The Court of Their Royal Highnesses Queen Marie and King Nicholas.

Yes indeed even the elderly need recreation and he has such an enormous chin!

That he does.
Every day I thank our lord that I was not, um, blessed...with such a chin.

Hello, Christina! It is lovely to have you at my court, I need something from you.

I need you to send your Aunt my apologies. I think because I am a Frenchwoman she might not wish to hear it from me, I accidentally misspoke.

That would be lovely. That way I could draw the entire might of Catholic Europe behind my son. However ... he is err ... well suffice to say, he might be less than enthusiastic.

*Nicholas thinks to himself it is sad that a young child's fate is alreay being decided. But he has learned it is the way of royalty and says nothing*

Nicky, are you okay? *Looks worried, totally misreading your expression*. Are you ill? Have you eaten something that disagrees with you?

*smiles at the irony of food making him ill*

*reaches out to caress her hand for a moment.*

I am fine dearest, lost in my own thoughts for a moment tis all.

*Responds VERY WELL to his carress*.

By the way, if you ever in your life again say you are beginning to adore the Lady Anne, I will divorce you and burn your books. Do not test me. *Looks only half-joking*.

*grins but not too much, knowing she is not entirely kidding*

do you read my thoughts now dearest? *sqeezes her hand*

I do not like the way Anne thinks and speaks of you but she doth have a sense of humor that at times entertains me greatly ... when the jest is not directed towards you of course.

Or OUR faith, or OUR Country, and if she makes a crack about my son I will kill her ...

Of course my dearest

Oh Christ Marie lighten up will you? If you keep putting the hammer down on Sir Nicholas you will lose him. Believe me I know! And I want nothing to do with your infant son.

Today was Imperial Pedicure Day, and it was delightful.

oooh! What I wouldn't give to have one of those myself! What color didst thou choose for thine little tootsies?

Imperial tootsies do not get painted, my dear Anne. How you could have missed that at Margaret's academy I know not.

Well that is a shame! I think I had the sweat on the day the covered pedicures.

You English and your exotic diseases. Did you miss lance day as well?

Most certainly not! I had quite recovered by then. If only I could have jousted at Henry's courts! I think I wouldst have been a crackerjack jouster!

Crackers at least...
Oh, terribly sorry, I did not mean to say that out loud!

No offense I certainly do march to the beat of a different drummer, I often say I was born 500 yrs too early!

Your grace thinks the world will change greatly in the interim?

Definitely, I believe if I had beenborn in 2001, I would have been on the privy council and kept my head! I could have realized my dream of being a championship jouster. It wouldn't have mattered if I had a son or any child for that matter! I could have married whomever I chose for love instead of to realize family ambitions or no marriage at all!

Anne I shud think you wulds have thrived in that time. I do think in future days men will think more highly of a woman's intelligence and talents and realize it doth not deminish his own. Or one can hope it to be so.

Ah Sir Nicholas you are a forward thinking soul! There is much to recommend in you now that I know thee better. I only hope Marie realizes what a rare jewel she possesses in thee!

*blushes slightly with the compliment. *


*Smiles and replies genuinely* Thank you Anne, that is really most kind.

My ideals were instilled in me by my mother of course *laughs*