Let Us All Make Merry, Very Very Merry!- Xmas 1677

[Nicolette Vauquelin]

ooc: sorry, dont know how i missed this >.<

 

The King & The Whip

 

Rowley took the Whip in the manner she'd intended, and she laughed brightly as he promised to keep it safe. It felt like a pact, the first of many perhaps?!

 

But if Nicolette had thought the party goers too busy with their own sport to notice her mischief with the king, she was wrong! "Sacre Bleu!" she laughed dismay as Louis launched his own idea about the whip. It was well meaning perhaps, but so entirely wrong. And then Caroline was seconding Louis, but worser still. The new link just formed with Rowley was imediately threatened... "Oh pooh." Nicci affected a pout and then declared, "here I thought I was above all such rules." The room however seemed to have other ideas...

 

But then the King, Old Rowley, lifted his voice to her defence (Much to her surprise!) providing a trail of logic that worked to her benefit. And before any might contest it Buckingham agreed.

 

"La, that was close." Nicolette made a show of relief, while her mind raced of what had just happened. The King defended her derriere. The King had liked the direction she'd taken him in, enough to speak against others suggestions. What coup!

 

"What mutinous subjects this Lady Of Misrule has!" she declared brightly, draping herself closer to His Majesty, reaching about to give his royal toosh a playful pinch. "How taxing mis-managment is, not to mention thirst-making. Do you think punishing lady of mis-rule counts as mis-treason" she winked towards Buckingham. His idea that they should have been passing her a drink at every turn was gifted. "I shall send them both to the tower! Well, a bedroom that is."

 

Nicci liked that idea very much, not only did it separate Louis from Bridget, but it provided Caroline time alone with her cousin (and she knew Caroline had a crush on Louis).

[Francis Kirke]

Cheering his agreement with the King and Buckingham, Francis focused on fixing the problem. As the Duke suggested, Francis showed up with a drink for her.

 

"Cupbearer is a step down from Gentleman, but I am certain Rowley shall bear it for you!" he said to her, with a grin. He handed the cup to the king.

 

"Mis-treason, indeed! Shall Lord Camberwell escort them away?" he asked, after all Mall had been helping Nicolette as well and Caroline was being banished.

 

"As your cousin such treason is a serious blow. Lord Basildon is lucky to be escaping with his head," Francis joked, tittering and taking a drink of his own. His backside was decidedly warm, so he'd best make his other cheeks match.

 

"What torment shall you find in each other, I wonder?" he asked Caroline.

[Caroline Despanay]

How did it all go so wrong so fast? Caroline was trying to figure that out though admittedly all the drinks she had already consumed was not helping her mental faculties. Here she had been trying to help Nicci in her ambitious pursuit of the King's attention only to suddenly find Nicci punishing her for - of all things really - treason? Everyone being tipsy or not that accusation should never be bandied about lightly in her opinion. Although, on second thought Rowley had defended Nicci, spared her the punishment suggested by her cousin. So maybe it did all turn out alright for Nicci then? It seemed she was about to have her golden opportunity with His Royal Majesty afterall?

 

Meanwhile it dawned on her then she was being sent to a bedroom as if exiled and accompanying her was her so called fellow co-traitor, Louis. What was Nicci thinking? Or maybe that girl was too drunk also for rational thought.

 

Francis now teased, seemingly very pleased with how the situation had developed even turning to her to ask what sort of torments she and Louis might share? Caroline simply huffed.

 

"I do believe I was falsely condemned for I am innocent of any such charges. Why....I am Nicci's best friend. Truly...this is Mis-Rule then but I shall bravely go to my doom side by side with Lord Basildon," she declared, finishing the contents at the bottom of her latest drink.

[Louis Killington]

Nicci had turned the tables, and nicely so. Of course, Rowley and Buckingham joined with her. While glad that they bonded with her, Louis had been hoping to see the king put Nicci over his knee to paddle her.

 

Now he was being sent to the bedroom with Caroline. She was a tasty enough treat that he had deprived himself, it would not do to have a tousle with her to publicly acknowledged. It was not a worthy encounter surely. The best meetings were those secretly planned, and deniable.

 

Feigning a serious face, though not disguising his playfulness, Louis needed to take control of his future again. It would need a soliloquy on his part surely.

