bemuse/beguile

          Midday frequently ended up being John’s most busy hours, as it allowed him time to catch up from the day before, anticipate the next, and put out whatever fires had decided to light in the last twelve hours after he had awoken for the day. Letters to be sent, invitations to respond to, meetings to be arraigned, and other diplomatic negotiations done. In the second tier of priorities was making sure his books were settled, accounts were reviewed, updates from his most trusted and high ranked staff to ensure that everything was progressing as things should. Rarely having time to eat a full meal, but always requesting one be brought to whatever chambers he had conquered as his study, John usually managed to eat his midday meal while still progressing through his tasks. 

     Walking through the halls of the castle back towards his study, John read a piece of parchment that had been sent with the last English ship to arrive in Portugal. His steward in York had been tasked with sending updates, as much of the world knew that the nobility of almost every nation was in Portugal, and if there was a time to test borders, it was now. With the Scots to his north, John never could be more careful. Reading the mans update, which included miscellaneous things with such updates, the Duke did not often worry about not devoting his full attention to where he is going. When you were one of the most powerful people in England, people moved for you. Which is why when someone did not, John bumped into them at full speed of a brusque walk, sending his parchments in hand to the floor and the Duke grabbing a wall to prevent staggering to the ground. 

      Snapping his head to see who had gotten under foot, his eyes already narrowed in anger, he noticed it was one of his sisters ladies. Blowing out a breath to regain control, his impulse to yell at her, the anger did not dispel that easy. “Lady Rosalind,” he said, through somewhat gritted teeth, not observing any bow to her. “I am well aware you were not paying attention, or my papers would not be scattered about and I would not be interrupted in my day,” he responded, his voice cool. “Where are you going that you walk so blithely?”

There was always a shiver when eyes landed on lord John.  The very nature of him, his appearance, his mannerisms -- all of them seemed so brutish and intolerable to any and every thing. It was an unfortunate thing to cross his path in such a manner, be it a good day for him or bad. Rosalind was always well-liked and agreeable to people, which was what unnerved her about John. She had yet to endear herself to him and win his favor and approval, which meant treading lightly and not getting on his bad side. Of course, it wasn't exactly punishable by death to disagree with him -- though it felt like it -- but being the Queen's brother gave him power that Rosalind couldn't match.

Naturally, keeping all the in mind, she would knock things from his hand and make herself look incompetent. "Forgive me, my lord." She echoed again, avoiding his gaze and attempting to gather his things. "I was --" She paused, tucking her gown away as she moved to stoop and pick them up. " I was leaving the dining area and in a hurry to get back to her majesty, your sister." She excused, putting exhausted emphasis on her words to appear more tired somewhat. When in doubt, lie. That's what her father would have instructed her to do. 'Always tell the truth until you cannot', he would remind her. Staying favorable mattered more than being honest. Honesty lead men to gallows. " The fault is all mine, of course -- I just was distracted recounting my duties for the day when that knight greeted me. But the fault is truly my own." She sighed, humbly, albeit lacking genuine regret for anything but bumping into the wrong person.

Point Call - July 20th

Point Call - July 20th

Hoping the walk would cure it, Rosalind intended on taking the long way around back to her chamber, which was a much busier stretch of hall that was riddled with hurrying servants tending to tasks, giving her pause to greet those who offered a nod or bow in her direction, keeping her somewhat alert until that too became monotonous and a habit. And her smiles and responses became more and more automatic, Rosalind glanced behind her to give a delayed greeting to a roaming knight and collided with someone before her. Gasping at the collision, Rosalind whipped her head forward to lock eyes with John Neville, the older and admittedly more intimidating of the Queen’s brothers. His reputation alone was enough to humble her, be it rumor or not, so naturally, when she came to, her eyes went wide.

“My lord --” She exclaimed in a meek tone as she took two steps back and out of his personal space, then offering a deep curtsy in an effort to gain forgiveness. “ Please forgive me, Sir, I was not paying attention to where I was going, the fault was mine.” She rambled, daring to look up.”

