. cruel and callous in our exchanges. Crashing into your home blind drunk and saying heavens know what. I wish you to know that whatever becomes of you, I endeavour to be more present than our previous encounters. Like my father my temperament has eased and changed."

"Now that you are the new Prince of Wales."

"Titles are just titles, the can be taken away and exchanged on the turn of a coin. My mother taught me that. No, relationships. Family, I had a heavy heart that only my father could unburden. Having the fog clear has relit a fire of loyalty and determination which I thought lost." Catherine hummed "There is a saying which I think might help ease the thought that you have on marrying my father. Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one remarks to carry a light." Ned saw Lina and Rosa returning

"I bid you good day to you." he bowed his head to her and left her with the ladies.

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Ned sat near his father at the council meeting as the were talking about the threat of Edmund de la Pole. The doors opened and Harry entered. All but Ned and the King rose to their feet at his arrival. Henry made his way down and pulled a chair next to his grandmother.

"The military expansion is a costly venture...."

"Uh, sorry why do we need men?" Harry questioned as he sat himself down. "Why are we expanding."

"Because of the threat of an invasion led by Edmund de la Pole..."Lady Margaret stared at him like he had grown another head.

"Oh, right, De La Pole. The York." Harry glanced towards his brother and father. Ned sighed and shook his head. This was a battle of wills and Harry wanted to prove a point.

"We had agreed on a defence tax but it will take time to raise the fund to pay the men..." Harry cut off the conversation again.

"Well, then don't raise them. You are hell bent on robbing the people. pull men from the armies of all the nobles sitting here. Stafford, how large is your retinue? Three hundred men. 400? If we centralise the military, my father wouldn't have to beg and simper to you all like a serving maid." Harry voiced and Ned shook his head and clicked his tongue. Harry sought to prove that he was the smart one and knew better, yet by the looks on everyones face it was backfiring. Henry chuckled.

"My younger son is...angry. Because the girl who has his young heart in her keeping prefers a King to a boy. But if he spent less time on girls and ale, he would know that his brother who actually focuses on more important things. That we are already drawing men from all these noble houses!" Henry stood shouting "And so your contribution to this privy council is of no use whatsoever!" Lady Margaret stood.

"Gentlemen please leave us. The council is dismissed." Ned watched as all but the family filtered out. He readjusted in his chair resting his chin between his finger and thumb. but then he saw the smirk on his brothers face.

"Father, you remember when I said I had news." Ned sighed "I believe my brother has also come by the same information." he stood and poured himself a drink

"I think I may have a missed calling brother. I can read your mind."

"Can you now."

"Yes, only your line of thought came after mine and as such proves nothing. What Harry here wants to tell you to try and prove that he is the worthy successor is that through his love of drinking and women through various savers. He also came to the attention that Edmund de la Pole is in London." Harry's smirk dropped and Edward's rose, he left the council chambers. "Cheers brother."

"Edward. Edward." Henry called after his son "You speak the truth?"

"Oh yes, on mothers grave I do. I was going to bring it up tell you in private and let you do with the information and come up with a plan before it was presented to the council. Harry sought to beat me too it. Let me guess you slept your way to the information, where as I simply asked, Mother may be gone but the city still cares for her. They do not want her legacy to be ripped apart by another war which her marriage to you healed."

"Where is he?" Henry questioned

"Gone, I went there to catch him myself but he hightailed it across the sea, however his man is in the dungeons. Free to do with as you wish." Edward bowed to his father and left.