 

"My Lady of Misrule, I beg mercy for our hostess. While perhaps not innocent in all ways, she is surely innocent of the crime of a paucity of drinking. In fact, it was she that encouraged imbibing. It was I, in my selfishness, that refused further drink. To be truthful, I did not find the quality of her brandy to meet my expectations. It is only your regal gaze, My Lady of Misrule, that has pried this confession from my lips. Give our hostess her liberty and punish me alone, I beseech you. I have paid a price already surely and am willing to suffer a just fate to save our hostess from the cruelty of being imprisoned in her own bedroom. Was she not just in there and was freed by some gentleman? Nay, I should suffer alone for my spirits snobbery." He tried not to chuckle while making his plea.

 

"To consign me to the bedroom, when I have had so little to drink and it is so dark, would be to risk that I might do something I regret ... like fall asleep. Surely that would be a greater crime on a night like this. No, I am prepared to serve a sterner punishment than one administered with a striking arm. I am prepared to foresake my brandy tonight, in the name of contrition. I am willing to drink ... mere wine. If you think my offense serious enough, I would be willing to entertain the possibility of an Italian wine. If you were merciless, you would sentence me to a Spanish one. If you were so cruel as to consider capital punishment, I suppose I would have no choice but to suffer the ravages of ... a German wine; but, I beg you order me to take no more than a sip. With such august company witnessing my degradation, I am not sure that I could survive more than a sip. I humbly beg mercy."

 

With that, Louis gave a deep bow to his cousin. It was all a play of course, but that was what festivities required.

[Aria]

In my own little corner, in my own little chair ...

 

Still sitting by the door and daydreaming of what would happen on the ride home, Bridget was only half-listening to what was going on in the room. It seemed to her that Mademoiselle Vauquelin was ruining her own stupid game by making it even stupider. Serves her right. Let her dig her own grave and fall into it. As long as there was spanking going on, she was going to stay right where she was. If they decided to move on to something more interesting, she might deign to join them.

 

And now that awful shrew was sending their hostess and Lord Basildon to a bedroom together? Probably to get him away from her. Bridget just knew that the reason she had tried to lock her in a closet was because she was jealous. She smiled smugly when Louis made an excuse to get out the ridiculous punishment, certain that it was her that he would rather be sent to a room with. He was so eloquent as he suggested another type of atonement. Bridget could only hope that he asked that she be the one to hold the cup to his lips when they decided what to make him drink.

[Nicolette Vauquelin]

Nicolette laughed of the great sport, delighted as Francis cheered it on, and Caroline too - bravely raising to the challenge. It was the finest of libertine sport!

 

Even Louis seemed inspired by the drama of it all, raising up he begun a speech fit for the House of Lords! He was so funny, seeming to drag his feet! It was almost as if he was scared, or did not much like Caroline (which Nicci knew was not true, she'd spotted his covert looks during recess!)

 

"A vote, a vote!" Nicolette announced, "We peers in the House of Misrule must vote. Are we moved by Master Baiter's speech?" Which was Louis title as invented by Buckingham. "Come, Master's Fox, Huntsman, Woodsman, Tomcat and Sheets - Mistress Abstinence and Mistress Mystery too, vote vote! Shall we award leniency? Or, passions high, demand the full force!"

 

 

OOC: Might I suggest an ooc poll to decide?

[Defiance]

"My but this speech is boring!" Rowley said.

 

Camberwell jibed, "Basildon, you shan't get far with His Majesty with speeches like that. Has not dear Bucks told you how much the King abhors the long-winded!" He could not resist chiming in just after the King in his alter-ego had claimed it was boring.

 

"And the overly sober sorts..." Provided Ashburnham.

 

"And the slippery ones who try to slide out of their due..." another supplied onto the chain.

 

"And those who would leave a lady wanting..."

 

"Or a merry challenge unmet..."

 

"One might say you had less spirit than Lady Kendishall, my lord," Lord Camberwell finished, with a cheeky grin, as if the twist of lip was the knife. "She is very beautiful, though I would not worry of being an enjoyable companion myself. Some lords, I hear, have such troubles."

