New Years Eve Scarlet Drawing Room- Xmas 1677

[Blackguard]

Anne mentioned that Davina might have a skill at which she would prove superior. It made some in the room wonder as to what that might be. Likely it would be some lady-like pastime like knitting.

 

After Anne's foul-mouthed limerick, Davina had no reaction, except to retreat. There were quiet snickers that the Queen's maid had made a wrong turn and found herself in a den of iniquity instead. There were silent wagers about how fast the two ladies might flee from such unsavory wit.

 

Merriweather marked the last stanza of the libertine limerick as an open invitation for some quim wringing. His smile was malevolent. Others noted the potential invitation as well.

 

"Naughty indeed," Dorset acknowledged. The actresses near Johnny whispered derisive remarks to each other. "You have not laid a challenge in return, so I suppose I should use the challenge I gave you -- with an equally jaded twist." he paused for a few minutes to compose his thoughts.

 

"What would a woman do for a ring?

To a man, a siren's song she'd sing.

An opponent neck she'd break,

A love she'd surely fake.

Would she stop short of anything?"

 

A few sympathetic male smiles appeared in the crowd. "Not one of my best," he admitted, but encouraged "have you another challenge then?"

[Anne-Elisabeth Devereux]

Had it been Anne-Elisabeth's foul language that prompted Mistress Wellsley to watch rather than participate in their repartee? She didn't seem overly shocked, nor did anyone else in the room. It looks like I picked the perfect place to make my entrance to court. Perhaps when the night is over, I will already be renowned for my wit.

 

“Why thank you,” she replied when Davina wished her good luck. Grinning at her opponent, she added: “Although Lord Dorset may need it more than I.” Maybe I will become known for my supreme confidence as well.

 

Anne-Elisabeth noticed that several gentlemen were leering at her, but what else could she expect after her last verse? Her body hummed with excitement, but her passion was more mental than physical, at least at the moment. Basking in attention was almost as good as sex. Would she wind up in bed … or in a closet ... with a fascinating gentlemen tonight? It was still early. Anything was possible at this point.

 

Dorset's limerick was indeed jaded, and she silently agreed with his assessment of it. Was he beginning to have trouble coming up with rhymes? If so, she could win simply by outlasting him. She was already ahead in quantity. “Since you haven't issued a challenge either, I shall reply to your poem from my own point of view." And equally jaded.

 

"With a ring, what will a lady have gained

But a union that feels likes she's chained?

She'll have to obey

All her husband will say.

I would much rather be unrestrained.”

 

The young Countess paused and beckoned a tray-bearing servant over. Choosing a glass of rum, she knocked it back in one gulp, and then set the goblet back on the tray. Not bad, but the rum was better in Barbados. “Your task, my Lord Dorset, is to compose a limerick about something you are not good at. As for what I don't do well:

 

I can't carry a tune in a bucket.

When I try, everybody says 'Fuck it.

Sing a solo, my dear,

so low we can't hear.'

And that's when I tell them to suck it.”

 

She didn't even have to think before reciting that one, as she had used it quite a few times in the past when people had asked if she sang.

[Hope]

Alice nearly fell off her chair after the new lady poet-ed of cocks and quims! Her eyes flared, this night of adventuring had accelerated! (Alice had not before heard a woman talking like that!)

 

As might be expected The Queens Lady withdrew from that sport - Alice scooted over to let her take a place alongside her, along with a murmur of "Heavens - and this is not yet the finale of their sport, what can be said following that!"

 

Alice's eyes and interest returned to Anne-Elizabeth and Dorset, fully expecting them both to continue raising the bar in their shocking limerick game. Expectations that were not to be disapointed.

[Blackguard]

"Yes, well done," Dorset complimented. "I think everyone prefers to be unrestrained."

 

Anne challenged the host about his failings. This would require some thought. There was some low conversation as onlookers waited. Some was about the foul-mouthed newcomer and some was about various Merry Gang members.

