Alfonsina Garcia's Bedroom

After Margaret's words , Alfonsina got excited.

"Oh Margaret... Will you really do this? Please... I miss him so much that you can't imagine."

After a month , she was really smiling.

Margaret nodded happily and stood up "I'm going to take him, then. You stay here and continue to rest, my lady. I'll be back in a while..." She curtsied and left the room. After few minutes, she opened the door again and walked in. She was bringing little Rinaldo in her arms. The baby was still sleeping, so she approached Alfonsina's bed slowly and sat on it with slow movements. She showed Rinaldo's cute face to her "Your son, my lady. He is healthy and very beautiful, as you see. Just be careful, he is sleeping..." She said whispering, smiling wide. She could see happiness in Alfonsina's eyes

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Katherine arrived outside her ladies lodgings and brushed her hands against her dress and pinched her pale cheeks. She did not need to worry of how she looked-her beauty was always present and even if dressed in a gown of the poorest value and with no shoes on her feet she would still catch the eye of many.

With a chap and a quick clearing of her throat she waited to be allowed into the room.

When she took Rinaldo into her arms , she thought that she was the happiest person ever. She looked at her son with smiling.

"He is growing so fast that I can't keep up."

While she was smiling , she heard a noise coming from the door. She looked at Margaret.

"Can you please open the door , Margaret?"

She asked with a soft voice.

Within seconds of hearing a deep murmur from within the apartments, the heavy door swung open. Clutching the handle was young girl-perhaps the same age as Katherine, if not younger.
With her unfailing sincere kindness Katherine smiled; her clear eyes danced brightly and her skin glowed with a soft flush of rose.

With a nod, Katherine entered the room-head turned down. Only when she rose from her reverent bow was her beautiful face shown and illuminated in the sun lit room. Although she could not help be a little taken aback to see The Duchess frail in her bed-still in her night dress.
Contrary to the person before her-Katherine had anticipated a lady of greatness and incalculable wealth, to dressed in the finest of clothes and practising the greatest of courtly behaviour.

Somehow this made this woman of greatness seemed fragile, perhaps even weak in her bed. Despite this however there was no denying her beauty and her wealth was still obvious as on her finger was a sparkling wedding ring and in her arms a sleeping child. Katherine smiled warmly,"Your Grace, I am Katherine Clement-your new maid…I trust you received my letter?"

Margaret put little Rinaldo in Alfonsina's arms. As she asked her to open the door, she stood up and went to see who was knocking. Once she opened, she saw a young lady and invited her to come in "Oh...good day, my lady. You must be the duchesse's new lady. We were waiting for you. She is not feeling very well...but please, come in..." She watched the lady entering silently and closed the door behind her. Then she reached Alfonsina's bed again

When Margaret opened the door , a young girl came in. Alfonsina looked at the girl for a while. She was young and pretty. Also she seemed she was kind too. Alfonsina smiled after Margaret's and young girl's words. She nodded.

"Yes , I received your letter Katherine. But I couldn't write an answer because of my illness. Sorry.."

Rinaldo was moving inside her arms. Alfonsina looked at her son and kissed his forehead softly then she turned Katherine again.

"Welcome to the court Katherine. I am sure that we will get along well. Did you meet with Margaret?"

Then she pointed two chairs which were beside her bed to them to sit down.

Katherine took some steps forward, with each step her little heeled shoes clicked sharply on the ground, until she stood at the foot of the grand bed. With a nod of her head Katherine looked closely at the child wriggling in her arms and as the Duchess planted a tender kiss on their forehead-Katherines heart sighed,"Your Grace should not apologise-I am only sorry I had not arrived earlier so I may tend upon you."

Katherine glanced to Margaret and give her an amiable smile as she took a seat on the carved wooden chair-closet to the bed. Clasping her hands on her lap she smiled adoringly at the child,"No, madam. I have not met any one here in court before. Though I came when I was a young girl on some occasions. Now I am of an age to be here on my own accord I have come to wait upon, Your Grace. If I may, madam...may I thank you again for allowing me to serve you-it is an honour."

