Their Majesties Dinner Guests | Saturday early evening

[Hope]

The 'look' from her Uncle evoked another part of sheeps head, a sheep-faced look from Karoline, and she fell quite silent housing regret.

"Thank you for this," Spoke John Frederick, while feeling tension in the room with surprise he'd caused others.

However his choice of made perfect sense to him that he speak with Kingston directly.  While Kingston’s name had earlier been mentioned as the initiator of the race, so it was not the first time the mans name had been spoken tonight.  In any case, he was not about to defend his choice to those here. 

Instead, he raised his glass, "A toast then, this I have heard in English; To the victor the spoils' " 

There was sounds of movement in the adjoining room, and fragrant scents of cooked foods wafting there from. Servants were attending a table with a meal akin to a banquet.

"An entire set of fangs Duke Buckingham?" Ursula's eyebrows rose while she tried to hide the dismay from her voice. "I fear such a display would be more suited to a Ducal hall." She could only hope against hope that Charles did not love 'Interior Design by Villiers' suggestions.  

Dorothea was feeling a little encouraged, her brother plainly intended to make good on his promise to not judge Francis until he'd met him personally.  Spirit boosted, she smiled towards Mall with her talk of the liquor. Though having spoken very little so far, she then supposed, "I think our company might unanimously enjoy Barenfang, were her majesties ladies here I doubt any would bet against it." 

The culture of wagering on things small to large was something that Rupert was mindful of; and Lady Kingston was pleased to his addition.  "Duke Cumberland might otherwise be named Duke Cleverness." said she, while her eyes were caught towards her son for a moment, as she moved to accompany Bucks though to the dining room. 

 

 

 

OOC: we shall not be rping the Dinner eating, but shall be fading out upon our scene  

 

[Charles Blount]

Charles was observant enough to perceive an undercurrent of some uncomfortable dynamic but he was not sure of the exact nature. His mistake about the barenfang did not seem to be the cause as everyone but the John Frederick had laughed it off. He was aware of the German Margrave’s opinion of Francis and Buckingham’s misdirection gave him some inkling. He was however out of his depth so followed Buckingham’s lead. “Indeed, I find that a pelt or two compliments almost any room’s décor quite nicely.”

He joined the Margrave’s toast and as they rose to move to the dining room he moved to Ursula’s side and said “A string of fangs would be superb but more suited to the lodge at Epping rather than out house in town do you not think.” He was not always oblivious to her feelings and attempted to please her whenever he could and besides they could always have a quiet conversation together about things they would rather not discuss in public.

“And to Your Grace of Buckingham I will wager 100 guinea’s payable to the Navy that Lord Kingston blushes at least twice during the race or immediately afterwards against your 100 if he does not. What could be a fairer wager as the winner will have the moral victory and the Navy will benefit in either case.”

He took Ursula’s arm escorting her to what had all the hallmarks of being a pleasant and entertaining dinner.

[Francis Kirke]

Francis blushed at the wager over his blushing, but hid it by having the ushers open the doors to the adjoining dining room, standing by as everyone went in and then following them through.

 

It was indeed a table set for a grand feast, for His Majesty was quite insistent to honor his cousin the Duke of Cumberland with the grandest of tables for hosting all of court at Windsor. Also, to welcome the other German prince. 

 

For the duration of the meal, Francis focused solely on doing things prettily and properly. The decadent smells made him a bit jealous. It was a long affair. 

 

Finally, everyone departed, some of the ladies content on continuing together, but Richmond left with Rupert. He wondered if she was going to attend the bonfire, and if she was going to change into her breeches before then. Once the doors had been closed by the usher after everyone exited to the anteroom, leaving Francis alone with the King and Buckingham. He let out an exhale and then took a deep breath. 

[Defiance]

Everyone joined John-Frederick's toast heartily, each gentleman who was racing likely thinking they would surely be the victor.

 

Buckingham chuckled at Lord Mountjoy's wager. "I accept, though I see how you attempt to divest me of my coin in a low blow, sir." He wagged his finger at the marquess. "Since it is for the Navy, I shall be sporting.  Though, you may yet lose, for clearly you have never seen Francis in a fight or a competition. He is utter seriousness!" 

 

The King chuckled along with this assessment. He had crossed blades with the cub enough times in practice to know it was more rare to find Kingston blushing...unless one knocked him on the flat of his back. "It is a more even wager then and all the more tantalizing."

 

"Shall we, my dear?" he said to his Queen, ready to lead the way in escorting her into the dining area.

[Hope]

"An entire string of fangs might be too great a prize to keep on display, perhaps your office safe shall be the best place for them." Ursula smilingly replied while feeling the butt of a joke that went right over her very earnest hunter-husbands head. 

Oddly though, now the imagined string of teeth were concealed in a dark place, they held a bit more allure.  So that the Margavina found herself adding as she moved through to the dining room after the royals, "Except for those exceptions when we attend an animal themed ball or some such."   

 

"And also at meal times." Lady Kingston added with a teasing smile at her son as Buckingham quite openly bragged. It did her heart well to hear the Duke proclaim Francis diligence in such matters. There had many tough times though their lives, but moments like this were compensation for the suffering. 

 

"We really should." Karoline grinned in agreement with husband, and placed her hand upon his to move through with playful formality to the adjoining room...

 

None of which gave John Frederick any cause for concern, the conversation was all rather pleasant, and not so Merry as he'd feared of the fabled Monarch.  Though he was less able to join in to the meandering conversation, partially upon account of his English, and partly upon account of his sense of humour being, different.    Nearing the end of the evening he did however make a point of speaking with Francis to set a time to meet at the jetty to discuss yacht related stuff, Monday morning was his preference.

 

& fade?

[Charles Blount]

Mountjoy followed the King and Queen in order of precedence which, despite being a Marquis was, due to the augustness of the company, last of the group and escorted Ursula to her place before taking his own.

The dinner proceeded and he did his best to be charming and engaging, even to John Frederick. He only told one hunting story, as befitting the previous subject it was the one about the bear he took in Saxony. He stayed away from the subjects of politics and religion but did wax philosophical at some points when the subject delved into English customs or laws. He did go on a bit about the improvements he had made to his estate at Epping which was something he had been involved with for the past few years. Particularly he explained how he had instituted a system of intermixed pollarding and coppicing to benefit both the animals and the neighboring villagers who still relied upon, and had the right of, extracting firewood from the forest. This was perhaps an overly technical issue for such a dinner but even though the party consisted of powerful and wealthy nobles they still derived their income from the land so even if detached they still had some familiarity of such issues from the management of their own lands and tenants.  

Otherwise he followed along with the flow of the conversation being mindful to address and listen to each of the guests adding to the discourse when he was able or listing when he was not. He did not pay any particular attention to the servants aside from polite nods of acknowledment when aproprate but he did take the opportunity to observe Kingston. The Villiers cub was no stranger to attendiance upon the king and accredited himself in his service to their Majesties. In the few instiances when he was required to perform tasks for the other guests he did no with no apparent anomosity or pride other than that of doing a task well. That spoke well of the youngish man for the one sin that could be layed at the Villiers feet was that of overeaching pride and Kirke appeared to have mastered that flaw. He caught Ursula’s eye to mark the deportment for she had shown some interest in obtaining the measure of the man.

At the end of the evening, as was promiced, cordials of barenfang were offered and he found that he quite liked the drink being, to his patate, much like brandywine but with overtones of honey like mead instead of grapes. He would apply to his wine merchant and obtain a supply. All and all it was a plesant evening and when the time came to depart he fondly wished the other participants a gracious good evening.

 

& fade.