Topic: A Conspiracy of Ladies

Elspeth Bradan

Date: 2016-06-23 16:07 EST
January 20th, 1616

With the winter now clinging on tightly to Pomerania, an unusual decision had been made by Queen Catherine. Rather than winter in Berengaria, she had decided to winter herself at Peronell, the Crown Prince's estate, with her son, his wife, and their children. The capital city had been tainted somewhat by the treasonous events of the summer, and though it was generally believed to be safe there now, Philippe had agreed heartily to his wife's ruling that they should winter with their family. His brother, Henri, had remained in Berengaria to see to the daily grind, along with Maksim and Felipe, and the two royal cousins, Henry and Elspeth, had decided to split their time between Peronell and the capital.

Thus, with the deep snows blanketing the beautiful estate of Peronell, the manor-house itself settled into something approaching domestic bliss, happy to wait out the snows in familial comfort. There was, of course, still official business to attend to, and Philippe called upon Stephan to assist him with much of it. When Henry was there, he, too, was invited to be a part of those sessions; lessons to be learned in anticipation of the event the entire royal family was both dreading and hoping for.

It was on one such morning, when the men were sequestered in the study, that the ladies had gathered together in Marianne's parlor. Queen, princess, and lady, the three were very comfortable together, and with gentle warmth, Catherine and Marianne were beginning to learn more and more about their unexpected daughter of House Hasperan. Elspeth was no longer too shy to speak in their presence, and indeed, she had taken to confiding in her aunt and cousin-by-marriage far more than either of them had ever expected her to. It made for a warm atmosphere when they were gathered together; truly, it was no wonder that the menfolk sought them out as soon as the work was done.

"What are you working, Els?" Marianne asked curiously, looking up from her own needlework to peer at the cloth in her cousin's hands. "It cannot be for Henry, surely."

Elspeth blinked, glancing up from her own sewing with an almost hunted expression, as though feeling guilty for being caught at her work. She looked down at the cloth in her hands - fine linen, thick but cool, in a soft shade of blue that was familiar to anyone who had ever seen Edessan royalty.

"A promise," she told Marianne quietly.

Catherine smiled at the young redhead, setting her own needlework aside as she, too, expressed curiosity at Elspeth's mysterious project.

"Will you not tell us who this promise was made to?" the queen asked in her gentle way, reaching over to tease a soft strand of red back from the young woman's face. "Perhaps we may assist you."

Elspeth blushed, though her smile was bright. "Brynhilde," she told them, and was unsurprised when both women nodded, their exchanged glance understanding. "For ....for her wedding."

Her wedding to Henry, whenever it would come about, though reports from Carib suggested that Peter might well not survive the year. The new Queen of Carib was only newly arrived in her land, and it would be some weeks yet before she actually met her aged husband.

"Forgive me, cousin, but you seem to be making trews," Marianne pointed out, though it was hardly an accusation. She was genuinely curious as to what Elspeth was working on, and eager to understand just why the sweet redhead would be making a wedding gown for her brother's promised.

"Brynhilde doesn't like dresses," Elspeth said simply. "She hated the gown she had to wear for her proxy wedding. She said she couldn't move in it, that she didn't feel able to protect herself in it. I-I promised her that I would make her a wedding gown that would reflect who she is, not who she is perceived as being."

"Ah, then you have designed something wholly new for her?" Catherine asked, leaning forward to inspect Elspeth's neat stitches. It was remarkable just how well the redhead could sew to some, but then, she had earned her keep since childhood as a seamstress. Her stitching was better than many of the court ladies, who sewed purely because it was the only thing to do. "Describe it to us," the queen suggested gently. "Perhaps we may assist."

Blushing once again, Elspeth put down her needle, glancing between the two curious sets of eyes watching her. She was not accustomed to being the sole beneficiary of such full attention, but she could be glad that it was only her aunt and cousin watching and listening to her. Shyly, she reached into a pocket of her own gown, and withdrew a folded piece of paper, on which she had drawn her sketch for the work at hand.

