DE LONGWY.

JACQUELINE DE LONGWY. COUNTESS OF PENTHIÈVRE. when the fire's burnt, when the wind has blown, when the water's dried, you'll still find stone. ....my heart of stone.

[jennception]

JODIE COMER © James White for Entertainment Weekly (February 2019)

[fulviaesque]

fr-valois‌:

     He  searched within the wells of her hazel eyes, who glance under golden lashes seemed like a wicked laugh. It pleased Louis to note the coloring of the cheek, and the expression of the mouth, as she sought his person - desiring to entreat him into holding her company. Jacqueline could not deny herself the temptation of flirtation; though he harbor a feverish wish for her to act in any other fashion. “Madame - I would hope my person would be desirable for you, regardless if an odious crow has tittered in your ear for half the mourn.” His eyes paid little mind to the discarded gentlemen, who seething wrath was palpable in the dense English air. It was a strange sensation; to have his own court seemingly supplanted into a foreign one, to be fitted with his favorite persons, and to be trailed by his misdeeds and ventures. “We shall indulge in wine, as to best become reacquainted. Had you not my full confidence, I would dismay you would be convinced I abandoned you.” Louis tired of the exhausting affair, of renewing vows with the members of the French court who had seldom seen in England. Yet it was no arduous task to take Jacqueline into his apartment, to vocalize their attachment once more. 

        the lowering of herself into a curtsy lingered, separating the gesture offered to HER KING from those she was forced to perform for every foreign noble and royal she had come across in the distant court they were attending for they were not worthy of as much devotion as she often displayed towards france’s king. given the importance of the summit the comtesse de penthièvre had no mind to seek him out but her patience had been tested, pushed to the brink by a man insisting on comparing her to a flower of turmeric, and it had been so fortunate that it had been him whom had caught her dark gaze when it went wondering. it was certainly helpful to also know that the spice-smitten lord could hardly speak against the wishes of someone as elevated as he. “ there is not a soul here present whom would not find your person desirable, my king, i find myself among those whom find it to be particularly covetable. ” with a straightened posture from the offer of her curtsy, jacqueline took it upon herself to begin to step as if to lead before slowing herself so to not appear to so bold or impatient. “ as a loyal subject i would never assume myself abandoned by our lion of france, votre majesté, i shall find myself in distress of mine own to think you have felt any such dismay. there are often much more pressing matters than conversing with courtiers, are there not? even in your absence and on these foreign lands, you may be assured that you have my loyalty and faith as you have from any true member of your court. i only worry for your comfort and pleasure in these hollow halls, are the english as thorough at catering to your majesté’s desires as your own court is? ”

[fulviaesque]

cedere--nescio‌:

Despite the queen’s set polite grin painted throughout the evening as she nonchalantly surveyed her guests, there lurked the faint flash of a feline’s mischief over her features as she ears perked to the comtesse Jacqueline’s plea. ‘Ah, yes… Countess, ’ Catherine purred low enough for Jacqueline’s pesky tradesman to remain oblivious. Shortly followed by a  glance over her shoulder and a lean in towards the countess to mutter, ‘What a rare gift of patience you possess. ‘Tis a fascinating tradesman: complete with an overwhelming abundance of cardamom, cloves, spice, such talent… and yet lacking minuscule capability of drawing in a woman’s enraptured attention.’  

‘Step with me into a dance amongst my ladies, instead, or prepare for the crucial moment when he compares your rare beauty to a particularly rare spice…?’ Dark brow quirked as she held back a laugh, only able to haughtily twist her lips into a hint of a smirk. 

