Cold Harborough

[Gandalfus]

COLD HARBOROUGH HOUSE
RESIDENCE OF THE DUKE OF EXETER

This stately London palace has served to be the principal residence of Holland family in London for generations. Previously owned by the prominent Bohun Earls, it was acquired by John Holland, the first Duke of Exeter - whether by purchase or by foul deed is not remembered in present day. It matters not, for the residence is clearly grand enough for the fickle Duke of Exeter to consider it a suitable abode whilst he attends the royal court at Greenwich or Westminster Palace.

[Mary The Quene]

At a certain day in the summer Ralph Neville arrives at Cold Harborough House coming straight from Dartington Hall and wishes to speak with the good (but infamous) Lord Exeter. Perhaps with the death of King Edward things could finally move forward with the restoration of the lands and title's of his family. It was about time in his mind that they did not need to live on charity of the Holland household anymore.

[Gandalfus]

Ralph was admitted without much pomp; the Holland retainers knew him by sight, and thus he was immediately allowed in to see the Duke. Exeter was, for the moment, resting in his seat, and as usual had a bowl of food at hand.

"Come, be seated." Holland waved the Neville over. Since the Privy Council earlier today, Holland had simply resided in his London home. He didn't look anxious, though he felt it, for news had not yet come from Thomas in the West Country.

[Mary The Quene]

''My Lord Exeter'' Neville began making a slight bow before the duke, it appeared the Duke had grown fat as of late, he supposed the man would not live for much longer, a shame, he had taken a certain liking to this man.

''I thank you, My Lord'' He said after he took his seat, his face betrayed no emotions, he merely scratched his small grown bear on his chin. ''The King is death or so i heard, Long Live the King, or so i suppose'' It was known Neville did not like Edward in the slightest, his family had been attained after all under his regime.

[Xion]

After the meeting of the Privy Council, Devon would eventually make his way to Cold Harborough to request a meeting with the Duke of Exeter, hoping that perhaps his sister and her husband had accompanied the duke to London.

[Gandalfus]

''My Lord Exeter'' Neville began making a slight bow before the duke, it appeared the Duke had grown fat as of late, he supposed the man would not live for much longer, a shame, he had taken a certain liking to this man.

''I thank you, My Lord'' He said after he took his seat, his face betrayed no emotions, he merely scratched his small grown bear on his chin. ''The King is death or so i heard, Long Live the King, or so i suppose'' It was known Neville did not like Edward in the slightest, his family had been attained after all under his regime.

"Quite, long live our King, a child of fourteen summers." Exeter stated, supping on some wine. He looked over his shoulder. No servant had arrived, bearing the letter. But there was still time.

"Now, I think, we are closer to restoring you in blood than ever before, dear Nephew." Continued the Duke, rather nonchalantly. Most attainders were reversed, after enough time had passed. Ralph Neville had waited long enough. "I shall not have any blood of mine sitting here penniless, after all. But, dear boy, I have a task for you."

Holland turned to face Neville, directly, and placed a confiding hand upon his shoulder.

"I want you to place yourself in Woodville's camp. Perhaps at the side of Lord Rivers, or something. Not only will you be my eyes and ear, but... if Clarence or Gloucester should not prove beneficial..." He hoped the boy was bright enough to understand.

After the meeting of the Privy Council, Devon would eventually make his way to Cold Harborough to request a meeting with the Duke of Exeter, hoping that perhaps his sister and her husband had accompanied the duke to London.

Devon was of course admitted; sadly, Thomas could not be present, but his wife, the lady Isabel, was indeed still at Cold Harborough. The Earl was welcomed into one of the many expansive drawing rooms, where the Duchess was being entertained by some musicians. Holland himself was glancing over a letter. With a slight smirk, he set it down, and rose to greet Devon.

"My Lord Devon, a welcome surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

[Xion]

Devon was of course admitted; sadly, Thomas could not be present, but his wife, the lady Isabel, was indeed still at Cold Harborough. The Earl was welcomed into one of the many expansive drawing rooms, where the Duchess was being entertained by some musicians. Holland himself was glancing over a letter. With a slight smirk, he set it down, and rose to greet Devon.

"My Lord Devon, a welcome surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Devon looks around the room one of Holland's servants led him into. "This room is probably a quarter of the entire estate my father purchased to be his residence in London.." Devon thinks to himself, remembering the rather small former merchant's house his father had hastily purchased so he would have a residence in London, one Hugh sold several years ago to help cover expenses of supplies for his army in France. Devon then bows as Exeter approaches to greet him. "I thought I would pay a visit to see my brother in law and sister if they accompanied your grace to London for the unfortunate circumstance that has brought much of the peerage here today. If neither of them is here, I apologize for wasting your grace's time."

[Mary The Quene]

"Quite, long live our King, a child of fourteen summers." Exeter stated, supping on some wine. He looked over his shoulder. No servant had arrived, bearing the letter. But there was still time.

"Now, I think, we are closer to restoring you in blood than ever before, dear Nephew." Continued the Duke, rather nonchalantly. Most attainders were reversed, after enough time had passed. Ralph Neville had waited long enough. "I shall not have any blood of mine sitting here penniless, after all. But, dear boy, I have a task for you."