( closed starter for @rosalindinwaiting​ ) location: rossio square

lisbon was a charming city, ivana thought. the princess had spent the her leisure time, or the little of it she had, exploring and learning much about the city. she was only here for a while and she did not know when she would be able to come back after the summit so she saw to it that she would be able to get the most of the portugese experience. the rossio square has been one of her favorite locations as of late. it was almost always alive and bustling with people. there was so much to see in such a compacted area. 

yet again, ivana found herself in wandering the square, absolutely captivated by it. they’ve circled the area a few couple of times, stopping by shops and stalls to see what each one offered. she may or may not have indulged in a little bit of shopping herself but how could she not? little toys for lucca and trinkets and presents for her parents for when she goes back to croatia. the princess surely did not waste any moment while in lisbon. 

“have you ever seen textile and fabric as beautiful as these, lady rosalind?” ivana asked as she ran her hands through the delicate fabrics that the shop owner has laid out for them to inspect. “the colors are so vibrant, aren’t they?”

It was a beautiful day in Rosalind’s opinion, as many a day had been spent indoors tending to her mistress’ needs while she attended whatever royal business she dealt with. It was all growing monotonous and boring rather quickly, which was why Rosalind always took her moments away seriously. Beyond getting a break from her duties, Rosalind was always happy for any opportunity that presented itself to associate with other outside her country and station. It would only benefit her as the more friends she had in high places, the more reasons she had to assert herself in certain circles. It was also a fantastic cure for loneliness and boredom.

Today, on her day of reprieve, her company was kept by a princess from another land. Naturally, when the invitation was extended, Rosalind jumped at the chance to spend time with royalty she didn’t have to serve. While remaining respectful of Ivana’s title, Rosalind was doing her utmost to familiarize herself with the woman in hopes that they would become friends. 

As they strolled, Rosalind looked upon every stall and shop admirably, but refraimed from indulging herself until she found something uncommon that she truly could not live without. Yet to find said item, she allowed herself to be distracted when Ivana called her attention elsewhere. “They are indeed; truly vibrant...” Rosalind agreed genuinely. “It is as if they dipped the fabrics in the glow of the Sun itself. How do they dye it, I wonder....” Rosalind mused as she picked up a sample that was tinted with a deep orange color and held it to Ivana’s shoulder, examining her carefully. “ Such a hue suits you, princess. I can only imagine the expression of everyone should you walk into a room in a gown of this color. Surely everyone else’s wardrobe would turn green from envy.”

isabel  winced  as  the  sun  streamed  through  the  drawn  back  curtains,  rousing  her  from  her  otherwise  deep  and  peaceful  sleep. turning  away  from  the  remarkably  chipper  voice  of  her  ladies - maid,  rosalind,  the  queen  buried  her  features  within  her  pillow.  rather  infamously,  isabel  was  not  a  morning  person,  she  preferred  to  lie  in  semi - slumber  for  as  long  as  was  reasonably  possible  and  have  the  children  brought  to  her  on  the  mornings  when  edward  was  otherwise  engaged  –––  only  this  way  were  mornings  not  only  tolerable  for  her,  but  pleasant  too.  that  morning,  however,  there  would  be  no  time  for  family  aloofness  or  tender  caresses,  she  had  appointments  all  day  and  as  promised,  rosalind  was  assuring  that  she  would  not  need  to  rushed.    

❛  how  are  you  so  amiable  in  the  morning ? ❜  she  asked  upon  a  yawn,  finally  peaking  up  to  the  younger  woman  who  hovered  above  her.  ❛  it  is  incredibly  irritating. ❜  with  her  eyes  finally  adjusted  to  the  light,  isabel  rolled  onto  her  back  and  stretched  her  arms  aboved  her  head  with  a  contented  sigh,  as  the  aches  and  stifness  eased  from  her  body.   ❛  i  hope  you  slept  well,  lady  rosalind,  we  have  quite  the  day  ahead  of  us  –––  did  you  instruct  nurse  to  awaken  and  ready  the  children ?  ❜  she  queiried  as  she  moved,  her  legs  maneuvouring  over  the  side  of  bed  as  she  sat.