 

Rochester imposed, still smarting from his displaced neck. He pranced to the side of Anne to offer his own limerick. "I'm drawn to a woman that says fuck. It requires a certain amount of pluck. It's the type most alive. Those wanting a good swive. And they likely offer a good suck." The Earl was well-known to be foul-mouthed.

 

It was Dorset's turn. "Johnnie, you know how to compose a limerick after all!" Rochester shook his head as if refuting the acclaim. "I suppose I should use fuck in my response to you.."

 

Dorset ignored the expected reply and readied his own limerick.

 

"If it's a short trait that you seek,

It shall take long ere I speak

Since I do so much well

That there is little to tell.

So, I suppose it is modesty that is weak."

 

He began to chuckle at his own wit as he drank deeply of his cup, thinking he had evaded any real disclosure in favor of of a somewhat humorous truth instead. Were not all courtiers weak in modesty?

 

Rochester made a foul noise. "I could name a dozen things Charlie does poorly."

 

Dorset set his own challenge to Anne. "Compose a limerick that makes fun of the Earl of Rochester."

[Anne-Elisabeth Devereux]

“Thank you, my lord,”Anne-Elisabeth replied with a gracious nod of her head. The ebony curls arranged over her shoulder shifted to fall over her cleavage. She made no move to push them away. “You may be right about everyone in this room but I've known some people with sticks up their ...” Her lush sultry voice paused in mid-sentence as she reconsidered her words. “I've known some rather stuffy people.”

 

After those last two limericks, I should probably watch my language. She was prone to casually tossing obscenities around for the shock value alone. Countesses were not supposed to curse, after all. However, she preferred not to be known as the foul-mouthed Countess on her first night at court. Unfortunately, the damage might have already been done.

 

Or perhaps not, for Rochester's limerick was equally off-color and the word 'fuck' was bandied about as if it was not considered vulgar at all. This was Anne-Elisabeth's first experience in a completely libertine gathering and it was, indeed, quite liberating. Among the Merry Gang, she had found a place where she could just be herself. At least for tonight.

 

She winked at Rochester and chuckled when he shook his head at Dorset's comment. “Perhaps he needs to be inspired to compose a limerick,” she remarked. “Not everyone can produce one at the spur of the moment. If that was the case, our competition would have many more contenders than just you and I.”

 

The blonde Earl's contribution to their game brought another chuckle. “An excellent verse, but I'm afraid that it doesn't answer my challenge. Modesty is not something you do. It's something you have. Or don't have, as the case may be. I asked about something that you don't do well. I confided one of my failings. You can reveal one of yours.”

 

Lady Cambray's dark gaze flickered over to Rochester. “Since you claim to know several things he does poorly, tell us one and he can compose a limerick about that.” She looked back at Dorset. “Will you agree to those terms or should I give you another challenge instead?”

 

Dorset asked her to make fun of Rochester, and she studied the man for a moment as she composed her rhyme:

 

“Lord Rochester tried to contort

And kiss his own arse here at court.

It became quite a blunder.

Now I can't help but wonder:

In which other attributes is he short?”

 

She grinned saucily. “Please don't be angry at me, my lord.” A nod toward Dorset. “He made me do it.”

[Blackguard]

As Anne protested Dorset's answer, the blond ear's back stiffened for melodramatic purposes. "My failing is modesty. That is a failing, just as there could be a failing at honesty ... or chastity."

 

As he pondered a new limerick, Anne composed a brilliant one, with perfect rhyme and rhythm, with suitable insult to Rochester. Johnnie finished a glass of some dark-colored liquid and let out a belch, as if that was his reply to the poetic attack.

 

Dorset applauded. "Well done my lady. It is the wittiest insult of Johnnie, through limerick, this year." Other picked up on the praise and added to it. There was light applause from onlookers.

 

"That alone deserves a prize, so I shall declare you champion of this round and award you use of the owner box at my theater and night in the new year. It will hold eight comfortably. Let us have more applause for our new member," he incited others. The applause grew. "It is very difficult to compose so many poems in such a small window and concluding on one so well."