 

Buckingham cheered loudly and clapped. Rowley laughed so hard that Nicci had to have bounced enough that he steadied her. There were a few whistles. Ranelagh declared, "I think that is your answer, Mistress of Misrule!"

[Louis Killington]

"Boring!" Basildon replied in feigned shock. "Obviously, I am dealing with a man who must not know the exquisiteness of a fine brandy, compared to the plebian vintages of the Empire."

 

As for Camberwell, he registered his own dismay. "Long-winded? I tell you sir that my monologue was barely a minute in length." Glaring around at some of the other men who overruled his petition, Louis added "I realize that a minute is longer than some of you might last with a lady."

 

"Very well, I shall be off to the bedroom, but you all shall suffer the absence of our hostess' charm during our brief time away." Glaring at the nearest servant, he instructed. "Bring brandy."

 

Offering his arm to Caroline, he declared privately "a cruel miscarriage of justice. Obviously they are jealous of us." Off they went.

[Caroline Despanay]

Nicci was putting it to a vote? Damned fine time to have in an interest in ...what did those Greeks call it? Democracy? That didn't work well for them anyhow. They got conquered by kings, Romans, those sorts.

 

Most of the crowd, a merciless lot she could have foretold, did not favor Lord Basildon and the verdict was quite clear. Off to the bedroom they would have to go. Louis took his condemnation like a man asking only for some alcohol. Oh and getting off a few funny parting shots at some of the men who sided against him. Caroline did like that he included a compliment of her in his final comments.

 

"Ahh, yes, the indignity of being exiled from my very own party? Where is the justice in that?" she sighed dramatically and stuck her head up proudly. Arm in arm then they ascended the stairway to the second floor, not quite as fast as the last time she went up those steps, she was a bit tipsier now.

 

"Last room on the right, it's mine," she gave directions.

[Hope]

OOC: Oranges and Lemons!

Sorry >.< lets join in shall we

 

Charles and Barbara

 

Like most others in the room, she approved of Camberwell's call.

 

"Perhaps they wish company - or an audience." Barbara smirked to those that remained, as the banished left the room. Meanwhile she and Charles were examples of just that.

 

"Oh but look who he left behind, his little Danby girl. Pray child wont you come and sit with the rest of us. We wont bite, much."

 

She winked to Charles.

[Charles Audley]

Charles and Barbara

 

Charles laughed softly at Basildon's attempt to wiggle free of his exile.

 

"'Tis as well that he leaves 'ere he starts a diplomatic incident. I've known Germans who'd duel in the name of Rhenish wines, to say nothing of what the Spaniards will do when their pride is touched," he offered drily, before snorting at Barbara's sally.

 

"The gentleman strikes me as the sort to want an audience for everything," he replied, the pot calling the kettle an unpleasant colour.

 

He mock pouted at Barbara when she called over Basildon's little mouse. He was far more interested in continuing as they had been than he was in tormenting the Danby chit.

 

Still, needs must. Humour her.

"And even that only by invitation," he appended to Barbara's 'encouragement,' grinning and arching an eyebrow at Bridget.

[Aria]

Bridget invited to join Charles and Barbara

 

Bridget thought about reminding everyone that the objective of Misrule was not to force anyone to do something against his or her will, but that would have called attention to herself. It was clear to her that Lord Basildon didn't want to go to Lady Kendishall's bedroom with her, but he was being made to do it anyway. With everyone else agreeing with Mademoiselle Vauquelin, how could he refuse? She would have to make up for his cousin's lack of consideration and affection on the way home.

 

She was surprised when a lady spoke to her and invited her to join them. Bridget had been too young for court when Barbara had been sent away, and so she didn't know who she was. The gentleman beside her looked rather formidable with only one eye and she could imagine him biting, with or without an invitation. However, to refuse would have been impolite, and she didn't want anyone to think she was as ill-mannered as the rest of this pathetic gathering. Nor did she want to leave her hiding place and be singled out by that French shrew.

 

And so she offered a compromise instead. “I thank you both for your invitation, but why don't you join me instead? It is quieter over here by the door.”

[Francis Kirke]

Francis could not help but chuckle as the pair left for their penance. When did Libertines concern themselves over anything but what was most fun?

