Sunday Chapel (Sept 18, 1678)

[Robert Saint-Leger]

Beverley & Co

 

Beverley was not a smooth man by nature, it was true, but it seemed even he might be lauded for some skill in comparison to Lord Grey.

 

He blinked for a long moment. The young lord had been of the impression that only unfortunate men needed a court matron to find a wife. It had always seemed to him to be more ladies passed their court debut without significant enough family to advocate for them which required such services. 

 

Then again old ladies enjoyed meddling and some preferred meddling in marriages, wanted or not. 

 

Truth be told, he had little idea what to say. His hazel eyes turned to his sister for a moment.

 

And in true Beverley fashion, he said, "Do you truly need one, Lord Grey? Erm, it seems to me you've an old name and title, are a fine, erm, specimen of gentleman. It cannot be so difficult to advocate for your own benefit without outside aide? You have not been around for enough seasons to resort to those measure."

 

In his private mind, he thought it somewhat emasculating, but he could hardly say something like that to someone he barely knew. 

 

"And...well...I think such things left as family matters for the lady unless she has little family advantage." Which was surely not true of his sister. She had her own good sense and a father and brother, both.

[Nicolette Vauquelin]

Nicci and Anne-Elisabeth

Nicci had long known that Anne Elizabeth had unique viewpoints, she'd had put it down to her having been raised on a Carribbean Isle.  However she'd been in England a good while now (though not as long as Nicolette) so surely she'd begun at least to get a feel for the place.  To know how things worked.  So... Nicci was less disposed to cut her slack for thinking that CR had such a thing as platonic relationships. He did not. 

Nicci had met enough of his bastards that sprung up from near every corner of court to know that if he admired any woman then he thought shagging was the way to show it. To be fair, he was rather good at it. 

Tipping her head in a contemplative pose the French Belle asked, "Have you any others helping you with this?" 

 

[Hope]

Beverley &Co.

She had intended to depart and leave the men to the discussion. 

But remaining, Anne was surprised (in a dismayed sort of way) when Lord Gray pressed on to say it was likely too late and that Lady Lucas had her in her sights. He realised (for she'd stated it) that this was exactly what she did not want; so she found his word anything but flattering. “Here you have convinced me not to meet her.”

It had become a highly awkward conversation, with the gentleman then confessing that he had asked for the old woman’s help to find a wife.  Anne's gaze slid to her brothers...

Beverley blinked in a protracted fashion (which was not a mannerism of her brother even) before he then spoke, in a carefully constructed sort of way.  Words that had her heart swell in pride of him.  When the family heard of this conversation, for it would surely be discussed around the table, she would be certain to tell Father of his finesse in the handling.  

Anne's eyes then swung back to Lord Gray, to hear his reply upon the apparent necessity for him to acquire services of a matchmaker?

[Hope]

Lady Toledo and the Master of the Kings Music

It was no surprise that the Master of the Kings Music had a close relationship with the Master of Revels. “Ha ha,” he chuckled, “Let us just say I have put my compositional prowess upon hold for a while. We shall have an anthem by a young Henry Purcell for the coming celebration.  You might like to meet him when court is back in London, he is hired there as a copyist at Westminster Abby.”

Sophia then asked for her friend to perform at the pending christening .

His face dropped into a frown. “I am sorry but I must reply to her in the negative.  Everything has been planned for months, with multiple rehearsals. I cannot just ditch a score of musicians, whom this might well be the highlight of their musical careers- upon a last minute whim for Lady Kendishall to play her cello.” he gave a shake of head, and met her eyes soberly, "It was kind of you to try humor her.  If you want, I shall be the one to tell her." 

[Hope]

Louis and Daniel

"Shall we call it a late start then.” Daniel smiled of the manner of greeting the other made, “Regrets in this instance are jointly applicable, and may well have been to mutual disservice.”

“Well my brother is returned once more, and Father is as busy as ever.” Daniel never did have much to say about his family to others.  “While I have been working with some success upon my enterprise in support of the navy.   You have some shipping interests yourself if I recall, sugar isn’t it?”

