To Talk To One's Niece...

[Elizabeth Tudor]

Elizabeth endured the tightening of her corset, the doing of her hair, and the terribly blistering shoes for as long as she could.

"Susan, can I please go to the Tea Room now? My niece is sure to be waiting." she pleaded, trying to shift from foot to foot, and at the same time trying to inhale a puff of air with her corset so tight.

Susan, one of her favorite ladies in waiting, smiled and nodded knowingly. She was wearing a tight corset of her own, and shoes as well.

"My Good Queen, you may go at you leisure. Tis not for me to decide." Susan said.

Elizabeth stood and picked up her trailing dress, then with one of her servants accompanying her, finally made it to the long awaited Tea Room.

The young Queen sat on a large and beautifully made couch. The tea had already been set out, and Elizabeth sipped at it. Catherine had not arrived yet, and that was very well because Elizabeth was tardy just as she was.

Sitting, trying to inhale as much breath as she could, Elizabeth waited patiently for her young Niece to show.

[Jane Travins]

"I understand about you're corset" Jane said unsteadily as she put her hand on he throat. word got around lately that corsets, were to make the women look very well in shape. Jane, did not agree with this however, but she had to tend to a barking dog in her royal living room...




***

[Elizabeth Tudor]

Elizabeth turned to see her best friend, Jane Travins, standing in the doorway of the Tea Room.

"Ah, my good friend. Do come inside." she said invitingly. When both woman were seated, Elizabeth looked around the room.

"It is not like my little niece to be late." she murmerd to herself. Elizabeth took a small teacup and filled it with the nice warm tea. She handed it to her friend Jane and smiled.

"Oh my... such freezing temperatures outdoors is it not? Indeed, I do not believe I have ever felt such cold. Have you, Jane?" she asked.

[Jane Travins]

"why, hello my Queen, so good to see you!

"Where is you're niece?"

"ahhhh, yes thank you, i haven't seen Cathrine in a while, she's not in the upstairs area, but i'm not exactly sure, i would send some servants to find her my Queen" Jane said lightly and handled the tea carefully, "your niece, she was talking to me about going and helping the orphans . well, i over heard, forgive me my queen for ease dropping on her."

[Elizabeth Tudor]

Elizabeth called a servant over. "Find Catherine will you?" she said. The servant nodded and ran out of the room in search of the Queen's niece.

Elizabeth smiled kindly at Jane. "Enough with the formalities. Call me Elizabeth. We are best friends are we not? And do not worry, I forgive you wholeheartedly."

She was now getting very worried about Catherine. Tardiness was not usually in her vocabulary. "Let us talk about your brother. I am not sure what the outcome will be when I bring him up at court. If it does not go well... I am afraid he may have to be hanged."

[Catherine Williams]

Catherine walked hurriedly to the tea room "O I am late for tea " she thought Catherine did not like to be late and would rather be early . she opened the door to the tea room and sat dawn."Good morning ant Elizabeth lady Jane" "Ia am so sorry I was late "

[Elizabeth Tudor]

The first to come in was Catherine, looking flustered that she was late. The second was the servant, looking even more flustered because of how fast Catherine could be.

"You are dismissed, Dueslah. Elizabeth said to the servant, waving her away.

Dueslah bowed indignantly. "My lady, in the future, I trust that your good niece will not be late again, as I am getting quite old and unsteady on my feet." Elizabeth nodded distractedly, and the servant left.

"Catherine, may I ask what made you late for this very important meeting? I assume there is a good reason as to why you did not dismiss poor old Dueslah when she found you as well?" Elizabeth said, a smile playing at her lips.

Another cup of tea was soon poored, and handed to the twelve year old girl.

"Cream? Or no cream?" Elizabeth asked.

[Jane Travins]

Jane looked up, and said "I am getting married soon, so i was wondering who would atend the wedding?" she laid down the cup of tea she was holding and looked down "has my brother been desided yet?"

[Catherine Williams]

"Cream thank you", said Catherine. "I am very sorry that I was so late, and I did not thank that she would follow me". Catherine was waring her faverite green dress, and she had left her long hair down.

[Elizabeth Tudor]

"It's quite alright my dear." Elizabeth said. A servant shuffled over and was about to take the pitcher of milk, but Elizabeth beat him to it.

"I am NOT handicapped. You may resume your duties elsewhere. Or better yet, do something that's actually useful for once." she snapped. The Queen was not in a sour mood, but she was firm.

The servant bowed repeatedly. "Yes marm! So it may be marm!" he said, and ran out the door. Elizabeth inclined her head towards Jane.

"Your brother will be pardoned if I have anything to say about it. But I must really speak to Catherine now. We have not had a good discussion in a very long time as it is."

The Queen sipped from her tea and smiled at her young niece. "Are you finding your room comfortable, and your needs met? Do you have enough things to keep you busy? You know, we have a massive library. If you want, you could read from the ancient shelves." this produced a small chuckle from Elizabeth.

"How is Emily serving you? She is quite the wily one is she not? I thought since your personality so resembles hers, then you two would have many things to talk about yes?"

[Catherine Williams]

"Yes, Emily is very nice, and my room is very prity, I have not gone to the library yet I intend to very soon" siad Catherine as she sipt her tea.