[Anne-Elisabeth Devereux]

Anne-Elisabeth sighed. “Then we will just have to agree to disagree on that matter.” Why is he unwilling to share an activity that he fails at? Everyone in this room probably already knows what he is unsuccessful at. I am the only newcomer here as far as I know. Is he afraid that I will think less of him if he confesses one? The notion that he might care about her opinion of him pleased her.

 

Rochester didn't even seem annoyed that she had ridiculed him. Perhaps he was too drunk to care or the Merry Gang mocked each other so often that insults didn't bother him. She was glad he took it so well.

 

Dorset's praise and applause surprised her. Anne-Elisabeth was quite proud of that limerick, but she didn't think that it was the best one she had ever composed. Some of the onlookers clapped for her as well, and she basked in their approval, though a gracious nod of her head was the only acknowledgment she made.

 

Her eyes widened when the Earl declared her the winner of the competition. He is letting me win? Or does he truly think I deserve it? He doesn't strike me as the kind of fellow who likes to lose. Then again, he had declared the champion of this round, meaning that there were others to come at a later date. Maybe I've tired him out. If he tires so quickly when swiving, then no wonder he wasn't willing to reveal one of his failings.

 

A box that could seat eight people? His theatre must be much larger than the one she had frequented in Barbados, which made sense as the English population on the island was tiny compared to that of London. Everybody knew everybody else in Barbados. It would take quite some time to get to know enough people to fill the box. But at least she would have a front row seat in which to watch that bitch of an actress being heckled and pummeled by rotten tomatoes.

 

More applause echoed around her. “Your newest member?” she asked with a grin. “Does that mean I'm now a part of the Merry Gang?”

 

So he admitted that it wasn't easy composing so many poems in such a short period of time. Perhaps her hunch was correct and she had worn him out. “Thank you,” she replied. “I don't believe I have ever competed against such a witty opponent. I look forward to visiting your theatre in the near future.”

 

Her gaze narrowed teasingly. “May I ask one more favor of you tonight, my lord?”

[Blackguard]

"The newest member of our circle Dorset corrected. "To be of the Merry Gang is quite something else. And it takes convincing the rest of court that you are suitably witty, jaded, libertine, adventurous, unrestrained, competitive, sharp-tongued, disrespectful. and a lost soul like the rest of us." Like so many other clubs in 17th Century England, there were no women members. Nell was an honorary member, but women were considered admitted to the circle that attended the Merry Gang in their pranks, as opposed to the "Gang" itself. This had yet to be explained to her.

 

Anne asked a favor and Dorset was favorably inclined. "How can I be of assistance?"

[Anne-Elisabeth Devereux]

“Well, that's still quite an honor.” Anne-Elisabeth was more than a bit disappointed. To become a member of the Merry Gang on her first night at court would have been an amazing triumph. Being accepted among them so quickly was also an impressive accomplishment, though. She wasn't exactly sure what being in their circle entailed, but she hoped she would be invited to all their parties and be included in their mischief.

 

Eventually she would prove herself worthy enough to become one of them. She already possessed all of the traits that Lord Dorset listed. Even if she had known that women were never admitted into their group, she would not have been deterred. Rules were made to be broken, and if some gutsy lady was going to be the first, why shouldn't it be her?

 

The handsome blonde Earl asked what he could do for her. “Will you escort me to the banquet hall and introduce me to the King and Queen?” she asked with a playful smile. “You'll make a fine entrance with a pretty and mysterious lady on your arm. All eyes will be on us.”

 

Like Dorset, Lady Cambray could count modesty among her failings.

[Blackguard]

"A small favor is it?" Dorset chortled. "Perhaps you might like me to introduce you to the King of France, The Holy Roman Emperor, and the Doge of Venice too?" he replied sarcastically. There were titters of laughter in the crowd.

 

Then he decided to press the overconfident lady while she was being observed by so many. "I only introduce ladies to the King in such circumstances if she has been my bedfellow. His Majesty would expect no less."

 

"Ho ho ho," Rochester exclaimed. "Tis true. The whole court knows it." Johnny was just trying to make the scene more prickly for the lady that lampooned him.

