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| a year without rain; open | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Nov 4 2010, 07:42 PM (361 Views) | |
| Mary Talbot | Nov 4 2010, 07:42 PM Post #1 |
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December 1511 Shortly after the scene between herself and Henry Percy in the Chapel Royal, Mary Talbot withdrew from court life. Sometimes she ventured out to places she felt she wouldn't catch a glimpse of Henry Percy or Anne Boleyn and surprisingly, she had managed nearly three months without another run in with either. It was as if God Himself decided to smile down on her and she was forever grateful. Though she knew that if she saw either, she likely would have fled. However, now that Christmas was finally here, a sense of calm settled itself within her and spread the tips of her fingers and toes. She owed part of that calm to the fact that her eldest brother, Francis, had come to court. He told her that he would get to the bottom of everything and she would be most happy with the result. Mary didn't think there was any way to change anything, but she wasn't about to stop him from trying in the off chance he would change Henry's mind. In her deepest heart, Mary felt that was impossible, but she feared to say it out loud. She cried enough tears in front of him to know he didn't soften for her, even with an admission of love. Back in September, she would say she hated him, but now she didn't have the energy to hate him. She buried her feelings deeply and acted every inch the perfect courtier. She was desperate to find another option, feeling that she would even settle for being a man's mistress if it gave her some kind of fulfilment while she waited to learn her fate. She was sick of standing back and letting everyone else do as they would. Some women even made a career out of being the mistress of powerful men. But perhaps Mary was too plain or too boring to be any man's mistress. That was fine, though, she could find other prospects she supposed. She was the daughter of an earl and she would bring a healthy dowry to a husband. I do not want to give up like this, but ... Bringing herself to the present, Mary shook her head a little and passed by the dancing couples, fascinated by the way the ladies' carefully chosen gowns looked as they twirled with their partners. All around them, everything seemed to sparkle with the promise of something new and exciting. Mary was a little giddy with excitement; she was cooped up for far too long. She couldn't let her grief rule her life because these were her golden years and if she didn't do something now, she wouldn't ever. The Christmas festivities, she felt, were a perfect time to make things happen no matter what they were. I will stand aside no longer. |
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| Charles Turner | Nov 5 2010, 11:16 PM Post #2 |
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Charles wasn't particularly fond of Christmas at the palace. For the aristocracy, it was a time to have fun. Parties, drinking, dance. Fun. For the servants and palace staff, however, it just meant more work. It wasn't that Charles didn't appreciate the job he had. No, not at all. Without it, he had no idea where his family would be right now. Dead seemed like a likely option. They need his meager paycheck to keep them alive. That alone was why he hadn't left years ago. Sighing, Charles leaded in the door frame, arms crossed, watching the dancing couples whirl around and around. He had somehow managed to slip away from the kitchen and his other duties, and for whatever reason, had decided to torture himself by watching the party-goers, frolicking about, laughing and having a a good time in general. Times like these were few and far between and Charles knew that without them, he would have long since abandoned his sanity. It was one of the only times that he could watch all the upper class woman at the same time, and view them in a sort of comparison. He would separate the blonds from the brunettes and then the redheads, as though it were a game. Sort them by the colour of their dresses, whether or not they were dancing, whether he knew them or not and they were actually important enough for him to have heard of before. Most important, whether he knew or not of their marital status. Going after a married woman generally didn't go over well. Especially with their husbands. That had happened several times before, and Charles wasn't particularly fond of reliving the memories. Skimming the fringes of the crowd, he noticed a blond seemingly alone. That was usually a good indicator that she wasn't married. One Charles often counted on. She was rather pretty, and because she was sitting fairly close, Charles honestly didn't see the harm in at least saying hello. Besides, from the look on her face, it looked as though she wouldn't be object to a little company, even if it was provided by an uneducated servant. "Hello," he said, coming up behind her. "How are you uh," He hadn't exactly planned what he would say after that. Oh well, it wasn't likely he would sound intelligent to begin with, no matter what he said. "How are you enjoying the festivities?" It was a start at least. She didn't necessarily have to dignify his question with a response, and that was perfectly alright. This beat working any day. |