 

"I do not know where the two get their concept of merry justice, but it's not in the service of what is right and good and just, but what is amusing," Francis said, with a titter, taking up a place at the ready to make sure good Rowley and the lady of his lap had libations.

 

Rowley might be incognito but that did not dismiss Francis of his services, only that his services needed to be incognito as well.

 

"And nor would I say I would be quick in the length of my absence!" Either he was a bit drunker than he thought and did not understand Basildon's wit or his lordship had insinuated that his own person was a quick fuck!

[Nicolette Vauquelin]

Amidst all the laughter and uproar Nicci nearly flew off her Rowley-perch! She gave a hoot at her dearest friend and cousins departure - and on the tail of Francis call added, "But be sure to do a proper job of it!" Quick was no problem in her books as long as it was satisfactory!

 

Perhaps she'd drunk more than she'd realised too.

 

Chatham, who still had to make good on the dare she'd given him, piped up from a tangle with the Duchess. Nicci laughed of it, "You have a true measure of my Cousin." she claimed proudly, and then upon a spur that could only be alcohol driven, she abandoned her Royal post and coaxed the others.

 

"On that note, Master of the Bitches, come, come, lets go see." She could not be the only one wondering if Louis would really have Caroline or not?

 

“Shh.” She thought to lead the gang of merry drunkards ‘quietly’ up the hall to spy. (Naturally she did not invite the Danby girl, who was conveniently sat next to the exit.)

[Charles Audley]

Charles felt his grin widen and change at Bridget's response, lips peeling back to expose long canines in a well practised expression of mingled amusement and challenge, seasoned with just a touch of contempt.

 

"That it is quiet is the entire point of inviting you out of it," he told her, voice a lazy drawl that he felt suited his current catlike demeanour. "'Twould be a shame for any to spend this evening sequestered so, let alone one young and fair." He shrugged fluidly. "But please yourself little mouse."

 

He was saved from having to weigh the potential amusement of tormenting Bridget the Banal further against having to continue to interact with her by Nicolette. Giving Barbara an apologetic smile and a parting fondle, Charles rose smoothly to his feet.

 

"Back soon, I hope," he whispered, before turning his attention to the Lady of Misrule.

 

"I've never understood the appeal of voyeurism," he admitted cheerfully, "but when so bidden, what can your faithful servant do but obey?"

 

Laughing, he offered Nicolette his arm.

[Defiance]

Rowley's lap was suddenly quite cold.

 

He pouted and then laughed. When he realized that they were all planned to listen in the hallway, he laughed even more, rising to join. He had spied at enough doors and through enough paintings and eyeholes to know what fun could be had.

 

And so Nicolette led a merry band behind her, sniggering, as they all followed once Basildon and Caroline were tucked away behind closed doors.

[Hope]

Bridget and Barbara left behind

 

At first the girl declined the invite, but before Barbara could sally a reply Chatty Chatham piped up succinct. This man impressed her more with each turn. Wait. Retract that thought. There he was up and off after the French minx.

 

While perhaps they were all invited to follow on after, Barbara was feeling far too self indulgent at that point. "Well my dear it's just you and I." Barbara smiled, a smile which some might claim belonged to a crocodile.

 

"Now how shall we distract ourselves till they are all done. What say I tell you a little story, hmm?"

[Caroline Despanay]

OOC: Just so everyone is aware, Caroline's bedroom is upstairs at the end of a narrow little hallway so good luck getting a large party up there piled up at her door

[Louis Killington]

So it was that Louis entered Caroline's bedroom, feeling somewhat awkward in that moment, which was rare for a man as confident as he. Frankly, he did not like being compelled to do anything, absent a royal decree of course. There were also plenty of witnesses to the fact that he entered her bedroom, and now they expected him to perform like some stud horse on display. That was not his idea of entertainment. Oh, Caroline was pretty enough and he would enjoy a tryst, but on his own terms and in secret so that Lisa would not likely learn of it. The same concern caused him to hesitate with Bridget. Originally he had thought to create the impression that he debauched her when he did not. Now he was planning to have a tumble with her and was beginning to regret the idea.