 

"Do you still wish an introduction tonight? If so, we have not much time," Dorset laughed.

[Anne-Elisabeth Devereux]

“Oh, you know them too?” Her eyes were wide and her expression innocent, as if she believed every word he said. The faintly sardonic tone of her voice would tell him that she didn't. “Why, of course I'd love to meet them, as well as the Tzar of Russia and the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Would you happen to be acquainted with them as well?” Anne-Elisabeth was determined to be as difficult to beat in a game of wit as she was in a poetry competition.

 

So he only introduced ladies to the King after he had slept with them? Rochester backed up his claim and she supposed it could be true. It was also possible that he was just bluffing. The chances were excellent that His Majesty was already aware of her existence or would be soon. She doubted many ladies bested Lord Dorset at composing limericks. She might not need to be presented to him by somebody else, although she truly wanted the Earl to do the honors.

 

“Of course I still want an introduction,” Anne-Elisabeth declared, standing up and sauntering toward him, her hips swaying seductively. Reaching up, she ran one long manicured fingernail gently over his cheek. “But I think your companions will be jealous if you take me to your bed instead of them.” She glanced toward the two actresses he had been with earlier for confirmation.

 

Her dark eyes met his and she winked saucily. “So how about a compromise? Let the King believe that you swived me. You can even tell him how good I was if he asks. I don't mind at all.”

 

The young countess wasn't concerned about her reputation. She had already discovered that widows were considered wanton whether they were or not. Lady Cambray didn't want to impress the more proper courtiers anyway. They were all pompous asses who didn't know how to have fun.

 

She also didn't want to rush into anything with Lord Dorset. He was attractive and her body hummed pleasantly at the thought of his lips and his body crushed against hers. However, she would rather tease him into wanting her so badly he could think of nothing but having her instead of giving into him so quickly. Seduction was a game that she liked to play slowly, drawing it out and savoring every delicious minute of it.

[Blackguard]

"On a first name basis," Dorset assured her as he played along with the crowned heads of Europe. "The Sultan is a heathen, so I have not made his acquaintance," he protested.

 

"I would not be so sure about my companions," the Earl retorted as he looked to the actresses. Methinks they would like me to stick it to you. "You would have me lie to the King? A peer of the realm tell his sovereign something untrue?" He seemed shocked, though almost certainly playfully. "It could mean the Tower, or my head ... and here I thought you had grown quite fond of me," he declared playfully, not yet ready to let her escape so easily. The witnesses were eager as to how far this might go.

 

"Perhaps we could step outside now and get to know each other quickly so that I might bear true witness to His Majesty?"

 

Johnny quipped as well "I could provide a second opinion right after."

 

"And I a third" Merriweather volunteered.

[Anne-Elisabeth Devereux]

“Impressive,” she breathed, favoring him with a mischievous smirk. “Should I meet one of them when you are not present, I will be certain to mention that you told me what good friends you are.” It was highly unlikely Anne-Elisabeth would ever be in the same country as any of the royalty he had mentioned, but if she did get a chance to repeat his claims, she supposed it could work either for or against him. And for or against her.

 

“if lying was punishable by death, every courtier in the palace would be a head shorter,” she countered. Another wink. “Except for me. I always tell the truth.”

 

The Countess looked Dorset up and down and then took one more step toward him. She was so close to him now that they were almost touching. “I suppose I have grown a bit fond of you. It is not every day that I run across a gentleman who can hold his own against me in a limerick competition. If you were thrown in the Tower, we wouldn't be able to have a rematch. So no, I don't want you to lie to His Majesty.”

 

He again suggested that they should have a brief shag and Rochester and Merriweather expressed their willingness to join in. She grinned at both of them. “Sorry, gentlemen, but there will be no Merry Gang bang tonight. Not with me, anyway.”

 

Anne Elisabeth playfully pulled on Lord Dorset's cravat. “You know, there's not enough time during a quickie to tell how adept a lady is in the art of carnal pleasure. So if we have a hurried tryst, you'll still be lying if the King asks you what I was like. Unless you say you don't know, and you can say that now and still be telling the truth. I seriously doubt he'll ask tonight and by the time he does … if he does ... perhaps you will be able to tell him all about me in glorious and vivid detail.

