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A game of chess; Ickler Eddie Spencer
Topic Started: Oct 30 2011, 04:42 PM (203 Views)
William Spencer
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Lord Winchester (courtesy)
Christmas, 1494 - Wormleighton, Warwickshire

Henry Spencer was most assuredly a man, and he had asserted that his father would respect that and his decisions regarding his son. His father had not really wished Henry sent away to France as an ambassador, taking him out of the king's eye, but Henry had gladly gone to serve His Majesty. He had found that one of the benefits was being away from his father and being completely his own man. Perhaps he had grown to used to it to return to his father's house and be quiet, but his father would have to learn to deal with that.

He tried his best to hide his annoyance, the bud of a potential ill-temper, from his young son who was perched on his hip.

Apparently it irked his father that he would proud of William, that he had brought him to show him off. Perhaps he had a different appreciation for the boy having lived under a more inclusive and involved French culture, but he thought William far more accomplished than Charles was at the same age. So much bigger as well; assuredly, the boy had inherited the Valois height.

Henry tried to blame the boy's height and strength for his father's misjudgment. He had known when he heard William's scream down the hallway on his way to see his brother Edward, that something was amiss. William was not a screamer in any sense. His father was displeased that William had slipped his attendants and gone looking for his father, something that was not precisely forbidden in France, and had been a bit overzealous with the birch.

Then there had been yelling. Much yelling.

He did not think William had ever experienced anything like that and despite the boy saying he wasn't frightened, Henry knew that he was. Nearing his sixth year, the boy could hardly hide the fear and worry in his eyes. They had some weeks here yet, and now he would keep the boy close to him. Perhaps his father had taken to liking too much wine or ale for his judgment.

Right now the dark-haired man was intent on spending time with one of his younger brothers, the elder of the two. Edward must be nearing twenty, he supposed, a man now as well. Henry had not much seen him in three years until this trip.

"Edward," he greeted, with a nod, "Sorry for the delay in our game. Our lord father, I think, has indulged too much and cannot discern that William only just becoming six in January. The boy displeased him, looking for me. In Paris, our house in much smaller." Henry took a glass of wine from a servant and sat down in a plush chair on one side of a chess table. "I am sure you heard the yelling. You will know of such things before long." Indeed did not Edward already take care of that obligation? He was an impressive young man for a younger brother indeed. Not that Henry was that much older, but enough. "But William is just fine. He will be quiet and help me to beat you," Henry teased. "Will you not, William?" He poked the boy in the side jovially.

"Yes, my lord papa," the boy replied eagerly, having long forgotten his tears and now abandoning clinging against him. "Good day, Sir Edward," he chirped at his brother with a little nod.

He situated the boy on his lap, turning him in his blue doublet so that he was facing the board completely. "You will move the pieces for me. We will show Edward how smart you are."

His blue eyes crinkled a bit at his brother, half-amused and hardly very apologetic for bringing the boy with. "He is a very good boy, he won't interfere with our conversation, brother, don't worry."
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Edward Spencer
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Earl of Berkshire/Baron Denbigh
It had been quite the year for Sir Edward Spencer, middle son of Earl of Wilmington and younger brother to Henry Spencer. A strapping young man at nearly twenty, he still bore a bit of the lankiness of his youth, although he was filling out rather nicely throughout his upper torso and shoulders. He had been in battles and had received his knighthood earlier that year, shortly after he had been wed in the spring to Lady Rose Wembley, eldest daughter of Baron Tuchet.

The marriage, of course, had been arranged by his father. At first, young Edward hadn't been entirely sure that he'd wanted to be married--after all, he was a soldier, and he rather enjoyed his cavalier lifestyle of drinking and gambling in between swordfights and whatnot--but upon meeting Rose for the first time, he had become immediately smitten. Rose was a true beauty, with silvery blonde hair and deep green eyes; and when she laughed, she filled the air with a musical sound. His only regret was that he'd had to leave his bride so soon after the marriage, to fight in yet another battle. But luckily, he had returned six months later.