 

Caroline had been a house guest and there were plenty of opportunities to sneak in a bit of swiving; but, it did not seem right in their house when Lisa was present. Was he becoming a moralist? Hardly. Yet, he owed his wife a duty, as she did him. He would not embarrass her with trivial affairs in public. That was what this was. It was an affair in public. He needed to outsmart those that had sent him here.

 

"Caroline dear," Louis began as he shut the door behind them. "You are a delectable creature; that is true. But I do not perform for the amusement of others like some show pony. I prefer to do things my own way. We need to plot a way to escape this jail they constructed. You have a party to lead and I have circumstances to manipulate. I do hope you are of a like mind." He paused to judge her interest level.

 

"My preferred way, of course, is for you to flee the room exclaiming that *it* is too big to put into anyone and that you fled in terror," he chuckled. "But, I am happy to hear your own ideas."

[Aria]

So now they were all going to spy on Lord Basildon and Lady Kendishall? Bridget rolled her eyes as the one-eyed gentleman joined Mademoiselle Vauquelin and the others fell in behind them. Were they aware of how immature they looked? Danby's daughter was quite possibly the youngest guest at the party and she thought they were acting like silly children.

 

They weren't going to find what they were looking for either. Lord Basildon had not wanted to be banished with Lady Kendishall and she doubted that he would even kiss her. Even if he had been locked in a bedroom with Bridget, nothing would have happened. Any intelligent person would refuse to be a puppet for someone else's amusement.

 

The older lady who had been sitting with the one-eyed gentleman did not join the spying. Was it possible that she, too, thought that the whole idea was stupid? Bridget gazed at her with interest, wondering who she was. When she asked if she could tell Bridget a story, the girl moved closer to her, sitting in the chair the gentleman had vacated.

 

“Please do. We might as well amuse ourselves while everyone else is playing dumb childish games.” She chuckled. “I think we're the most mature people here.”

[Francis Kirke]

Francis had no desire to miss any of it, so he attempted to follow the throng down the hallway, though he doubted he'd be able to hear anything first hand.

 

Besides Nicci and Chatham, there was the King and Buckingham, and one look at the hallway suggested that the actions might need to be passed along for the cheeky crowd. There were yet others behind him.

[Caroline Despanay]

Caroline had led her fellow party exile up the stairway then down the hallway to the bedroom at the end, shutting the door once Louis had entered. She turned then to face the man, they had last actually had a conversation back in the fall when she had visited Nicci on his estate. Caroline approved of the man's political stance on the seeming inevitable coming war with France, he had been against it in Parliament. But other than that, she had never really had any strong feelings for the man, either good or bad. She had already been bedded once this party and wasn't so sure she wanted it again, especially under these circumstances, compelled by Nicci (who seemed to be letting her power go to her head). Still Nicci was her dearest friend and she could not compel herself to be angry with the other French girl.

 

Turned out Louis shared his reluctance about this forced situation, throwing her a compliment she had to doubt as to it's sincerity then getting to the point. Louis made a good argument though.

 

"I agree. We are not dogs to simply do tricks to please our masters. I confess I am a bit annoyed about this all," Caroline nodded.

 

However his solution, if he was even serious and he didn't seem to be, was not something she wished to do. While she had no idea how big he was down there, she would be damned if she would feign flight like a panic-stricken virgin girl to feed his male pride.

 

"My ideas? I thought menfolk believed that females had no real ideas of merit, that we are but creatures waiting to be led by you fellows," she smirked.

 

"To be honest though, I could think better if I weren't so....so drunk," she had to admit the truth here. She turned to look at the window of the bedroom which led out onto a balcony. Hmmm?

"We might make a tactical withdrawal?" she whispered as she pointed to the window. Of course as liquored up as she was, this could go badly too.

[Nicolette Vauquelin]

"La! Voyerism is practically our national pastime in Paris." Nicci winked to Chatham, "But I understand your lack of appreciation - for you've not yet had the chance to watch me yet!"

 

And so laughing with her own amusement Nicci led the merry way down corridor and up stair... expecially elated that Rowley too was attending. She was managing to do just what Buckingham had advised, and have him believe that fun was anywhere she went or would be.

 

It was a crowd at the door, and Nicci reached that place first so crouched down to look through the key hole. "The Boudoir." she whipered in a prequel to her friends. But there was not much to see if anything, while she could hear voices very faintly, talking. Well that was hardly going to amuse the gathered audience! She'd need to embellish a little.