 

“So introduce me first and then if you wish to ring in the New Year with me, I'll make it the best one you've ever had.” Leaning toward him so that her bosom teasingly brushed against his chest, she blew into his ear and then whispered into it, low enough that nobody else could hear:

 

“One you've had Lady Cambray

She will always be your favorite lay

Her quim is so tight

It'll squeeze you just right

You'll enjoy it more than you can say.”

[Davina Wellsley]

Davina on the Sidelines

 

Even for her many years at Court Davina was shocked by this woman who made so free with the language of the Streets. That she cared so little for her Name and Reputation was clear for no 'Lady' of any standing would behave thusly.

 

Libertine or not she was new-come to Court and if this was her way of gaining attention she would find herself only under the eyes of those 'Gentlemen' who took a fancy to it. There would be a cold reception from wives and those that might have aided her advancement amongst those of her own sex.

 

Davina was curious as to what must have occured to have made the other imagine that to behave as she was would be a good entreé into Court Circles. Rochester and Dorset would sniff and conquer she had no doubt but she did not think even they would present her in Public to The King - she would find herself amongst the same sort as here - in private residences and parties where her talents would be cheered.

 

She could find a Sponsor such as Dorset or even Buckingham but would most likely never gain a foothold with anyone of the Proper Sort.

 

It was a curious thing how women made to better themselves. Marriage obviously and even a lover or two - had that not always been the way? Why even she herself had thought to attract The King, and so yet might!

 

She glanced over to Alice and then to the others who were settled all together as each listened and watched their various thoughts played out or partially hid but all in a shared thought - this "Lady" was not welcom'd.

[Hope]

Davina & Alice on the Sidelines

 

"She talks like Nell does." Alice whipered in reply to Davina's facial communication... frankly even daring Alice was feeling rather uncomfortable because of it. But she'd not be the first to leave, what would her new friend think of her if she was the first to chicken out!

[Blackguard]

Davina and Alice were not the only ones to pass judgment on Anne's actions. Even the actresses looked at each other as if to question how the behavior of the Countess were any different than an actress that kept male lovers. The Merry Gang members found the talk and actions exhilarating, but some of the younger proper set that had wandered into the drawing room to gain a window into the world of the libertine were likewise feeling a bit uncomfortable. The men were far more enthralled, of course, while some of the ladies were beginning to worry that things were starting to go too far. One excused herself, and then another. There were still a dozen folks congregated around the protagonists.

 

"Indeed," Dorset replied. "I know exactly how much I should trust someone who claims to always tell the truth. It does leave me to wonder whether I can trust your end of the bargain," he mused aloud.

 

"Get it in writing," Merriweather offered in a less helpful way. "As if some magistrate would consider such evidence," Sedley was quick to respond.

 

"Very well then, I shall accept your offer knowing that you shall renege at your peril," Dorset declared in front of all witnesses. "I shall introduce you to the King this evening and we shall meet privately thereafter." Even if the newly-arrived Countess would try something to avoid ringing in the new year, she had freely admitted to giving him sex in return for the introduction. Court gossip would be quick to acknowledge that it happened, whether it did or not. He was not overly worried given the limerick that she had whispered in her ear.

 

Dorset looked at his pocket watch. "It is after 9 pm, almost 9:30. Let us meet in the ballroom in an hour, after the swarm of courtiers have already attempted to be introduced. I shall meet you there and make good on my pledge." He awaited her brief assent.

 

Davina would hear that it was approaching 10 pm and that she would need to consider leaving for a rendezvous of her own.

 

Rochester remarked to Anne 'I could introduce you to the Duke of Buckingham and we could come to a private accord as well."

[Davina Wellsley]

Davina with Alice

 

"But at least Nell dos not pretend she is other than what she is so none are taken back. This one I do believe means to make a mark but will find herself only made for things such a this and now we both know her measure. To met her in another place will happen yet for me I shall not be so welcoming. Somehow Alice I do not think any of that will matter to her one bit."