        “ i believe it was mentioned somewhere amongst his ramblings that i resemble a turmeric flower, how flattering that should be is yet to be seen. ” an amused smile accompanied her quiet response to the queen, smiling in thanks and relief as she departed her most vocal company as she stepped towards the english queen and her ladies. “ you have my greatest of apologies if he is a member of your court, your majesty, there is simply only so much talk of spices and plants that one can take when unable to make comment or divert the conversation elsewhere. i am entirely in your debt for your rescue, i hope i shall not bore you as terribly as he did i. why must men be so self-centred? perhaps we should do them a kindness and advise that women are quite fond of being able to have their say or to be able to contribute to a topic at the very least. ”

[fulviaesque]

kraljevstava‌:

                           left to her own devises,  the grand duchess permitted a curious eye to wander about the ballroom,  teeming with courtiers whom she admired with graceful and circumspect tact.  enraptured by the vibrant culture of the european court,  natalya was caught unawares by the comtesse,  turning sharply upon her heel to acknowledge the frenchwoman with a glance that was cool to the touch,  potentially alarming,  warmed by a deferential lowering of her chin.   ❛  wine is precisely what is necessary to endure such a debacle,  my lady.  let us go fetch a glass…  or two.   ❜  offering the noblewoman an arm,  she directed her to the smorgasbord of libations whilst making idle commentary.  ❛  i do wonder why it is that men,  in particular,  so enjoy the sound of their own voice.  if they have ever uttered anything interesting,  it has surely gotten in the way of this endeavour.  ❜

        a barely audible sigh of relief and thanks passed french lips at the acceptance of her offer, her expression softening towards the grand duchess with a smile of silent thanks as she accepted the offer of walking on her arm. “ i fear it will scarcely revive from such topic of conversation, alas we must try all the same. ” often women would sooner stand toe to toe with each other opposed to arm in arm, and yet, finding one as great as her serene highness willing to act as her saviour, it would seem jacqueline was blessed by hera herself that eve. “ it is often the most disappointing of the species whom will speak so. they have a great deal to say and yet they say nothing of importance and allow no room for contribution, it is all a grand facade to distract from incompetence. i am most fortunate, however, to find that his nonsense has brought me into the company of someone much greater. i hope you have not found yourself subject to the same torture during your time here, your highness? ”

[fulviaesque]

dianeofscotland‌:

“half of the court here is unmarried and the other half is married but not happy in their marriage, as they are seeking a dance partner who is not the one they have sworn off to before god himself.” diane explains quite simply, enjoying the look on the girl’s face. diane often does this, asks rather unconventional questions and seeks answers that may or may not lead to quite the stir. it is her own form of entertainment, one that even her husband cannot offer. she leans a bit closer to the french girl, her red lips stretching into a smile. “look at the couple on your left. the way he is touching her under the veils of her dress. one could say he’s to have her right then and there. it’s blasphemous, if you happen to ask me.” the princess shrugs, as she finally gives the goblet of wine to the brunette before her. “have at it. if you ask me, they are all sinners.”

        “ is dancing such a sin, your highness? ” there was a false tone of innocence in her question, for she certainly did not believe it to be so but it would appear that such ideals often did not translate the same between courts. in spite of her disagreeing with the scottish princess’ view of the displace before them she was happy to take the cup of wine and cradled it between her hands whilst continuing to survey the sight. “ perhaps it is all little more than a charade. we are here on peaceful grounds but there is a great deal of politics passing before us even when we do not know it; seduction is a technique used even by the ancients. what is to say that the brazen hand of one man is merely to flatter a lady to get into her husband’s good graces and not into her bed? ”

[fulviaesque]

honeycandiies‌:

     “no, i think not. certainly must seem long if one has no desire for those thins at the moment, or at all.”  maddelena murmurs, turning her head back to the sunlight and the gardens beneath the window.   “if one does not require immediate satisfaction, the wait is all part of the sweetness of it. paris is  certainly closer than even where i grew up, or the africas, or the pretty palaces of the ming dynasty, and much more accessible for me, no?”

      “ah. now we speak the same language,”  maddelena’s giggle was easy and soft, shaking her head a little, fingers dancing curiously over the divots where stones were grouted together, though her attention was still on some tree or another, always inquiring, always searching, always hoping for an answer to the world. playing dumb had some advantages, she supposed: she only had to answer half of that question,  loaded as it was in implication.  “i have already borrowed from the library, your grace, and yes. it is satisfying to discover new titles. it will be a source of joy for me as long as i stay here.”