 

"They are not wasting any time, they are in a cinch, hands are groping!" Drawing away she flashed a grin to Chatham, who was an augmenter of truth if ever one had been born. Yes she figured he'd do his part if given a turn at the keyhole. "Here, you see!"

 

Pushing bodily past to give Chatham his turn, she managed herself into a scintillatingly uncomfortable position wedged somewhere between Francis and old Rowley. Not sure which man in particular it was, she saucily stoked the muscular leg.

[Hope]

Bridjet and Barbara left to their own devices

"Oh yes, their good sense seems to have gone out the proverbial window." Barbara returned with a sultry smile, and as Bridget moved closer she patted the divan where she lounged. Coaxing the girl child closer still.

 

"Now you might like to hear a tale about your escort for the evening. The fine Lord Basildon, isnt he handsome hmm?"

 

 

 

OOC: oh I know mods do not usually indulge in writing their npc’s opposite each other, but really why not for a little while at least

[Charles Audley]

Charles laughed in delight, eye shining with the simple joy of being alive and young in this time and place.

 

"Well, mademoiselle, I am always eager to embrace new things, so if you should wish to help me repair the lack I promise to be a most attentive student."

 

(It would have been unforgivably discourteous not to reciprocate Nicolette's flirtations, Barbara's presence not withstanding. And if some part of him enjoyed it all the more for that, well, he had never claimed that his nature was not a perverse thing.)

 

Charles would have liked to have been able to claim that he masterfully obfuscated his prior knowledge of Caroline's boudoir, but in truth he had been drunk enough that night that said knowledge was nonexistent. Like the rest he followed after Nicolette towards their destination in an exaggerated parody of stealth.

 

"Perhaps your cousin seeks to offer eagerness in redress for any perceived insult he gave below with his reluctance," he offered drily, as their guide and ringleader offered her commentary on the happenings behind the door. "Our hostess has a formidable temper."

 

Returning Nicci's grin as she offered him a place at the keyhole, Charles slid past her and knelt.

 

"I think I must, if the sight has you so excited," he murmured, before pressing his eye to the opening and peering within.

 

Nothing was revealed, salacious or otherwise. Perhaps Louis and Caroline had moved, or perhaps the Lady of Misrule had (gasp) simply lied. In either case, in the absence of anything to observe, Charles opted to invent.

 

"Egads," he whispered back down the corridor, "are we sure the lady's late husband did not expire of sheer overexertion? Stand ready gentlemen, we may need to intervene to save Basildon 'ere much longer."

 

Returning to the keyhole, Charles gave a low whistle.

 

"Good Lord. Haven't seen that since my last time in a nunnery..."

[Defiance]

It was indeed Rowley's leg that Nicolette had found and it would not take long to ascertain. Rowley had a larger leg than Francis. Both were muscled from the exertion that many court gentlemen did not expend. Rowley was known for his long walks and physical pursuits.

 

He made no inclination or movement as she stroked. The smirk on his face could have easily been from the commentary, which was saucy enough to merit a stifled laugh.

 

Buckingham was the only man with enough balls to loom and lean over the King's shoulder intimately, even in his Rowley persona. Their faces were close enough that it might look, from Nicci's position, that Rowley had grown another head and not the one she was attempting to grow.

 

"Such a happy way to go!" Rowley said of Audley's commentary. "She is your friend, Misrule, and...yours too, Kingston. What secrets have you to tell? Did her late husband die in ecstasy?"

 

"We shall have to pull the tale from you both," Buckingham encouraged. "But later. What else, what else, Master of Bitches? The nunnery, you say!"

 

Had he seen Nicci's hand? From his vantage point, he might be the only one that could possibly see. After all, at that moment, his head was coming off Rowley's shoulder.

[Nicolette Vauquelin]

What a grand party.

 

Nicci's hunch proved correct, Chatham outdid himself, he was a man born for elaboration of truth! Why at that moment she was so pleased with him she did not even mind if he'd forgotten all about the dare she'd set (Of which her mind had been grumbling) But he was far too fun a man to deprive herself of him. Yes it was all back on, one day she'd scream out his name.