 

The sudden appearance of a watch made her give a small gasp and then hearing the hour she moved to stand up saying in a whisper

 

"Splendor of God! I will be late ... Alice I must fly away ... will you be safe here or shall we go together? I don't care what is said frankly so let us give a small reverance in passing to the Company yes?"

 

She would let her new friend think she had to return to her Duties and would indeed make for that location after they parted and in case eyes should follow. Once clear she would go to her rooms not likely to be stopped and if so ready excuses were at hand. Then she would make herself ready for her lover.

[Anne-Elisabeth Devereux]

Anne-Elisabeth noticed that some of the ladies were slipping out of the room. Obviously, they weren't cut out for libertine entertainment. They would go back to their fathers and husbands, ashamed of their behavior, which was exactly what the men in their lives expected. The unwritten rules of propriety was the way they kept their wives and daughters in line. It was so much more fun to defy those standards and show those pompous arses that they would never own her.

 

“Sometimes when people say they always tell the truth, they are actually telling the truth.” She chuckled at the solution Merriweather came up with but said nothing about it. The Countess could have acted as if she was being forced into having sex with Dorset for an introduction, but she wasn't, so she didn't. She couldn't deny that she was curious about what the attractive Earl would be like in bed … or on the floor, or up against a wall. “I assure you I have no intention of going back on my word.”

 

Lady Cambray wasn't worried about gossip either. Rumors had the tendency to follow her around like faithful little puppies and she had grown accustomed to being whispered about.

 

She nodded as he outlined his plan. “Very well. Meeting in an hour will give you time to find a place for our rendezvous. If you don't trust me, I will stay with you after the introduction so you can be certain that I won't flee.” Once again, she whispered in his ear: “Or we could get an early start. You just can't enter me until the clock strikes midnight.”

 

Anne-Elisabeth smiled at Rochester's offer. “Not this evening.” A playful glance at the blond Earl. “I am going to have my hands full with Lord Dorset tonight.”

[Hope]

Davina with Alice exiting

 

"It's very common behaviour..." the Avon girl agreed, discovering some comfort in Davina's heavy, though warranted critique. It was plain enough that Anne-Elizabeth had no interested in 'proper company', and no doubt relished the attention when tongues wagged at her shocking behaviour.

 

"I shall come too." pleased that Davina was the first to suggest they leve, Alice got up from her seat and readied to link arms to exit.

 

Davina suggested a 'passing reverence' which Alice took to mean a final (disapproving) word. And so Alice did pause at the controversial poets to utter "Shame." tipping up her nose, her heart now pounding within her chest.

 

Such a stern statement! Would Davina echo her, or place her own disapproving insult?!

 

And out into the saftey of the hallway the ladies went - a breath that had been held then exploding to voice of previously unexpressed shock. "Good heavens Mistress Wellesley, what audacious behaviour! Why I think I now know what my brothers must fear will become of me. Never has prudence and gentility seemed more admirable to me than after seeing the utter lack of!"

[Davina Wellsley]

Davina and Alice

 

Davina had meant, at least to her Court-Trained mind, that they both give a small reverance but did not halt their movement. But Alice it seemed was clueless and instead paused and spoke but one word which made it clear that she too was expected to follow suit.

 

She could parrot but then her own discourse had been more than Alice's with Dorset and 'the Lady' and so she paused long enough to say

 

"You will I know excuse us My Lord for Duty calls. And I wish you Luck Madam in whatever it is that you plan for."

 

She then added a small dip for Dorset first then a slight incline of her dark head to the other woman. Enough to satisfy and then she urged Alice onwards.

 

She had to smile at her new-made friend.

 

"I think that Lady Chambray will soon discover that not everyone will make room for her but then I think me she will care not a fig. I am curious to see how she will handle herself arn't you? Ah but you are made of finer stuff Lady Alice and breeding will always show. You owe her respect as a Widow but nothing more if ever you meet."

 

"Oh!"

 

Her slight exclimation was uttered as they came back into the hall.

