The Forgotten Rose {COMPLETED}

Part I: Chapter Twenty-Seven - Traitor in the Midst

Richard smile at the Prince, and the boy of six grinned back up at his uncle. He had not seen him often enough to hold love for the man but he wanted too. Richard pulled the boy onto his waist and ruffled his golden hair.

"How is my favourite prince?" Richard chirped as he bounced the boy a little. Teddy chuckled. Then he twisted a little of Richards long dark hair around his finger, he had never seen hair so dark. His mother and all his siblings shared fair hair, as did his father and all his other cousins. A family trait which his uncle Richard seemed to have missed out on. "How is Wales?"

"Good, your grace, it is good." Teddy told his uncle before wrapping his arm around his uncle's neck. "And you, your grace?"

"I am very well little Prince, very well." Richard placed the boy back on the ground and takes a seat at his brothers table. "You are growing."

"Yes, your grace, so my mother tells me. Father says I shall be a warrior like him, and be a king too. Just like my father." Teddy boasted, he imagined himself facing off the greatest of foes, perhaps even some great dragon. The dragon of wales just like Saint George had before him. He was slay the beast and all would adore him. And he would win the beautiful princess, with only his handsome looks and skill with a sword.

"Yes, but you shall be a big man when you are king." Richard told the boy. "I am sure you will be a good King just like your father, Teddy. You look after Dickon, do you not?"

"Yes, Dickon shall be my dearest companion when he joins me at Ludlow." Teddy smiled thinking of his younger brother who was still in the nursery. He stooped into a bow as his father entered before running and embracing the giant of a man.

"Now, Teddy, leave us I shall come see you before you depart." King Edward smiled down at his son. He kissed the top of the boys head before pushing him away towards the door. Teddy did not complain. His father was King, everyone did what his father told them, Teddy was no exception.

"Brother." King Edward beamed at his youngest brother, his arms wide to express his joy. "You did not attend me this Christmas, do you grow weary of court, brother?

"No, I simply felt my time was better spent with my son and my wife." Richard admitted before his brother. "I did not mean to insult. I sent word that my boy was not so well and with the news of Lady Isabelle, I was grateful. My wife could not have coped at court, too saddened by her loss, she has not since shared my bed."

"Oh brother, not a woman in England to comfort you. I pity you greatly." King Edward teased Richard, the thought of going the three months between the eve of Christmas to the date on which they met without the company of a woman, that was unknown to Edward. He could not stay without the warmth of a woman's bed for a week, never mind the many months which his brother had. "We shall find you a good whore, Dickon."

"Do not call me that." Richard scolded King Edward wishing he could rise to be so tall and look his brother in the eye. Of all times he could not do that, his brother had grown plump. Richard would have liked to have been able to match his brother, being small in comparison and appearing to be nothing but bones when they now stood together, but perhaps it was for the better. He could still swing a sword. "I shall not have a whore, I am a married man, my days with whores are far gone."

"You are not too old, you can try one. Take a mistress, your wife cannot deny you that. You are Duke of Gloucester. Her master, you can do as you please."

"No, Edward, I should never do such a thing." Richards cheeks flushed pink.

"Why ever not?" King Edward raised an eyebrow. He poured himself a goblet of ale and another for his brother. "You already have bastards, three, four perhaps. I have lost count." He scoffed as he drank some wine. He pushed a goblet towards Richard but Richard held out his hand to turn it down. "Fine." King Edwards sulked a little pulling the goblet back to himself.