 

But for now the French Miss rather did enjoy the feeling of thigh in her hand; the owner of thigh did not seem shy of it either. So she stroked a little more, and moving higher, knuckles moving very close to the royal stones. "Why do you know, she's never told me how her husband died." Her eyes were sparkling as she looked to Chatham, did he have details to add? Yes! The master innovator was certain to!

 

In the press around Chathams crouch, Buckingham was never one to take a backstage seat. George was practically in Nicci's face with his cheery quips. Was it meant as encouragement? (He was too shrewd to be unaware) Nicci took it as a dare, eyes lifted enough to meet Rowley’s eyes as her hand slid higher and sought define the royal sceptre ‘neath fine fabric. "Would it deter the gentlemen if a lady's bed had been known to kill? Or would it add to the daredevil adventure... the allure of danger captivates." Words of wool-gathering as she secretly pleasured, a wicked eyebrow cocking as she glanced at Buckingham amidst it all.

[Louis Killington]

Unaware of the commotion building outside the door to Caroline's bedroom, Louis was left to ponder the situation. Caroline was unwilling to play to his ego, which was not surprising, and professed to be a witless woman, which he knew to be false.

 

The idea of disappearing held a certain appeal, though the window was a dubious choice for inebriated courtiers. "It is a long way down," he remarked drily. "No need to have your ankle twisted or broken with a fall. No, if there is no other way out, perhaps we can cause others angst by playing chess or read a book ... perhaps the Bible together. It will provide a reservoir of humor for the rest of the season. We shall swear that we just read a Bible together and everyone will laugh with their own image of what we might have done, though I suspect that we will tire of that charade quickly. Perhaps we then sneak downstairs afterward to peek at what the others are doing." He felt a prisoner and was impatient to return.

[Charles Audley]

Charles grinned as Nicolette played along, meeting her sparkling gaze with his own.

 

"Well, I would wager that what they buried was more a shrivelled sack of bones than a man, but that it bore the most pleased grin to ever grace a corpse." Returning to the keyhole, he cocked his head in mock intrigue and continued drily. "We would hear proof of the lady's... enthusiasm, I fancy, but Basildon seems to hold some regard for the innocent ears left below."

 

Let them decide what I mean by that.

 

He waited a moment or two before reluctantly turning away from the keyhole to answer Buckingham.

 

"Hmm? Well, Master of the Hunt, as I'm sure you know, nuns see little of men, and I have found that that isolation lends their imaginings a certain... fevered luridness, shall we say?" He waggled his eyebrows. "They're very creative women. But to be more specific, I remember a lovely young novice, in title if not in nature, who I met in Orvieto. She could put her feet behind her head, among other such talents." He sighed wistfully.

 

Wondering if he should continue to invent happenings behind the door, or yield up his place to another and see if they would play along, Charles was distracted by Nicolette's question. He grinned toothily.

 

"Well, I would not presume to speak for the company at large, Mistress, but personally I would deem it an irresistible challenge."

[Caroline Despanay]

Well it was clear enough neither of them were happy about their Nicci inspired exile and both wanted to be free of her bedroom. Also they were not going to perform just because someone else expected it, if the time ever came they would lie together it would be of their time and choosing. Caroline suggested escape, out the window because they could hardly go out the door with all the party goers downstairs. She was of course unaware of their audience in the hall. Louis however had reservations, warning of a fall and possible injury.

 

"Nonsense....I can climb and such...like a goat...I mean a mountain goat," she assured him, not that she had ever seen such an animal in action but she had read it in a book once.

 

Of course mountain goats weren't drunk when they did their climbing. Besides Louis had other suggestions. They were not in the nature of an escape though....sadly.

 

"Chess, my father tried to teach me that game. We never spent enough time on it for me to learn all those infernal rules. Besides do you see a chess board in here? I thought so," she knew she had him there.

 

Now as for the Bible, that was going to be a problem also.

 

"I have no Bible in here either. Oh....and my dear lord....I am not certain if you are aware but I am a......Catholic though what with all that is going on right now, I admit I am not a practicing one. Nicci knows but I would prefer you not spread that around....the Catholic part I mean," she also revealed though certainly not in a loud voice.