Kataline Aubert/Rumors

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Babies, College, and Royal Court
IC Date: Dec 14, 1208

A fiery redheaded Baroness from Siovale leans against the bar of the Plancha Aragonesa, talking with one of the serving girls as she shows off her newest accessory. "Do I hold it like this?" She splays the silken burnt orange colored hand fan out, her eyes the only thing seen over it's edge as she flutters her lashes.

"Begging your pardon, my Lady, but you were the one that saw Lady d'Aubert, not me." But her eyes linger on the fine fabric and frilly edges all the same, worshipfully.

"Can you believe that His Majesty acknowledged Kataline d'Aubert's child? A boy, Prince Marc Augustine de la Courcel d'Aubert, he said with pride in his eyes." She sighs wistfully from behind her fan."If it's his son, why do you suppose the Prince of Bhodistan had his guards taking over her household? I even heard he was telling people that the child was his." Though the last part is said in a stage whisper.

The serving girl fills the next glasses of wine a little faster, nearly sloshing the drink on the Baroness in question as she slides her drink to her in an effort to escape her, but the noblewoman clings to her arm, "She was pleased as punch, and even boasted that she and her son were moving in to the castle proper. To get to know the royal family!" Her fan flutters a little faster, as if echoing the beat of her heart.

Ensnared by the Baroness for support while she feigns near fainting spells, the serving girl heaves a sigh and nods, "Is that so?" Though she clearly doesn't believe it. "Then what?"

"Then, as if that wasn't horrifying enough, that Marquis de Lusande, though the King called him Lord Carpenter, was cuddling and kissing all -over- that Comtesse Le Doux, Selene I think I heard him utter quietly to her," she says, her fan picking up speed again. "Telling her how he desires her while holding her close. Right in court! When his poor pregnant wife is at home, on bed rest, burdened with twins!" A dramatic tear slides down her cheek.

By now, the serving girl is enthralled in the tale, "What happened next, my Lady?" and hangs on the noblewoman's every word.

"The King asked him how his wife was, pointedly, but when His Excellency /still/ didn't get the picture, the His Majesty turned him out of the court room, telling him he was only permitted back to attend parliament and nothing else!" She lowers her fan long enough to flick of lock of red hair over her shoulder, haughtily.

The serving girl nods and as though she were a record skipping a beat, she asks, "Then what happened?"

"Nothing, -- well, there was some sort of talk from Duc d'Aiglemort about a college for War in Camlach he wanted to open, but my eyes glazed over after that." The Baroness looks down, ".. oh, and bring me some wine, will you?"

Apparently done with her, the servant is released to the sounds of the Baroness' elegant hand fan flapping.

Under Bodhistani Guard
IC Date: Dec 10, 1208 They are talking. Who? Everyone. It is a mixture of excitement, and hesitation. Confusion, and curiousity. Two men hoist up a chest onto a cart outside the Crown and Blade Inn:

"Have you been by Rue de Aviline?" "Where Comtesse d'Aubert is? No, why would I have business there? Why would YOU have business there?" One man looks at another suspiciously while the other waves it off. "Stop! No. It don't matter, see. I went by...those men are there; the warriors from Bhodistan!" "What're you meaning, the warriors of Bhodistan are there? Why wou-" The other man nods slowly, "Dressed in the richest purple clothes I have ever seen. They wear veils over their faces; it's all armor, I tell you. Not like regular clothing. But...I spotted four of'em on the outside of her property. Slow patrol." "...Maybe those other rumors, are true?" There is a shrug, "I don't know. I only saw four. But they weren't there for looks."

Inside of the Temple Baths, one can hear two women speaking in the mists.

"I heard a rumor the other day." "Of course you have." "No, well yes, but this one is rather good. I was with one of the servant boys at Rue de Aviline..." The other woman sighs, "Ugh. That harpy? What of it?" "..There were warriors there! From Bhodistan! I had heard there were some outside the premises so I wanted to see them; they're inside too! Four more, that stand vigil over the doors when the Comtesse is not about! Otherwise, they never let her out of their sight! I don't think they sleep, either but...they all look alike so..." The other woman is quiet, but smiling if one could see it. "...Why would the Prince of Bhodistan send warri--" There is only silence then, and the low laughter of women.

Even More Notorious Now
IC Date: July 27, 1208

A group of notorious court gossips sit in the Hall of Games, their voices heightened with excitement. One, a blonde in a bold gown of red and purple, offers her news between sips of champagne. "You haven't heard? How could you not have /seen/?!" She was right there in Parliament, voting along with the rest of the Kushelines and looking riper than a peach. The King's mistress. Pregnant!" The shock in her voice is obvious.

There's a snigger from her companion, another woman dressed in darker colors and with an accent that seems Camaeline on first guess. "The King's former mistress, if you mean Kataline Aubert. Who knows whether he'll even remember her by the time he gets home. Do you think the baby is his then? I've heard she has strings of lovers...most from her own province. Some quite scandalous!"

"You don't think it's his? They were nearly /inseparable/ for his last months in the city, Angels only know why, she's hardly the most beautiful woman at court..." A scoff. "He called her his 'tutor', but she hardly carries herself like an educated woman!"

"It /might/ be his. I've heard she's rather self-serving though, and would hardly be surprised if she'd been luring other men who seemed wealthy or powerful up into her chambers...in fact...well didn't they say she had a few lengthy 'visits' with the Bodhistani Prince? For all we know it is his progeny she carries in her belly!"

"You don't suppose she'd pass another man's child off as a Courcel, do you?" The blonde gasps, but out of delight as much as shock. Such exciting tidbits!

"I'm not sure anything would surprise me. Women like /that/..."

It's giggling and bile then, that take over.

A Worthy Tongue
IC Date: March 25, 1208

/Flitflitflitflitflit/! The fluttering of a fan in a clearly /copied/ fashion shadows the face of a young Baroness from Namarre, just edging to the far end of her teen years and gossiping with a girl the same. Clad in pink ruffles, her voice rises a bit above a crowd in the Hall of Games.

"...Majesty and the /Aubert/ woman...the one who is only just landed and just come back to the city. I overheard him claiming at court the other evening that she's his 'languages tutor'." There is a mild tittering, even if the chatter has a bitter hint.

Ginger haired and lace-laden, the second court butterfly answers: "/I/ heard that he cancelled a meeting yesterday morning with the Tiberian ambassador. That /she/..." hazel eyes roll skyward, "...was seen leaving his chambers in the afternoon, with a rope of pearls around her neck that layered there not /four/ times! Tossing her hair like some prize Aragonian stallion."

It's quite clear that both ladies have plenty more to say on the topic, though good sense has their voices lowering to a much more appropriate hiss...eventually.


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