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| Mary Talbot | Nov 5 2010, 11:33 PM Post #3 |
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As someone came up next to her and spoke, Mary felt sheer excitement (or was it happiness?) shoot through her. It felt like it had been years since someone spoke to her, so she was most grateful and she was even more grateful that it was a man. It was a nice bolster to her fragile ego and pride. He was handsome, but she didn't think he was titled, which was fine. She didn't care about that. "I," she began, "am. Especially now that I've got some company. I am the Lady Mary. Who are you?" Choosing to leave out Talbot seemed like a good choice; she didn't want to elicit pity from the casual mention of her name. She would use only her Christian name and title for now. For now meaning until the air cleared with the scandal of being left for someone such as Anne Boleyn. Expecting a tide of jealousy, Mary felt nothing except for loss of what could have been. While her brother was here to try to win Henry Percy back (which wasn't right to say as she'd clearly never had him), she didn't have any hope for it. That was why she was more than happy to flirt with any man who came near her. If she was to make a spectacle of herself now, certainly it might ruin future prospects but that was all right with her. She wasn't sure she ever wanted to get married after loving someone in such vain. |
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| Charles Turner | Nov 7 2010, 08:56 PM Post #4 |
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Despite what Charles had originally expected, his apparent companion did respond. And in a far more friendlier tone than he would have ever expected. She introduced herself as Lady Mary. Her title and Christian name. Nothing out of the ordinary. Charles didn't think he had ever seen her before, and it was rather likely that if she were married, she would have introduced herself using her husband's name, so he figured it was safe to continue further into this conversation. "Charles Turner," he replied. That was always the toughest part about introducing himself to titled women. There was always the possibility that they would realize that he was of no benefit to themselves or their families, and their conversation would amount to nothing. Not that it should. That was terribly out of line, and committed countless sins, but the past couldn't be helped now. He smiled, and turned back to Mary. "Does that mean you don't mind my company, then?" |
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| Mary Talbot | Nov 7 2010, 11:25 PM Post #5 |
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"Why would I dislike the company of man so good-looking?" Mary didn't really know how to flirt, but this had to be close, didn't it? "You are welcome to keep me company as long as you wish." She wasn't averse to anyone's company as long as they weren't Anne Boleyn or Henry Percy, though she expected that neither of them would want to keep her company. Annoyed with herself, she shoved her thoughts of them away. It wouldn't do to think of them at any time. She could feel the despair she had dealt with start to return. Turning her attention back to Charles Turner quickly, she smiled at him. "Do you dance, Mr Turner?" she asked. "I feel like dancing, but I might look foolish dancing without a partner to this music." Mary hoped that he would say yes and whisk her out onto the floor to join the couples already there. She needed romance or romantic dreams in her life now. She spent too much of her youth already, thinking terrible thoughts that made her ill and unhappy. |
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| Charles Turner | Nov 9 2010, 09:21 PM Post #6 |
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Charles chuckled quietly as Mary replied. She thought he was handsome, and enjoyed his company. In fact, he had been invited to stay as long as he wished. Well, as long as work permitted. He glanced back down the hallway to the kitchen. It didn't seemed as though they were aware of his absence yet, so he could spare a minute to accompany Mary. "Well, uh, thank you. I think I can spare a minute," he replied, smiling, almost adding that should they need him in the kitchen he would have to leave her. But, a split second of vanity, in a sense, stopped him. Charles didn't want his new companion to think he was desperate for work. That he could spare a minute or two at a party, when really he would surely be docked pay for this little escapade should anyone find out. He wouldn't earn the full wage his family expected him too, and they would suffer because of it. But still. He could spare a minute for a pretty girl like Lady Mary. He glanced back at