And now he was at his father's estate in Wormleighton, as his brother Henry had come home from France. Although he had never really known his elder brother, Edward remembered having always been rather adoring of Henry. At least, he was more adoring of Henry than he was of his younger brother John--who always managed to provoke him. On the other hand, Edward had been just as quick to provoke John, too ... and they had both received the birch on many an occasion for their tussling.

He was sitting down, enjoying a cup of ale whilst contemplating a chess board, when his brother finally walked in, young William perched on his hip. The boy was certainly tall for his age, Edward would grant him that. Other than that, though ... well, the young knight barely knew his young nephew. But the pride that Henry felt for the young boy was clear enough for all to see.

He smiled slightly and rose when his brother greeted him. "Henry," he greeted in return, and the smile fell slightly. "Yes ... I heard the yelling." He didn't remember his father being that zealous with the birch in all the years growing up, but didn't comment on that.

"I see," he commented when Henry explained. "So ... a smaller home makes a difference?" He had a difficult time thinking of his brother in a much smaller home; after all, Henry was the heir to Wilmington and all the rest of their father's titles and estates. It seemed to Edward that his brother should be living in something close to a palace. Edward, on the other hand ... well, he lived in a smaller home, one of his father's lesser estates. But that was to be expected, as he wasn't expected to inherit anything. Certainly not now, since Henry had produced Charles, who was nearly of an age with John.

He smiled as he re-seated himself. "Yes, brother, I suppose I shall know soon enough," he replied, "As we have just found out that Rose is with child." He lifted his cup in a small toast. "May she give me a son, and many more sons after that." He took a drink, and held out his cup for more.

The young knight chuckled at his brother's words. "So you feel that it shall take two of you to beat me? I warn you, brother, I have gotten quite good at chess." Actually, he was much better at cards, but he wasn't going to bring that up. Yet. He smiled and chuckled as he looked down at his young nephew. "And good day to you, young Master William," he said, bowing his head in a little nod. The boy certainly seemed endearing enough.

He looked up at his brother. "I am not so worried," he grinned back. "After all, I have no fear of a small boy." Unlike, apparently, his father. But he chose to remain silent on that count, too.

"Well, then ... let us see just how smart you are," he grinned boyishly at his nephew. "You may start first."
[align=center]Bio :: Plot

Edward is now Jure Uxoris ("By right of his wife") Earl of Berkshire, or Lord Berkshire
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William Spencer
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Lord Winchester (courtesy)
Henry smiled a bit shamefully and apologetically at his brother, giving his son a near imperceptible squeeze. His father's yelling had definitely including a large bit of ridicule for him in his attachment to his son, and he was quite certain William had understood the gist.

"I am sorry. It is not very good of me to model yelling at our father, is it?" he asked, "But I have my own rights as a father as well, in my eyes. He has control of Charles so perhaps he believes I should just think nothing...He is just a small boy in a strange place." That was his defense of his behaviour. He was not that apologetic, he just did not wish to be a bad example to his younger brother.

He chuckled at Edward's question, "It does when small boys go looking for their papa." He ran a hand over his son's hair and chuckled a bit more. "In Paris, most people of any distinction have their own residence in the city in the blocks that surround the palace. They are more like a very grand hotel. When he knows I am home, it is just as simple as walking down a hallway or staircase. This is much bigger, is it not William?"

The boy finally spoke again, "Yes, my lord papa, it is much bigger than 5 Rue de la Concorde, but it is not so big as Chateaux Carlat, which is very big indeed."

Henry laughed at his son, "You are right, Chateaux Carlat is a fortress of a city within ramparts." Chateaux was misleading in that way, because Carlat itself was almost as big as a city such as Bolougne. "It houses a very large garrison to protect Southern France," he said more to Edward than to William, as he looked at his brother. "My father-in-law's." He quirked a small, mischievous half smile and said, "Perhaps I am not so foolish to marry a daughter of a duke in a country where a woman can hold her father's title and where primogeniture is far more of a loose concept." Edward would know all about primogeniture, because in England it meant he got nothing but perhaps property or a house, if his father gave it to him. In France, a father could give away his lesser titles to whomever he pleased so long as they were not the royal titles (like Anjou), so who was to say Monseigneur Nemours would not do such a thing for his eldest grandson? Even not being a male-line heir, in William, Henry could end up with two titled sons. Rich sons. Henry was not as foolish as his father perhaps thought. Nemours was partial to William, his other grandsons were physically quite sickly.