It was a small, petty sort of attack on the queen that served no purpose other than to give a hint of joy to Rosalind, who felt particularly lacking in her own confidence and only knew to take it out on someone else to feel better. Was it right? No, but given her upbringing and her father’s love of showing off and belittling others, Rosalind herself knew little better. “ I suppose I received and ample amount of rest the previous right, my queen.” Rosalind answered with a shrug in her tone. Of course, she also had youth on her side, but she was not so foolish as to mention that. Instead she took to the side of the bed and began folding down the Queen’s sheets before moving to retrieve the warm water and cloth she had prepared for the Queen to wash her face. “Yes, your Grace, I have.” She smiled, holding in a laugh that her attitude, while personable, was irritating. While irritating Isabel yielded nothing, there was nothing Rosalind had besides her youth to admire for a queen.

“Her lady Anne has sadly inherited your Majesty’s distaste for the morning. I hear tell from her maid that she was required to be dragged from her blankets.” Rosalind said in jest. As she waited for the queen to tend to herself, Rosalind moved to her wardrobe, retrieving her robe and slippers and moving back to lay them beside the queen. “ But her maid assured me that she would have the children ready on time. Worry not, your grace. Your only worry at present should be what you which to wear today.” Rosalind smiled, knowing full well that it was not the only worry the queen had, but remained blissfully ignorant to appear foolish to such matters like most ladies were. 

Point Call - July 13th

Hearing her reply, Selim chuckled slightly.  “Perhaps not, but I confess, I’d have preferred to have found it out by more humanistic means than wanton destruction.”  He laughed and shook his head.  “In truth, I believe the stones were already lose and my weight merely expedited the inevitable outcome.”

Hearing her apology, he shook his head.  “There is no need for that, my lady,” he assured.  “Who could fault you for surprise?  In turn, may I crave that you might excuse my own?  In my shock, I fear I did not react with the dignity due my office,” he laughed, recalling his own shout.  “I think, in this case, ancient masonry is more at fault than carelessness, but whatever the cause, I hope this forewarning to the both of us will prevent any kind of harm in future.”  

Despite himself, Selim found himself suppressing a grin and a chuckle as he pictured some poor unsuspecting lady seating herself at the edge of the fountain, only to slide into it.  In his efforts to subdue laughter, he attempted to nod gravely.  “Indeed,” he replied.  “I doubt as her seamstress would have much appreciated such a move on a lady’s part, nor their mother in the case of children.”

Seeing her smile, Selim allowed his own features to relax into a similar position.  “I must thank you, my lady, for your kind regard, but I assure you, the only injury done was to my pride.  Where a lady or a child might answer to their seamstress or mother, I must contend with my own wounded dignity, having been so easily overcome by a slippery tile,” he joked, smile brightening.  “That will teach me to think so highly of myself, hm?”

Though she tried to keep it in, Rosalind could not help the gentle giggle that slipped between her lips. The initial sound came as a shock, but admittedly, the scenario of what happened was somewhat comical. Hand covering her mouth to muffle the sound as she composed herself, Rosalind shook her head, dropping her hand before she spoke through a smile. “ It could be as you say it is, but you may just be like Samson himself without knowing. I would suspect many a man would like to possess the strength to move packed stoned one their own. Had I been a man I would have feared your might.”

More collected than before, Rosalind shook her head as well. “ I assure you there is nothing to excuse, my lord. Any in your position would have done the same. Had it been myself I shudder to imagine the sound I would have let out in fear that the very ground beneath me were crumbling.” Rosalind joked with a soft laugh. “ But in the future, yes, I will be more mindful of where I take my rest least it not be as secure as it looks. I understand now that some things are for viewing only.”

He had a point in his agreeing with her assessment, but as a man he must have encountered many a cut or a bruise that made a scrape like the one he received seem like nothing. “ I assure you that your dignity is in tact and that you reacted rather gallantly.  My eyes are the only witness to the incident and I can promise you that my lips will remain sealed should anyone ask, other than my confirming that your strength was to blame.” Rosalind promised with a nod.