her. She appeared to be in thought herself, and he couldn't quite read the expression on her face. It seemed to be a mixture of things, but before Charles could even attempt to decipher what she was feeling, it was gone, and she was smiling at him again, asking if he danced. "Dance? No." Well, that wasn't entirely true. He had danced before, at both of his sister's rather simple weddings. But that didn't mean he was good. And it certainly didn't mean that he felt comfortable enough to dance with Mary. She was apart of a world that he had never been apart of. Upper class. He would stand out in the crowd, and yet, "I mean, I don't dance good. Er, I mean, well. But that's not no excuse for you to be without someone to dance with." Charles offered her his hand. "Will you dance with me, Lady Mary?" |
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| Mary Talbot | Nov 11 2010, 02:49 PM Post #7 |
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As he said no, Mary's spirits dropped and she thought she might like to run back to the safeness and solitude of her chambers, but when he asked her to dance the next moment, her spirits returned. A smile touched her lips; it was an odd sensation as there'd been a frown very nearly engraved there. She didn't like being so dreary, so she wouldn't be. She refused to be. She took Charles' offered hand, smile widening slightly. "Yes," she said, "I'd love to." If Francis saw them, he would immediately want to know which family he came from and what his title was. She would have to tell him that Charles Turner gave her no title. She liked that, though, especially if he wasn't titled. It meant he trusted her enough to let her know his true colors. To Mary, truthfully, it didn't matter if he were an untitled gentleman or a servant. He wanted to dance with her and keep her company and that was enough for her. "I'll teach you to dance well." she told him, tugging him toward the dance floor. "It's quite easy if you count in your head. Or you could just follow my lead. Whichever works for you." |
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| Charles Turner | Nov 11 2010, 11:04 PM Post #8 |
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Charles smiled, closing his hand around Mary's. She wasn't the first noblewomen to peak his interest, but she was most certainly the first he would dance with. And perhaps the last. Even though as she had pulled him onto the dance floor, Mary had offered to teach him, Charles doubted he would remember anything she taught him. Oh well. This would be fun all the same. "I'd like to learn to dance good," he replied. "Or...well." He could feel his cheeks flushing, as he began to become self conscious of his grammar. Mary spoke with such an elegant manner, and it sounded as though she was speaking an entirely different language. He himself sounded so improper, so terribly common, he could have slapped himself for it. But there was nothing he could do, obviously. Sons of tenant farmers didn't learn to read or write. They weren't educated, and amounted to very little. They were born, they got married, had children and then died, working all the way in between. He had had far more opportunities than the norm. Like now. How many servants could say they danced with nobility? "I'll follow your lea'," |
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| Mary Talbot | Nov 14 2010, 07:35 PM Post #9 |
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His less than perfect speech alerted Mary to the fact that he most certainly wasn't high-born or even middle-born, but she didn't care. He didn't have to speak beautifully to spark her interest. It made her more interested, truthfully, that he was not a nobleman. She was averse to them, in a way, and though she'd made up her mind to find other prospects, her fragile heart and ego wasn't interested in starting something too terribly meaningful. To be a man's mistress was all the young blonde could likely handle for the moment. Henry had ripped her heart from her chest and then squeezed, tore and stamped upon it. He cared nothing for her and never would. Even now, though she was with Charles and with a mind to dance, she could feel tears behind her eyes. No, she wouldn't let them come out. She refused to let another tear be for the likes of Henry Percy. He wasn't worth it. "Even if you just move the way that seems natural, you won't make a spectacle of yourself." Mary told Charles with an reassuring smile. "Believe me, many of the noblemen here have been knocked to step on a lady's toes a time or two. They are not without fault." |
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| Charles Turner | Nov 17 2010, 07:43 PM Post #10 |
