Welcome Dinner to Whitehall

Susan entered the Great Hall - with her hands clasped behind her slender back and gown of golden damask trailing a little behind, and her long fair hair left to flow free despite the pearl encrusted hood, her fluid steps.
As there was music played and dancing everything seemed well-as it did the year prior to this. However this year it was tinged with apprehension and uncertainty-Anne Boleyn had caused a stir. Every lady in court now emulated her fashion and behaviour. It seemed as though she had wished herself upon the court and everyone was utterly bewitched by her.

Taking a goblet of mulled wine Susan proceeded further into the hall and smiled at the other courtiers.

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Susan noticed the woman from the night before, she swept a curtsey and tilted her body a little to the right and she did her hair tumbled over her right shoulder like a waterfall,"Your Grace, good evening..."

She finally noticed her attractive features although she had also heard from the other maids that she was a mistress of The Duke of Suffolk. A friend of His Majesty but known for his ways with women. He was quite simply a magnetic human which all of the English roses at court fell for. There were very little women in court whom Charles Brandon did not know. He perhaps knew more about these women than their own husbands knew. He could tell you about their birth marks or freckles ,which were hidden beneath their clothes…and under garments. He could tell you their greatest secrets and desires which they openly confessed as they lay naked beside him at night.

"Yes, yes. I am well, Your Grace,"Susan said with a smile and took a sip of the mulled wine,"It was very kind of you to visit The Princess last night-I know she took great pleasure in your visit."

Susan's mind reflected to what should happen to The Princess in the future. There was talk of The Queen herself being cast aside and Her marriage to The King declared null and void. Anne Boleyn helped little with these thoughts The King had-she nurtured them like a babe in swaddling. She fed his doubts, told him The Queen no longer had her courses, whispered to him she could give him a son that he desired.
Susan pondered whether Mary would thus be declared illegitimate since the marriage between Their Majesties then be considered untrue...should Anne Boleyn succeed.

"Well there are many people indeed in court Your Grace-I doubt I shall ever acquaint myself with all the courtiers,"Susan laughed softly and finished her wine,"I arrived two years ago when I was just fifteen. My mother was a lady in waiting for Her Majesty and my father a diplomat. Since then I have waited upon The Princess and also been betrothed although still I am not yet married."

As ever with marriages dowries were usually the greatest of concern and not the young couple who would soon be thrust upon each other and have to live and breed with one another. Rarely there was love and this marriage was no different.

Thomas Tonge was a boy of sixteen and Susan was just ten when preparations for their marriage began. After years of debates over dowries, it was finally decided and both Thomas's and Susan's fathers were rather pleased. Susan came from a fertile lot and Thomas came from a family of note.
However due to her youth and naivety compared to Thomas-it was decided that on the eve of her turning eighteen she should be married. Therefore she had to wait and he insisted on courting her as if they were young lovers and free with their affections...

"Well The Princess resides at Ludlow Castle in the Welsh marches for part of the year and as such I attend upon her as a member of Her Highness' household,"Susan explained kindly and smoothed down her beautiful dress that spilled around her.

"Thank you, Your Grace. I fear it is not as pretty as yours but none the less ... thank you,"Susan beamed and glanced to her left hand, where sat the golden band on her finger. It was not usually customary for a man to give a woman a ring upon their engagement. However Thomas ,who was rather besotted, with Susan gave her the ring as a sign of his 'love and fidelity'...

Jane walked back into the hall after going for some fresh air, she went back to her table and smiled at Susan and Nan in a friendly, kind, way and took a sip from the wine in her Goblet.

Amanda walked into the hall wearing a light blue dress, she went up to the King and curtsied lowly before looking at Nan and sitting beside her 'Hello there, Susan!' She said to the woman talking to Nan and she turned to Nan 'Hello, Nan' She said.

Susan looked to the impetuous woman who approached her-her eyebrows raised and she took a step back. Clasping her hands in front of her intricately detailed stomacher she looked to Nan. Who was this woman,"Good evening...And you are,"Susan asked as a whipser.

Amanda stood up and smiled, where were her manners? she thought. 'I am Amanda Brown, Lady in Waiting for Lady Nan Saville' She said and she curtsied lowly to where her knees were nearly touching the floor and she lifted herself back up again.

"Lady Brown,"Susan said and bowed her head- a little bit unsure of this woman. She tugged on her stomacher and adjusted her hair that tumbled to her waist,"How did you know my name?"

Amanda opened her mouth to talk and smiled 'I heard my Lady Nan say it before i reached the table' She said and she moved abit of her delicate brown her from her eyes.

"I see,"Susan replied curtly and glanced to Nan,"Well I shall leave you to be with Her Grace,"she added quietly.

Susan swept a graceful low curtsey and rose with ease,"Good evening..."

Andrea nodded with a smile and sat down beside Nan, and looked at her 'Is there any gossip?' She asked.

Thomas Cromwell wrote:

Thomas walked into the hall, wearing his dark robes as usual. As he walked in her was announced and she walked with grace to The King and Queen and bowed 'Majesties' He said with a smile and he turned to Margaret 'Your Highness' He said before looking at Henry and smiling and he sat down at a table hoping to catch sight of his wife.

Elizabeth walked into the large hall, and looked around. And, she searched the half of the room as she looked for her husband. "He just has to be here. He just has to be here," she said. She stopped and fianlly spotted her husband. And, ran to her husband. "There you are," she said happily kissing him.

Amanda Brown wrote:

Andrea nodded with a smile and sat down beside Nan, and looked at her 'Is there any gossip?' She asked.

I walk towards the table where all the ladies sit and I see an empty chair, so I take it. For this occasion I have left my hair down and I am wearing my nicest gown. I smile to the ladies and curtsy.

"Hello ladies, my name is Catherine and I am one of Queen Catherine's ladies."

I walked into the Great Hall and joined Henry and Charles. I took a goblet of wine and admired all the new faces, especially all the beautiful women.