 

"Why tis worse now than before - why has no one opened doors to let the smoke clear and there is still a hundred or more here - we shall have a time of it making our way thru. I go to Her Majesty. Will you follow that way or have you a different direction?"

 

Her question was simply and she knew that if Alice chose to follow it would be easy enough to make excuses and leave.

 

"Have you plans for New Years Day? I understand a sleigh race is to be held that might amuse will you go?" This asked as she set a slow but steady pace forward.

[Blackguard]

"I never speak in absolutes myself," Dorset replied, hoping she would catch the wit in his remark. "I shall rely upon you then, and shall see you in an hour."

 

Rochester looked crestfallen. "The Bishop of London then?" he teased. "As for Charley, you may learn to your dismay that he is less than a handful." He gave a smirk at Dorset. He owed the blond earl for earlier insults.

 

Dorset bid farewell to Davina and Alice politely. Their goes a pair of girls that dream of what the libertines do but are not brave enough, he assessed to himself.

 

The room returned to other conversations for the time being, having been distracted by the limerick challenge overlong.

[Anne-Elisabeth Devereux]

The two ladies to whom Dorset had introduced her separated themselves from the crowd and moved toward them. Lady Alice's remark and her tilted nose amused Anne-Elisabeth and one eyebrow arched upward. “Thank you for the compliment, my lady,” she replied with a confident smirk. The Countess knew she was shameless and she couldn't see the point in hiding her true nature behind a facade of propriety. In truth, she was not usually as outrageous as she had been during the limerick contest, but in the company of libertines, scandalous and shocking behavior was not only expected but encouraged.

 

She dipped her head graciously to Mistress Wellsley. “Thank you as well, and I hope that you succeed in whatever you set out to accomplish too.” She would have been surprised if she had known Davina's plans. In Lady Cambray's view, she seemed a bit too proper to take a lover. She might have thought more highly of her if she had been aware that she was having an affair.

 

The Countess spared not a thought for them once they had departed, turning her attention back to her former opponent. “Absolutely,” she answered cryptically to Dorset's comment, a twinkle in her golden-brown eyes.

 

“I suppose I shall know soon enough,” she said to Rochester, assuming that he was trying to pay his friend back for the insulting limerick that the Earl had asked her to compose about him. At least he didn't blame her. If he had, he wouldn't go out of his way to find something to offer her in return for a swive.

 

Now that the competition was over, people were drifting away to pursue other forms of entertainment. “I shall look for you in an hour,” she said to Dorset. “In fact, I think I'll be heading to the ballroom now. Does anyone wish to accompany me?”

[Blackguard]

One man that seemed eager to volunteer was a man a bit older than the others. Already grey hair could be seen at his temples. "Alexander Merriweather, at your service," he declared. Rochester snickered at the offer.

 

"Allow me to escort you to the Banquet House," the older man offered.

[Anne-Elisabeth Devereux]

“Very well,” Anne-Elisabeth replied to Merriweather's offer. He looked harmless enough and despite his earlier offer to give the King a third opinion of her skills in bed, he didn't ask for any favors in return.

 

She was beginning to reconsider the wisdom of making her initial appearance in the company of a member of the Merry Gang. Everybody would judge her as a libertine immediately, and while she wasn't ashamed of her sybaritic lifestyle, she didn't want to shout it to the world either.

 

First impressions could only be made once and she wanted her debut in the Banquet Hall to be as successful as her entrance into the drawing room, sans limerick, of course. Being introduced to the King was different. He would appreciate her being presented to him by a gentleman of the Merry Gang.

 

“I should like to enter the Hall by myself, but I do need a protector to make sure that I'm not assaulted in the corridors.” Anne-Elisabeth was fairly certain that everyone present knew that she was one of those women who could take care of herself, but it sounded good. “Shall we go?”

 

(OOC: Not sure whether I can move them along to the ballroom, so I'll leave that to you.)

[Blackguard]

It appeared that the woman who cavalierly disregarding her reputation in the Scarlet Drawing Room was now mindful of it in the Banqueting Hall. "Afraid to be seen with me?" Alexander queried jovially. She would not be the first. The man had a poor reputation to be sure. Fortunately for Merriweather, few knew how depraved he truly was.