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Charles nodded, listening to Mary explain the concept of dancing to him. He smiled when she said that even noblemen made mistakes sometimes. Although that was true, there was no way he would be even close to their level. He had grown up in an entirely different world, and it was only as of late that his and theirs had begun to collide on a regular basis. He looked back at Mary's face. She was so pretty. So pretty, and rich and titled. The daughter of someone obviously important. And then there he was. The son of Edward Turner, former tenant farmer. Although his father still questioned his paternity from time to time when he'd had too much to drink. Anyways said he was worthless, even though Charles knew otherwise. Without him, their entire family would have long since starved. But of course, he couldn't avode the obvious. Worthless, he most certainly was not, but poor and uneducated were words that could easily be used to describe him. He was a servant. Unimportant, in the mindset of most nobles. Yet, for whatever reason, Lady Mary had agreed to dance with him, opposed to the onslaught of high born people that filled the room. That just didn't make any sense. "Oh, I dunno, Lady Mary," he said finally. "I doub' I'll ever been able to dance good. Bu' I'll try." |
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| Mary Talbot | Nov 22 2010, 01:36 PM Post #11 |
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When Mary was younger and more out of touch with the world, she believed herself to be every inch her father's daughter. They shared similar tastes in all things, but now that she was older and more well-versed in the way of the world, she found that they did not. In her short time at court, she'd discovered what it meant to have her heart broken and she doubted her powerful and strong father ever had become acquainted with such a thing. He had wanted her mother and gotten her, but Mary resolved that he was different as a man. After all, Henry Percy was about to - or had already gotten - the woman he wanted, hadn't he? Much more was afforded to men; Mary would not find a man secluded as she had been. My father would not approve of this. By this, naturally Mary meant her dance with Charles Turner. The Earl of Shrewsbury would think she was lowering herself too much and had become less discerning due to her seclusion. This made the blonde wanted to laugh as she guided Charles through the steps. Personally, she didn't think there was anything wrong with acquainting herself with some of a lower place in life. It wasn't Charles' fault he had not been born a noble. In truth though, Mary was tired of nobles. Charles fit the bill of what she most desired at the moment. Even if nothing else came to fruition, at least she would have someone to speak to when he was able. "You are faring much better than him." Mary commented, nodding her head at an oafish lord who didn't seem to know where to put his feet and his red-faced lady made a quick exit when she realized they were being watched. "One would think you an Earl or a Marquess the way you dance." she added with a smile in hopes to encourage her new friend, if he could so called. |
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| Charles Turner | Nov 24 2010, 09:20 PM Post #12 |
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Charles couldn't tell whether or not his dance with Mary was sincere or not. He wasn't the best at reading people, because, after all, that was a skill one needed to develop over time, after having excess amounts of contact with other people. But Charles couldn't even speak properly. He had trouble remembering what words couldn't have 'ed' added to them, and what the plurals of different things were. He couldn't read, although several times, he had attempted to teach himself, but all without prevail. Because he was so damn proud, Charles would never even dream of asking one of the upper class women he affiliated with to teach him. God no, that would be just so awkward. He smiled as she complimented him on his dancing. She was good company, that was for sure. Charles was glad he'd approached her in the first place. Dancing hadn't been what he'd originally in mind, but he was glad that he had accepted that offer as well. "Now you an' I know that's not true," he said, smiling. "Bu' than' you anyway." He danced with her for several more minutes, before looking back in the direction of the kitchen. It didn't seem as though his absence was yet known, which was surprising, but it meant that he could spend a few minutes more, at least, with Mary. "I'm gla' I accepted your offer. Hopefully, we can dance again sometime." |
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| Mary Talbot | Nov 29 2010, 12:36 AM Post #13 |
