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Post by Kat de Winter on Mar 9, 2010 22:45:56 GMT -5
As it turned out, Kat had some distant relatives at court. A little research into her family tree and she'd passed herself off as a cousin from the Cornwall branch and secured herself a spot at the English court, so that she could visit whenever she liked.
Now that her recital was over, and she wouldn't start helping out with dance classes for another few months, she figured she could spare some time. She'd always been interested in history (despite her mother's efforts to interest her in the sciences), and this would be the absolute best kind of research.
A pretty girl never went unnoticed for long, especially not if she was rumored to be well-moneyed. While she had not made a fuss of her arrival at court, it wasn't long before the redhead who spoke with a touch of a lilt, always had time for a dance, and laughed as loud as any man at even the dirtiest of jokes, was quite popular.
At dinner about a week after her arrival, she had even been asked to dance by Mark Smeaton, the court's wildly successful musician. They engaged in witty banter and both moved elegantly, quite beautifully matched to one another.
((cue His Majesty!))
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Post by Henry VIII on Mar 12, 2010 4:31:05 GMT -5
He he had only to wait, and he would see her here. Of course, that did not make her predictable--all it meant was that the invitation to appear at court had been accepted. Once the dance started, he waited only a little, before slowly making his way near.
"Pardon my intrusion, but may I cut in?"
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Post by Kat de Winter on Mar 12, 2010 6:59:35 GMT -5
Of course, it wasn't much of a request so much as instructing Mark to high-tail it out of there, given he was the King, but Mark bowed gracefully and retreated to dance with some other pretty young girl, or talk to some pretty young boy.
Kat executed a flawless curtsey, deep as was proper but convenient enough for the dance floor.
"Your majesty."
But as she rose, her eyes were laughing, belying her serious and respectful demeanor.
"I was wondering when you'd figured out the court had gained yet another noble family's country cousin."
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Post by Henry VIII on Mar 15, 2010 1:27:41 GMT -5
He bowed in return, moving into the dance with her with a faint grin on his face.
"News travels fast, and eventually someone just can't keep from sending some new information in my direction. It's rather funny, to see them trip overthemselves in an attempt to be the one to tell me first."
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Post by Kat de Winter on Mar 18, 2010 16:36:15 GMT -5
"I didn't know I was such big news."
Oh, lovely. Now people were whispering. It was one thing for the king to dance with a pretty girl--that was fairly common, considering his marital state--but another for them to carry on as if well-acquainted.
"Are all such silly details reported to you, or do I have some horrible fascinating reputation?"
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Post by Henry VIII on Mar 20, 2010 0:28:19 GMT -5
"Most such details...and apparently, the name of de Winter is an intriguing one."
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Post by Kat de Winter on Mar 20, 2010 1:14:08 GMT -5
"Oh, I was rather looking forward to hearing about how I had three illegitimate children in Martinique and spent a year living in a yurt."
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Post by Henry VIII on Mar 21, 2010 2:34:46 GMT -5
He laughed at that, ending with a big grin.
"Well, you'll have to tell abou that sometime--aside from stories of a fire, and intrigue, mystery."
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Post by Kat de Winter on Mar 21, 2010 11:55:19 GMT -5
"Oh, the fire was when my father was little. The housekeeper knocked over a candle when she was checking the west wing. The wing was closed at the time, so she was the only one killed, I think."
At least, that was the story she'd always been told. She had a feeling there was more to it than that.
"Really, we're quite boring other than that. Why else would I come to Paris?"
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Post by Henry VIII on Mar 22, 2010 14:29:40 GMT -5
Oh, there'd been stories about the fire--and what might or might not be connected to it--but he wouldn't bring that up here.
"Ah, yes--Paris is...special, in how exciting things can be. Not that London was a terrible bore, but it wasn't like this."
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Post by Kat de Winter on Mar 22, 2010 23:25:35 GMT -5
"Not that Yorkshire isn't an absolute blast in February," she said dryly. They lived in the other hereditary de Winter house, Wilcombe. Manderley was the family seat, but quite a few other manors were in the family's name. Her own branch of the family owned the two largest (and most famous).
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Post by Henry VIII on Mar 24, 2010 21:50:09 GMT -5
He snorted.
"So, it wouldn't be so terrible to find yourself back there again?" He asked, teasingly.
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Post by Kat de Winter on Mar 24, 2010 22:20:22 GMT -5
"Oh, roam the moors in a dress that fluttered becomingly; sigh with acute ennui; succumb to the vapors every time something remotely interesting happened." Her voice was utterly deadpan.
((At some point he should try to invite her to his chambers/send her a present and she'll be like LOL NO. Not necessarily this thread, but at some point. For now, I think finishing the dance would be good. They can meet in the gardens a few days later or some such?))
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Post by Henry VIII on Mar 26, 2010 21:57:18 GMT -5
((Hahaha...yes. That'll just make him want to pursue her EVEN MORE, because that's a challenge.))
"And then, on one of your wanderings, you stumble upon a dark, brooding gentleman who at first is off-putting put later sweeps you off your feet." He said, continuing in the same vein.
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Post by Kat de Winter on Apr 4, 2010 8:56:51 GMT -5
"I shall endeavor not to faint in shock," she said, before the musicians gave a flourish and the dancers stopped.
"It would seem we'll have to continue our conversation another time." She gave a curtsey and turned to walk away, pausing only to throw a glance that could be described as 'smoldering' back his way.
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