Royal Gardens

I give a smile and nod "I see you are prepared for your lessons...that is good." I begin to walk about the garden and nod for Luisa to follow.

Luisa follows after her employer, trying to keep up while fanning herself with her hands, as the Summer heat gets to her.
"Madame," Luisa finally catches up, "when will our lessons begin?...and if I may ask, why our we dressed so very warmly?"

"Your lessons begin now," I nod. "You are dressed to receive and administer letters and other secret documents," I glide about the garden with Luisa at my side, "...long sleeves are good for slipping them in, and against the arm when one needs the utmost descretion."

"Oh," Luisa looks down at her sleeves. I watch my employer as she glides about the grounds with a head held high, moving gracefully as though we are not in the midst of the many intrigues and secrets she warns about.
Luisa frowns slightly, "madam...what kind of intrigues are we looking for precisely?"

Arthur looked down at his feet. So, this was it? Huh? Yes. Yes it was. It was his time to move on. Arthur had lived in the past for too long, and needed a fresh start. And, he was happy that arrangement with that nurse did not work out. He was not intrigued by her. But, he had heard of a new arrangement....and he hoped this woman would be...interesting. And, with that he walked the gardens...alone. But, he had not watched where he was walking and, bumped into a young lady. "Oh, my lord I am so, so, very sorry," he said, looking down at her.

I walk about the garden and turn to see young Luisa bumped into by a young man.
Had I been in France, I would have accosted him, perhaps even have made a scene, yet I walked on and gave Luisa a nod, to assure her I would keep an eye on the two, and meanwhile, carry on my duties of the day in the garden.
"The lesson will continue," I mouthed to her and walked to a different side of the garden. Yet as I walked away, and began to pace about the garden, watching the two, I could not help but wonder who this young man...

Luisa gave a blush as she ran into the young gentleman, and though she began to answer, her mind suddenly went blank for a moment.
She merely laughed, "pardon me...I was also not looking where I was going," she blushed.
Luisa looked up to see the young man better and her gaze quickly went back to her hands as she felt her cheeks grow warm at his handsomeness. She looked up to see her employer, the Countess de Fontanay, gliding at the opposite end of the garden, yet keeping a watchful eye on the two.
Luisa curtseyed, still not looking at the young man, "I think I was distracted by the roses," she laughed, nervously.

Arthur looked down at her, and smiled. "My lady, you," he continued,"did nothing wrong," he replied, to her. He bowed his head, and kissed her hand. "Do not worry. I see more beauty in you than the roses," he said, as he grinned.

Luisa blushed as his lips touched her hand, and she turned her head so he would not see the large smile that spread to her lips. She looked across the garden to her employer to make sure she did not see, as she knew she would be most upset.

"Oh, you do not mean that," Luisa blushed. "You are too kind, sir," she smiled, looking up at him.

He smirked, as she blushed. "No. No. My kady....it is true," he replied, to her. With that Arthur moved his arms behind him, and looked at Luisa. "Oh, and how terribly rude of me. I forgot to introduce myself. I am Arthur Ashdown. And, you are," he asked her.

Luisa gave a curtsey, a smile forming over her lips. Though she found the young man handsome, she knew her employer was still watching, so she was careful in not showing too much cleavage in her curtsey.

"I am Luisa Norburton, Mr. Ashdown" she blushed a little as she stood up. "Are you new to court?" she blinked.

"What a beautiful name, Luisa," he continued, and smiled," No. I am not new to court. In fact, I have been coming to court since I was a child," he replied, to her. Arthur folded his hands behind his back, and waited for her reply.

Luisa felt a slight chill go through her as he spoke her name. She began to blush again and quickly turned her head to the side to hide her reddening cheeks.

She looked up at him with wide eyes, "how very lucky you are, to have been able to come so often." She began to glide about the garden, looking at the roses and admiring the sun on her skin.

"I would not say I am lucky. I enjoy speaking to others, but it is nice to have time to myself....every now and then," he replied, as he smiled at her. He noticed she was adorable when she blushed.

Luisa turned her head as she felt her cheeks blush again. She felt silly in front of the handsome young man whom she blushed so often in front of, and she began to place her fingers and the roses and buds to keep herself occupied.

"Where are you from, my lord?" she spoke a little timidly. "Is it very near? If you have come so often."

"I am from Cornwall. It's not far. But, it's far enough so no one bothers me," he replied to her, and continued," And, you? Where are you from," he asked, looking at her. Arthur looked at her carefully, and smiled as she touched the roses, and the buds. He was happy to be near her.

She gave a laugh upon hearing no one would bother him. She gave a faint smile, "I am from Dorset...very far from here, I'm afraid," she felt a pinge of sadness in her heart.