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The way his last words came out made disappointment wash over Mary. She suspected he had elsewhere to be, but didn't want to turn her down for fear she put up a fuss and get him into trouble. Perhaps he hadn't wanted to dance with her at all. However, her inner voice assailed this fear; he said he was glad, so that meant he was enjoying it as she was. As her inner voice chastised her some more, she took the time to appraise him. "I hope you don't mean to cut this short, Mr Turner." she said. "Perhaps we could go somewhere that whomever you are trying to dodge won't see you? Out of sight, out of mind, as they say." That old adage seemed to work wonders for her. She barely thought of Henry Percy, after all, when he was not around. Of course, the time spent in seclusion helped her with that too. All her anger and heartbreak had boiled her intense love into a frothing hatred that she'd barely been able to contain. She wanted no more to do with Henry Percy and was glad, now, that he was going to marry his beloved. That Anne Boleyn was beloved of him no longer hurt her and turned sour on her tongue. The other woman had saved her from what was certain to be an unhappy marriage, even if she loved him. One-sided love was not kind and she wished never to venture there again. If she did, she didn't know what it might do to her fragile pride. |
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| Charles Turner | Dec 11 2010, 11:02 PM Post #14 |
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From the look on her face, Charles knew that Mary had taken what he had said the wrong way. She probably thought that he meant to leave her now, and return to the kitchen. Though that probably was the best idea, it wasn't one that Charles wanted to consider. For the first time in a long while, he was having fun, and knew that Mary wasn't just dancing with him because he was something to look at. Although it was an amazing feeling to have all the upper class women take a fancy to you, truth be told, it often felt...Charles couldn't even put into thought what it felt like. It was almost as though he was being used. Used for their own gain, as sort of an escape from whatever husband they had to go home to at the end of the day. It wasn't always like that, though. Sometimes, though it was a rarer occasion, Charles would come across someone who actually enjoyed his company, someone who wanted to be with him when it wasn't just convenient for them. Alison Clifford was one of the latest cases like that. Then there was Christian Appleward. Charles was yet to figure out what she was all about. Not usually someone he would run to for company, and the friendship they currently shared was solely business based, but still. She was someone he could associate with. Hopefully he would be able to add this Lady Mary to the list as well. When she spoke, Charles found himself shaking his head. "No, no 'course not, Lady Mary. I jus'...well, er...I jus'..." Before he could even come up with a reason why he had to leave her and return to work, Mary was suggesting that perhaps they could go somewhere away from the kitchen, so that they wouldn't see that he had strayed. Why he hadn't thought of it before, Charles wasn't entirely sure. It made perfect sense. Out of sight, out of mind. "I'll follo' you anywher', Lady Mary," he said, smiling, "so lea' the way." |
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| Mary Talbot | Dec 12 2010, 04:49 PM Post #15 |
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Mary said nothing now, merely gestured for him to follow her. Efficiently, she wended her way through the couples already dancing and left the Great Hall with a sigh of relief. The air, she had to admit, was quite heady and she was feeling like she should leave, anyway, but she didn't want to leave him. Not yet. It would be a terrible waste. He seemed like the sort of person she'd enjoy spending time with. Once she was certain he was still behind her, she continued on her way. There was no one in the corridor to throw them searching looks or think the worst. She suspected anyone that wanted her father in their backpocket could use her keeping company with a man not her betrothed against him. She knew she still had a stainless reputation, one that her father was proud of, so she could imagine the thunder she would receive if she compromised herself. But that wasn't what she was doing, even she was leading him to her chambers. It was just a safe place to go, who knows what they would come across if they stuck to the corridors this night? There were many things Mary could think of and she didn't desire to discover them at all. She was very glad when she found the path to her chamber open and without ... revelry. "In here," she said to Charles once she arrived at the door and stepped inside herself, "the fire should be going so it will be warm." As she stepped inside, she was met with great warmth and smiled at it. Before she'd left for the celebrations, she asked a passing maid to see to her chamber and make certain a fire was alight. True to her word, she'd made it so. It seemed she had tidied up a little too, for which Mary was thankful. Now she strode over to the table near the fire, adjacent to the window, and sat in one of the chairs. On the table, there was a bottle of mulled wine and another smile touched her lips. The maid had clearly looked up her preferences. Mulled wine was her most favorite. "Wine?" she asked Charles, pouring her own before he might think of doing it for himself. [[ Maybe start a continuation in the rooms of the courtiers when you reply? ]] |
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6:34 AM Jul 11