The design was simple enough, yet it was unheard of for any woman to wear such a thing, much less a queen. But it represented Brynhilde perfectly. The soft royal blue of the Edessan line was close enough to the royal blue of the Hasperan line that the fine linen Elspeth was working on would be loyal to both houses, and it made up the under-layer of the ensemble being created as a form fitting pair of trews and an equally close fitting camisole. Over the top of this, in shades of white and silver, hung what might almost be described as a tabard - a fitted bodice, yet there was no skirt, as such; only two wide strips of the cloth, falling at the front, and back, of the bodice to brush the floor. The sleeves were split at the shoulders, allowing bare skin to be visible from shoulder to fingertips. It was, in a word, extraordinary.

"You may begin a new fashion in Carib with this," Marianne warned her cousin with a smile. "It is perfect, though. Brynhilde will be delighted - so much freedom to move without sacrificing the obvious truth that she is a woman."

"What material were you thinking of for this ....surcoat?" Catherine asked, studying the design closely. "It will need weight, to hang properly, and the sleeves may need to be of something altogether different."

"I do not know," Elspeth murmured uncertainly. "Her letters say how warm it is there, even in winter, and since I do not know when they will marry, I must trust my own instincts. That is why I am making the trews and camisole in linen - it is cool enough to wear in full summer, yet it will keep her warm if the weather turns colder and she marries in winter."

"I would suggest velvet, for the tabard," Marianne offered. "Crushed velvet will hang properly, and it is easy to line with silk."

"Indeed, and if silk is in the lining, then the sleeves should be of silk, too," Catherine agreed. "It is a fine design, Elspeth. You have clearly put a lot of thought into this."

"It is beautiful," Marianne nodded along with her mother-in-law, smiling at her husband's cousin. "I am almost jealous that we cannot wear such things, even at the height of summer!"

As Catherine laughed at her daughter-in-law's comment, Elspeth took the sketch back, tucking it safely into her pocket once again with a shy smile. It was rare that she was praised for anything but her looks, but praise from the women she considered family was precious to her. To know they approved of her little project was music to her ears.

"I was ....Well, I do not know how to approach the dressmakers at court without them taking my project away from me," she confessed awkwardly. "I promised Brynhilde that I would make it myself, and I will keep that promise. But I do not know how to obtain silk and velvet in the appropriate patterns and colors without having them demand to know what I am making."

Catherine's smile turned a little sneaky. "Then I, my little rose, shall obtain for you the velvet," she promised her niece fondly. "They no longer so much as try to ask what I will use it for. The silk may be a little more difficult, but we will find a way."

"Thank you," Elspeth breathed, delighted that her shy comment had brought out such a firm promise of assistance from the queen of all people.

"Speaking of finding a way ..." Marianne mused, looking back down at her sewing in a manner that suggested she was trying to look innocent. "Mother, are you aware that Felipe is in love?"

There was a rattle as Catherine hurriedly set down her glass, turning to look at Marianne in shock. Her youngest son was known for avoiding women like the plague, so this was definitely news to her.

"Felipe?" she repeated in surprise, glancing at the two young women with her, both of whom were studiously concentrating on their sewing suddenly. Catherine's eyes narrowed; she could spot a conspiracy a mile off these days. "And who is my son in love with, may I ask?"

Marianne almost laughed when she looked up and found Elspeth's wide-eyed gaze on her. The redhead looked terrified of so much as opening her mouth. The princess, however, was not so intimidated by her mother-in-law.

"Lady Jane Montague," she told the queen in a matter-of-fact tone. "They have been quietly courting for quite some time."

"Lady Jane?" Catherine's eyes turned to Elspeth, for the shy girl knew Jane best of all of them. "What do you have to say about this, little rose?"

Elspeth swallowed, setting down her work once again. "She loves him, aunt," she said quietly. "She is very frightened that the king will deny them permission to marry. And ....and I would like them to marry, too. They would be so happy together. I would not need to worry about leaving a friend alone when I go."

Catherine's expression softened as she listened. "Yes, leaving a friend to go through the world alone is a terrible thing," she agreed just as quietly, glancing at Marianne. The princess was obviously in on this, too, but it didn't take a genius to work out why she was being approached before the king was. "And when, my dear girls, have you decided this wedding is to take place?"

