The question of sweet Robyn

*picks up her skirts and sweeps across the floor to Sir Nicholas*
Come, come.
*smiles kindly and wipes his face before embracing him*
We cannot change the past, it is not wise to dwell on such things.

*allows himself to linger in her arms, her hair is soft on his cheek, her scent intoxicating*


You speak true My Lady, my heart can not thank you enough for your kindness

Oh my, Nicholas! I am most sorry to hear your tale.

What did thine brother do?

My Brother *hisses the words* married a sequence of drunken whores, squandered away our family fortune and now has gone mad with the siflus

My lord. He sounds just like my Husband.

Not to give offense, but what a shameless, dissolute, drunken scum bag. May he rot in hell.

Indeed. No offense taken I assure you.

He has taken my Lady love, ruined my family name, and wasted away my inheritance. He has left me quite broke and with nothing to offer this Country or a wife. All I have is a cold and empty castle and my ship.

Dear Nicholas, tis a most distressing tale and you carry the weight of it so well. I wudst not have you torture yourself in any way over the end of thine ladylove, 'twas not your doing. Tis a woman's purpose to have children and therefore she was fulfilling her need in her attempt to have a child. You cudst not have given her a greater joy than to know she was with child I am sure.

I wudst also have you know that the knowledge of thine love wudst have given her great comfort indeed even though thou cudst not go to her. Such a surity is rare indeed and always a comfort even though a lover may be gone from our sight.

Worry not of thine fortunes, or lack thereof. Thou hast the company and approval of Queens my lord, and each of us wudst launch a thousand ships under thine loyal command in our turn if thou wished it.

Until such time comes thou art always welcome here and wilt find lodgings provided. I know how you men like to wander abroad for months on end waging wars and discovering new vegetables (that tis a most curious habit I shalt never understand), but what we we doth lack at court are strong willed, calm minded, intelligent advisors who can support a lady with his wit and good advice without belittleing her own mind.

Therefore you are greatly needed at court sir and I wudst permit thee to leave only if twas thine great desire to command a fleet of ships on some excursion that didst inflame thy passions and gladden thine heart.

Now, away with thee for a while mine lord, I wudst talk for a moment to mine council. Besides, I do find that the offer of my protection along with too much favour doth inspire a kind of wreckless insanity than can only be equalled by the complete downward spiral Marie doth cause when she inspires love with her attentions. Such things do vex me greatly so I shall have to take care not to spoil you I think.

You have much more Sir Nicholas, you have a good heart, you're an excellent musician and poet as well as being very handsome and charming. Thou would make any woman happy, perhaps we could arrange a marriage between you and one of our duchy. I hope that prospect is pleasing to thee. I'm sure a kind word from me shall put you in even greater favour now, alas that is if my husband can find the time. He always seems so busy with that harlot Jane Shore now..

Thank you for protection My Lady, and I thank you more your your kind and gentle words *smiles*

I will remain at your household and at your side in any compacity you see fit, for as long as you will allow.


My thanks to you as well Lady Woodville, compliments from you warm my heart more than I can say. I shall concider your offer, though I have always felt that love could not be arranged but must be found by fate, by chance. But I will concider it. And I hope not to offend by saying that if I were your husband I shant ever be busy with harlot, my every waking moment would be spent granting your every hearts desire


Now, as you wish my dear Elizabeth, I will take leave of you.

*bows to the court and withdrawls*

Alas, I think I need a formal home here. However I know not where to set up.

Tis difficult to know my lady what to do of such things. I suppose it doth depend entirely where thou dost feel most at ease.

Though with thine mind and will thou cudst of course begin a whole dynasty of thine own.

*whispers dicreetly to my lady Woodville*
...though I fear that thou may be inflicted with an infuriating scots lodger if thou dost make such a decision.

Of course, while one of thine daughters didst marry a Tudor another didst marry a Howard so for the moment if thou art comfortable in the house of my mother and I, thou are most welcome and considered family to both of us... along with cousin Kat Howard of course.

*leans in and whispers back*
If my son became King, it was his right! Then the Tudor's have perhaps never prospered, instead of being displaced for that Bastard Margaret Beaufort I would have been able to live out my final days as The Queen Mother. Alas, it wasn't to be.

Being here with you makes me 'the most happy', alas It would be nice to have my own estate.

Dearest Nicholas, How on EARTH can you stand Elizabeth (Tudor)'s wordiness? 'Twoud take me hours to make heads or tails of those novels she writes!

Though I understand that the concept wudst baffle you dear cousin, Sir Nicholas is a learned man who can concentrate for more than five seconds on one subject!

If thou wishes to entertain him fully I wudst suggest you pay less attention to your sewing, gossping and the sharpening of thine tongue... and more time with your head in learned books!

I can concentrate for more than three seconds, just ask Bothwell ( ROLF-eth)!

And I do read learned books. Even though I may not be as intelligent as you (which I won't even attempt to lie about), I am still both intelligent and well-read!

Ah yes, the Earl of Bothwell, how ist thine fleeing husband dear cousin? Hast thou heard from him of late?

No. You keep intercepting his letter! May I have them?

Ah yes, so I have.

My good Spirit, Cecil, hath been filing them. Wudst thou liketh the letters where he demands money, or the ones concerning the court case where he was being sued by a lady named Anna for abandonning her out of wedlock after stealing the entire of her dowry? I shalt have to show thee the correspondance I hath recieved concerning that court case, tis most entertaining.

...apparently he hath also been corresponding with a Bessie Crawford, I hath never heard of such a woman, who is she?

Bessie Crawford? ... *Gets a murderous look in my eye, which for once is not directed towards you*.

Yes, she is Lady Bothwell's sewing maid ... a fetching black-haired lass. Can you excuse me? I must write a Scotsman a very angry letter.