A Majesty's Fancy

[C H E Y E N N E]

A Majesty's Fancy

His surveillance was quiet. He did not speak, he did not move, he merely stood there, his eyes boring into the two young women who stood before him with a calculating contempt over which he wielded a startling mastery. Indeed, it may have even startled people to know just how twisted he could be inside, for to the Court, for all accounts and purposes, he portrayed nothing more than a friendly face - the mask of a humble adviser whose only ambition was to see the King's reign continue for as long as possible, eventually paving the way for the man who would soon because Charles XIV of England, ruler of all, servant of God and the people.
But masks were often deceiving, and Richard Moore, King's Adviser, was certainly no saint in any aspect of the world, as he so often portrayed. Indeed, if one were to draw a snake on a piece of paper, one might start to notice the rather disconcerting resemblance between reptile and man - but of course, that would require actually drawing a snake, and as a result no connection was ever made.
So Richard Moore had moved up through King James' Court, presenting the image of a kindly gentleman, a doting father, and a concerned confident to the King - his friend since childhood. And no one ever suspected a thing - not his wife, Lady Jane Moore, for whom their youngest daughter had been named; not his brother, Thomas Moore, with whom he had a longstanding rivalry; not his sister, Eleanor, whom he had never gotten to know, but who had always been close to their brother; not his two daughters, his two beautiful flowers, and not his friend, the King himself.
Of course he was used to the occasional accusation - he had earned the ire of James' queen, Anne of Scots, very early on, and he got the feeling that James' son Brandon shared his mother's apprehension towards him. But Brandon did not matter to him - the boy was far too busy engaging in the pleasures of the court, and his dogs and falconry, to pose much of a threat. Charles was under his sway, yes, but the King, once so full of vigour, was ailing due to an accident, and Richard was desperate to secure his position. He knew that, if James were to die, Anne would exert her vast influence over the King's heir, and he would fall from favour soon enough.
So he had to come up with a plan.
And that was where his daughters - Jane and Catherine, his saviours - came in.

[Rogue of Night]

They were beautiful, having taken after both their parents in both structure and colouration. But despite their looks, they were still naive and innocent in the eyes of the court. Having never attended a formal function, never even having left the building in which they called home without a veil of some sort to hide their identities. Some considered it extreme, but such measures were often taken to preserve those for special purpose.
Catherine Elaine was the eldest of the two, being just twenty-years-old and yet more matriarch than their mother had even been. She was graced with ash brown hair and pale blue eyes that closely resembled ice, while her skin took on a peachy porcelain tone that many women vied after. Paired with jewels of lighter hues, and gowns of rich material, she was surely to become the apple of any nobleman's eye.
Jane Alexandria was younger and less knowledgeable, but nevertheless, just as beautiful. Being seventeen and relatively petite, she was often mistaken for a child of thirteen. As with her sister, none had yet to see her face outside of those who lived and worked in their home, and so they would not have seen the pale skin with more of a grayish hue rather than her sister's peachy tone, or her rich brown eyes that mimicked her long, auburn hair in colour. Her full lips of red and her high cheek bones gave off an air of fragility, and for all anyone knew, the air was less than what was real.
At the current moment, the sisters were situated in a parlour, awaiting their day's schedule from the housekeeper. Catherine was poised with a straight back, looking over her embroidery which she was concentrating upon with a smile. On the other side of the room, Jane sat in her own armchair, or more or less draped herself across, with a book held in her hands, and her perceptive eyes scanning the pages continuously. She was a quick reader, and went through books like they were tomes of less than fifteen pages.
After a few moments, Catherine lifted her head, pausing as she tugged the thread through her piece. "Not done yet, Janey?"
The brunette glanced over at her ashen haired sister. "I should ask you the same thing, Kitty."
Catherine sighed deeply. Kitty was such a childish name, in her opinion, and no matter how hard she tried, Jane was ever persistent to call her such. "This is substance. Embroidery is beautiful; an art. You know that. It takes a long time to complete. Whereas reading..."
"Takes equally as long depending on the page count," Jane finished, smirking.
Catherine couldn't help but roll her eyes, though a laugh played on her lips.

[C H E Y E N N E]

A sudden knock at the door could be heard, and a few seconds later a young woman walked into the room, her clothes giving her away as one of lower status - a maid of the household; the daughter of the head housekeeper and his wife. Her name was Brigid, named in a way meant to acknowledge the Irish heritage she had on her mother's side, but the only indication of this particular fact was indeed her name, along with her hair - brown streaked with black, and forever frizzy, having to be held back in a thick bun on her head from which many wispy hairs escaped constantly.
"Pardon the intrusion," Brigid murmured, "but your father requests both your presences."