"Ostara?" Marianne suggested lightly.

Catherine chuckled to herself. "That would be a quick engagement, indeed," she pointed out, "but not so unusual. If the king agrees, there is no need to make them wait, and seeing Jane married and happy would, I think, allow Elspeth to leave with a lighter heart. It would allow Jane's brother to accompany Henry without guilt, too." She smirked at the surprise on the young women's faces. "Oh, come now," she told them. "Lady Maria Montague was one of my ladies before she was wed and whisked away to the country. Did you really think I did not know that her children were growing so close to the throne?"

"You never cease to surprise me, Mother," Marianne laughed, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Would ....that is, could you, perhaps, bring this matter to the king?" Elspeth asked the queen hesitantly. "They are so very afraid that he will not even consider their request to be married."

"Oh, he will consider it, right enough," Catherine predicted with a faint grin. "And he will say yes. I have not asked for a favor in a very long time; I think it is time I reminded him that I have opinions of my own about what my children are supposed to be doing with their lives."

"But ....didn't you arrange my marriage to Stephan?" Marianne asked in surprise.

"Oh, I arranged it," Catherine nodded. "After I was told it was going to happen." She reached over to touch Marianne's cheek gently. "Stephan chose you for himself, Mari. I do not think your marriage was so arranged as all that."

"I am very confused," Elspeth confessed as she glanced between the two women.

Catherine laughed once again, this time reaching to touch her niece's hand. "There is no need," she assured her. "But one of you should summon Felipe and Maksim, and one of you should invite Jane to join us here. By tomorrow morning, the king will want to speak to his son, and he will want to see them together when he gives his permission."

"And you are certain he will?" Elspeth asked in amazement.

"My dear little rose," Catherine smiled gently. "You will find, in time, that even the more war-like man can be tamed with a gentle touch. And if he loves his little rose, he will walk through fire to make her smile. All men are like this. And the wise woman knows when to wield that power over them. I have no doubt that you will prove to be as wise as your cousin here, when your time comes."

"If it ever comes," Elspeth murmured, but she was quickly interrupted by Marianne.

"It will come," she promised her cousin. "It may not be love at first sight, but do not forget ....you will be a king's sister. Your brother loves you too much to allow you to marry any man who is not worthy of you. Even if your husband does not love you at first, I have no doubt he will love you before long. As I have no doubt that you will love him."

"What man would want me?" Elspeth protested. "I could not go into marriage without revealing the truth about myself, and no man wants a woman already broken."

"You would be surprised," Catherine said softly. "Violence was done against you; any man who holds you accountable for it is not worthy of you. If violence is ever done against you again, be it in the marriage bed or not, you have a house and a family, and a warrior queen, who will happily unman the man responsible."

"But that isn't the point," Marianne added with a faint smile for her mother-in-law's fierce insistence that Elspeth would always be protected. "The point is, Els, that the man you marry won't hold it against you. Henry would never allow you to marry a man who would. In many ways, you are in a far better position than most of us ever are. As a king's sister, you will have suitors, and they will expect you to make it difficult for them. You cannot be tricked into a promise of marriage, because your brother will have to make that arrangement in person. You have the freedom to learn about the men who might wish to marry you, at your own leisure. Do not be so afraid. You may even end up with a horde of horse lords determined to defend your honor."

That was a step too far for Elspeth to believe, but her laughter broke the sense of tension hanging over her in their conversation. A horde of horse lords defending her honor, indeed. It was a ridiculous thought.

"There, that is better," Catherine smiled, rising to her feet to sit closer to Elspeth. "Now show me this sketch again, and we shall lay our plans against the dressmakers of doom."

As Elspeth spluttered with laughter, extracting the sketch to pore over it with her aunt, Marianne smiled to herself, returning her own eyes to her needlework, already formulating that summons for Felipe and Maksim in the back of her mind. A family affair, it would seem to be, and she must remember to tell Henry to invite Thomas and his wife as well. With Queen Catherine already decided, there was little chance that Felipe's request would be refused. Another royal wedding loomed.