Road away from Whitehall

She was not ecstatic to be leaving court, especially under these circumstances, but the wandering soul within her longed for movement, for a change of scenery. The road ahead looked dim and dangerous but she kept good faith that their safety was ensured. However, her patience was running thin. The driver was going much too fast, despite the snow on the road. She hit the heel of her hand against the dividing glass and motioned for the man to slow! "Figlio di puttana.. for God's sake I'm in delicate condition, I should not be jostled about in a carriage!" Frustrated, she looked at Anthony. "You're the man are you not? You should be the one to tell him something, not I." She rolled her eyes.

We were traveling down a grim winding road. I had begun to fall asleep until I heard Charlotte shouting. I woke up startled, I looked over at her seeing she was obviously annoyed. I leaned my head out of the carriage "Easy does it. My wife is with child and in very delicate condition." I said and took her hand "Now you feel better?"

Truly she did feel a little better especially after he held her hand, but she felt rotten inside, an annoyance that had no motive. "Of course! Now you come to my aid! What were you doing asleep? You're supposed to be protecting me, Anthony.." her voice broke as tears threatened. Her words had a plaintive tone to them. "Am I just to fend for myself from now on?" She said obstinately.

I sighed and rubbed my eyes. "Well forgive me if I haven't gotten much sleep lately" I said I saw her eyes welling up. I took her hands and kissed them "Of course not my love. Are you alright? you don't seem like yourself" I said concerned.

She gave a terse little laugh. "No, I am most certainly not myself! If you have not noticed, I am practically the size of a whale! My back aches constantly, I can't stop from eating everything within my sight, all my pretty dresses do not fit anymore, two of my expensive corsets busted when I tried to wear them, my head aches, I have heartburn after every meal, et cetera! You cannot sleep? I am the one who can only catch an hour's worth of sleep at a time, I cannot find a comfortable position." She took a deep breath, feeling her face red. "Apart from that.. I feel so fat, and ugly! Now we're being exiled, and you blame me for it. I told you we did not have to get married, I could have had one arranged for me!" But she knew inside that she would have hated that life.

I sat there pinning for my lack of sleep when I had know idea she was the one who needed my full attention.
I pulled her close to me "My love, you must forgive my selfish needs. I grew up an only child, I don't know the sacrifices a woman has to endure in order to bare a child." I said feeling like I had let her down. I laid her head upon shoulder as I stroked her head "I have never blamed this banishment on you. This was all my doing, and I would do again if it meant me losing you. I could never lose you Charlotte. Your everything to me"

She felt strangely calm after her rant, and felt the anger leave her as Anthony stroked her hair. She sighed deeply, feeling shame for how she had acted. "No, I'm sorry. If I could keep better control over how I feel.. I will try, I promise.' She looked up at him. "We will endure everything together, and we will not lose each other." She took his hand and intertwined her fingers with his. "But I would not mind giving that driver a kick in the shins, just as a reminder." she added.

I watched as our fingers intwined with each other. I squeezed her had lightly "What is it that you feel my darling?" I asked wanting to know what she was t err truly upset about.

She could not look at him as she spoke this. "I'm scared that I could lose my life while giving birth to our child, or worse that I could lose the child itself. You would be without both of us. All manner of things can go wrong." She shook her head to relieve the thought of it.

When I heard what was truly bothering her, my heart sank. I could never imagine my life without her. I held her as close as possible "Charlotte, please don't have such thoughts of anguish. We will take each day as it comes, and pray that the good lord continues to bless us." I kissed her head thinking of how I could never go on without her.

She sighed, knowing he was right that she should not worry and simply take life as it comes. "This is something we have no control over, and we will have to let fate decide what will happen." She sighed as she felt exhausted, closing her eyes as she rested her head on his shoulder, and wished for sleep to claim her.

I never liked to fight with her, I wanted to please her in any way I could. I held her close to comfort her "Try to sleep my love the journey is long and you need your rest." I said caressing her arm and kissing her cheek.

Jasper rode stealthily down a road from the village he had lodged at the pervious night. He had hoped to arrive at court before nightfall but had underestimated how far the land was still submerged in the steely grip of winter. Never the less his horse rode valiantly through the night, neither cowering or hiding from the shadows but instead ignoring them as nothing but a minor hinderance.
Jasper was not surprised, his horse had been to war; it had seen the bloody battles and heard the cries of men in anguish...and agony, the horse now felt no fear-nor did Jasper.

Although he was annoyed at his ignorance of the correct path to court and upon seeing a party of little under fifty he slowed his horse. He noticed a woman in the litter, asleep and a man beside her,"Good sir,"he called,"Might you tell me the correct way to Whitehall?"

As I wait out side the palace for the carriage to arrive I wrap a blanket around me as I look up at the windows and the moon shining with the stars wishing it hurry up as the carriage arrives the servants load it has I sit inside and lay down we are soon on our way my heart aches the further I get away already missing Thomas

Ursula wait of the Carriage to take her away from court to York.

The carriage come and Ursula board in.
" To York please ".

The carriage start.

Thomas take a carriage to Hever.
He is in worry of his daughter Mary.
" Drive quick to Hever " say he to the driver.

Francis, the physician and a guard of two men left Whitehall that afternoon and made the long journey to the north.

Jasper quickly rode away in the night and prepared for the long journey ahead.

Edmund moaned at John for not allowing him to ride all the way to Lancaster as he climbed into his litter.

"You can ride through the gates of Greenhalgh,"I reply with a chuckle,"Now sleep-the journey is a long one as you know."

Edmund waved to his mother from inside the coach as he wrapped a sable around him-it was cold in the north.