Wolsey's Private room

´...ten, I am coming!´ he calls, blinking his eyes to see sharp again. He winks at Joan and Emilie and stands up to search her, making a lot of noise while he moves through the room.

´Yes, you are right, they were the world´s future! Like many young people who are eager to change the world... ´

When he passes Emilie he put softly a hand on her shoulder, moved by her warm and admiring words.
´Emilie... I only want the best for England! I want to reform her, but not on our own, we are more than just an island. The establishment of our power at the continent is necessary to increase our trade.
And about the reforms, I believe England is ripe for practically carrying out reforms which had long been talked of and for remedying abuses which had long been lamented... ´

He sigh and add.
´I hope that England in these respects will serve as a model for the rest of Europe. Only if we are in full accord with European sentiment, are powerfull and respected, this can be done. Foreign politics are a necessary preliminary for any lasting work on these lines... and my aim is to establish a strong England which is influential in Europe through the mediatoral policy which our insular position allows us to claim, prosperous at home and respected throughout Europe. It´s why I look upon all matters not only as being sole English questions...´ he stops suddenly, he probably annoyes her and anyway, his current doings on behalf of the great matter are far from his dreams of one peaceful Europe.

He shakes his head and resumes his quest for Olympe, opening cupboards and calling her name to let her know where he is.

He is searching at the other side of the room, untill now not looking too carefully because he wants Olympe to think that he can´t find her. When she calls him he turns around and moves into her direction, expecting to find her soon. He walks past the truck in which she is hiding because her voice seemed to come from more far away and he looks behind curtains and statues.

Meanwhile he smiles and talks to her.
´I will find you now, you have betrayed yourself! Just a few moments and then...´

He is actually moved and surprised by Emilie´s answer, beside the king himself there are not many English who understand and agree with his views.

´People like you are also rare, Emilie...' he speaks softly. '... but then, you are not English by birth so perhaps that makes you also more open-minded, though your father was also a peaceful man with high views.'
He shrugs. 'Anyway, England has always been isolated and the people only worry about their own country. Henry VII has ended the internal civil wars and stabilized the reign, now we put our stamp outside our borders by acting as peacebroker to hold the balance between the most influential countries France and Spain.

He smiles when listening at her and walks quickly to the table to get his glass.
'Yes, let us drink to the welfare of both England and France... and to Europe!' he takes a sip and then turns around again, frowning because he has no clue where Olympe can be hiding.

He notices that Joan and Emilie laugh and pretends to get angry with them.
´You should help me, ladies, instead of laughing at me! How am I ever going to find her!´
He winks at them.
'I think it's time I have to look more thoroughly, I start all over again!'

He sigh deeply when it´s obvious that Emilie and Joan will not help him, but when Olympe calls to him again he quickly looks around and notices a small movement behind a hole in the wicker truck. He pretends to have not seen this and walks into the other direction, smiling at himself while he searches and opens every tray he passes.

´Well... it is hard to look further than your own interest when every day again you need to struggle for your life. I don´t blame the common people for not understanding... but I do blame the nobles who only want to protect their own property by all means!´

He shakes his head and frowns while he continues to search around the room. He opens a cupboard and throws out every thing which is inside, dresses and robes, tablecloths and serviettes and growls when she is not hidden inside.

´I know that the French people are the same, Emilie. Not all people welcomed me heartily on my travels, I have been offended and robbed, too! Still I prefer your country above Spain, though I always negotiated with them in the same way...´

While talking he moves around the room and then approaches the wicker truck and stand right before it.
´I give up, I am not going to find you, Olympe! ´ he says and then sits down on the truck, winking at Joan and Emilie.
´Please, show yourself and I give you your reward... a fine, delicious orange!´ he continues to sit and whipes his forehead.

Emilie smile in hearing Olympe talking and Thomas looking for her, notice that he have percive her in the trunk even if he pretend to hadn't see her.
She listen to him with a understanding air and nodd.

It's true, poor people are above all taken in all that assure their survival and don't care much of things that don't concern them directly and I think that conversative and traditional system reassure them because they are used to and could fear to see their world change.

She take a sip of juice and add.

But me too I blame nobles and richs people who care only to protect their properties and interests and even to gaim more and more and more.