[Rogue of Night]

Both sisters turned their attention to the door. Smiles faded, and both book and embroidery canvas were set aside.
Catherine was the first to stand, having only to rise from her seat and smooth her skirt before crossing the room to the door, while Jane took a little more time in order to be suitably capable of getting to her feet. She mimicked her sister's hasty steps, and together they went in search of their father.
When they had located him (not sure where x3), Catherine was the first to address him, though just with a simple enunciation that they had arrived, and nothing more. It wasn't customary for a woman to speak without first being spoken to.

((at least I think that's how it was...right?))

[C H E Y E N N E]

ooc;; Ja.

bic;; Richard Moore turned to look at his daughters, brown eyes surveying them silently before a small smile broke out across his face - a smile he knew his daughters would take as genuine, as they usually did. But he also knew his daughters would know why he summoned them here. Perhaps they were apprehensive, and perhaps they were a little resentful, but he knew they'd do their best.
"You know how I plan to send you to court in a few days to make your simultaneously debuts," Richard said, inclining his head lightly, the black hat that rested on his dark brown hair, all the rage in the Court, making him look far more fatherly. He himself was at Court almost all the time, and only occasionally came back - he left most of his daughters' upbringing to their mother, Lady Jane, and whomever she deemed worthy to help her.

[Rogue of Night]

Catherine nodded, while Jane began to fiddle with her hair nervously.
It was these moments when they finally managed to see their father that they both vied for so desperately, but lately, upon his latest ideas, they were a little less favourable. Speaking out about the plan, however, would cost them a great deal. Punishment was never light.

[C H E Y E N N E]

"Cease the fiddling, Jane - have you not been told how unsightly it is?" Richard sighed lightly, shaking his head. "Tensions are running high in Court right now, my daughters. I take it your mother has told you of the ailing King?" Richard shook his head, his facial expression forcibly manipulated into one that displayed sorrow. "Of course she has; it's a terrible, terrible thing. I will, of course, be returning to Court today to handle some of the businesses, and I wish for the both of you to accompany me two days after, where you will finally make your debut into society." He turned to smile at them, appraising. "My two beautiful daughters... How I wish I could keep you both locked away here forever! But alas, I cannot. I will not be able to help you once you are there, either, I am afraid."

[Rogue of Night]

Jane immediately let her hands fall upon her father's words, nodding to his words.
"We know what is expected of us, father," Catherine stated calmly, and with a tone of respect. "We won't let you or mother down."

[C H E Y E N N E]

"I know you won't," Richard replied. "But the ways of the Court will be new to you, and not everyone is an honourable as they first appear. I have contacted my rather... estranged sister, and though you have never met them before, she has - "
"Excuse me, sir?" one of the footmen said, wincing at the sharp look he received for interrupting. "But you have some guests, and... Well, one of them is rather... insistent."
Richard resisted the urge to rub his temples. "Send them in."
"Well, brother, is that any way to treat your sister? Honestly, making us stand out there for so long!"
There was a reason Lady Eleanor had been banished from Court years ago - her unladylike behaviour and irritating blunt persistence made her a nuisance to anyone and everyone who came into contact with her, as well as the unseemly way she let her hair fall completely loose around her bare shoulders, completely straight; not curled or done up at all. She was also overly affectionate, which was why Richard and Eleanor had never gotten along as children.
"Sister," Richard greeted calmly as Lady Eleanor stopped in front of him, her hazel eyes sharp like a hawk's as she stared at him. "Sister, please don't stare; it's unseemly."
"Pshaw, unseemly," the woman muttered.

[Rogue of Night]

Both sisters glanced over at their aunt, Jane smiling and seeming to relax a little more, while Catherine greeted in the customary manner.
"I didn't know you were coming," Jane stated a little more cheerfully.
"Neither of us did," Catherine added.

[C H E Y E N N E]

"Oh, silly girls, I can't go back to the Court," Eleanor giggled. "The Queen doesn't particularly care for me - I don't think she's forgiven me for sleeping with her husband yet. But I can tell you who will be accompanying you: my two children, Mary and Robert. Now, I know you've never met them before, but they're your age, Catherine - maybe a bit older, but not by much."

[Rogue of Night]

"Do they know of how the Court works then?" inquired the eldest.
Jane simply hummed thoughtfully.

[C H E Y E N N E]

"Oh, of course," Lady Eleanor tsked. "They made their debuts years ago, back when they were sixteen."

[Rogue of Night]

Catherine merely sighed. "Right. So we're late bloomers of sorts, is that right? Now that we are actually making our debut, and we get out there into the Court, what will they think of us? And our family, exactly?"

[C H E Y E N N E]

Lady Eleanor waved her hand. "They will think it's a little odd, yes, but your beauty will explain everything - they will rightly assume that your father didn't want to send you to court, especially not while the king was well."