[George Hardwick III]

George, Caroline, and Edith

George chose not to hear the women’s’ conversation (believing he heard negative tones that he did not intent to encourage).

“Ah there you are my turtle doves, I verily had to beat off the hoards to get to you, quick might I whisk you away before the fall back in upon us.” He offered Caroline an elbow, while reaching to elevate Lady Habershams gloved hand in a promenade style to escort her out…

 

OOC: Not sure that Caroline rpd chapel actually, so Im happy to fade out on their stylish (imo) exit  & thanks

[Louis Killington]

Louis and Daniel

The main item of interest was that Daniel was working on something for the Navy.  It was all the rage these days.  Louis had been the advocate of the Navy in Lords.  After all, a strong navy made for strong trade, and strong trade meant wealth for England and families such as the Killingtons.

"Everyone seems to be benefactors of the Navy these days," Basildon replied with faint humor in his voice.  "Rupert is ever at it of course, but there is to be a yacht race as well here at Windsor," Louis revealed.  Kingston had informed him.

"What matter of business are you doing with the Navy?  Yes, I am a board member of the West Indies Company and we have a royal charter and monopoly on sugar imports from the West Indies.  One day, I expect sugar to be as common in English households as salt."  And, when it did, the Company would be a very profitable.

[Hope]

Louis and Daniel

"Haha, so you say that even a river race is in support of the navy?  Well it just goes to show how popular the topic is, though I doubt the trade options up the Thames is what Cumberland’s ships shall be fighting for." he laughed.

"Im an EIC man myself, or at least I bought some shares back in '75 when there was much fuss about them - it seemed every patriot was doing so at the time." he returned, then carried on to say, "I have formed a small collective with Lords Chatham and Lucas, and have a royal contact for supply of saltpetre.  It is not exclusive as your Monopoly alas... I'd like to know the story of how you came to get that. If we have time." 

Exclusivity in any product supply was a recipe for fiscal success, even if that was as mundane as Tapestry.

 

[James O`Neill]

On 2/19/2023 at 8:37 PM, Blackguard said:

James and Sedley

There was little the playwright could say about Merriweather, at least in public.  A tortured soul to be sure, but there was also a life seeking the limelight.  Sedley merely nodded at the poet's attempt to find meaning.

As for the epic, Charles responded most quickly to the mouser metaphor.  "More likely the mastiff that becomes rabid and requires his master to put him down."  Nevertheless he nodded approvingly at the suggestions.

As to the possibility of a play with the other epic, Sedley suggested a collaboration.  "A tale of patriotism and betrayal sounds almost Shakesperian."  He was thinking of how to inject love of all kinds.  "Perhaps we see what we might create in the way of a play in the offseason.  It has the promise to hold an audience's attention, if the storyline is bold."

(better late than never)

 

“I think I should prefer your metaphor in any other circumstance,” James acknowledged with a dip of his head. A rabid dog did sound like what he knew of Pembroke, but it didn’t need to be said that it matched poorly with the Italian myth he was alluding to. And furthermore – “The Son of Martial,” here, he cracked a smile, revealing the nom de plume he had chosen, “would not stoop to such a warning. I would prefer to drive him mad without the threat hanging above his head.”

Martial, after all, was one of Rome’s premier insult comics, whose epigrams were feared and not truly appreciated during his lifetime. More personally to the Irish poet, the Latin – never truly independent in his life – was also an admirer of generosity and sincerity, fond of pleasure and pretty faces, and opposed in the extreme to the mundane folk, the hypocrites, and the cruel. Fitting, in other words, for both him and his target.

“Although I suspect worthier men than I have issued such threats and failed,” he supposed, given the man’s exile from court.

Onto more pleasant ground, in terms of subject, and firmer with regards to which work they were discussing. A genuine grin – dimpled as always – crossed James’ face as Sedley talked. “Sir, I am not one for obsequiousness, but I consider such an idea an honor.” Though he set about to outdo them, the poets and playwrights of the Merry Gang were England’s most formidable literary minds.

“I flatter myself you think of doing it in relation to my Rising specifically, but truly – I would be completely open to seeing where our minds went.” Artistic collaboration seldom went in a straight line, but with the zigs and zags of multiple Muses.