"Father ruined your news for you," he replied, smiling widely. "You and John both, I hear, I do not think it could be a better Christmas for the man! Indeed, I hope that we shall soon have five Spencer grandsons for the old Lord Wilmington, and perhaps another for me as well. Ten total boys between us should be our minimum number Edward, do not you think? I've already 3, and you both at least need to try and best me, and I should like another." He was not that old of a man yet to think he would not have more children. His new wife had already two sons and one daughter and was only now just one and twenty or would soon be.

"Have you gotten good at chess? It seems you have gotten good at very many things, my brother...battles, a babe on the way, a knighthood...I am a lucky man to have such diligent and talented brothers," he said with a wink. "Then perhaps I will need William's clever aide!" He let out another chuckle. "You should be worried, Edward. William can remember Alexander the Great's battle movements and reenact them with his toy soldiers. He has watched many a chess game and has an excellent memory. He is a good help at chess." Perhaps he felt a bit like he needed to compliment the boy after his son had witness he and his father yelling, about the boy, no less. He still had not moved his arm from around the boy's waist as the boy sat in his lap on his knee.

"I'm not big enough to play you, Sir Edward, but I will help Papa and move the pieces where he tells me."

Henry chuckled, "You know my first move, William."

"Pawn to e4!" he said cheerily enough and moved the middle pawn up two squares.
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Edward Spencer
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Earl of Berkshire/Baron Denbigh
Sir Edward smiled back. "Perhaps not," he admitted with a small chuckle. No, it wasn't good to yell at one's father--that much had been (literally) pounded into the young knight over the years--but then again, Edward was nothing if not observant. And it seemed that his father underwent a subtle but distinct change whenever William was about. Which was curious ... and a bit disturbing. In truth, he'd thought that perhaps he was imagining things, but apparently not. Or perhaps Henry had adopted a new attitude whilst in France.

"But fear not, I've no desire to go yelling at our father anytime soon," he smiled again at his older brother. "I daresay he might attempt to have the birch taken to me, should I attempt such a thing." After all, Edward was only nineteen, barely a man. Even if he was married and knighted.

Well, then. Henry certainly was living well in France, wasn't he? In truth, Edward was a bit envious of his brother, especially when he heard about the chateau. And about the marriage to the daughter of a duke. And as for primogeniture ... well, yes, he was painfully aware of what that meant. "'Tis no matter," he shrugged. "I've come to accept my lot in life as an untitled man--save for my knighthood--and living on one of Father's lesser properties." And earning any sort of title through his wife was certainly out, as Rose had a brother--who was quite alive and hale.

On the bright side, it meant less responsibility for Edward--and more time for gambling. "You sound to be a lucky man, indeed, Henry. And clearly, you are doing quite well for yourself."

He took a drink of ale. "I am thinking of raising hunting dogs. To sell," he commented. "So that I am not so dependent on Father for everything. 'Twould be a boon to keeping my coffers filled."
Well, that and fighting battles, but as much as he would have like to keep fighting constantly, Edward was well aware that there would times of peace. He had to do something during those times, did he not? And he quite enjoyed hunting. Why not profit from it, in some way? And besides ... it was a slight departure from horse breeding, which his father did.

He smiled and chuckled when talk turned to that of begetting children. "Indeed, Father was delighted when both John and I announced that our wives were with child," he replied. "And I daresay that ten grandsons should be the minimum. I plan to have several, myself." Henry already had three sons, naturally ... and he was still young enough that it was plausible for him to have many more. "My plan is to have at least half a dozen sons," he grinned at his older brother.

