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i've got something that you might enjoy; Tag; John Shilston
Topic Started: Jan 11 2011, 04:21 PM (164 Views)
Jane Guildford
Unregistered

Mid February 1512

Though it was still cold, Jane Guildford along with four of her maids appointed by her late grandfather's - now her - secretary decided to go for a ride. The king's ransom of furs arranged around her just so kept her feeling wondrously warm as she led the way through a forested area. Behind her, her maids giggled and gossiped and it made Jane remember why she preferred the company of men. Not that she was a stern type, far from it really, their giggling gave her a headache and she desired to snap at them, but she wanted to be a well-liked mistress. Perhaps she would just suggest they keep their silence so they did not scare off any wildlife. They might argue that point, saying there wasn't much out in the barren, snow-covered countryside, so she kept her own silence and spurred her horse on.

On her grandfather's death she never imagined the loss of freedom she would have. She was not a princess or a queen, so she hadn't even thought about that. She didn't know that even a baroness would need a retinue of ladies and sometimes men-at-arms, but she supposed she was now a good match for men. She was a baroness twice over and the lady of her very own manor. This pleased her, though, as she desperately wanted a husband. It wasn't that she felt she should have one or was dying of loneliness, it was that she wanted a partner to help her nagivate her new life and give her counsel. Most men of that caliber were, unfortunately, married.

If she were honest with herself, she was seriously beginning to consider her childhood companion, Andrew Dudley, for her husband. Though now cut-off by his brother and her former betrothed, she afforded him a sum of money, an allowance as his brother had given him. He'd already suggested they marry, but she had flatly refused him. For one thing, he was pining for the woman who left court with their unborn child and for another, she didn't believe him to be the sort a baroness would marry.

"My lady!" One of her maids cried. "Be careful!"

Shaken from her thoughts, she realized she was hiding straight for a man on a horse. She dug in her heels and yanked the reins, knowing she very well might be thrown. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting to see what happened. Fortunately, moments later, she found she was not thrown and had not collided, though now her horse was parallel with the man's and she was right next to him. How did that happen, she wondered, how bizarre.

"Evidently," she announced, "I should be more careful. I hope you will accept my apology. That would have been a terrible mess, had I not been warned of your presence."

Looking to her maids, she saw all of them were wearing the same expression and that they were not ones of horrification. In fact, she was almost certain they were preening. Good lord, had she nearly run into the King? Oh, that was certain to go over well. However, as she looked back at the man she had almost collided with, she saw that he was thankfully not the King and that she vaguely recognized him.
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John Shilston
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John had wasted virtually not a second leaving bed that morning. Though his sheets were warm and the half-exposed body of his wife lay beckoning beside him, the knight felt as if his head was foggy. Drunk without the wine, even. He didn't like it. There were pains, distracting him from his duties and frustrating him to no end. So, after opening his eyes from a light sleep, John quickly had himself dressed and his stomach half-filled with an even quicker breakfast. He set out to the stables, had his horse readied, and was out within the hour.

The cold air, at first, seemed to clear his head as it chilled whatever bits of skin exposed, his nose and cheeks and fingers. It was clean in his lungs, smooth and sort of awakening from whatever exhaustion left. He pressed his heels into his horse's side, coaxing him into a lively gallop past Court and along the Thames, soon reining his horse to the left and entering a lightly-marked trail through the woods. His horse trampled through light creeks and leaped over fallen logs, carrying his rider as if he weighed but a feather. As the trees passed his strides grew, seeming to chill the air even more as the snow kicked up from the horse's hooves.

Though his eyes had been kept trained in front of him, John could not see through earth itself. Coming round a corner, it was immediately greeted with the sight of a small procession of ladies, lead by a fiery red-head that hadn't seemed to see him at first. His horse, galloping head, while hers sauntered in a calm lope nearly as indifferent as its rider. Only seconds passed between them and John sharply reined his horse to the right, pressing his weight into the back of the saddle and pushing his feet down against the stirrups. His horse's hindquarters dropped and his front end went up, lifting into a half-rear before landing at a solid stop beside the Lady and her own perturbed equine.

"Yes, perhaps I should thank your ladies for giving you such a warning." He eyed this woman, her green eyes, red hair and fine noble clothing. Who was she? His eyebrows furrowed if only for a moment, discontent with the idea of missing this woman of at least some partial standing. His horse rocked anxiously beneath him, having been unsettled from going from a straight run to a straight stop. John kept his head held, though, and his own eyes fixated on this new Lady. "I'd hate for my horse and I to become target practice, especially to a woman whom I don't have the name of."
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Jane Guildford
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Casting another glance at her maids, Jane noticed they were whispering amongst themselves and eyeing the poor man she very nearly ran over. They were clearly trying to get his attention, but for the moment he seemed focused on her, which made her a little anxious. Despite her clumsiness, she'd been in very few instances like this and was glad for it. She was happy her face hadn't turned the same shade as her hair. At least she hoped it hadn't, it didn't feel warm.

