Madeline De Fontanay's bedchamber

Tres Joli
Oh, I love blue!

I enter my bedroom just as the maids leave, leaving behind a large basin-like tub filled to the brim with steamy, hot water scented with Lavender and Jasmine. I smile enthusiastically, and quickly undress, leaving only my chemise to cover my body as I lie in the hot water. I lean my head back against the cool tub, and though I close my eyes in thought, I cannot help but think constantly. Why am I so very tired? Why do I tire so easily these days? Surely I do not age so dramatically? Surely being at this new and English court means I am to be in the land of the young and living. I cannot possibly be as old as I feel. I look at my hands and touch my face, and assure myself that I am still young, though seemingly alone and unmarried. I lie down further in the tub until my full body lies underneath the bubbly warm water, and as I hold my breath, I make a pact: to always appear the center of attentions and affections, to be more than myself, and to marry and make my family proud.

I enter my bedroom and close the door quickly behind me, feeling my cheeks grow warm and red. I touch my hands to them and rub my temples, trying to concentrate.
Think, think, think, think, think! Who can I speak to? Who?! I know things!
I do know things, don’t I?...Ugh! I know nothing! Nothing of this court!!...Think, think! Who can I speak to? Who can I get on my side?!
I begin to pace frustrated.
I must find some high courtiers, some ladies perhaps. I must find some servants whose mouths I can control for mine ear alone. I need someone who knows everything and will only work in my favor!!
And I need to speak to the king.
I stop pacing.
I need to speak to his majesty. I need to let him know that I offer my services for the good of the crown and the good of his court. I must let him know that I work for his discretion and report to him only. And I must make sure I either join Wolsey…or work against him.

I enter a large chamber, decorated in tapestries and blue furniture. I look around the room nervously, clutching my straw hat in my hands along with my small knapsack as I catch sight of a neatly dressed woman seated at a writing desk, busily writing a letter.

I sense someone in the room with me, and turn to see a very young woman.
“Can I help you?” I frown slightly. This cannot be...her, can it? I think to myself

I remember what my papa told me, and try to give my best curtsey, though I stumble slightly in the dress that is too large.
“My name is Luisa Norburton, ma’am,” I nod nervously, “I am sent here to work for the Countess, Madeline De Fontanay.”

My eyes rise slightly in horror, though I make sure to wipe the expression away quickly. Good heavens, she looks like a child, I think. This is the maid who is supposed to help me at my duties for the crown?...this is the maid who will be delivering my messages and writing in my interests?
“I am the Countess de Fontanay,” I stand to my feet. I begin to pace around her, noting the dirtiness of her hair, complexion and gown, along with its bagginess as though the dress were not meant for her.
“Please, quickly tell me about yourself,” I speak, “how old you are, where you are from…why you are here?”

“Ma’am,” I swallow as she paces around me. “I am just turned seventeen…I am from Dorset, very much near the coast, and I am here to work for you so that I may save some of my pay, and send the rest to my papa in Dorset.” I look at the old tapestries of the room, “my papa fought as a captain in the war between the two houses…but that was a long time ago.”

“And where is your mama?...you did not mention her.” I cannot help but often notice when others mention not their mother.

I look down, blinking, so that I do not cry, though my face grows warm. “She died when I was very young, ma’am...it has only been me and my papa."

I see the young girl’s sadness and know truly it hurts her to not have had a mother. I know very well what it was like to not have a mother…or not much of one.
“I am sorry,” I nod.
I look her very seriously in the eye. “I must be very blunt with you, Luisa, you are not what I was expecting.”
I begin to pace around the room, “I was hoping to have a lady old enough to follow specific direction and command, to carry out specific and certain services, and old enough to stay out of trouble and to be intelligent and a step ahead of most.”

“I learn quickly, ma’am,” I start to panic slightly. “My papa raised me to be kind and to do as I’m told and to always help…and this lady in town taught me how to read and write,” I start to stutter, as I often do when I am nervous.

“Be calm,” I hold up a hand, “I do not mean I would send you back home,” I laugh. “I only mean you are not what I was expecting, but it is clear I shall have to teach you a few things.”I start to pace about the room, again. “This job, I warn you, requires not only your duties, but also…others.”I turn on my heel to face her. “Luisa…I am on a mission here in England to collect certain information about certain people, that I may return to the king…and the king has informed me of his permission to collect information from the French court as well.”I see Luisa’s expression.
“However, that explanation is for another time.” I begin to pace, again. “For now I shall tell you, that before I receive breakfast, I attend mass, everyday…at breakfast it matters not what I get, yet I take a cup of milk every morning,” I stop, “And at night I take a goblet of Hypocras for color before I go to bed.”I begin to look at her dress, again. “I see you are in need of wardrobe,” I nod, “I’ll buy you some dresses, but only a few, when you earn your pay you shall have to yourself.”

I listen to my employer attentively and nod, trying to remember all she tells me, and feel a slight rise of joy at the mention of new dresses.

“You’ll have one ball gown I shall buy for you, and the rest shall be for everyday wear and mass,” I list off. “Your room is that way,” I point to a small door to the right.
“I expect you to be up and ready every morning for your duties and mass, preferably face washed, hair clean…you represent me, and I’ll not have you looking like a banshee.” I give a faint laugh, “we wouldn’t want that, now would we?”
“Also, I must warn you that you are, in fact, very pretty to the eye,” I look at her seriously, “when one is an unmarried maid at court it is very easy to attract a few gentlemen’s wandering eyes.” I place my hand on her shoulder, “yet I’ll not tolerate any unladylike conduct or actions or wantonness with men’s affections.”

I shake my head furiously, “oh, no, of course not, ma’am…there is nothing to worry about.” I look down at my straw hat, “I doubt any of them would notice me, anyway.”

I give a faint smile, “then we understand each other.” I return to my seat at the writing desk, “I’ll give you today off to look around the palace for familiarity, and you have every Sunday off.”

I give a curtsey, excited to be able to have a day of rest from my journey. “Thank you ma’am!”

I give a nod and wave, pointing to the room to the right, and quickly, I am left with the sound of my own writing as she leaves the room.

I hurry into my ladyship's chambers, hearing the distress in her voice and give a curtsey, "Ladyship?"

“Luisa, it is to my understanding,” I begin to pace, somewhat confused myself. “I think you shall be alone for quite some time, for soon I shall be returning to my cousin’s home of Fontanay and to the French Court.”

Luisa’s eyes rise and she cannot help but feel excited at what her employer says. “And…will I be able to go with you, ladyship?”