Come Little Children: Book I

The Cardmaster

It did not come as a surprise when Hastings made another hasty leave, Katerina left to do nothing more than wander aimlessly in the corridors as if an orphaned cat. Whenever a woman would come to pass her, an attendant was never far behind and if it were not a woman and her attendant or troupe of ladies it was servants scurrying about, barely paying Katerina any mind. It made her feel awfully alone and Katerina had never truly been alone before, her mother had never been good company but she was company all the same.

She considered going off to see where Margaret had fled to, perhaps they could find something entertaining to do together. There was no need as Cecily Neville's pressence soon cut through the corrdior with her never ending troupe of ladies trailing a few steps behind her.

When seeing Katerina, Cecily came to an abrupt halt, resulting in several ladies crashing into one another and scowling at eachother  to watch their footing. The duchess seemed to pay this no mind, her eyes set on Katya, who curtseyed the lowest she had since she'd first been introduced. 

"Lady Katerina, what a pleasant surprise. I trust, you have been settled and are well?"

"Yes," She replied rising, "everyone has been ever so kind, thank you your Grace."

"Pray, would you care to join us in the solar? My ladies and I would enjoy it greatly if you join us, wouldn't we ladies?"

The ladies nodded enthusiastically almost immediately. It was good to know that she was wanted somewhere. Cecily's troupe seemed the only ones to welcome her into Court whereas the others only saw her as a threat or a subject of intrigue.

Katerina could not refuse such a kind offer, when she hadn't been offered such kindness from anyone else. "'Twould be an honor, your Grace, I thank you."

With a graceful gesture, Cecily said only for Katerina to follow along. She did so, only gladly finding Lady Anne. With Cecily sweeping forward, the ladies and Katerina continued their waltz through the corridor.

They soon reached her Grace's privy chambers where the ladies reached for their embroiding work and sat themselves comfortably around Cecily who sat herself in her mauve chaise, burying herself in her own embroidering. Katerina found herself sitting with nothing to busy herself with but followed suit once Lady Anne provided her with a needle, blue thread and a white sampler. Unsure of how to go about her sample, she began to stitch a border around it, it might make an interesting handkerchief.

Silence did not seem a common thing in the Duchess Dowager's chamber as chatter seemed to set in as soon as they'd seated themselves. One of the plumper ladies, perhaps Lady Eleanor, asked, "Are you enjoying your time in Court, Lady Katerina?"

"Very much so, thank you." It wasn't a complete lie. Katerina did enjoy the beauty that Court held and the two companions she'd managed to make but avoiding gossip was an arduous task and she could not stand having to curtsey with every step she took and for every person she encountered. Living amongst other commoners she'd seldom had to curtsey.

It was Cecily who spoke next, looking up from her sampler to tell Katerina, "I must say, Lady Katerina, you have been the height of conversation in my privy chamber as of late".

Katerina smiled, amused. "Oh? Well then they are good things, I hope." Of course, she knew that this might just be the only place where bad gossip was spread about her in. Every other privy chamber, however, she could never be sure.

"There is nothing wicked about you to discuss, Lady Katerina." Nan assured her but Katerina was not the least bit reassured. She smiled gratefully nonetheless and so that she would not be required to reply, busied herself with her needlework.