That's All They Really Want (Queen & her Ladies)

[Queen Catherine]

Catherine sat in her parlor, seated on a comfortable little chair, close to the ground. The chair was adorned in blue silk, and stuffed with swan feathers. Beautiful yet eccentric. The way she liked it. Catherine herself wore a dress and bodice of pale pink, with a high collar outlined in pearls. The sleeves were long and tight, as was the whole dress, fitting her like a glove. Her hair was done up, but she wore nothing on her head, and a long line of white cloth was on her lap, needle in her hand. Catherine was yet again at work making linens and handkerchiefs, and pillow coverings and so on. It was something to do, and no one wanted things made from some country woman. It was the job of the ladies in court.

Her delicate, pale fingers worked quickly at the cloth, making a kerchief for her husband and sewing his initials into the corner with green thread. She was proud of her work and hoped dearly that he would like it. A few of her ladies were here with her and she was glad for the company. But she had stayed up terribly late the previous night. Andrew had been doing business, and she had been alone. So, on this odd night of quiet, with no duties to do as a wife, she was able to have time to herself. So she had sat on a little stool next to the fire and read and read until she fell asleep right there. She had been awoken by a maid a few moments later, and taken to her bed. But it was already early morning, and she had not received much sleep.

Even so, here she was. She had woken at dawn that morning, like any other morning, eaten with the court, and now, mid morning was here. And she was still awake, wishing to be asleep. Catherine would never show it though, for she knew that she had to be a symbol of hope, a symbol of what a lady should act like. Quiet and kind, smiling and ever present. Always doing her duty.

[Kaitlin-Rose Brown]

Kaitlin Rose was exhausted. Her sister had chosen this god for saken day not to work. Of course. She had been running around everywhere for the queen. It was her duty, but usually Alani helped. Not today. Not today in the slightest. She had disappeared and had not returned. Just rejected her duties. Then again, Kaitlin had done that more than her, but she was Kaitlin Rose Jackson. No one cared about her, and the queen liked Alani better anyway. The queen. The breakfast still had to be delivered! Quickly she rushed to the kitchen to fetch the queens tray. Gently she scooped it up and hurried back to the Royal Apartments.

Kaitlin lightly knocked on the door and walked in. The queen was sitting there on a chair, her sewing in her lap.
"M'lady, your breakfast has arrived. I apologize for the delay. My sister has seemed to disappear and I cannot find her." she said formally.
She stepped back and started making the bed. She tucked the sheets in, fluffed the pillows, and made sure everything looked elegant. She changed the water in the Queen's pitcher and got some fresh new towels for her. Oh how glamorous this life must be. Servants at your beck and call, eating breakfast in your room, and wearing such lovely gowns. She was truly envious of this life.

[Queen Catherine]

Catherine looked up in surprise when Kaitlin came into the room. "What on earth are you doing carrying the tray in here like that? Come sit, and get started. Have a servant do it next time." She said it incredulously but with all kindness, for she could not have her ladies running around doing servants work. Catherine gently picked up a line of pale pink silk and handed it to Kaitlin, the motioned with her delicate hand for her to sit with her. Silently for a moment, she continued her own work, quickly and gracefully.

Then she spoke, "Kaitlin, how have you been lately? I have seen so little of you. Who have you been spending your time with, neglecting me so?" She said it humorously, lightly. Not really demanding the question. But Catherine was curious what she had found to do that kept her away so frequently.

[Kaitlin-Rose Brown]

Kaitlin obeyed orders, as much as she resented to, and sat by the queen. She remembered her firm posture, and made sure her hair was not loose. She was in the presence of the queen after all. She watched as the queen began to stitch and realized that she herself was way behind on her sewing. She was in the middle of making an intricate pillow design. She had to admit it was her best work. On the pillow was the saying, "love is patient, love is kind, it is never jealous". Around it were beautiful borders that had taken her days to complete. She was working on the middle before Nathan had come into her life. She was sewing to hearts intertwined and a rose before she became busy.

Kaitlin was jolted from her thoughts by Queen Catherine. She had been wondering where she had been these past weeks. Who had she been spending her time with? That was question she could answer no one until her and Nathan were open about their relationship.
"I guess I have been caught up in some personal affairs, M'lady." she answered rather softly.
It was always somewhat obvious when Kaitlin wasn't telling the whole truth. She was good at lying, but it was impossible for her to do so in front of the queen.
"I'm sorry I have been absent, M'lady. I promise it shall not happen as much anymore." she said strongly.

[Queen Catherine]

Catherine was closely watching Kaitlin. She looked... different. As though she was thinking about something very seriousley. And Catherine was curious. Kaitlin's answers to her question were very vauge. Not real answers at all. Catherine raised an eyebrow and continued stitching carefully, not thinking about what she was doing. She did not need to, for she had been sewing and quilting and working with her hands since she was seven or eight years old. Remembering how her nurse had been, probably much before that. She smiled, remembering, then returned her attention back to Kaitlin.

