The Forgotten Rose {COMPLETED}

Part I: Chapter Eleven - The Brothers Dispute

"Anne Neville is mine to do with as I please, Edward put her into my care not yours," George shouted at his brother, Richard. His eyes widened as he thought of the treacherous girl who had run away from his keeping to his own brother. His own meddlesome younger brother. How he loathed the pair of them. Together they had stolen the full Neville inheritance from him, with only Isabelle to his name he would only own half, "and I want her back, Richard."

Richard looked at his brother with a sly smile. Anne Neville, was nobodies to give nor to keep; she wasn't little Anne Neville from Middleham and Warwick. She was Anne Neville, dowager Princess and she should be left to play her own game. She had been used as a pawn enough by men. She deserved freedom she had certainly earned it with all her suffering.

"She is not yours to keep," Richard corrected him, "she is almost sixteen and when she does come of age, her half of the inheritance shall be her own to give to whom she pleases, not yours. And she may marry whom she chooses."

"You wish to marry her? Anne Neville, a wife to my brother? Anne Neville? She is the widow of a traitor, and she is still a little girl," George protested, how could his brother wish to marry that girl. She held no resemblance to a woman, sixteen without any shape which a woman should bare. She would never bare Richard a child. "She shall never give you a son."

"It would be a love match," Richard looked to the floor as he spoke, weary of his brothers reaction. His eyes were blue like a calm sea, any fool could see that there was no lie in his words. None what so ever. No sound came from George. Richard slowly lifted his head to see his brother lost in a fit of silent laughter, his hand clasped over his mouth in a vain attempt to silence it.

"You are mad," George burst before he could begin to control his laughter. His stomach ached from his brothers words. "Fool. You are a fool, Richard. You think she loves you? She would not love the most handsome man in all of Europe. Never mind a warty toad like yourself." George teased his brother.

"No, I do not. But I love her and I will protect her with my life," Richard said calmly trying to forget his brothers words. "Do not tell me she is a little girl, George, because she is not. She is a woman, I can see what you can't. You do not see past the girl we met at Middleham. The girl with the inheritance is all you see. She is not even a person to you."

"She is. Do not think so little of me, Richard. I have standards," George sneered. "No, I simply ask for what is mine to be returned." He glared at Richard, his eyes wary to tread safely. Richard was merely a man, but George knew of his skill with a sword. He had seen it himself. Richard could defeat George any day in a dual. And George could not face loosing to his 'little' brother.

"Oh, George, trust me; I think nothing of you." Richard remarked as their eldest brother entered the room. The two fell to their knees. Even George could not be superior to Edward. "Your Grace." Richard said smugly knowing Edward would be looking at him.

"Rise, Richard." Edward smiled holding out his hand to his brother. Richard kissed it lightly and rose to his feet. George stirred looking at his brother through his thick fringe which almost completely covered his eyes. His face turned sour as he saw Edward embrace Richard, a brothers love he had turned down for profit. He began to rise, what would his brother care.

"No, George. You may stay down their in the filth," Edward mocked his brother. George did not laugh as Richard did, he scowled at Edward. King or not, that was not way to treat a brother. Especially not a royal duke, how could Edward be so cowardly. If he wished to challenge George, then he should. Not linger and tease him. A coward, that was what he was.

"Come, George. I hear you have to speak to me. News about your little widow." Edward laughed, he knew what his brother was to tell him. It was the talk of court. The 'great' George, Duke of Clarence could not even keep a little girl. He was beaten by a fifteen year old widow, he was a laughing stock.