[Anne-Elisabeth Devereux]

Nicci and Anne-Elisabeth

 

Anne-Elisabeth knew very well that the King didn’t sleep with just his mistresses. He could have any woman he wanted and he took advantage of that. She would too if she was in his position. All she wanted was to be one of those courtiers he enjoyed having around him. She did not want to be any more or any less than the gentlemen he favored, for she was aware of what that would entail.  He would probably send her packing back to Cornwall when she turned him down.

 

Nicci seemed to be suspicious for some reason and she didn’t want to lose her friendship over such a trivial matter. “No, I just came up with the idea. Why? Is it a bad one?”

[Sophia de la Cerda]

Lady Toledo and the Master of the King's Music

 

“I would love to meet him. Does he compose arias? There are so few of them written expressly for my voice type. Sopranos acuto sfogato were quite rare, which was probably not a lot of songs were composed for them.

 

Sophia was about to tell Master Staggins that she wished to sing at the christening as well, but the baby kicked her so hard that it literally took her breath away. She managed not to wince in pain, but it took her a few moments to regain her composure. The composer naturally assumed that she was only talking about Caroline and not herself.

 

And he had the nerve to turn her down! “I would like to sing at the christening too. Both the King and Queen have praised my singing. I’m sure you remember when Her Majesty gave my voice to the King for his birthday. I am not suggesting that you scrap your program, only that you add two numbers to the beginning or the end. It is quite an easy thing to do."  She smiled disarmingly.  "And our lord husbands will certainly be pleased to have their wives take part in such an important ceremony."

[Nicolette Vauquelin]

Nicci and Anne-Elisabeth

Nicci's slender shoulders angled away a little, her smile remained steady as she looked out at the thinning crowd.  "So you dont have a sponsor?" her gaze did not catch anyone looking Anne Elizabeths way, and Nicci's eyes swung back towards the Countess again.

"Call me an optimist, but I am loathe to say that any idea is of itself 'bad'.  Plainly you are ambitious and want to advance yourself at court. I recall your previously wanting to join the Queens household, though there would have been many sacrifices to your life style if you were to do that. So I can see how you have changed tack to instead consider The Kings.  And the Merry Gang have long been your company, why even when I first met you you were already in bed with them - la, for give my pun." 

"The rules for woman though, is rather different than for men. We call the men libertines, but women who lack in faithfulness have a rather different nickname.  My dear friend, as much as it distresses me to say it, I cannot boost your ambition with The King until you are squared as a Mistress to this one or that. Surely you have a favourite, I often see you swanning off with Dorset perhaps?  Now if you were to be kept by that man, then I would have scant hesitation in recommending your wit to The English King." 

From Nicci’s perspective even the most darling woman needed a sponsor at court, or they were otherwise flotsam adrift, much like she had been before she’d made every effort to become the Duke's.

Thus the French Belle gave the best advice she thought was possible to her 2nd best friend. 

 

[Hope]

Lady Toledo and the Master of the King's Music

“I would be happy to provide a personal introduction, you need only remind me when we are back in London.” Excitably Sophia launched questions, to which Nicolas had no answers.  He replied,  “He shall answer these himself.”

“I am sorry, it is as I have already said, the day is fully planned.” He frowned some as she mentioned husbands approval, in a way that implied she thought it was a bribe to swing favour her way.  But her husband was Spanish, while she was very definitely pregnant, he'd not anger the ambassador by risking harm to the unborn.   He chuckled at her youthful ignorance, give her a few more years and she’d realise how foolish was youth. 

“Perhaps you can join the choir for the Prince of Wales 1^st christmas celebrations?...” At least she'd not be with child then, and he, as a man, was certain that Toledo would be pleased of his consideration.  

[Blackguard]

James and Sedley

The Irishman seemed more the admirer of layers of subtlety, at least to Charles Sedley.    Subtlety was a fine wine to the intelligensia, but too much of it was lost on the masses.  Simple satire, metaphor, with occasional oblique references seemed the proper mix to a wider audience.  Sedley was not sure that Pembroke was a very nuanced man.  The Earl could be oblivious to the fact that the epic had anything to do with him.  Yet, the man's fury would be heightened if it took a more prescient person to explain it too him.

