Welcome Sir Nicholas

Jealous? Of what? Her drooping skin? Her sagging breasts? Her barrenness? The fact that her hair is falling out? The fact that no matter how ugly, two-faced and cruel she is EVERYONE LOVES HER? NO! WHAT WOULD I JEALOUS OF? *Laughs hysterically, and grabs a bottle of champagne*.

You have no reason to be jealous you know. You are quite beautiful and charming besides being cunning and intelligent.

I do not understand the rivary you have with your cousin, nor will I ever.

*shrugs*

Would you like to share some champagne with me *Drains half the bottle in one mouthful*?

It seems I may have struck a nerve *frowns*

it was only a jest though I see now a selfish one. I wanted only to see if someone elses attentions towards me .... *shrugs* it doesnt matter


I am sorry dearest and no I do not wish for any champayne, I would rathe renjoy your company sober

I know what you were going to say and the answer is yes. And if you enjoy my company sober you'll have to catch me *playfully runs away with the bottle of champagne, obviously inviting you to chase me*.

*laughs*

oh is that how it is going to be is it? The LAdy plays hard to get

*smiles and gives chase*

*Lets you catch me, and then begins tickling you*.

*manages to grasp both wrists in his hands and hold them firmly but gently*

*laughs* I have you caught , what would you have me do with you now

*flashes a playful smile*

*gazes on in disgust*
Am I disturbing something?

*clears throat, clearly blushing*

*hesitates a moment then releases Marie*


How nice to see you My Lady Woodville, I hope this eveining finds you well

*looks Sir Nicholas and Marie up and down after realising somebody has dared to make a fool of her. Elizabeth turns on her heels and storms back to the castle amongst an entourage of England's finest beauties, however they are all overshadowed*

*shakes his head in wonder*

my but women are curious creatures indeed, I merely uttered what I thought was a pleasant greeting and it seems I have offended her once again and I know not how.

*scratches chin*

My Dear Marie I do hope being found in this playful manner with me doth not cause too many tounges to wag and cause you any grief.

Cousin Marie is both brave and well versed when it comes to vicious rumours my lord. She hath borne sexual scandal wherever she doth go and leaves a trail of wrecked men swooning behind her.

Tis most entertaining. I delight in the waves caused by her powers of seduction, and the rumours that flutter around her like a multitude of butterflies are always most diverting.

I myself canst only really withold one single rumour of dalliances with my Master of Horse. Tis well known he ist my one true love and the others doth pale into insignificance alongside him. They are merely for my own diversions and vanity, and tis plainly clear to all that they are no more than that. Alas I hath not the time to create a multitude of scandals, I fear mother wudst be most dissapointed with my not upholding that part of the Boleyn legacy.

...though my own scandal with sweet Robyn is, I hear, quite the talk of the entire of Europe and is long standing in it's fascination. I shall comfort myself with that at least.

*laughs merrily like the sound of tinkling bells*

Oh Nicholas, 'tis okay. If that old prude doth not wish to see us enjoy ourselves, 'tis her trouble not ours. And as for what I wish for you to do with me ... well you'll just have to use your imagination *raises eyebrow*.

And thank you, dearest cousin, for complimenting my beauty. I find it is a Queen's duty to inspire fascination as well as obedience, as you no doubt agree. And Robert Dudley is disgusting, I cannot believe you wished me to marry him! Please forget him quickly and I shall do the same!

I dont wish to bring any greif to you my Sweet Marie or my Dear Elizabeth's court *smiles*


So *smiles with mischief* Am I to be one of these wrecked men left behind and swooning *laughs*

Thou wudst not be left behind for long I think.

And I wudst not wish to see you swoon dear Nicholas, 'twud be most unbecomming for your delicate yet manly frame. Please just steel yourself for any impending flutterings of the heart!

*smiles in great amusement, then frowns angrily at another thought*

Anyone wrecking you would of course be inflicted heavily with the wrath of most of our Queens at court I do think. Though you are of course most in danger from royal ladies at present. So please also protect your heart well or it cudst cause a mighty royal battle of hair pulling, jewel grabbing and crown throwing.

