An Act of Chivalry

[Dirty Chai]

(Timestamped to when the armies are still outside the city, no siege or anything)

With an army led by the Marquess of Salisbury and the Earl Rivers approaching the city, it was a morning of much panic for the Duke of Buckingham. He had only the usual garrison of the tower, but the walls and moat made him feel less insecure in an overall insecure situation - he had thrown his lot in the brothers of York, but... it was not too late, he could still.... Whatever choice he had to make, there was a clear action he must take first. It might be one of the most defining things he had ever done, Stafford realized.

A footman arrives at near eight o'clock in the morning, rousing the lady FitzRoy's household. The following order is brought from the constable: lady FitzRoy is to appear before the Duke of Buckingham as he wishes to have her tutored about music today, something her tutors have neglected.

A false premise of course. And a poorly made one, for the Duke knew only a few strings and it was no subject to impart upon a noble born girl. But he didn't have time or wit for such details now..

[Mary The Quene]

And so the Lady FitzRoy and her household were roused in the early morning, much to her own surprise ofcourse for her usual routine of lessons started later in the morning. Thus the Lady FitzRoy and her ladies in waiting hurriedly dressed themselves as they were summoned by the Duke of Buckingham to appear. Lady FitzRoy ofcourse clad herself entirely in black like as usual, even her diamond rings and earrings were black of color.

Eventually the Lady FitzRoy and her companions arrived in the office of the Lord buckingham, they all looked tiresome.

''His Grace has summoned me to be lectured about music?'' The Lady FitzRoy and her companion courteously bowed.

[Dirty Chai]

"Yes, that is correct," the duke said, something terse in his voice. A man stood beside him among others, dressed in no particular livery - a musician perhaps?

"I would have thee learn something enjoyable, if nothing else."

Harry didn't have time for this pretending. He had to get rid of her companions - all women the queen had put in charge of her.

Buckingham gestured. "Ladies, you will not be needed - only one need remain with lady FitzRoy. There is much work for you to go about otherwise."

Henry figured it was a good chance FitzRoy would pick a trustworthy one.


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[Mary The Quene]

''Ladies, would you please continue your needlework for the poor?'' Lady FitzRoy said dismissive, soon they approached all the exit of the door after a slight bow.

''Lady Paston, you may stay'' Lady FitzRoy said with a nod, she felt this lady was perhaps one of her very few friends in life.

The other ladies soon left for her rooms. Thus so The lady FitzRoy and her companion stood alone with Buckingham in his office.

''But why should i be lectured so early?, My lord Buckingham, i was sleeping well.'' Lady FitzRoy ofcourse had no idea what is going on in London.

[Dirty Chai]

"Because I may not be able to teach you anything soon," Harry said dramatically, glancing towards one of the windows looking out of the tower over London to the west. The city walls started at the tower's curtain walls and circled westward back to the Thames about a few miles away.

"Without saying much, my lady, I would like to help thee leave this place."

The duke eyed the two women, as if sizing up the choice that FitzRoy had made in Paston.

"Permanently."


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[Mary The Quene]

''Is there something wrong then, My Lord Buckingham?.'' The Lady FitzRoy asked Buckingham, while not even close to being as intelligent as her sister Cecily she wasn't stupid either.

''Has it something to do with my father?'' The Lady FitzRoy continued unenthusiastic, a bit skeptic about this sudden change laid before her, she lived within these walls for many years ofcourse.

[Dirty Chai]

"Yes, it has everything to do with your father his grace, may he rest in heavenly peace."

The queen was about to seize the city, one way or another, and Stafford could not have a clear conscience allowing this girl to be within her control - control no longer moderated by the king.

"The lord protector wishes to see you sent to your maternal kin in Northumberland," Buckingham lied, softly.

[Mary The Quene]

''Oh, my mother's home that is'' The Lady FitzRoy ofcourse had never seen her maternal aunts or uncles ever in her life. Perhaps it was better to just obey and go, maybe a change in life would do her good for once, away from the place where her mother met her end if rumors were to be true.

''If that is his wish then i'll have to obey'' Said the Lady FitzRoy dutiful. It delighted her that she is to leave these walls for once...

[Dirty Chai]

Buckingham was dumbfounded. He'd expected a happy face, or at least some semblance of hope in her eyes. But he got nothing. Nothing.

"You would rather stay here?"

Stafford sounded a little impatient now, emotional. He pointed at the wooden floorboards beneath them.

"In this place? Waiting at the whim of her?" Her father couldn't protect her now. When Elizabeth wanted to do something with her now, it would simply happen.

[Mary The Quene]

''No, no, My Lord Buckingham, its hard for me to resemble hope after what has befallen me'' The lady FitzRoy understood his point when he referred to the Woodville woman, this was the spider who had weaved a web around England and who could now fall in that web herself.

''l..let's go then, My Lord Buckingham.'' The Lady FitzRoy said with the same monotonous voice, but she tried to make a rather stiff smile. After all, there was nothing to smile at all these years....

[Dirty Chai]

Buckingham sighed, visibly deflating. He'd get no such smile that he was hoping for. No such validation of his efforts. But there was no time to spare for this any longer...

"Sir Whetton here will see you out of the tower. He'll escort you to the docks, where Sir Knyvet will take you out to sea."

There was a sense of immediacy to all this. Urgency..

"You won't be able to bring much with you, but you can pack up what you can. The ship will leave in an hour."

[Mary The Quene]

''Thank you, My Lord Buckingham, you might think otherwise but i am grateful for this'' The Lady FitzRoy said with a courteous bow, indeed she is grateful but it is difficult for the Lady FitzRoy to express that, for she had forgotten to smile or laugh long ago.

Quickly she left with her own lady in waiting for her own rooms, hurriedly packing up some of her possessions dearest to her, books, clothes and jewelry after which these ladies soon left with Sir Whetton to leave to the docks to take that arranged ship.

[Dirty Chai]

FitzRoy was ushered out the gate and south to the closest docks, guarded and escorted by the constable's retainers. Soon, she was out sight, from Buckingham's view, and a sail began to drift along the shoreline. A sigh of relief came, followed by angst over the coming consequences - he'd let one of the king's bastards "slip" through his fingers. What would he say when her ladies came looking for her later? What would he tell the regents? The king? Woodville?

I hope it was worth it, Henry, he imagined his wife saying.