She look at him with a amused air as he pretend to continue to look for Olympe all around the room but in the trunk where he know she is, thinking that he probably don't want to disappoint her in revealing that he have find her, she nodd after his words about frech people.


I am sorry that you hadn't been well recieved in France, but you have to understand that, even if it happened a so long time ago, nobody in France have forget the multiples england's invasions all over the country, this war that have last for many many years, it remain alive in memories and so I think that instinctively french people don't rely in english visitors, it wasn't against you.

She frown and bite her lip as he evocate Spain, her birth country's worse ennemy, she prefer to don't answer about it, there would be too many things to tell and Thomas yet know what she think of them.
She smile as she see Thomas walk directly to the trunk and tell to Olympe that he renounce and sat on it, winking to her and Joan, propose her a orange if she show herself, she giggle, wondering how Olympe could go out and what she will do.

Wolsey sits on the trunk, suddenly feeling very tired. He just told Emilie his aims and - like Joan - she understands them. Why can't anyone else understand them, too? He frowns while thinking, even the King who used to share his ideas, now only searches for his own pleasures and let him struggle to achieve his wishes.

'It is not easy to think on long therms... most people want instant happiness...' he shakes his head.

Late years had seen him immersed in the business of the State, while the king pursued his own pleasures, surrounded by companions who did their utmost to undermine his influence. They advocated war, while he longed for peace ; they encouraged the royal extravagance, while he worked for economy; they favored the imperial alliance and humored Henry's dreams of the conquest of France, while Wolsey saw that England's strength lay in a powerful neutrality. The king's plans had deviated from the lines which he had designed, and the king's arbitrary temper had grown more impatient of restraint.

He can't tell her this of course, this is a burden he carries alone, just like he knows that his position has slipped from a friend to a servant of the king and that this position only depends on his continued usefullness.

'I know it was not personal, only recently we invaded France again, I understand the distrust.'

He hears Olympe inside the trunk and smiles, how will she solve his trick? When she starts to talk with a strange voice, he jumps on his feet and calls with frightened voice.
'I am so sorry, spirit of the trunk... I did not know you were in there... I only thought it was our sweet angel Olympe in there... ooooooo what have you done with her, you evil spirit? Please, give her back! '

'What!!!.... eat her?????' he calls out loud while he grinns at Joan and Emilie.
'So you have her there indeed, poor Olympe... keep courage, my child, I will save you!'

He walks through the room.
'An orange... an orange is what this spirit wants, ahh where to find an orange when needed! Please, don't eat her, spirit, I will get you this orange.'

He looks in a fruit bowl and starts to panic.
'No orange in here.... oooo what to do next?' An unexpecting servant enters and he orders him.
'Please, go and get me an orange, it's a matter of life and dead! '

As the servant returns he accepts the orange and walks quickly to the truck, holding it in sight.
'Well you spirit, here is your orange!... but first we want our Olympe back, safe and sound!'

He laughs at himself while Olympe answers him, one time as herself, then as the spirit she invented. He feels better, he loves to play games like this.

When she finally jumps out of the trunk, he claps his hands and smiles widely.
'Ahh... there you are, my child, I am so happy that the spirit didn't hurt you!'

She wrestles him the orange and exclaims that she will have it instead of the spirit.
'No my child, the orange is for the spirit of the trunk! He must have it or he will capture you again!' He walks careful to the trunk and looks inside, while she laughs at him.

'You little...! You have fooled me, there was no spirit, was there?!' he pretends to speak angrily but then burst into laughter, while he caresses her hair.
'You have won indeed, you clever girl!'

When she bite in the orange he grimace too, knowing that it taste not well, then asks her in a serious tone.
'Well.... do you like it? Delicious, isn't it?'

Laughing loudly he bends over and tells her it needs to be peeled off.
'Let us sit down at the couch again, little angel, I will show you how to peel it!'

When they all sit together again, he looks at the orange, a little helpless.
He tries to make a hole in it with his thumbnail, so he can peel it, but the soft skin will not open.
Smiling he also frowns at the same time.
'I confess... I never peel them myself... please, one of you ladies, are you willing to assist me?'

While Emilie takes over the orange and starts to peel it off, Wolsey leans over to Joan and kisses her cheek.
'My love, we need to talk... later... ' he lowers his voice and looks seriously into her eyes.
'... I got really bad news from Gardener, I can't tell here and now.' he glances at Emilie and Olympe and smiles when they seem to be occupied with the orange.