He was, though his garb told a story of a far away land, a gentleman in his behavior, which prompted Rosalind to act like the lady she was. Reaching at the side of her skirt for her handkerchief, Rosalind offered the cloth to him. “ would you mind terribly if I saw your hand, my lord? For my own peace of mind if nothing else.”

Not arrogant enough to presume she looked nice in her favorite color, but arrogant enough to admire picturing herself in Isabel’s gown? While William thought that a certain level of admiring was harmless, he didn’t feel like her innocent behavior quite matched up with her behavior. She was far too composed and didn’t seem that sorry about being caught, didn’t seem as thought she was caught at anything, and for some reason, William didn’t think that Isabel was hosting dress up sessions with the woman.

Of course, she was the daughter of a duke, wasn’t she? A noble of some rank, so perhaps she was simply so entitled that she thought she could do such a thing since Isabel wasn’t of any higher rank until she wed. Even if William didn’t always hold the proper amount of respect for someone according to what most thought their rank demanded, the fact Isabel was his sister meant that William was far more inclined to dislike any sort of slight towards her and something about the woman’s behavior struck him as off.

He didn’t want to think that she was a common thief, but still, it was best to make sure because it was better for him to be wrong than for him to leave someone questionable around his family.

“For issues concerning my sister, I can always make time.” William assured her, nudging the box with his gift for Isabel slightly further onto the nightstand so that it wasn’t likely to fall off. “And as for help, it seemed as though you might need assistance locating just where my sister’s clothing goes. Or perhaps managing to make it all the way there.” A subtle rebuke, but not one that threatened any sort of punishment even as he made it clear to her that he was watching what she did.

Without a shadow of a doubt, he was looking down upon her. While she could stand many things, being treated as though she had no birthright and was a common servant was not one of them. Especially not from someone who was very similar in status, regardless of whom married into where and brought their family along. With this in mind, Rosalind smiled, though there was none of her usual sweetness behind it. “ And what, may I be so bold as to ask, is the matter that concerns his lordship? “ She asked, brow cocked. “Might I remind you, sir, that I am no common, uneducated girl serving to ear her family’s bread and butter. I am more than capable of putting away the queen’s things as I have done many a time. I am not only clever enough to do such things but I am clever enough to notice sly jabs at my person. It is an insult to me to suggest that my education in such things is lacking.”

She knew she shouldn’t have had such venom in her tone as it was hardly lady-like, but Rosalind was not one to be disrespected so openly. Knowing in the back of her mind that she had defended herself well enough and that she should have left it there, Rosalind couldn’t stand being chided so shamelessly.

“If his majesty -- forgive me, his lordship -- I seem to have forgotten your place for a moment.” Rosalind paused. “ If you wish to take such close care for your sisters things, for whatever the curious reason, I would happily let you attend to the task and take my place at her side, but I would not advise it least people suspect something.” She paused, again, choosing her words. “ Such things might raise question about your character as well as your familial relationship and reflect poorly upon her majesty. Likewise I should think that it is the Queen’s choice in who tends to her things, though you are more than free to ask her what she would prefer -- her brother as her lord-in-waiting, or me.”

There was a long, soft exhale after her speech, the anger melting away having stood her ground the man who so blatantly made tasteless remarks over something all females were guilty of. “ Now, good sir, if you are quite through with your task, might I get back to mine?”

🙃- For a lighter, slightly embarrassing secret

Dearest Diary,

I took a long walk today on my own through a garden, wanting time alone to tend to my own thoughts. I am no fancier of romance, but on my walk I happened across young lovers. I must admit, I felt...something. It was not envy, but I feel as though it was something akin to that. I watched them in secret, though I know that I shouldn’t have as it was a private moment. I watched as their fingers intertwined and they locked each other in a passionate embrace. I watched on and their whispered words and soft giggling could faintly be heard, though what they said, I could not say. It seemed like something indulgent, really... To have such love and to display it like fine dress, but they were not in the public eye faulting it. It was just for them.