He raised a brow as Henry began bragging about young William's accomplishments. "Can he, now? That is truly a wondrous feat, brother," he smiled. He looked down at his young nephew. "Someday, nephew, you shall be big enough, and then we shall see who is better with strategy ... in the meantime, let us see if your father is better than me in strategy." The boy certainly was endearing.

And Edward chuckled once more as the chess game began. "And I shall counter with pawn to e5," he replied, moving his black pawn forward two spaces, so that it was directly in front of other moved pawn. "Your turn, brother."
[align=center]Bio :: Plot

Edward is now Jure Uxoris ("By right of his wife") Earl of Berkshire, or Lord Berkshire
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William Spencer
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Lord Winchester (courtesy)
Henry smiled a half-smile full of knowledge as Edward said that he had done well for himself. He rather liked being his own man and being away from father. Henry was a man and should be able to make his own decisions especially since he did represent His Majesty in France. Someone obviously trusted him, even if his father would rather keep him under his thumb.

"I rather like my independence, brother. I find that I am quite able to act on my own intelligently with a mind to my fortunes."

So Edward was looking for a venue to make money and that was a good characteristic. Investment in merchant business was a good use of money to make someone else make you more money. Their family had been raising and breeding horses for generations, but they had several businesses run by tenants and such--like with the sheep at Althorp

"That is wise, brother. And a house with many children will have many scraps for many dogs," he added. "Investments like that are better than directly gambling." Coin was excessively important, because a man of birth was expected to be extravagant. It was a matter of pride and bella figura.

His body moved back with the force of his laugh as Edward spoke of how many sons he wished to have. William had needed to grab onto his arm to keep from flying off him.

"You must really like your wife, Sir Edward!" William crowed happily. "It is a man's duty to have sons." The boy nodded emphatically and for a moment Henry wondered if William was going to detail what he knew of bedding women. He was not quite sure the other English were ready for that.

"That's right, William, and you must pray that your papa picks you a pretty bride or else you will have to anyway." Henry chuckled and winked at Edward.

"I would, Papa! But I shall pray for Mademoiselle Margot anyway. I am second, so I am not important enough." He pouted a bit and then added, "But I pray anyway because I like Mademoiselle Margot, and she likes me." Nevermind that she was just four.

Even as a boy, he had a keen and honest sort of awareness. He chirped it happily like it mattered not one bit. Henry would happily declare William his heir if such a thing were possible. He did not even know his other son and Charles was in his youth.

As the game progressed, Henry nodded, "Indeed, he can, and I will look forward to seeing that. William will make a fine man some day."

He could sit her in complete happiness with his son and his brother. This he could say he would miss when he went back to France, but he also missed the bed of his wife.

"My lord Papa is very strategic, sometimes he loses on purpose. I can tell!" William declared and then leaned forward, "Knight to F3, right Papa?"

Henry was shocked by William's declaration that he could tell his father lost on purpose sometimes. He had a brief bit of fright as he wondered if he was that painfully obvious or if William had somehow seen him play that many chess games that he knew his father's moves and ability that well. The boy had an amazing memory.
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Catherine la Zouche
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Elizabeth la Zouche nee Spencer was everything a Spencer woman should be. Nothing was out of place, not even a strand of hair. She liked to think her father was proud of what she had accomplished, even if she were but a Baroness. But she wasn’t just a Baroness with one title, but two. It quite surprised her that her father had allowed her to marry into a French family, but then with her older brother now so much a part of France was there really anything wrong with it? Like most girls, she had not fallen in love with her husband on sight, but after so many years together she was now quite fond of him. She had married him young, and had given him two children, the youngest finally the heir he had sought for. If though her father was to be truly proud of her, she would have had five sons by now, but she did not. Her children, or lack there of had to be his only disappointment. It was bad enough that she had not given him many strong grandsons, but for the only two children she had were displeasing to his eye, Catherine especially.

Elizabeth had always sought her father’s approval in life, pleasing him in anyway possible, but for her children to be so unruly, she was at a loss. It disappointed her that Catherine had no intention to follow in her footsteps, but would rather go against everything the young girl had been taught. And then came the day Catherine had bitten her own grandfather, the Earl of Wilmington. Elizabeth had almost fainted! But deep down she knew Catherine had only been trying to protect her tiny little brother. Yet still, so that she wouldn’t be a further disappointment to her father, she and her husband had forbidden Catherine to join them in the family Christmas gathering. She prayed dearly that Catherine would learn from her punishment, but Elizabeth suspected it would be a long road ahead of them.

She loved her children dearly, but there was only so much she could do to protect them from her father’s scrutiny. She was a mother hen by nature, yet was strong as any Spencer should be. So when she had heard the boom of her father’s voice, she had to remind herself that Catherine was safely tucked out of harm’s way and she had a firm grip on little John’s hand, so just who could send Wilmington into a rage? It didn’t take her long to find out. She had wanted to swoop in and shield her nephew from her father, but she knew her place. She may even have been the one to be punished for trying to soften the boy; she knew her father hated that. So she could do and say nothing, but ensure her own son did not add to Wilmington’s rage, by keeping him at her side.

She did well to ignore the event, at least while her father was in the room, but as soon as he turned his back she left to see for herself that the poor little dear hadn’t been scared to death. When she found Henry playing chess with their younger brother, Edward with young William in his father’s lap, Elizabeth smiled and gave her son a little leeway now they were far from her father’s eye. It was a mistake to let go of his hand, for he ran to his uncles only to stop in time before he whacked into the chess table. He stood there silent peering up at the men and at the pawns. The top of his head and his blue eyes were the only parts of him visible. If he became hungry he would have been at the right height to simply open his mouth and chew on the edge of the table, but it seemed he had something else in mind. Before his mother could stop him (for she was busy curtsying and greeting her brothers) he snatched two of the pawns from the chessboard.

John!” Elizabeth immediately gasped and grabbed at her son’s little arms, catching him before he could run off and ruin her brothers’ game more than he already had. Prying the pawns from her son’s grasp she carefully placed them back exactly where he had stolen them from, giving her brothers an apologetic smile. “Please forgive him, he is quite restless without his sister around.” Taking hold of his hand again, she pulled John away from the table, before he could steal anymore pawns. Finally, she smiled at young William on his father’s lap; already she was becoming fond of him and wished her children could behave as he could. Honestly, she did not know why her father could be so upset at the boy, look how good he was, such a perfect specimen of a child! Gathering John in her arms, she sat down a short distance away from her brothers, but close enough so she could watch them play. “I hope I am not intruding, I came to watch if that is permissible. Please continue, don’t let us distract you from play.” If she however received a subtle hint that she was not welcome, she would leave, but even so whatever the men said to one another would fall on deaf ears, Elizabeth knew well that men’s discussion was not of a woman’s business.

If her brothers allowed her to stay, she sat John in her lap and leaned down to whisper into his tiny ear as he would not stop squirming. “John my dear, look at your cousin William, see how good he is being, sitting still? Be good and sit still, please, there’s a good boy.” Elizabeth’s voice was as soft as a whisper and her voice alone made her son pause. He looked up at his older cousin with wide curious eyes. It took but a moment for him to register what his mother was asking of him, and then just as children did, he studied the older boy and copied him. He squirmed once more if only to correct his posture and to copy his cousin, now sitting unmoving on his mother’s lap as he drank up the moving of the pawns as if his tiny brain could understand what was happening.
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PLOT: :BIO: :TRACKER
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Edward Spencer
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Earl of Berkshire/Baron Denbigh
Sir Edward let out a small chuckle. "What, you don't need Father telling you every step of the way how to conduct your business?"

In that regard, he was quite glad that he wasn't the firstborn; the expectations were certainly higher for Henry than they were for Edward. The younger brother found that he rather liked it that way, as his father was more likely to leave him be. Which, in Edward's mind, gave him a little bit of room to breathe, allowing him to become his own man. Granted, he didn't get nearly the same privileges and attention as Henry, but he was perfectly fine with that. More privileges seemed to lead to more responsibility (and more control by the Lord Wilmington), something that he was keen on avoiding.