"I had not thought of him cloaked as Martial's son," Charles admitted.  "That seems a flattery to a beast.  I see him more the son of Minos."  By that he meant the minotaur.  Sedley saw Pembroke as a bull, easily angered.  "But, it is your epic and I daresay, with your skill, it shall be an immense pleasure to read."

On the collaboration, Sedley pronounced, "it has fine bones for a success on the stage.  Now you need to conjure a handful of lines that will be recorded in history as capturing both an ethos and a pathos.  Shakespeare gave us more timeless stage lines than the typical play.  I think your work could be the nursery of timeless quips," he imagined with a smile.

The crowd was thinning in the chapel.  "Let us meet later to discuss its recasting as a play.  Allow me more time to read and reflect." 

[Louis Killington]

Louis and Daniel

The East India Company was a more established and successful company.  It, in essence, ruled much of India as a private company.  Louis was, of course, envious of the success.  He had created his own company in the image of the EIC, but with the adventure of a westward expansion.  The indies and colonies would prove to be a limitless market for English goods in time, or so Louis predicted.  If the pirates could be suppressed, there were stacks of gold waiting for the clever trader.

"Saltpeter will never fall out of demand," Louis admitted.  It was key to the manufacture of gunpowder.  "I have had very limited dealings with Chatham and Lucas.  You find them reliable partners?"  Basildon did not see the trio as a competitor.  They looked eastward and the market was so deep that there was room for many companies.  "Content for a contract or two, or are you thinking more broadly?"

As to the way he had achieved a monopoly on sugar, Louis could only smile.  "A bit of luck, timing and the right investors," he admitted.  It helped that he had given shares to the King, York and Danby as an inducement.

[Hope]

Louis and Daniel

Louis endorsement of his choice in enterprise rested pleasantly upon Daniels shoulders, that, and the family connection had him then reply more honestly that he might have (if it were someone else).  “To be honest they are yet to prove any worth, I’ve been putting off calling a meeting for I suspect they shall have no progress to report.  Lord Lucas is very young still, while Lord Chatham is more a ladies man than business.”

“I have broader visions myself.” He gave a nod to Louis question of scope.  “This product is not one I find personally… fulfilling.” He huffed a laugh at that, “but it is a beginning, and I try keep upon the alert for the next poplar thing.  Perhaps it will be something that is sweet to my tooth also.”

He sharpened ears to hear about Louis monopoly – but Louis was vague citing various.  “Are you sure the alignment of the stars did not factor in there as well?’ he ribbed, still hoping for the man to offer up greater detail.

[Sophia de la Cerda]

Lady Toledo and the Master of the King’s Music

 

“Oh, I will,” Sophia promised. She had not met many composers since she had been at court. There had been Lucas, of course, and she had tried to tack down Monsieur Lully when he had come to London, but he had managed to elude her. If he had composed an aria for her, she would have been elated. Maybe it was not too late. Or maybe it was, now that she was married to a Spaniard. Still, maybe he would be grudgingly impressed by her voice enough to put the hostilities between France and Spain aside. 

 

Unfortunately, her attempt to sway Master Staggins was unsuccessful.   Perhaps there were ways to force him to reconsider but she didn’t want to make an enemy of him. It was partially due to his help that the concert last season had gone so well. 

 

And he did offer the musical ladies an alternative. She would no longer be pregnant at Christmas and nobody would look at her disapprovingly anymore. “Very well. Put us down for two solos each.” Sophia doubted that Caroline would be too disappointed since she would be concentrating on her new husband for the rest of the season.

 

Sophia grinned engagingly. “Is it possible that I could watch one of the rehearsals for the christening?”

[Anne-Elisabeth Devereux]

Nicci and Anne-Elisabeth

 

“I haven’t traded one aspiration for the other. Call me foolish, but I was hoping to be the only woman who was accepted into the Queen’s household and as a part of the King’s entourage at the same time. I still may hop into Her Majesty’s presence chamber from time to time and liven things up.” To do that successfully, she needed a partner in crime and had yet to find one. Nicci would have been a great choice if she was not the King’s mistress and therefore no friend of the Queen.