Katherine tapped the babies hand and laughed softly,"Your's I assume, Your Grace?"

Margaret sat on the chair Alfonsina's showed them and looked at the young girl "My name is Margaret Wyatt, my lady. It's nice to meet you. I'm lady Alfonsina's personal lady in waiting, and I am happy that we can work together, since now..." She greeted her with a smile and turned to little Rinaldo again

Katherine stared wide eyed at Margaret as she spoke-slowly a beautiful smile formed on her red lips,"You are sister of Thomas Wyatt? The poet?"

Margaret nodded "Yes, my lady...he is my brother. Do you know him?" She asked with a proud smile

Katherine sighed wistfully and said softly,"Oh I know him only by his work-he is a most gifted and talented writer. You must be very proud, Lady Margaret?"

Margaret nodded again "Indeed, I am, my lady. He is all my family..." She smiled weakly and turned her eyes towards Alfonsina and little Rinaldo

While her lady-in-waitings were talking , Alfosina watched Rinaldo o little. He was so sweet and handsome. After Rinaldo realized her mother was looking at her , he smiled a little. Then she turned the ladies.

"So tell me Katherine? Who did you meet with after you arrived at court?"

She smiled soflty.

(I am sorry , I couldn't be online for a few days because of my health problems. Sorry for the delay.)

Margaret noticed that Alfonsina was still rather tired, so she stood up and took little Rinaldo into her arms again "It's better for you to sleep, my lady. I don't want you to get tired. I will come back with your son this evening, after dinner..." She smiled at Rinaldo's cute face and turned to Katherine "My lady...would you be so kind to leave the duchess have rest? You can talk with Her Grace tomorrow..." She said kindly, glancing at Alfonsina to see if she agreed

When she was feeling quite rather tired , she heard Margaret's words. Then she nodded.

"I am sorry to interrupt our conversation.. But I think I'd better have some rest."

Then she kissed Rinaldo softly and watched her son while Margaret was taking him from Alfonsina. She smiled when she heard she could see her son again.

"Thank you Margaret.."

Margaret touched softly Rinaldo's little hand and curtsied "See you this evening, lady Alfonsina. I think he is hungry and I'll bring him to his governess again..." She smiled and turned to Katherine "Would you follow me, my lady? I'll show you ladies in waiting's rooms..." She smiled warmly at Alfonsina again and left the room with Katherine, holding little Rinaldo in her arms

After they left , Alfonsina started to watch outside from her window.

"Charles decided to visit his dear Alfonsina that afternoon. He haven't talked with her since a while, and also he heard she still was sick. He stopped in front of her door and knocked"

Alfonsina...may I come in? It's me...Charles...

While she was watching outside from her window , she heard a noise in front of her door. She smiled to herself because she knew that voice very well.

"Come in.."

It was Charles.Alfonsina missed him so much because they haven't talked with each other for a long time.

"Charles opened the door and walked in with a smile. He approached her bed and kissed her hand gently, feeling happy to see her smiling"

Alfonsina...I missed you so much in these days. I came to see if you're alright. How do you feel?

"He asked with tender voice, sitting on the chair next to her bed"

She smiled wider when she saw Charles. He was looking good compared to last time Alfonsina had seen him.

"I am very good now , because I saw a dear friend of mine. How are you , Charles? It's been quite long. I missed you so much too."

"Charles smiled her back and squuezed softly her hand"

I'm happy to see you feel better. I noticed my cures worked. And how is your son, dear?

"He asked, looking at her beautiful face"

She smiled and answered his question.

"He is growing so fast. I saw him today after a long time. You know.. Because of my illness , it was forbidden to see my son. But Margaret took him for me. What about your children? And I heard you have some love interests."

She giggled and winked playfully after her last words.