closed to @isabelofyork​

         uncommon was the companionship between the queen of england the ottoman sultan –– and yet, many things about the world, including the relations between western and eastern realms, were beginning to modernize into abnormal and baffling conditions. dilşah could not begrudge them anymore than she could begrudge the winds of change themselves; to do so, to brace herself against such transforming gusts, would only serve to jeopardise her own role in the seraglio. the journey to the tuileries palace, where queen isabel had taken residence, from the couvent was remarkably swift: only the bitterly cold air throwing a wrench in the cariye’s travels. rather unusually, however, dilşah arrived before the imposing fortress without the presence of her mistress the valide; instead, she had been dispatched to represent the sultan, and the velvet-clad box resting dutifully in her hands would soon elucidate the reason for her arrival. 

Perfunctory was the tone that surrounded their meeting. Public, amid the mingling company of the English court, in a show of good faith — such was his earnest desire to spare his brother from yet another troublesome matter taking residence in his mind, should the courtiers murmur that his own brother did not show proper deference to the Queen upon his arrival in Portugal. He refused to allow his own personal disdain to diminish his duty as a faithful steward of England, even if it meant bowing to the woman who had rushed to his brother’s bed the moment Lianor’s passing had left it vacant. 

         the sultan was not one to pay lip service to one undeserving –– and the queen of england certainly deserved every inch of homage iskender granted her in the company of the vizier. isabel neville was lively, articulate and evidently well versed in coquetry, able to recite the history and budding relationship between the empire from whence he hailed and the small, but vigorous isle she presided over as consort. his efforts to unify england and the ottoman were thus emboldened by the, admittedly, brief conversation he shared with king edward’s wife, as he felt a kindle of hope that she might return his sentiments as she offered him a chalice of wine. 

By the time she had finished, so had everything else, Rosalind leaving her things where they were and gathering a small pitcher of hot water and a clean towel from the laundry that had been dropped there. She also prepared a tray, readied cooler water for drinking and the rest of her usual accouterments before beginning her march to the Queen’s quarters. The tray heavy, Rosalind’s arms had grown strong from carrying them daily, nothing wobbling even as she ascended steps and used her backside to nudge at the door to open it. Gentle as she set the tray down, the Sun had fully risen now and it was with a hint of wickedness and joy at said wickedness that Rosalind pulled back the dark curtains and let the sun stream in and onto the Queen’s face. 

“Good morning,  your Majesty.”

         THE  NIGHTLY  ROUTINE  went  on  as  it  did  every  evening.  once  supper  had  been  enjoyed,  the  ladies  in  charge  of  taking  care  of  the  queen  in  her  private  chambers  went  to  readying  her  majesty  for  bed;  be  it  if  she  were  to  be  expecting  company  or  not.  elizabeth  beauchamp,  a  lady  getting  rather  old  for  the  position  in  which  she  currently  held,  found  herself  to  be  the  last  of  the  women  seeing  to  isabel’s  needs  due  to  her  almost  dream-like  state  as  she  was  lost  in  her  own  thoughts.  the  brush  glided  through  the  queen’s  hair  as  though  it  were  silk,  the  repeated  motion  being  so  relaxing  that  it  threatened  to  LULL  the  maid-of-honour  to  sleep,  until  she  caught  the  gaze  of  her  majesty  in  the  mirror  and  offered  a  gentle  smile.  “  forgive  me,  your  majesty,  i  find  being  here  often  lures  me  into  deep  thought.  your  ladies-in-waiting  have  been  greatly  excited  of  their  marriage  prospects  as  of  late  and,  i  must  confess,  it  would  be  untrue  if  i  were  to  claim  their  talk  did  not  do  the  same  for  myself...  it  leads  me  to  confess  that,  when  the  day  should  come  that  i  am  to  be  married,  with  your  blessing,  i  should  be  sad  to  leave  your  service  for  you  have  given  me  the  opportunity  of  my  life.  ”