"Perhaps you should." she agreed, knowing now that this would please them immensely. "I am Lady Jane Guildford, Baroness De La Warr and West." she added. "And you are ...?"

It was the very first time she had introduced herself this way and it made her wonder if he would be terribly insulted that she didn't know who he was. If he was a baron himself, she could potentially recover, but an earl or a marquis (she was certain he wasn't a duke since she was sure she'd seen them all) might not be so lenient with one below them. The last thing she needed was yet another person in a higher position disliking her.

"I hope I have not offended you by not knowing your name." she continued now. "The position was only just passed to me and while I was raised for a time in the Princess Mary's household, I have been away and thus do not know those I should."

This, hopefully, would smooth over her slight, if it was one. He might even find her terribly amusing. That she wasn't opposed to at all. In fact, it could turn into some form of a friendship and God knew she needed friends. All she had was Andrew, really, as Princess Mary was no longer around and all the friends she once had in her household were married, some residing in the country and some not even caring to notice her if they remained at court. Some had married high and saw no reason to speak to her, though she expected it would change when news she now held two baronies travelled court.

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John Shilston
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John's eyes flickered past this new woman, to her ladies who smiled and whispered amongst themselves. He scoffed breathlessly; women. To them, he was probably a knight in shining armor. Well, all he lacked was the metal plate. He smirked to himself before bringing his eyes back to the Baroness. So, a woman of note. That was obvious, merely by her attire and the ladies attending. He dipped his head politely, the bright shade of his eyes imploring her unfamiliar features. "Well, my Lady De La Warr.." he began with a grin. "Perhaps target practice wouldn't be so bad after all."

"I am Sir John Shilston, at your... coordinated service." He emitted a light chuckle as he reviewed the small space between their horses, judging again the earlier possibility of a horrendous collision. Women and their mindlessness. Surely it would be the death of him by his wife. "And do not fret, my Lady," he continued, steadying his horse yet again, "I'm sure you will soon grow accustom to your new position as if second nature." Yeah, right, and he would be the King of England. John, despite his words, thought seats of political power out to stay far from the likes of any woman's rump. Any seats, even the baronies.

"Shall I send you back to your ladies, Madame? For they seem very... curious." He smirked and angled his chin to the few number of nearby women, all perched upon mannered horses and all with the same coquettish smile on their pink lips. He chuckled again at them before turning his attentions back to the Jane Guildford. "Or perhaps you would be obliged in accompanying me for awhile? After all, you nearly cost us both of our horses." Though his hadn't been exactly what he had in mind, he thought to do what was expected of him. Besides, gaining favor with higher-standing nobility -seeing as he was but only a knight- was never out of the question.
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Jane Guildford
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Jane thought she was going to go mad over her ladies' constant gossiping and giggling, so she decided that the best option this John Shilston set forward was accompanying him. A light smile touched her lips again as she glanced to her ladies who seemed to realize exactly what she was about to do. They seemed to plead with their eyes, begging her not to send them away. Jane supposed she was pleased they appeared to know her so well. That gave them bonus points, but not enough so she would let them stay. They couldn't really claim it would be unsafe since she would still be escorted.

"I would gladly accompany you if it will cause you to forgive me for my uncoordinated ways." she told him. "My ladies will return without me. They will be fine, I assume, we are still close enough to court."

She looked back at her ladies now, seeing their disappointment and vague hatred. They wanted to flirt at the knight and now that she was thinking about it, she was certain she'd heard something about this man. Somethng about his appetite for women, despite being married? Whatever it was she didn't care; that reminded her of Andrew in a way. Despite not being married, Andrew's appetite for women had gotten him into trouble.

"Go, ladies. I will return shortly." she commanded, hoping she echoed her grandfather's confidence and control. She did her very best to emulate him in hopes of being the baroness he wished for her to be.

She let her eyes travel back to John as her ladies turned their horses to make the trek back to Hampton Court. "I should thank you, Sir." she admitted. "They were likely to turn me mad. I dislike their chatter and giggles."

Her horse snorted, stamping its feet impatiently. Another smile touched her lips and she patted its neck. "There, there," she soothed, "we'll be off soon, but let's try not to nearly collide with other gentlemen, hmm?
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