 

Anne-Elisabeth didn’t buy Nicci’s explanation. It sounded as if she feared that the King might become interested in her as a lover if she spoke of the Countess’ wit, which was a ridiculous notion, but a compliment as well. Why would the monarch prefer her over such a beautiful sophisticated lady like her friend? 

 

However,  if she was the mistress of an influential lord, then she would be considered off-limits to the monarch.  She understood Nicci's reasoning and if their positions were reversed, she might feel the same.   Anne-Elisabeth had no intention of becoming any man’s mistress, though she might pretend to be, with the consent of the gentleman of her choice. She believed that the King would take note of her without Nicci’s assistance, but her recommendation would certainly help speed things along.

 

“I see,” she said. “Thank you for looking out for me. If my situation changes, I will let you know.”

[Louis Killington]

Louis and Daniel

"Chatham a ladies man?" Louis feigned shock and then smiled, as both he and Daniel had something of reputations of their own.  "Tell me, why do women find a man with one eye more alluring than a man with two?"  It was really a rhetorical question for laughs.  "I daresay we both know a thing about business and may have been something of ladies men ... in our misspent youth.  Am I right?"  He was trying to build some camaraderie between them.

"Sugar is sweet certainly.  Some shares may become available, if you have an inkling to hedge your bets both east and west.  Let us just say that the investors in the Company are of the highest stature."  He might part with a few shares to entice his in-law.  "These stars did come into alignment.  You are the company you keep."

"Tell me, my lord, what is it that you do for entertainment at court?  Gambling, drink, loose skirts, games, intellectual or political pursuits?"

[Nicolette Vauquelin]

Nicci and Anne-Elisabeth

"Oh darling, you are upset at me." which was easy enough for Nicci to see given her friends clipped reply, "But dont be, and come tell me we are still friends. That is the marvel of the world that people rarely share the same viewpoints, but love each other none the less.  You shall carry on, perhaps surprise me doing something that has never been done before, though I shall never be surprised at your daring. Daring is practically your middle name."

Nicci crooned, she did not have so many friends to discard them upon account of their seemingly impossible dreams. Caroline had once thought that her own dream of becoming the Kings Mistress was impossible too. (Although Nicci had not really met that status yet, although a good quantity of persons knew that she was upon intimate terms for the past two seasons.)

"Good things take time, so surely if you persist with your dreams you shall have the best chance at realising them." 

It had surprised her that Anne Elizabeth still thought to enamour the queen too, she'd thought that her friend had quit that plain.  "Tell me what you are doing to woo Her Majesty?" Anne Elizabeths method to get in thick with the Merry Gang was often her topic, but this other she had been keeping quite secret. 

[Hope]

Louis and Daniel

 

"I dare say his being half blind is an handy feature for the ugly ladies.” Daniel in mutual vanity with Louis laughed.

As Louis pointed out they had a few things in common in fact (though he’d never realised that before.) “Misspent youth and more.” Winchelsea alluded to further dalliances, though he was hardly going to go into that while stood in Church.  He assumed that Louis was a man of the world just like himself in that regard. What man with any influence at court did not get ladies thrusting themselves at him, sometimes of their own volution, sometimes at a family’s behest. 

“Hmm…. Perhaps something of a trade is in order?” he responded to Louis offer of a few shares in his business, “Would you be interested in a share of my own endeavour, though we are in early days yet so it’s worth is difficult to measure.  I am fully of a mind to cut the two previous out.”

While Louis opened up the topic to leisure, Daniel chuckled, “Yes yes those will all do.” dark eyes sparkling of his humor at not narrowing the field.  

[James O`Neill]

James and Sedley

James frowned as Sedley seemed to misunderstand him, the poet running a hand through his hair as he considered how to correct him. “It seems I misspoke, sir –“ A somewhat nervous laugh escaped, unbidden. “The author will be the Son of Martial,” and here, there was a more controlled expression, his grin deliberate. Sedley had remarked upon his insolence when they first met, and truthfully, he relished opportunities to indulge in that streak.