Her fingers brushed agaisnt a rosebud and she rubbed the flower between her fingers, loving the soft feeling.

"Dorset? I have never been there. But, now I have an excuse to go there," he said, winking. Arthur looked at her, and wondered why she was so sad. He extended his arm out, and gently rubbed her back. "Are you okay, my lady? You can speak to me if you like,. Nothing is ever to crazy for me," he said, looking down at her. Arthur smiled softly, and hoped he was doing his best to put a smile on her face.

Luisa laughed, blushing and covering her mouth. She pursed her lips together, smiling as she turned to face him.

She had not expected him to touch her back, and yet she enjoyed the touch of a handsome gentleman...though she knew in her heart he should touch nothing more.

She smiled, looking up at him. "It is only that I know winter is coming...which means winter in Dorset," she gave a sigh, looking at the roses beside her. "My poor papa will perhaps become ill, again, and I will not be there to take care of him," she placed her hand on her heart, a great overwhelming wave of sadness sweeping over her.

"I am at the most extravagant place in perhaps all the world, having the days of my young life...while my papa is alone and perhaps ill."

Arthur looked at her, and listened carefully. He stepped back, and folded his hands behind him. "I am so sorry, my lady," he continued, and looked down," I know what it is like to lose a father. I was not more than a child......when I lost my father," he said, as he lifted his head. However, his heart broke even more for this young woman. Life was cruel. But, sometimes people had to do things they did not want to in life just to make ends meet. "My lady.....again I am so sorry," he said, with a frown.

She looked up at him, her eyes shining. "I am so sorry for your lost, goodsir...I lost my mother when I was a child...I know that pain," she placed her hand on her heart.

She could not believe how quickly she bore her soul to this handsome stranger, yet she found his eyes comforting, and in a matter of moments she found she was smiling at his face again.

She turned away, embarassed and blushing. "Pardon me...surely you are not used to speaking of such things to mere ladies like me," she gave a laugh.

Luisa pointed to a marble bench surrounded by rose bushes, "should you like to sit, sir?" she smiled. She slowly glided over, pulling her skirts to the side as she took a seat.
The truth was this young man made her so nervous and her heart beat so quickly she feared she would faint in front of him.

Some time had passed and Catherine was getting anxious. Charles had wanted to speak to her privately in the garden. Her heart was beating very fast. Catherine was a young lady and she was quite engrossed with Charles Brandon even though she was only his ward. He was such a handsome man of court. All of the eligible women desired him and Catherine, though young, was no different. She stole away to the garden in the moonlit autumn sky; waiting for Charles. She thought she heard something and noticed a sillouhette heading her way.

"Charles left the Great Hall to reach Catherine in the garden. He could still hear music coming from the Palace. He found Catherine standing next to a tree. Then he smiled and approached her with slow steps"

Catherine...thank you for accepting to see me. Sorry if you waited for too long...

"He said, trying to hide his nervousism"

Luisa Norburton wrote:

She looked up at him, her eyes shining. "I am so sorry for your lost, goodsir...I lost my mother when I was a child...I know that pain," she placed her hand on her heart.

She could not believe how quickly she bore her soul to this handsome stranger, yet she found his eyes comforting, and in a matter of moments she found she was smiling at his face again.

She turned away, embarassed and blushing. "Pardon me...surely you are not used to speaking of such things to mere ladies like me," she gave a laugh.

Luisa pointed to a marble bench surrounded by rose bushes, "should you like to sit, sir?" she smiled. She slowly glided over, pulling her skirts to the side as she took a seat.
The truth was this young man made her so nervous and her heart beat so quickly she feared she would faint in front of him.

Arthur looked at her, and looked down chuckling. She was the sweetest woman he had ever met. With that he walked over to the enchantingly beautiful Luisa, and tilted his head as he looked at her. "My lady," he continued, and stretched his arms out to her, and took her hands," it is perfectly alright. I have had stranger conversations," he said, to her. "Of course," he continued, and smiled," I would love to sit next to you," he said, to her. Arthur followed her to the bench, and sat down beside her. He folded his arms over his lap. Luisa was a very, very lovely girl. And, there was something about her; that made him feel so, so calm.

Luisa felt a chill go through her body at his touch, and she found herself blushing, again.

She gave a nervous laugh, becoming annoyed with herself for looking so fickle and childish. She gave a smile and led the way to the bench, taking a seat delicately beside the handsome young man.

She leaned toward him, her eyes widening. "Truthfully, sir, I am glad to have someone to talk to." She looked at the roses around the garden, "the only friend I have here is her ladyship, Madeline de Fontanay, and she is my employer,"she gave a shrug, "normally I am taking orders or learning lessons from her, that I have no one to speak to."

She gave a laugh, "where did you say you were from, sir?...is it very beautiful?" she smiled.