The young knight smiled a bit sheepishly as talk turned to gambling, albeit with a bit of pride. "But I do quite well with the gambling, brother," he protested mildly, letting out a small huff of amusement. "In fact, 'tis often said that I am overly blessed when it comes to playing cards." Especially when one considered that Edward had a tendency to walk away with the lion's share of winnings from a night of card playing.

He grinned when little William almost went flying. "Careful, brother, you nearly lost your helpmate there," he chuckled. Edward was looking forward to having his own children, as he was but a young boy at heart, himself. And speaking of young boys .... the young knight turned to see another one of his nephews peering over the edge of the chess table. "And it seems that we have a chess thief," he remarked, chuckling again as the boy snatched a couple of the pawns. Luckily, neither of the pawns were the two that were already in play.

"Elizabeth," he nodded at his older sister, who was already trying to set things to right. "'Tis not so bad, I imagine he was but trying to hurry the game along," he chuckled when she apologized for the small boy. It wasn't as though they in the middle of the game ... on the other hand, it could have been a good time to test William's memory. "We were but at the start of the game ... but if what Henry says about our young William's memory is indeed true, then we shan't worry about where the pieces were before." The grin widened just a notch.

He nodded at his nephew. "Oh, but my wife is a very beautiful lady," he replied, beaming slightly as he leaned forward to William's eye level. "Hair of spun gold, deep green eyes ... my Lord Father found me a very fine wife. I look forward to many years with her," he added earnestly.

The talk of Mademoiselle Margot made Edward laugh out loud. "Already, you have your future wife picked out? My, my, you do think ahead, don't you?" He slipped a wink at his nephew, and grinned at his brother. "Do the French always speak so soon of betrothal?" He then glanced back at William, and leaned down again. "But you know, being second isn't always bad, nephew. Why, you're already more important than me!"

He glanced over at his sister. "I've no issue with you watching," he shrugged at her. ""Tis not as though I am playing cards." He added a small chuckle there, although he was only half jesting. To him, cards were a much more serious business. Literally.

Edward glanced down at the chess board, taking note of the next move. "So you sometimes lose on purpose, brother?" He arched a brow at Henry, even as he prepared to move his knight. "I should hope that you haven't done so against me, that would rather disappoint me. Knight to C6." He moved the chess piece, and looked down at his nephew with a grin. "So, young Master William, what move is going to be next?"
[align=center]Bio :: Plot

Edward is now Jure Uxoris ("By right of his wife") Earl of Berkshire, or Lord Berkshire
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William Spencer
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Lord Winchester (courtesy)
Henry laughed again when John stealthfully grabbed the pieces. He shook a finger at the boy.

"That is naughty, John. If you were Charles or William, you would be whipped," he said, with a bit of a smile in his voice that would tell the adults he had no intention of doing so but rather the intention of frightening the small boy a bit.

"I will put the pieces back, don't worry," William said, eagerly leaning forward to do so as if to keep his cousin from a whipping.

"Of course you may watch, dearest Elizabeth," Henry told his sister. "I do not get to spend enough time with any of your anymore." Not that he had gotten to spent much time to begin with, but he felt it more keenly being in France. Now and again there was a pang of missing his family here.

"You are lucky, sir," William told Edward, making Henry have to hold in his chuckle, his lips pressed together. Edward's next question was rather priceless in the response it earned out of his son. Children could be highly entertaining. Moreso than chess sometimes.

"That is who I should like, sir, but I shall do as Papa tells me to do," the boy said, looking up at Henry from his perch on the man's lap. Then William looked back at Edward when the man said William was more important than him. "Because I can inherit Wilmington before you?" he asked.

Henry pat William's shoulder a bit. It quieted him down instantly so that Henry could answer his brother's question.