“I would never give that monstrous boor such an honor.”

It seemed that they were developing something of a plan, and James was ready to jump at the chance. He may have thought himself as more of a tragedian than the poets and playwrights of the Merry Gang did, but now he envisioned climbing to the position of poet laureate upon the backs of his new friends. “I do so love a good bandied phrase,” he told Sedley with another laugh. “As soon as I surmount the obstacle that is adopting the elegiac quatrain, I will return to pay homage to Boudica once more, and consider what might bring her to life on stage.”

“As you say, sir, I will relish the day we begin a collaboration.” James bowed to the playwright with a surprising amount of respect, having been so engrossed in conversation as to not notice the thinning ranks. “And should you wish for another to raise a glass to fallen Merriweather, merely send the word. Until then, Sir Charles.”

With that, the pair parted ways, the young Irishman humming to himself with a  plastered-on smirk. The muses in his mind had become a beehive, bustling, busy, buzzing. He could hear a meter without words, and merely needed to put pen to paper.

 

(OOC: Fin for me in this thread! Thanks, B.)

[Blackguard]

James and Sedley

Once the misunderstanding was corrected, Sedley breathed a sigh of relief.  "My mistake.  That is good then.  I shall look forward to reading it," he replied honestly.

"And, you can look forward to an invitation to the Merriweather memorial later this week."  With that, Sir Charles was on his way outside the chapel.  He hoped to catch up with Dorset and others.

[Louis Killington]

Louis and Daniel

Daniel suggested a trade of interests in each other's ventures.  Louis was cautious as his company was well-established with grand opportunities, whereas this Indian venture seemed more nascent.  "Let us speak more of your venture later.  I have a mind for finance and would enjoy hearing more, over a glass of brandy."  Louis was thinking of the right time and place for such a meeting. 

"Say, there is to be a wedding celebration for Chichester tomorrow night, or so I am told.  I believe the Earl appointed an Irishman to plan the affair, meaning it will be boring, but lots to drink.  I will see if I can get you invited to wish the groom best of luck in the bondage of marriage," he jested.  "If not, maybe a trip to the White will be in order."

[Anne-Elisabeth Devereux]

Nicci and Anne-Elisabeth

 

“Of course we’re still friends.” Anne-Elisabeth reached out and briefly squeezed Nicci’s hand. “I’m not mad at you, just frustrated at the length of time it is taking to get where I want to be. I’ve been at court for nine months now. I impressed the Merry Gang and His Majesty on my first night. Perhaps that is more than most ladies do in a lifetime, but I have never been known for my patience."  She doubted that it had taken Nicci that long to gain the King's affection.

 

As for the Queen: “That plan is on hold until I become a part of His Majesty’s entourage. Like I mentioned earlier, I do plan on trying to perk things up in her presence chamber and show her ladies how to have a bit of innocent fun. Maybe that will bring me to her notice. Or not.”

 

She shrugged. “I hope you know that if His Majesty propositions me, I will gently turn him down. How could I betray one of my dearest friends? I would also speak of you in such glowing terms that he will leave me and immediately seek your company. You know I have a way with words. It might even bring the two of you closer than you are now. The right words can change the world.”

Edited April 9, 2023 by Anne-Elisabeth Devereux

[Nicolette Vauquelin]

Nicci and Anne-Elisabeth

Pleased with her reply, Nicci returned the squeeze of hand. “Patience is the most difficult thing for we ladies, our time is far more limited.” Nicci was 25 now, the ticking clock was louder for her than her younger friend.  Not that Nicci let that bother her thoughts too much. “May I tell you something that a very good friend told me, that is in fact the very best advice I have ever received.  That is, ‘Always have fun, if you can’. “ Nicci quoted the Duke Buckingham.

No more really needed to be said on that. When Nicci had heard those words, she’d stopped worrying that she had not actually been recognised as a Mistress, or that she’d not received the grand gestures that other Kings Mistresses had.  She had realised that the most important thing was to enjoy the right now, and besides, she had great confidence that her sponsor would ultimately look after her.