Holland turned to face Neville, directly, and placed a confiding hand upon his shoulder.

"I want you to place yourself in Woodville's camp. Perhaps at the side of Lord Rivers, or something. Not only will you be my eyes and ear, but... if Clarence or Gloucester should not prove beneficial..." He hoped the boy was bright enough to understand.

''Oh, ah, i see, My Lord'' So Holland wanted to use me as a pawn in his games.....

He still didn't betray any emotion, merely considered his next words. The man in any case would likely not live for that long anymore. ''If.. Clarence or Gloucester should not prove beneficial...then i will have a friendly word with the Woodville camp for Lord Exeter'' He said so slowly and quietly, as if nobody could hear them save for themselves.

[Gandalfus]

"Precisely, dear nephew. Petition the Queen for the reversal of your attainder, and I shall do the same with my lords Gloucester and Clarence. You shall be Earl of Westmorland once again, by my bones."

Holland was fat, but in ruddy health. He gave a good-natured chuckle. "God willing, we shall both come out of this considerably better off than we had been previously.

---

"Your sister is present, lord Devon." Nodded Exeter, gesturing behind him to where the Lady Courtenay sat alongside the Duchess. "Unfortunately, my son was forced to depart on an errand of some sort. But, certainly, he shall return soon, should you desire to speak with him..."

Exeter decided it was best not to divulge the true nature of Thomas' business in Somerset.

"Indeed, it is unfortunate, God rest the King. Though not so unfortunate that the turd Stanley was humiliated, eh?" Grinned Exeter. Devon's hatred for the admiral was well known, after some kinsman or other was slain by a rogue cannonball at Plympton.

[Xion]

"Your sister is present, lord Devon." Nodded Exeter, gesturing behind him to where the Lady Courtenay sat alongside the Duchess. "Unfortunately, my son was forced to depart on an errand of some sort. But, certainly, he shall return soon, should you desire to speak with him..."

Exeter decided it was best not to divulge the true nature of Thomas' business in Somerset.

"Indeed, it is unfortunate, God rest the King. Though not so unfortunate that the turd Stanley was humiliated, eh?" Grinned Exeter. Devon's hatred for the admiral was well known, after some kinsman or other was slain by a rogue cannonball at Plympton.

"Thank you, my lord." Devon went over to embrace his sister before returning to Exeter. "Perhaps another time I can speak with him, your grace." "God rest the King." Devon then nods, he did not harbor as much of a hatred for the admiral as he father did, but the man's behavior in the council was quite unfitting for such an occasion in his opinion. "Indeed, his behavior was unfitting for such an vital discussion for the future of the realm. Perhaps spending the majority of the renewed war with France on a boat with only one true engagement while the rest of us fought in Burgundy or Normandy affected his mind in some way."

[Mary The Quene]

"Precisely, dear nephew. Petition the Queen for the reversal of your attainder, and I shall do the same with my lords Gloucester and Clarence. You shall be Earl of Westmorland once again, by my bones."

Holland was fat, but in ruddy health. He gave a good-natured chuckle. "God willing, we shall both come out of this considerably better off than we had been previously.

''I have even heard the Queen dislikes the Junior Nevilles even, much to my delight ofcourse.'' Like the Percies, the senior Nevilles hated their kinsmen with an unknown ferocity, but that did not mean Neville had to like the Queen, he had certain reservations about her birth..

Neville grinned, perhaps betraying an emotion, indeed God willing things could only improve for the Nevilles, but the will had to be there for it ofcourse. ''Indeed we have been neglected long enough, that must change and it will''. Neville said regaining composure in his chair.

[Gandalfus]

"Thank you, my lord." Devon went over to embrace his sister before returning to Exeter. "Perhaps another time I can speak with him, your grace." "God rest the King." Devon then nods, he did not harbor as much of a hatred for the admiral as he father did, but the man's behavior in the council was quite unfitting for such an occasion in his opinion. "Indeed, his behavior was unfitting for such an vital discussion for the future of the realm. Perhaps spending the majority of the renewed war with France on a boat with only one true engagement while the rest of us fought in Burgundy or Normandy affected his mind in some way."

"Precisely. The sea addles a man's brains, though I fear Lord Stanley's were addled before he ever even set foot upon a ship." Holland chortled to himself, then offered Devon a seat upon one of the benches. A servant came bearing wine.

"My main concern in this is to keep the status quo in the West Country." Holland stated, helping himself to a seat. "In my view, the current balance between you, I, and Lord Tudor should be maintained. The untimely death of Lord Kent places a vacuum in this area."

''I have even heard the Queen dislikes the Junior Nevilles even, much to my delight ofcourse.'' Like the Percies, the senior Nevilles hated their kinsmen with an unknown ferocity, but that did not mean Neville had to like the Queen, he had certain reservations about her birth..

Neville grinned, perhaps betraying an emotion, indeed God willing things could only improve for the Nevilles, but the will had to be there for it ofcourse. ''Indeed we have been neglected long enough, that must change and it will''. Neville said regaining composure in his chair.