"It is not uncommon, no," Henry conceded, "But I'd prefer to make the decision on my own without father, so I shall not ever bring it up nor does he seem eager to concern about it. He is too busy shopping for Charles." He would wait as long as he could before dealing with William's affairs, and he would hope that his father would be dead by then. Nemours he might allow a say simply because the duke would likely give a county to his grandson on his marriage, such was the custom in France when one was as blessed as Nemours in holdings.

"Well sometimes it is politically advantageous to lose. Such as, to the king." Not that he was habitually playing chess with any king, but deception was a necessity to court.

Edward asked the next move, and William looked up at his father, "Bishop to b5, my lord Papa?"

Henry nodded and then said to Edward, "It will be the next move that is impressive if he can guess. This is my most usual first 3 opening moves, but he does have a sharp memory." He moved the piece on his own this time and then looked to his sister, "And how is Catherine taking to not being here?"
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Catherine la Zouche
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If Elizabeth took any reconciliation to what the men were discussing she didn’t show it. She did however smile down at her brothers when they insisted in their very different ways that there was no harm done after John’s enthusiasm in wrecking their game or at least their train of thought. Little John though just simply stared up at his uncles, not entirely understanding what they were implying, but he was more fascinated with his older cousin and he gave the older boy a mad grin before he was scooped up by his mother. And with young William’s assistance she was able to return the pawns back where they were meant to be. “Thank you young William, I have no doubt that what your uncle Sir Edward speaks of is the truth.” She glanced between her brothers with a slight raised brow. “Is he really that good? How old is he now, five, six?” She had no doubt that William himself may even answer her, which she didn’t mind at all.

When her brothers or even William spoke amongst themselves she waited patiently before she was addressed again and when she had both of her brothers’ approval, she sat down with the wiggly worm that was her son. When her son was thankfully copying his older cousin, Elizabeth gave a little bit of a smile and responded to Henry’s words. “I have missed your company also, but perhaps you are lucky Catherine is not here for if she heard you talking about whipping her little brother, she might not agree with you all that much. Perhaps I should send her to France with you to get her out from under our Lord father.”

And then slightly amused she smiled as Edward teased their nephew. She couldn’t think of a happier time together, it was these moments that she loved. She only wished they could have more of them without the scrutiny of their father finding another child to complain about, even if that ‘child’ was a grown woman or man. Elizabeth knew the only thing she had failed at was producing many sons to make the Spencer family proud, well that and having a misbehaving daughter. She was too kind-hearted to punish her children in the way her father preferred. She was lucky enough to have the two that she had, why ruin their childhood with constant punishment? But she was a Spencer and in these times punishment was crucial, she simply didn’t hand it out to her children as often as she should at least according to her father.

When Edward mentioned the comparison to card playing, Elizabeth gave her younger brother a tiny smirk. “I suppose so dear brother, it wouldn’t be so entertaining either having people looking over your shoulder in order to watch the game.” She remained compliant, speaking only when spoken to so as to not interrupt her brothers in their conversation or their train of thought. John though had other ideas and seeing as he had decided to copy his older cousin he piped up in his sweet little voice ‘Bishop, B5!’ imitating William’s question to his father. Elizabeth could only smile and shake her head, before Henry asked of her daughter.

She paused for a moment, ensuring she wasn’t speaking over anyone, her nephew included, before she replied. “ It is hard to say. I can imagine that she would be upset that she could not come, but a little glad she did not have to face our Lord father again.” She paused again, glanced around and placed her hands over her son’s ears and leaned forward to whisper. “She bit him did you know?” While she was afraid John would pick up such habits, she couldn’t suspect William would ever repeat such a thing, he was just obedient sitting there on his father’s lap. Elizabeth removed her hands from her son’s ears and held him gently to her, straightening him up in her lap. “She was trying to protect John from being punished, which is why I doubt she would have taken too keenly to your teasing of whipping. But I doubt our Lord father would have wanted to see her after that so she was not permitted to join us.”
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Isabel Leigh
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Virtue alone is invincible.
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