...which I wudst find most entertaining yet improper behaviour unless I were the one doing the ripping, throwing, slapping and hair pulling. I hath been practicing on the shewolfe Lettice Knollys and the betrayer Robyn Dudley of late. Therefore I now consider myself quite skilled in the practice and find it to be rather theraputic, most invigorating and quite a joy.

*laughs heartily*

*turning to Marie for a moment*

I will not have you speak of Robyn so in my presance. Only I am allowed to curse him openly in public! The ladies at court... and away from court for that matter... always found his presance most pleasing. Hence I didst ban wives from court and raged at any ladies in waiting who didst dally in his presance too long.

Any gentlemen cursing him were jealous and probably correct in their slander. Thou again, cursing him in my presance doth not do them any favours, whether I think well of him at the time or not.

I agree with you though that tis a Queen's duty to inspire great fascination in all things. Both in her style of dress, her manners and her learning. However, obediance is something that I expect. If I find it lacking I doth atttempt to fear it into them or wudst remove them immediately from my presance.

I wudst also advise you to speak better of our Lady Woodville who is most deffinately not a prude. I wudst advise thee to take note from our own history books madame, for there is much to learn from the story of Lady Woodville. She is indeed a great lady of this realm and wudst demand our much deserved respect.

She is also clearly the source of any beauty you or I hath inherited from our Tudor sides. The Yorkist ladies were indeed most attractive with their gentle faces and inspiring features.

*smiles fondly at Elizabeth*

I will try to heed your advice my Lady, if for no other reason than not to cause the beautiful LAdies of this court to resort to the classless acts mentioned. Though I do think it would be most entertaining *laughs*

*adds in a more serious tone*
I have always guarded my heart well, but it seems of late that I grow weary of lonelyness *sighs* I do hope it does not cloud my judgement, lest I find my lonely heart broken

As a subject of mine realm, a member of mine court and a dear friend I wudst consider it great folly indeed if thou didst not ask mine blessing of any love match thou didst make my lord.

As such, when the time comes, I shall provide the sense that thine heart might not. I wilt not see thee unhappy, scandalised, penniless once more or made a fool of, that I shall promise.

However...

I feel that the rest of the ladies here wouldst encourage you to marry up and create a new dynasty with a Lady of good breeding who wudst befit your intelligence and place at court. Whereas I see the weight of responsibility and unhappiness this would place upon any issue thou didst produce and would not wish any of thine children anything but happy lives. So I shalt not promise to steer thee towards a Lady or a Princess for the sake of such things, and wilt not have thou dismiss any lady for her lack of status despite the scandal this may cause at court. Let the courtiers think what they wish.

Though dear Maman will scold me heartily for such a mention, I must tell you that her sister Mary didst marry down and had a more happy few remaining years than any of our family cudst possibly dream of. Then again, most of our family doth only wrecklessly dream of wealth and power, forgetting the misery and responsibility that doth come with it.

I cannot truly say I would be pleased if Sir Nicholas married beneath him Elizabeth, however: I was a commoner compared to my Edward but he still raised me up highly. As long as it makes his Lordship happy then it will put a smile on my face.

Tis most true my lady.

...and what a folly it wudst be to prevent any man from marrying you before you held the status of Queen!

I would certainly ask your blessing My Lady, I would ask it of my Queen but more so of my dear friend. Your blessing would be most welcome as well Lady Woodville

I know your wisdom would not lead me astray, I know that you would have my best intrests at heart always and would guide me from any dangerous path.

I care not what courtiers think as you well know My Lady *smiles* I care not of weath, power, any such fleeting things.

I want only to be loved *sighs*

If my intuition fails, I'm sure my mother will be able to conjour up some brew to assist us! Be of good cheer Nick, as i'm sure you will have no troubles with being loved! So many of these pretty little English roses are only out to get you - and your money, just keep your witts about you.

My money *laughs* they shall be poorly disappointed then!

Do you intend to warn me of someone in particular *smiles with mischief*

Yes yes.. I can.. I can see something.. It's hard to.. It's hard to under.. Understand. I can feel the power, power coming to me. It's.. It's.. *sigh*

Oh whatever, by the way It's Marie Stuart.