I felt suddenly very confused. I wondered, dear diary, what the point of something was that you only had for some one person but not for others to see. What value comes from such actions? I felt very lost trying to understand the value in something that cannot be bought. My mother would say it is because I haven’t ever allowed myself to fall in love and feel those feelings, but how can you give yourself to someone that way for nothing? Is the purpose of everything we do not to gain something from it?

Dearest Diary,

I had the strangest dream last night. The more I wake up, the more it seems to fade from my memory, so I wanted to write it all down. I have never been one to assume that dreams mean something, but in case such superstitions are true, I hope that this has a meaning deeper than it’s surface.

I awoke in the woods bathed in moonlight, the Moon full and shockingly close. Beneath me was cold grass and a pile of leaves, damp as though it had rained. The leaves were oddly organized, as if someone had fashioned it into a bed and lay me atop and left me there. I rose rather quickly and looked around to find my way when I heard a howling sound. It was terrifying, and I fled instantly. It was chasing me, I know it. It snarled a horrid snarl that made me shiver and run faster, the dampness of my gown from laying in the wet leaves weighing me down and making it harder to run. I tried, but my legs began to burn from the effort. Just then I saw a house, candles in the window, burning so bright. I ran towards it and when I reached the doors I pushed them open and rushed into the room, slamming them behind me to keep the beast out and when I turned, there was a party. I saw a large ballroom filled with people who all paused to stare at me. I felt ashamed as I had just came in uninvited, and as I moved to grab my dress, I noticed that I was...bare.

It was as though in my haste the branches and thicket had torn it to nothing without my knowing, leaving my body there for eyes to partake of. No one said anything, not even a snicker or an attempt to offer me a covering.  I broke into tears and sank to the ground, hiding my naked body and when I looked up, everyone in the room had turned into a shadow with red eyes. They stared and I knew that this was the beast that had followed me from the woulds. It wasn’t chasing me, but leading me to it’s kin.

Dearest Diary,

Today I embark upon a journey that I shall truly remember for the rest of my life. I will be accompanying my lady to Portugal, as one would when the serve a royal. She is the queen, after all, and heaven forbid there is no servant around -- she likely would not know how to get herself dressed after so long of having people tend to her every need. I do not fault her for it as I assume that I would become the same in said position.I would like to think that I would be more sufficient in such manners, but as Nan often said, wealth and title changes everyone. I would hope never to become so dependent..

name:  rosalind de la pole

age: twenty-six

zodiac sign: scorpio

one good trait: sensible

one bad trait: envious

habits:

one bad habit: over-thinking

 one good habit: being tidy/tiding daily

one habit they can’t break: chewing her lip

one they’ve broken: fidgeting

what they’re afraid of: insects

family:

their parents names:  francis de la pole ( father) margeret del la pole

their siblings names: chauncy, harcourt

 favorite childhood memory: learning to ride a horse

 favorite childhood toy: a hand-made doll gifted from her maternal grandmother

embarrassing story: her first blood happened at her twelfth birthday party, staining the white dress she wore in front of everyone

 favorite family member: her maternal grandmother

 a story about that family member: her maternal grandmother was a foreign woman without a past to speak of. she was orphaned and taken in by a noblewoman who could not have children of her own and thus raised her as she would her own child, but rosalind’s grandmother never forgot what the cruel parts of life were like, and even though she was introduced to luxury, she taught her daughter and likewise her granddaughter to always be strong and never be pushed around, even if that lesson was somewhat lost on rosalind

what they prefer:

coffee or tea? tea

 showering in the day or night? night

taking baths or taking showers? baths

tv or movies?

 writing or reading? reading

platonic or romantic love? platonic

 iced tea or lemonade? lemonade

ice cream or smoothies? 

cupcakes or cake? cake

beach or mountains? mountains

favorites:

song:

 band: 

outfit: anything lilac colored

place: large, empty libraries

memory: the first time she went to a large party

person: her grandmother

movie: