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an accidental meeting; tag: Jane Guildford
Topic Started: Nov 22 2010, 10:48 PM (188 Views)
Catherine Willoughby
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vérité sans peur
December 1511

The low heeled shoes made a wonderful racket down the long corridor, one of the many Catherine had accustomed herself to using when she wished to find a quicker way from one place to another in the sprawling complex known as Hampton Court. Despite being shielded from the tall buildings, the corridors were outdoors and therefore often cold. A breeze blowing through chilled her to the bone. "Brrr." She wrapped her arms about herself, the long dark woolen cloak hiding her gown from view. She was making her way from the courtier's apartments this afternoon back to the Queen's apartments, where she belonged during the day, waiting upon Queen Francesca.

When she snuck out onto the base court, Catherine made her way across it, slipping through various courtiers making their way in and out of the grand palace. A book in her arms, a gift for the Queen, she inclined her head to those she knew but did not give them any more acknowledgment than that. She wanted to get back to Her Majesty as quickly as possible, considering she had dallied about far too long with John earlier and was very late, having informed Francesca she wouldn't be too long past three of the clock. How shameful. Oh, well, it didn't matter much. She would blush as she would be teased by the Queen, listening to the other ladies titter in amusement.

Unsurprisingly, in her haste and not watching where she was going, Catherine almost ran straight into another lady. As it was, they merely bumped arms. Nothing too horrible. "Oh, I'm so sorry," she mumbled, glancing at the unfamiliar woman who seemed to be about the same age as she. "I ought to watch where I am going." So as not to be rude, for she had no reason to be with this unknown lady, she curtsied briefly and added, "Lady Catherine, Countess of Warwick, is the one who has so rudely nearly run you down."
[align=center]"I must shape my own coat according to my cloth, but it will not be after the fashion of this world but fit for me."

Catherine is in 2 threads.
[/align]
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Jane Guildford
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Jane was overwhelmed by the splendor of Hampton Court, feeling as though she were truly country. She had lived her once before in the Princess Mary's household, but it seemed being away for even a short time made one forget the sheer beauty of the palace. It gladdened her heart that nothing appeared to have changed in her absence. Everyone still acted the same and the fashion hadn't changed. She found it refreshing to wear more Italian gowns than English. It was a taste of something new she would have not experienced had the King's Majesty not taken her for his wife and queen.

She thought she might like to go to the Queen and ask if there was a position still available in her household, but she wanted to afford herself more leisure time. Since her arrival, she had been keenly aware of every word that was said around her. She knew now much of the court gossip, but she hadn't heard a thing about her beloved John.

That was, until a strange woman bumped into her and introduced herself as the Countess of Warwick, and her jaw found the floor. Not literally, of course, she might be the daughter of a mere knight, but she was decorous. However, she couldn't help but stare a little at the offending woman. She was unable to contain her startled surprise.

"You are the Countess of Warwick?"
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Catherine Willoughby
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The pleasant, vaguely friendly smile on Catherine's lips faltered. Why did she not say anything except ask if that was her title? Obviously, had Catherine said it, that meant it was who she was. She would not be lying. Why on earth was this woman so surprised?

"Yes?" she asked, brows rising high on her forehead in curiosity as she glanced over the woman before her. Pretty, she decided, but she didn't think much of that sort of thing. Catherine felt rather uneasy for some reason. The woman's exclamation-- what did it mean? "Are you... surprised? You are...?" Then it hit her: did she know John? "Do you know the Earl, my lady?"
[align=center]"I must shape my own coat according to my cloth, but it will not be after the fashion of this world but fit for me."

Catherine is in 2 threads.
[/align]
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Jane Guildford
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Married.

John was married because there was absolutely no way that Andrew would be Earl now. If he were, it would mean John had died and that was surely worse though as the sickening realization lurched through her, she wasn't certain. At night, she had a dream he waited for her and was ready to propose the moment she returned. But this was no dream, it was not even a nightmare, it was reality.

She appraised the woman in front of her before speaking again. "Forgive me for my surprise, my lady Warwick." she said, voice as smooth as porcelain. "I do know the Earl and I did not know he had married. I am Lady Jane Guildford. It has been a while since I saw him."

Would he have mentioned her to his new wife? Somehow she doubted it. It wouldn't sound good to a prospective bride that her groom had a broken betrothal due to a disgraced family, but she supposed the Lady Catherine knew all about that. She doubted John would have married her without telling her.

"How is he?" she continued, hoping this wife of his was not the jealous sort. "I am anxious to greet him."
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Catherine Willoughby
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The name Jane Guildford meant nothing to her. Catherine had not heard of their family; she did not know any sort of ties between them and her husband's family. Her face still held that expression of thoughtfulness mixed with curiosity. It puzzled her, that this Jane knew John somehow, yet had not known he was now married. Something was wrong here but she could not quite put her finger on it.

"How do you know my lord Warwick?" she asked, reverting to courtly formalities. She did want to know. To her, curiosity was not idle; sometimes, it made you ask questions you shouldn't, but ones you wanted to know the answer to. Catherine pursed her lips, keeping a distance between them. "He is well enough." She felt like being stingy with her information, wanting to know how this Jane Guildford knew John before offering up anything more than that.

What Jane did not know was that Catherine was entirely ignorant of these things. Yes, she knew her husband's father had been beheaded for treason. How it was found out, all of those little details, she was blissfully unaware of. Had she known, it would not have changed her views much anyhow. Perhaps she would have been a bit shocked, but in the long run, it wouldn't matter much.

"I am sure he would like to see you, then, if you have come to court to see him?" She was just being polite. Catherine's words meant nothing.
[align=center]"I must shape my own coat according to my cloth, but it will not be after the fashion of this world but fit for me."

Catherine is in 2 threads.
[/align]
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Jane Guildford
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Honesty seemed like the best policy here, though she was worried how it would affect her seeing John. Even if he was married, she should like to see him and congratulate him on his marriage. She was not someone to remain bitter, hurt as he was. He couldn't have waited and besides, if this was a love match, how could she begrudge him that? She had seen how wonderful her parents' own marriage had been and had resolved not to marry if she did not love the man she was chosen for. Perhaps the fact of the matter was John did not love her.

"We were betrothed as children, but it was broken not long ago." she said, clasping her hands in front of herself. "I suppose my father believed I could do better than the Earl of Warwick, but that is yet to come to fruition and my father is now dead."

She doubted the Countess cared much for her affairs, but it was easier to get it all out if she said everything. It was also a great deal easier to disguise her pain at this news. Someone in her household must have known and she wished they had told her so that she hadn't gotten her hopes up.

"I am glad to hear he is well." Here she hesitated. "I did come to see him, yes, but I fear my reason is now moot. I shouldn't trouble him now."
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Catherine Willoughby
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The muscles in Catherine's jaw tightened as she clenched her teeth. She let out a little noise, somewhat like a "huh," her eyes meeting the eyes of the woman before her. This was perhaps the most awkward situation she had ever found herself in on her eighteen years on God's earth. A breath she hadn't realized she was holding came forth, her lips set in a straight line as Jane Guildford continued to speak. She looked fairly surprised by this admission, her eyebrows rising then furrowing in near-dismay, blue eyes widening at the admission that this Lady Jane had been once betrothed to her husband.

There must have been a reason this never had been told to her! It wasn't important, was it? All those thoughts and more were running rampant through her mind as she stared at Jane, her mouth opening and closing as if she were to say something. No words came out, just inarticulate noises that could perhaps have formed a word. Catherine's eyes dropped to the ground, having forgotten all about her duty to the Queen. Returning to Francesca seemed an impossibility now. She wanted to know everything, absolutely everything. Insecurities were piling on inside her. She would disregard them for now. Later would be the time to examine them and ask John just who in God's name this Jane Guildford was.

"Your reason?" she managed to ask, her mouth barely able to form the words. "What was your reason for coming to court?" Catherine had an idea, but it alarmed her so. She did not say it, she wanted to hear it from this lady's lips.
[align=center]"I must shape my own coat according to my cloth, but it will not be after the fashion of this world but fit for me."

Catherine is in 2 threads.
[/align]
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Jane Guildford
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"I came in hopes that we could be wed." Jane admitted, though she didn't necessarily believe it was a good idea to admit to a woman that you wished to marry their husband. "I thought we might renew our betrothal. I see now that it will never be, but I feel as though I should make the best of my stay."

She worried a little over what the dark-haired woman was going to say. Were their positions switched, she knew she might feel a little fear and wonder who he loved better. Though she wondered that now. Was this woman the one he truly wanted or had she been? He had always been kind, but never showed that he felt anything stronger than affection for her.

"I hope this doesn't upset you, my lady." she added now, sweeping her eyes over her. Courtiers were so good at hiding their true emotions. She wished that she hadn't even mentioned they'd been betrothed, but what could she do? She couldn't lie about it. It had passed now and that was that.
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Catherine Willoughby
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When Jane said those words, Catherine's blue eyes were as big as saucers. If they could have gotten any bigger, they surely would have popped out of her head. For someone who had become skilled at hiding her emotions, only allowing them to be seen when she wanted, she was kidding herself for even trying. She wasn't trying. She was simply so shocked she did not even have the time to rationalize a thing, much less worry about what this Jane would think of the true horror on her face. "Wed?" she squeaked. No! This woman must have been delusional! Something was wrong. This was not the whole story. She had to remind herself this before she ran off like a little girl, afraid of what Lady Jane may say next.

"You hope it doesn't upset me?" She choked out the words. "What would you say, my lady, if a woman came to you saying you wished to have their husband?" Catherine was angry, but above all, she was stunned. Her words did not have the sharpness she wished; her voice was too shaken for that. "I have never heard of you, my lady." She tried to keep the shrewish shriek she knew was brewing somewhere from her voice. Clutching the book to her chest, under her cloak, Catherine shook her head. "Yes, you have upset me!" burst out of the wide-eyed countess. "I think because I have not heard a thing of you, then, this betrothal was not serious business. Never have I heard your name nor mention of you in any way."

No, no, she had to remind herself. Surely this lady meant nothing. It seemed every day John told her he loved her. He would not lie to her. Not when the marriage between them was for love on his part, and business on hers; though of course, she felt the same, just in a more withdrawn, careful manner. Love was a tricky thing, not something to be played with. Not helping Catherine in any way was her already agitated emotional state, something she attributed to her condition, where she was prone to fits of weeping for no reason as well as fits of uncontrollable rage (the former more common than the latter, surprisingly). Thanks to her humors being quite out of balance, she felt like bursting into tears. She managed to keep a tight lid on it, though she did blink away some wetness in her eyes, hoping Jane Guildford did not see. How ridiculous, crying, when she wished she could launch herself into one of her famed rages!
[align=center]"I must shape my own coat according to my cloth, but it will not be after the fashion of this world but fit for me."

Catherine is in 2 threads.
[/align]
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Jane Guildford
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Jane didn't know why John's countess was so out of sorts on this news if she'd never heard of her. In truth, she was upset that he'd never mentioned her, but it did confirm something she already knew about him; he had never loved her in the way she had loved him. Perhaps he cared for her, but it never broached from fondness. It was more likely brotherly affection. She was rather torn about the whole affair; part of her wanted to be that terrible shrew who swept in and tried to steal another woman's husband or at the very least tempted him to bed to give her the pleasure of being his mistress, but on the other hand, she didn't want to give this poor woman any more reason to fret.

"Please," she said, "do not misunderstand. I meant to wed him, yes, but I do not presume that I could take him from you. In fact, as he married you seemingly nearly right after I left court, there was no special place for me in his affections. Do not, my lady, think badly of me. You asked for my reasons and I told you them."

She prided herself on being, above all, honest even if it caused someone discomfort. Certainly this news upset her and made her wish to retreat somewhere to process all the information, but she would remain calm. She was afraid Catherine Dudley was prone to either rage or panic attacks. Panic attacks were dangerous to a person, but rage was dangerous to her, so she didn't know which one she wished for. Neither, actually, if she looked deep inside herself.
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Catherine Willoughby
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Incredibly irked--and, truly, ridiculously hurt at the thought that this woman was delusional enough to think somehow John would have married her, but lately her thoughts never went quite straight--at Jane, Catherine simply shook her head, trying to steel her face into the stoicism she was known for. It worked, partially, although her gaze was still vulnerable: the way she looked at Jane said she did not like her, or trust her; it was not something she could hide behind apathy. "Very well," she said through gritted teeth, not wanting much more to do with this Jane Guildford. "He married me, not you, however much you may have wished it; so do not speak of it to me, then." She felt vaguely superior in being rude sometimes. This was one of those times.

Clutching the books to be brought to Queen Francesca to her breast, she lifted her chin, tightly clenched teeth making her unable to say much more. But she did not want to say much more. Catherine was a million different things at this moment, from angry to hurt to incredulous; she wasn't sure which one was ruling her, they were all fighting each other as she stood there looking like absolutely nothing on God's green earth was amiss. She did not want this Jane to know how much this bothered her, but that brought a question to her mind: why? Why did it? Was she jealous? Probably.

"I have duties to attend to, my lady." And I have no desire to ever speak to you again. That went unsaid, the haughty tone of Catherine's voice doing the speaking for her. "I shall think badly of you if I wish," she added, stepping away from Jane to head back inside, away from her, wondering what on earth the history was between this lady and John. She'd find out eventually...
[align=center]"I must shape my own coat according to my cloth, but it will not be after the fashion of this world but fit for me."

Catherine is in 2 threads.
[/align]
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