Which might further explain Niccis earlier advice for AE to gain protection.

“Oh but romp with him of course is he desires that.” Nicci loosed a soft laugh, it was warming to hear her friends pledge, but if Anne Elizabeth was to paint herself as forbidden fruit his interest in her would only increase!  Better that CR had a merry shag and carried on…

This string of thought had Nicci suddenly understand persons such as The Orange girl, etc.

Through their conversation the chapel had continued to empty, and it was only now that Nicci realised that they were stragglers – while she had intended to leave with Duke Buckingham’s party.  So in drawing their conversation to a close she said “So you shall send me a message yes?”  

 

 

Wrapping up! ❤️

 

[Hope]

Louis and Daniel

Louis was cautious to snap up the offer, but did so with a finesse and good sense  that Winchelsea liked.   "Yes conversation best had with a drink in hand, better yet with a girl on lap." 

Daniel did not know George, other than that he was a recluse of sorts.  Never the less he was pleased to get the soon to be finagled invite - how boring could a Batchelors night really be?

"I'll add to the chaps rent a crowd, send me a note," he was almost going to say he would bring a bottle, but then thought of the needless, given it someone else's "I'd be happy to help you drink someone else’s liquor cabinet dry." He laughed sardonicly.

And upon that note the pairs paths separated... 

 

Also closing up  

[Cordelia Lucas]

Cordelia and her Group

She knew how to read a situation as this one seemed not to be ending as she'd wanted. It would be far too intrusive to intrude now so she gave a silent sigh but knowing that she and Lord Grey would meet up at some point.

"I do think it will rain. Shall we take ourselves to a dry place? Perhaps a glass of something to warm ..... It would be a shame to not continue with our conversations."

She smiled at the small circle of Ladies and then took the lead shepherding them off in the direction of shelter. Their combined voices speaking of rain and damaged clothing and other such things trailing behind them.

 

Also closing up  

[Anne-Elisabeth Devereux]

Nicci and Anne-Elisabeth

 

Anne-Elisabeth didn’t feel the same pressure as Nicci, not because of her age, but because a lady did not lose her wit when she grew older. It just became more sophisticated and mature. A mistress of the King, however, could lose her appeal when she lost her looks, and she also had to worry that a younger woman might usurp her position. The dark-haired Countess didn’t think that her friend needed to worry about that for many more years. Nicci was still young and beautiful and her relationship was fairly new.

 

She chuckled at Nicci’s advice. “Your friend is very wise. I have been living by that precept for most of my life. But that does not stop me from worrying about the future and if I will ever get where I want to be.” Another chuckle. “I’m not a superstitious person but maybe I will visit the fortune teller at the carnival this week.”

 

Anne-Elisabeth wondered why her friend had changed her tune. She had warned her against sleeping with the King and now she told her to go for it. Had she finally realized that she presented no threat? It did not occur to her that turning him down would make him more determined to have her. Forbidden fruit was an alien concept to a young lady who gave herself so freely.

 

“I will send you a message as soon as Sir John replies to my note. I will suggest Tuesday morning so that you both have time to prepare.”

 

(OOC:  Finis for Anne-Elisabeth)

Edited April 21, 2023 by Anne-Elisabeth Devereux

[Hope]

Lady Toledo and the Master of the King’s Music

"I can allow a single solo each," Smilingly he allowed, tempering her over enthusiasm, "There shall be others wanting to perform also no doubt."  The Christmas extravaganza would be a medley of all sorts, "I shall be sure to invite you both to the planning meetings we shall be holding in September and October - or if you prefer I can send you copies of the plans there settled upon?" 

"Haha, you are bold!" he laughed as she asked to see the show prior to its unveiling, "but you can look forward to it with the rest of court, it shall be spectacular."  

Once she'd settled on her preference (for attending the Christmas planning meeting or getting the notes upon it sent?) Staggins bade her the best for her own pending 'production' before the pair dispersed... 

& fin ❤️

 

OOC: The Christmas season planning might be good to pencil into your Recess planner notes to prompt us to hammer out the details of the various performers (if you have not made something like that already, this will be a good trigger)