The Historical Comfort Society

Chapter 5

5.

I clutched a silk handkerchief doused with lavender and mint oil under my nose as the carriage rocked and rattled through the streets toward Whitehall Palace. The handkerchief served two purposes, 1. To ease my motion sickness from the rocky journey in the horse-drawn carriage, and 2. To mask the scent of the muck-filled streets leading to the palace.

It was surreal traveling the streets, hearing the sounds of Tudor England. It was also quite disgusting, the lack of hygiene made me eternally grateful for for how clean my life back in the future was. We entered through large imposing gates guarded by men dressed in Tudor Livery. I kept having to pinch myself since I felt like I was living a first-hand experience of an immersive movie. But this was real, and I needed to pay attention.

I followed Margaret and Bess closely, hot on their heels and I tried my best not to look like a total novice gawking at the architecture, art, and tapestries. The palace was far more lively than I expected. Nobles and servants milling about. We approached a small group of women and were immediately welcomed among them.

The ladies were not notable noblewomen, but I tried my best to pay attention. I was formally introduced to them as Margaret... or Lady Smythington's distant cousin.

"Tis a shame for you to come under such unhappy pretenses." One of the ladies said to me.

"Whatever do you mean?" I asked, having mastered my best accent with Bess on the carriage ride over.

"I have heard a rumor," The woman began, leaning in closer, causing all the other ladies to lean in, "that his majesty, the king, is declining. His health fails him. As we speak we suspect Queen Catherine, the two princesses, and the Prince have been sequestered away somewhere."

"Well, we must pray for his majesty's good health!" Bess chimed in, even though she and I both knew. The ladies then continued in frivolous small talk and court gossip, nothing really to note.

"Mother, might Nell and I take a stroll through the gardens? It is after all her first time here." Bess said looking up to Margaret.

"Yes darling, of course," Margaret said, the facade of them being a family never once cracking.

Donning our fur cloaks and gloves, Bess and I walked into the palace gardens. It wasn't much to look at since it was the dead of winter, but the evergreen shrubs and bushes were landscaped and tailored to perfection. Our boots crunched on the pea gravel that lined all the walkways, and the sound of birds could be heard here and there.

"What is it that you need to accomplish other parts of your assignment."

"I will need to take notes and sketches I suppose. I was instructed to record what Whitehall was like since it will be lost to fire in a few years." I whispered.

"Of course. We can see if we can arrange something. Perhaps time out here with a journal or a sketchbook."

"That would be ideal," I said, noting that a few other ladies and a few gentlemen were walking about as well. Bess and I continued to walk and passed a gentleman walking. I noted how he stepped out of the way and bowed to us as we passed. It was quite interesting to see the different people of the time, how they looked, and their features. The gentlemen were quite handsome in a way, even with their frilly and ostentatious clothing and tights.

"How has it been being in this era as an unmarried woman?" I asked Bess

"It's had its ups and downs, I've had my fair share of fun and flirtation, but beyond that nothing more. Most of these men a ripe with unseen diseases, it's best to keep them at an arms length."