He leans backward and pulls Joan softly against him, while he feels the familiair pain in his stomach again. He smiles to hide the pain and looks at Olympe, who adores the orange.
'I never learned to speak French, though I understand enough to know you like it very much, Olympe. Well, it's my favorite fruit, though I never learned to peel it off... perhaps I have been spoiled by Joan, who prepares my food so well and so quickly, I am only good at enjoying it! ' he smiles mischievously and squeezes Joan's hand softly.

He listens at Emilie's experiences in Portugal with interest.
'I have been only once in Portugal... to negotiate about the wedding of princess Margaret, but I recall the orange orchards on my way to the court. Since then I import them regularly, they seem to be good for health, so I have been told.'

oh love *kisses his cheek* the gardener? oh yes my dear, you can tell me it whenever you want...she realizes he isnt well, rubs his stomach softly and looks into his eyes letting he knows she has realized something wrons is happening* I'm here Thoma s*she smiles and hears Emelies stories*

Emilie, turning to Thomas notice on his face a grimace of pain, even if he smile, she smile as he talk to Olympe and answer him.

You are lucky !, Joan must be an excellent cooker !

Then frown, the air worried and ask him.

Are you allright, my dear friend ? you seem to not going well.

She nodd and answer him.

Orange seem to be good for the health indeed ! anyway they have a delicious taste, from now, I am going to command oranges to recieve regulary too !

She smile and add.

I have love this country, it's very exotique and the weather is hot and I love it, the rythms of the day and costums are very different from England and France court. But of course the circomstances wasn't joyfull.

She turn to her daughter and caress her hairs as the little girl, snuggling against her, half close her eyes, relaxed and realize that it's getting late.

'Yes, you are an excellent cook, you spoil me in all respects...' he says to Joan, taking her hand and kiss it softly, then put it back on his stomach.

He feels embarrassed that they have noticed his pain and smiles weakly.
'I am alright, a slight irritation of my stomach, it will pass.' he waves his hand to show them there is no problem, but he keeps Joan's hand on his belly by imposing his hand on hers.

He smiles when Emilie wants to order oranges, too.
'You should, especially now Olympe also loves them. And if you don't succeed in ordering them yourself, just tell me and I will arrange it on your behalf.'

He nods after her words about Portugal.
'I agree, it's a totally different country in many ways, but even though I like warm weather I can not work properly when it is so hot, so I prefer England... or I need a study with very thick walls to keep it cold inside.'

He smiles weakly when she mentions the circomstances of her visit.
'Well... she knew she had to obey, most royal marriages are political matters and this was a strategic move. And how hard is it to be married to someone who is much older... as you can confirm, Joan, you and I differ also many years! '
he laughs heartily, well knowing that the king of Portugal and Margaret differed more than twice the years between him and Joan.

He shrugs. 'Anyway, the marriage did not last long and she was free to choose her own bridegroom, even though Henry was not pleased by her choice! '

*rubs his stomach softly and says sadly* oh my darling maybe is something I cooked.... I don't know , maybe something too spicy or something fried... oh my darling I hope your pain is not to my fault

'No my love, this has nothing to do with something you cooked... in fact, you have not cooked for me today, and also not yesterday. Please, let us not make a fuss of it, I probably ate too little today, you know that when I am busy I forget to eat.' He strokes Joan's worried face and smiles at her.

He sits upright and feels the pain melting away, he sigh in relief.
'Just tell me if there are difficulties while ordering them, Emilie, I will help you.'

His mouth opens and closes when he finds out that people don't work during the hotter hours of the day.
'What do they during those hours instead of working? I can't imagine not working in daytime... the work would never be finished.' he shakes his head in disbelief.

With a weak smile he listens at her horror about the royal marriage and shrugs.
'Like I told you before, Emilie, marriages out of love are only for the common people... all royals and also nobles know that they have no choice to whom they marry and can only hope that the love grows afterwards. I agree with you that it must be very unpleasant to marry such an old man but she knew it would never last long and she forced king Henry to let her choose her second husband herself. Who was to know that she would chose Brandon, who I had sent there to help and protect her?!' he rolls his eyes.