Merry Meet, Merry Part and Merry Meet Again

*Tilts my head slightly*. Hardly a miracle. You of all people, what with your daughter and Catherine, should know.

"You are right, but, why is it hardly a miracle, in your case?"

He asks curiously.

That *Smile traces my lips* is none of your concern whatsoever. *Said not in a tone of forbidding, but more playfully, almost as if willing you to push the boundary*.

"M...my lady"

Thomas says taking a new sip of wine.

"I didn't compare you to the Virgin Mary."

He laughs.

Pardon me? *Smiles a beautiful smile of incomprehension*.

Thomas laughs as he notices her smile.

"My lady, let's be serious. A beautiful woman like you will not be visited by the Gabriel angel. And we are not in Galilee, but in England or in Scots, two countries where people are free to flirt "

Yes, true. But my cousin, your mistress, *Places emphasis on the word, leaving it unclear to if I mean female master or sexual partner* already thinks me a great whore.

But to hell with her ...

*Relaxes markedly*. Tell me of yourself. Who you truly are, and not what people perceive.

-I am a human, my lady. I am too far away from being an angel.

He grins.

Which one of us is? For all the claims, no-one is perfect, and I have done worse than many in my short life.

-I think that your cousin is closer to be an angel than all of us.

*Catherine, watching the conversation from a distance, is concerned by the happenings, she sighs heavily, saying to herself..*

Always the same Thomas.. always the same.

Thomas looks at Catherine then at Quene Marie .

*Catherine, though not as high ranked as Marie, reminds herself that after all, she is Queen. Cool, calm, and collected, she closes the book she was analysing with a sharp jolt, spins on her heels, and leaves, without looking at Thomas*

Thomas sighs and runs his fingers through his hair , looking down.

*Smiles at Thomas as if nothing had happened*.

My cousin is no angel. She spends her days romping with what resembles a harem of males. Dudley, Raliegh, Essex ...


But that is her concern and not mine. My concern, for the moment at least, is you.

-Me?

Thomas took a sip and looked to her.

Yes, you. *Doesn't elaborate*.

Thomas takes another sip . He thinks of Catherine and looks in the direction of the door.

YEs, the lady Catherine certainly is ... tall. And very well educated. Is that your type? *Looks down at my 6 foot frame*.

-You know that if she wasn't I wouldn't be sent away from England by His Majesty, my lady.

Well, yes. But if I may ask, why? There were beautiful English women aplenty, why her? She is not particularly lovely.

Thomas raises an eyebrow as he hears her question.

-I do find her particularly lovely.

*Smiles mischeivously*.

All right, I meant not to offend. Do you think you shall marry another? As she is ... unavailable.

-Marry another?

Thomas asked.

-No...I don't think I shall marry another.

greetings your majesty