 

"You will dance with me surely," he declared as they exited the drawing room. "It serves a lady well to have a full dance card." They walked about half the distance before he asked "what happened to your husband?"

 

 

OOC~ You can post to the Ball

[Anne-Elisabeth Devereux]

“Of course I'm not afraid to be seen with you.” Some court gossip had trickled out to the country, but Merriweather's poor reputation had either not made it to the Cambray Estate or had not been spoken of in Anne-Elisabeth's presence. Grinning mischievously, she queried: “Should I be?”

 

She accompanied him out of the drawing room. “I would be honored to dance with you, Master Merriweather. Maybe I shall dance with your companions as well.” Had any lady ever danced with all of the members of the Merry Gang in one night? She planned on dancing with other courtiers as well. Dancing was an excellent way to become acquainted with gentlemen of all kinds.

 

When he asked about her husband, the Countess' mood sobered. “We were married in Barbados where I grew up and as we were traveling to England, a storm wrecked our ship. My dear Arthur and I were the only survivors. My parents, brother, and cousin were killed as well. Arthur passed away about a week after we were rescued. He's been gone a little over a year now.”

 

Continued in this thread.

[Blackguard]

"Yes, you should be," he admitted with a grin. It was best to tell the truth in a way that one did not believe it.

 

"Poor thing," Alexander tutted as Anne relayed her story. Dear Arthur indeed! Upon losing her one true love she immediately decides to swive her way to London. He had heard such tales before from grieving widows. Usually they poisoned their husbands so they could be free, at least in his experience. "If you need comforting, you make sure to let me know," he offered in his own way.

[Anne-Elisabeth Devereux]

“Well, I'm not.” Anne-Elisabeth grinned and shrugged nonchalantly. “If you want me to be scared of you, you'll have to try harder.” She still thought he was harmless, though she supposed he could have a scandalous reputation. If so, maybe she should enter the Banquet Hall with him. As a newcomer, she would look like a lamb being led to the slaughter and perhaps a chivalrous gentleman or two would come to her rescue.

 

No, she should enter alone. His offer was not unexpected. After so many wickedly racy limericks, it wasn't odd for him to think she was loose with her favors. The Countess did love a good swive, but she wasn't flagrantly promiscuous. “I'll keep that in mind,” she said with a saucy wink.

[Hope]

Davina and Alice

 

And so Alice went a bit too far, but thankfully her new friend did not leave her high and dry. Davina put in her two pennies worth too, and then together then made a show of walking out.

 

Out into the hall Davina made a fuss of what they'd just been through. "Do not worry the smoke will clear soon enough, besides I think they were mostly drunk and probably wont remember any of it come the morrow." Alice soothed Davina.

 

"I'll come with you." She chirped, having no need attend anyone one she was happy to tag along with Davina as she made her way back to the Queen...

 

"I think there are sleigh races tomorrow." she replied as they looked along.

 

Oooc following to Davina's subsequent post?! >.<

[Davina Wellsley]

Alice and Davina

 

She had thought to simply take her leave on a friendly note but that did not seem how twas to go. Instead Lady Alice made her voice saying that she would follow ....

 

"I am sure that is all true and in all honesty I am right glad to be rid of Them and especially the one who called herself Lady Chambray and I will still hold to what I said - she will find in hard going if she keeps to that attirtude and manners amongst Courtiers that do not favor such. But enough of that."

 

"I must go in the direction of The Queen as I have said and I then may have to take my leave but let us continue on shall we?"

 

"Will you go? I do not fancy being out even if the Sun does shine and find the idea of dressing gown and slippers before my fire a better attraction! Yet then I might miss something that will draw all talk later so ..."

 

A small shrug of one shoulder followed.

 

"What will you do then?"

 

She smiled and nodded to those that addressed her and for a moment her gaze caught and held on that of Lord Chichester as he was in conversation with another young girl she did not know - Splendor of God was Court now a nursery!