"No, Kaitlin, I do wish you to tell me. After all, that was my question." Catherine definatley had spent more time with her sister, but she did like Kaitlin very much. She was very different from her sister, but kind and polite all the same. Beautiful that was for sure. Lovely hair, which Catherine somewhat admired, although she treasured her own.

Her words were gentle and kind, but she knew what she wanted to know and hear from the girl, and she would. She was the queen. She was in charge. There would be no secrets kept from her. Catherine figured, by the nervousness that Kaitlin seemed to be hiding, that there very well may be secrets. She had never seen the girl work so intently and sit so perfectly and quietly. It was unlike her to do so. But maybe she was judging her to quickly. She had never paid to much attention to her. So Catherine sighed, and said, "I know we aren't the best of companions, I have spent so much time with your sister, but I do wish for you to be honost with me Kaitlin-Rose. After all it is your duty, and also my will."

[Kaitlin-Rose Brown]

Kaitlin looked up after the queen spoke, her eyes big with shock and a little fright. Tell the queen what she had been doing?! She would disgrace herself. Then again, either way she would probably do so. Not telling Catherine the truth, and telling her the truth. Mentally, she fought with it. What should she do? What would Nathan do? She didn't know. She covered her face with her hands trying to sort out everything. She heard the queen talking distantly, but she was too lost in her own thoughts to really pick anything out of it. Without thinking, her shoulders slumped and tears spilled over her eyes. She looked up at the queen.
"I have disgraced myself and my family, m'lady. I have been sneaking around with a boy, a boy I am deeply in love with. Neither one of us has told our parents yet. We fear they will force into marriage to gain family wealth, not because we are in love. I have been neglecting my duties more to be with him..." she sobbed.

Kaitlin had never felt so vulnerable. She had just spilled a secret her and Nathan had promised each other to keep. In front of the queen! She didn't try to wipe away the tears falling on her face. She didn't care to straighten her posture. She was sure that her job was at stake at this very moment, but she didn't care. She bowed her head once again.
"Please do not punish me by turning me in, m'lady. I love him so much. I want to be with him." she said pathetically.
It was true, however. All she ever wanted to do now is be with the man she loved. Be with Nathan....forever.

[Queen Catherine]

Of course it was love. Wasn't everything to a girl about love? Catherine reached out a hand and placed it on Kaitlin's shoulder tenderly. "Don't cry dear, you musn't cry. And no, I will not turn you in. But as long as you have not had relations with this boy, you have not done anything wrong. But you must now tell your parents. You will never be happy until you do. I learned to love my King, but you are already in love before marriage. That is, of course, not unheard of but very seldom for many people. You can't keep this secret any longer. You will drive yourself out of your mind hiding things all the time."
Catherine took a small silk handkerchief out of her own pocket and handed it to her. She felt sorry for her, but Kaitlin would tell her parents about this. It was the right thing to do and Catherine could not and would not keep her secret for more than today. Kaitlin had to tell them. "I am quite sure that if you simply tell them that you are in love with the boy they will not punish you. They may in fact do as you said, and attempt to form a marriage. Depending on the boy of course. You need not mention that you have been seeing him and speaking with him. You can simply tell them you love him. What they do is out of your hands. We can do nothing other than tell the truth and hope for the best."

[Kaitlin-Rose Brown]

Kaitlin looked up at the queen her eyes misty with tears. So she hadn't seen to much into her confession. That was great thing. She kept the part about her relations with Nathan locked in her heart. No one could ever know until they were safely married. It would be the ruin of them both if word got out. She took the small handkerchief and blotted her eyes. What was she doing?! Crying in front of the queen and acting like a complete reck was not how she presented herself. She squared her shoulders and sat up straight. She wiped away evidence of her tears and collected herself.
"I am deeply sorry for breaking down, m'lady. I will do your bidding, as well." she said in a servant like voice.
It was soft but strong.

Kaitlin knew that she needed to tell her parents. Both herself and Nathan knew the importance to it. If they were to be found out, then both would be in trouble. If they told their parents....marriage. It really wasn't a bad sounding word, but to Nathan it was. Part of her was extremely self conscious about it. Nathan was not looking for marriage, and yet he might have to. Did he really want to be with her? Or was she just a small flame that would soon flicker out? He told her that he loved her. She believed it to. It was just a matter of how much. She wasn't really sure. The other side of her was confident and knew that he wouldn't mind it. She didn't know what to think anymore. She turned her attention back to her queen.
"Is there anything I can do for you, m'lady?" she asked.

[Queen Catherine]

Catherine smiled and stood, and motioned at the door. "Go and tell your mother and father."