"Naturally, Ralph, naturally. We may yet even secure you a wife of good stock. Being connected to the Wydevilles brings advantages, unwholesome though they may be as a family." Holland personally found them distasteful. But, then again, there weren't many that Holland didn't find distasteful. Neville's previous wife had been little better than a London grocers' daughter, which was frankly unacceptable.

[Xion]

"Precisely. The sea addles a man's brains, though I fear Lord Stanley's were addled before he ever even set foot upon a ship." Holland chortled to himself, then offered Devon a seat upon one of the benches. A servant came bearing wine.

"My main concern in this is to keep the status quo in the West Country." Holland stated, helping himself to a seat. "In my view, the current balance between you, I, and Lord Tudor should be maintained. The untimely death of Lord Kent places a vacuum in this area."

Devon would take a seat on one of the benches and drink from the goblet of wine Holland's servant offered him before responding. "If I recall right, the Stanleys once called themselves King of Mann. Perhaps he thinks himself above the rest of the peers because of that, then the impact of years at sea making it worse."

As he takes another sip from the goblet of wine, Devon thinks over Exeter's words about the West Country, and then nods. "I would have to agree with you on that, your grace. This vacuum will surely lead to some manner of conflict emerging in the West Country if not dealt with properly."

[Mary The Quene]

"Naturally, Ralph, naturally. We may yet even secure you a wife of good stock. Being connected to the Wydevilles brings advantages, unwholesome though they may be as a family." Holland personally found them distasteful. But, then again, there weren't many that Holland didn't find distasteful. Neville's previous wife had been little better than a London grocers' daughter, which was frankly unacceptable.

''Indeed, Indeed, perhaps they might be useful for once.'' Neville, like Holland, found them distasteful too but they could be taken advantage of...

''Well, well, i am under the impression that the Queen doesn't like Lord Norfolk either, which could be useful...'' The senior Neville lands and titles were attained under the Lord protectorate of Norfolk ofcourse, during Edward's erratic years.

[Gandalfus]

Devon was slightly curious about what measure Exeter had taken to protect the status quo in the West Country, but dismisses his curiosity for now. "Hopefully further measures will not be necessary to protect our interests, but I suppose we shall see once we know who our new neighbor will be among those three, if not all three due to the partition giving each of them a part of Kent's lands in the West Country." "In which case one of them will surely attempt to challenge the status quo to gain an advantage over the other two." Devon thinks to himself.

"Those lands would surely be better in our hands, or in the hands of those who have come to an understanding with us." Proposed Holland, perhaps probing to see if Devon would be receptive to such a proposal.

''Indeed, Indeed, perhaps they might be useful for once.'' Neville, like Holland, found them distasteful too but they could be taken advantage of...

''Well, well, i am under the impression that the Queen doesn't like Lord Norfolk either, which could be useful...'' The senior Neville lands and titles were attained under the Lord protectorate of Norfolk ofcourse, during Edward's erratic years.

"Nor lord Montagu, who currently sits in your seat at Raby. Worry not, Ralph, we are well disposed to gain from this. Now, go about your appointed task." Commanded the Duke, turning his attention back to the food that sat before him.

[Gandalfus]

"Yes, and as our interests lie in this area, I have taken measure to protect them." Continued Holland, vaguely. Should he reveal the full extent of his actions in Somerset? Perhaps not.

"Soon we will either call a Neville, Pole, or FitzAlan our neighbour, after all. Depending on how this partition is resolved."

[Xion]

"Yes, and as our interests lie in this area, I have taken measure to protect them." Continued Holland, vaguely. Should he reveal the full extent of his actions in Somerset? Perhaps not.

"Soon we will either call a Neville, Pole, or FitzAlan our neighbour, after all. Depending on how this partition is resolved."

Devon was slightly curious about what measure Exeter had taken to protect the status quo in the West Country, but dismisses his curiosity for now. "Hopefully further measures will not be necessary to protect our interests, but I suppose we shall see once we know who our new neighbor will be among those three, if not all three due to the partition giving each of them a part of Kent's lands in the West Country." "In which case one of them will surely attempt to challenge the status quo to gain an advantage over the other two." Devon thinks to himself.

[Gandalfus]

"Yes, I'm not letting some interloper there without a fight."

Snorted Holland, now being decidedly more open with his ambitions.

"They can recognise my dominance in that sphere or go home with their tails between their legs. I'll give them a good thrashing."

[Xion]

"Yes, I'm not letting some interloper there without a fight."

Snorted Holland, now being decidedly more open with his ambitions.

"They can recognise my dominance in that sphere or go home with their tails between their legs. I'll give them a good thrashing."

"Of course not, if they encounter no opposition, it would just embolden them to strike at the influential houses of the West Country even more.." Devon finishes his goblet of wine. "I suppose we shall see once we know which of the three's wife has inherited the estates of Kent in the West Country."

[Lucius Malfoy]

The Marquess of Montagu comes to see the Duke of Exeter... and he was hardly in a good mood. This was due the news of his son's inheritance, via his wife, had Holland banners over their manors.