History, Literature, Adventure and The City.
Emma is your average milenial college student. Between her friends, her classes and her family she has her hands full ! But a literature contest is going to change her life for ever when her destiny takes...
"Thank you your Majesty but I cannot accept it, I do not want to trespass on your kindness and with your permission, I would much rather leave and go back to Cambridge, this travel has had quite an effect on me."
"How dare you refuse his Majesty's shelter ! You will beg for his forgiveness and accept his offer this instant.", shouted Wolsey.
'Wow that man was a real pain in the ass.'
"I meant no disrespect your Eminence and I do thank him for his generosity but it is too great a gift for such a low subject. I cannot allow him to disrupt his household for me.", I answered.
All my life I had never sucked up to someone so bad, but when that someone holds your life in his hands, you become the greatest flourisher of compliments in the world.
"By all means Miss Hastings you will stay with us and delight us with the knowledge that you have acquired so far ! I may be able to grant you an audience with Sir Thomas More, as you seem like a very fervent reader and I value education." As he said that, the man with the long dark robe chuckled. That's when I recongnised him. From a portrait that I had seen at Hever Castle.
"I believe I have already met him your Majesty",I said, "You have ?", he asked, raising one eyebrow, a smirk on his mouth. "Well, maybe my eyes are deceiving me, but I believe that he is standing right next to his Majesty ", I said, half smiling.
The man in the dark robe looked at me, surprised that I had found him out. I could tell that he was bored with this whole situation but I noticed that his interest peaked when I mentioned that I was studying his works.
He was Thomas More, and he was standing in front of me. I tried to stay calm and keep on with the show that I was putting.
The King looked impressed and started laughing. "Well Lady Hastings, you're quite observant ! I applaud your perspicacious mind. Indeed now more that ever you must stay with us and tell us more about you !" I bowed but said nothing.
So far everything I had done had worked and after a while I was escorted to a room to clean myself up and change into proper clothes. I had a servant attend to me and she helped me get dressed. She was extremely nice.
"My name is Margaret my Lady, I am at your service from this day on. You may ask me for anything you may ever need", she said enthusiastically. "Thank you Margaret, I have heard the servants mention that a special dinner, is to take place this evening. Shall I be a part of it?", I asked innocently.
"Oh to be sure my Lady ! Our King is organizing this feast solely to have you join him ! I've heard her majesty's ladies-in-waiting mention it earlier, they believe that he is quite fascinated by you !", she replied enthusiastically, with an obvious will to gossip. I could tell that she wasn't someone I could rely on. Her eagerness to pry on anything happening in the castle made it obvious that she was one to try and upgrade her status by telling stories to the right people.
"Oh I doubt that he does, for I am no-one or nothing of consequence.", I said trying to sound innocent. The last thing that I want is to appear as if I'm trying to attract the King's favors.
When the servant left, I started scanning every inch of the room, first to try and find a way to make my escape and look for a way to get the hell out of this era, but I slowly started to admire the room. I know that my situation was extremely urgent and that I couldn't keep wasting anymore time but I couldn't help the history major in me and I kept gazing at the room furniture, the drapes and tapestries that were hung up the walls, the bedding and finally the view from my window.
Everything was breathtakingly stunning and looked so real. My mind was racing as I walked through the room and touched every tangible surface.
It was like taking a tour in a theme park, every detail was so on point but then again every little piece in this room was authentic. I sat on the bed and started thinking about everything that had happened so far.
'How in the world did I get myself in this situation ? And how am I going to get back ?'
I am just a student, a New Yorker with aspiring dreams. I have nothing to help me make my way out here and try to stay alive apart from my historical knowledge. I try to calm myself from having a panic attack, I didn't think that there was any Xanax here. I stood up and started pacing, I needed to make a plan and fast, because I was sure that I wasn't going to last very long, especially if, like that servant said, the king had taken an interest in me.
I knew what happened in these kind of situations and I surely didn't want to be one of the many ladies whose sheets he had rumpled. I was observing the garden through my window when I was startled by a sudden knock on the door.
I went up to the door and waited for a moment before opening it. A tall man was standing tall and looked very stern.
"I have a message from His Majesty My Lady, He expects you at dinner this evening and bid me to bring this to you, as a welcoming present ", he said in a very serious voice. I reached out to grab the thick package that he was holding and thanked him before getting back inside my room. I quickly opened the gift before the servant would come back, I didn't want her to start chatting about this to her servant friends.
I stood there, with my mouth wide open in shock. The package had two items in them, the first one was the most gorgeous dress that I had every seen. It was made of thick velvet that made the red and gold color pop, the embroidery was incrusted in precious stones and delicate pearls. The deep decolté neckline led to a very thin but beautiful belt and the sleeves had a very fine pattern made out of golden thread that was woven into the fabric. The dress looked extremely expensive but not as expensive as the necklace that was put in a fine lace handkerchief. The thin silvery metal was shining through it and the pearls look radiant. I was literally screwed.
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These gifts were not given to the most common women out here, there were offered to ladies of rank or mistresses and I was neither of them. At least for now.
I sat on the bed, in a room lit only by the many candles that were scattered here and there. The sun had disappeared behind the tall trees. I stayed there for a moment trying to figure out what to do next. If I went to dinner without the dress, it would be an insult to the king but I would probably get into the queen's good graces and earn her trust and respect. Probably.
'Thank you your majesty but I thought that not accepting your gifts would spare me from your unsolicited forceful attentions'
Nah I could never say that. Ever. Not if I wanted to end up on a chopping block.
But if I wear the dress, then the king will be pleased and I might get a chance at leaving this place. But that would also mean that I accept his attentions and will have to go further if needed be... Shit... I don't want to but I have to get into the court game and that, definitely wasn't an easy thing.
