The white Rose of York

Reproduction of the Lands

The next day dawned. It was a lovely, warm April day. The sun was shining and there were hardly any clouds in the sky.

Three men rode through meadows and fields. One had a white horse, that was Edward, who was riding to Grafton Manore to see Elizabeth again. It was noisy in the gardens of Grafton Manore. The children of the Rivers family were playing catch.

Their mother Jacquetta was currently catching, blindfolded of course. Everyone was having fun. It was even more difficult because the laundry was being hung out to dry. "Lizzie, Lizzie, it's him," called one of Elizabeth's older sisters.

"I know who it is," said Elizabeth. She immediately stopped playing and set off, but first she fixed her hair. Elizabeth then went into the house to meet Edward, followed by her mother Jacquetta.

Both bowed to Edward. "Lady Elizabeth," Edward greeted her with open arms. And kissed her on the cheek. "Jacquetta!" came from the door and Richard came in.

Richard was Elizabeth's father and also Baron Rivers. He came in, followed immediately by his eldest sons and the other children. As soon as he came in, Elizabeth walked away from Edward. "Baron Rivers," Edward greeted him.

The other smaller children whispered and looked at Edward in surprise. Richard chased the children away so that they left the room. Now his eldest three sons stood behind him. "Your Grace," said Richard and bowed his head.

"These are my sons Anthony John," said Richard but was interrupted by his son Anthony. "We have met before. That was at the Battle of Towton. When you slaughtered half of England in one day. And in Calais when your father insulted my mother and called her a nobody," said Anthony.

"Anthony," said Jacquetta too, to stop her son. "For you supported a king whose court was poison and whose taxes were unaffordable! And who murdered men he had previously forgiven with a smile! And yet you called him Good! Well now your Good Henry is defeated and I am king" said Edward and smiled.

"Lady Elizabeth told me she had lost her lands." "She did not lose them, they were taken from her. And all she wants is justice" said Richard. "Ah justice from the Yorks" said Anthony who had a knife in his hand. "Your queen murdered my father and brother and impaled their heads on lances so don't tell me anything about justice here! Is it fair that my sister will grow up without her father and will never see him" said Edward.

"Have you written down your claim?" Edward asked Elizabeth. She took the scroll she had in her hand and gave it to Edward. "Then they will be returned to you by your king" said Edward.

"Thank you" said Elizabeth too. She was about to hug Edward when her mother reminded her that they were not alone. "Lady Elizabeth, would you show me the gardens before I go?" Edward asked Elizabeth. "The air in here is stiff," Edward said.

Then he and Elizabeth went outside into the gardens, which at this time of year have all kinds of beautiful flowers and plants.

"I cannot stay for long. Henry's wife is bringing the French to join his army. I must prepare for them," Edward said. "You are not afraid of defeat?" Elizabeth asked, looking at Edward.

"Wouldn't you wish that? Aren't you on Lancaster's side?" Edward asked and Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "I wish there were no sides," Elizabeth said.

"Can I send a squire to bring you to me tonight? I desire you more than I desire any other woman," Edward asked Elizabeth in the garden where no one could overhear.

"I cannot be your mistress," Elizabeth said and Edward walked away from her, "I could die in battle and that could be my last request. You would deny your king that," Edward said with great hope that Elizabeth would say yes and walked towards her again.

"Nothing will happen to you, you are quick and brave and lucky," Elizabeth repeated the exact words Edward had said to her the day before. "So I must go and that must be the end?" asked Edward.

"No," Elizabeth said to Edward, then there was silence. "Tomorrow at sunset we will meet at the big oak tree where I first saw you. If we just say goodbye," said Edward.

And he and Elizabeth just looked at each other. You couldn't see the two of them from inside, but her father, her brothers and Jacquetta were still waiting in the house for her to return.

"She shouldn't have gone with him alone. He's a women's hero," said Richard, who was desperately waiting for his daughter inside.

"You look at the garden," said Jacquetta to calm her husband down. "And what's next? He won't give her her lands, mercifully, we are supporters of the Lancasters who fought against him." John said.

"He will want something in return," Anthony replied. "If he hasn't already taken you. He has made every woman he has seen obedient to him. So why not Elizabeth too," said John.

"He could use violence on her right now, we will." John was interrupted by his mother and brother. "John," said Jacquetta. "Ed won't take her into a rose bush, John," said Anthony.

"How do you know that?" asked John. "He will order her to court when she is released from his service. Because he gave her the lands back to her, isn't that right, Elizabeth?" Anthony asked his sister who had just come in.

"I only ask that my property be returned to me. I ask for justice and the king has promised it as he should," said Elizabeth. "A man it is hard to say no to, Elizabeth. And if he should summon you to court, what would you say to him?" Richard asked his daughter.

"What you would advise me then, father." Elizabeth answered her father's question cleverly.

Richard was satisfied with his daughter's answer. Elizabeth sat down at the table where there was a chess set and asked if anyone wanted to play.

"We do not doubt you. This man has taken half the women of London. And the Yorks' arms rape our women wherever they go," Richard said to his daughter. "But so do King Henry's arms, and at least this new king is sane," said Jacquetta.

She stood up, turned around and poured herself a glass of wine. "We were once friends with this idiotic king, or have you forgotten that, Jacquetta?" Richard asked his wife.

"I don't forget anything. But the wheel of fate always turns back and forth. And the queen, my friend, has become too evil. And now this man is king and Elizabeth must get her lands back." Jacquetta said to her husband.

"But not at any price," said Richard and left the room. Jacquetta and John followed him. But Anthony stayed. "It's not just the land that you want, is it? You want him too?" Anthony asked his sister.

"He is the King of England. I must show loyalty if I want my country back," said Elizabeth. "How else is a poor widow supposed to get by in the world," said Anthony.

After they had talked, Elizabeth put out chess pieces for them so they were deep enough to play with. "You'd be an idiot if you sold yourself for too little, Elizabeth," said Anthony, who had just stood up.

"I have no intention of selling myself at all," said Elizabeth, and Anthony went out. Elizabeth was left alone in the room.

In the night there was hardly anything to see, just fog. It was very cold. But Elizabeth did not stop they, she went to the exact spot where she and her mother had cut the threads yesterday.

She took the thread that was still lying on the floor in her hand and tied exactly one foot onto the spool. She looked out at the river and thought about the next day.