- “ The King is very fond of his cousin, yes, though I would not expect the same treatment for my own self. Though I believe I did learn that business comes before pleasure from your own lips, father, it cannot be said that I have not learnt from you - ” in fact, she learnt too much from her father’s distance. Especially when it came to others at court, Mary may have been made of smiles and politeness but that only served to mask a layer of caution and discretion - allowing her to assess every new acquaintance without detection. Only curiosity showed.
With a smile and a nod of thanks to a passing servant, Mary seated herself across from her father as he spoke of her sister-in-law’s condition; it was one which filled her with a small degree of envy but mostly joy and relief that such sweetness and innocence might be present within the Howard family once more. “ That is wonderful news. I had hoped to join her at such a time, alas I fear now is not the time to depart court when it is as full of foreign diplomats and royals as it is currently. ” The answer offered by her father was not one which offered comfort of any sort, nor did it do anything to lower her suspicions, but she always found it better to entertain him than to question for the sake of peace. “ I am extremely well. My circle within court has grown in size with the new arrivals, our new King treats me as his own sister and the Duke and I find ourselves in … what I suppose I can only describe as martial bliss, which is perhaps the most surprising of all. How does Mistress Holland fair? And yourself, of course, I hope you are keeping well. ”
His daughter always had a means of surprising him, even if it was in a way that he found less than appealing. He grunted, more or less, in acquiescence to her words, nodding in somewhat stubborn agreement. “Of course. Perhaps it was not all in vain, was it?” He watched her as she sat before him, almost curious. She was his own daughter, there was no denying that. That he would claim her brother before her at any turn was all but a given, but he could not deny her when she seemed at the least to understand him so well.
Again, Norfolk nodded and lifted his cup of wine to his lips. “I would be inclined to agree. At a more ordinary time, the sojourn might bring her some comfort, but surely you are of more use here.” The words came as if she were an instrument and he made no apologies for that, quite comforted at her report. “We can only pray that it remains that way, I do suppose. The duke always seemed to have a softness of feeling toward you, since the arrangement between you was struck.” He had a mix of feelings toward Mary’s husband, as he did to most things. It felt to him that the man wielded an inordinate amount of power for a bastard son, but of course he had sense enough to keep that opinion to himself. The conversation diverted to Bess and he flashed what could barely be considered a smile, especially when he knew Mary’s true feeling on the subject. “She fares very well. I had hoped to have her here, but I thought it best to keep the conversation between us too - not least of all because you have never shown her very much kindness.” He brushed past the subject quickly. “I am well. Business is at a never-ending pace. A new reign means new challenges, I think. The late King, god rest his soul, was not as thrifty as his father before him, and the coffers are always in need of a watchful eye.” He reached for a piece of fruit from the center of the table, glancing up to Mary. “But I am keen now to hear more of this circle you have evidently amassed. Whose company are you keeping?” It was in everyone’s best interests that he could maintain a knowledge and an eye on his daughter’s allies - see where his family’s attentions lay.