        “ i suppose you are right, yes, though if you travel so far for satisfaction there will be little time for you to return. would your companions here not miss your presence? i imagine they would, your highness, terribly so. ” whilst she was not one of the first to be introduced to royals and nobles alike, certainly not when surrounded by so many senior royals, jacqueline always made an effort to take mental note of faces and positions so that the appropriate formalities and politenesses would remain in place. even if she was entirely out of her depths at a foreign court which had been invaded by so many others.

“ do you have a preference on the books you choose to read? ” the french countess enquired curiously as she stepped closer to the window so that she might bask in the feeling of the sunlight against her porcelain skin. “ i find i am quite the same with music. i do not claim to be a musician in my own right, nor are my dance steps particular superior to others, but i find a great deal of joy when a melody fills a room and stirs others out of their seats. ”

[thoodleoo]

my aesthetic is powerful, intelligent women in antiquity marrying politically important men and using their relationship to exert influence over the course of history

[fulviaesque]

        a curtsy of grace was offered as both a sign of respect and a silent apology, though she had not approached in a rude or abrupt manner, the french comtesse had seemingly appeared as if out of nowhere in a bid to start a fresh conversation. in her wake she left a gentleman she feared had not even noticed her excusing herself for his enjoyment of his own voice, but it was necessary that she be freed of his company for her own sanity.        “ i pray you might forgive my intrusion if there is forgiveness to be sought. i am in great need of liberation from a man whose talk of spices from the middle east has continued on since midday, my own efforts to speak of other matters have been terribly in vain and i wish not to offend him. i would be so grateful if you would take a cup of wine or walk with me to my freedom. ”

[fulviaesque]

dianeofscotland‌:

blood is rushing through the diane stewart’s veins as her wide, dark hues dance, skipping from one color to another and from one disingenuous smile to another ludicrously clueless gaze. she absolutely hates this. having to be at english court, having to pretend she doesn’t think her house should be rulling both scotland and england. another night, another feast. and while they are all here to mourn - she can’t help but notice how every night is full of anything but. this certainly serves as the finest of meals, as the fresh state of exhilaration the body desperately craves. everyone is dancing and diane finds herself quite bored. now all the hungry eyes need to do was to choose. the winds of unfortune lure the gaze towards the person, diane of scotland’s slim fingers grabbing two goblets of wine, determinedly pushing one of them in the other’s direction. “ i shall give it to you ; in exchange of your opinion which dancing couple is the most blasphemous. it’s a small price to pay for a goblet of wine, is it not?“

        it is an odd thing and makes little sense to a civil mind, she thinks. a woman known on a personal level to only a few should be tended to in death and celebrated by much of the world’s blue-blooded population who hold no true sympathy, many will show genuine respects but most of what sits before them is undoubtedly a game; an OPPORTUNITY to flash one’s own jewels and courtiers like props to prove which kingdom is greater in riches and which is most godly and modest. it is a game which jacquelie has grown quite accustomed to bearing witness to and it grows in intrigue and the stakes heighten with each and every match - she finds it quite amusing. the hand which sought a cup of wine from a servant was much disappointed to find the object of her desire claimed before her thirst could be quenched, her attention parting from dancing and tumbling courtiers to find herself under the gaze of the princess of scotland, a presence which commanded a polite courtesy from the french courtier. “ BLASPHEMOUS, your highness? i fear you may have to be more specific for it is hard to be certain. with the mixing of many courts it is certain there are to be married and promised souls dancing with others - who can say what is blasphemous and what is simply politics? though one might even say there is little difference between the two, i suppose. ”

[fulviaesque]

honeycandiies‌:

   “paris is not that far away, is it?”   she murmurs, wistful, leaning ever-so-slightly out of a window in a main hallway that overlooks the gardens; the sun and fresh air was sweet on her skin, in pale hair.   “and i do so yearn to experience parisian theatre with all of that romance and intrigue.”   it’s easier to appreciate french drama when it’s fake, anyway. always questioning, always learning, maddelena would have much preferred curiosity about the english sated by  anything but a trip like this.

      “unless one knows of a good theatre troupe nearby, and then i should be  eternally grateful——”   she hadn’t personally known, nor cared, about the dead woman, but the taste of death is rank in everything hung and dried in the castle. grief for a stranger holds no place in maddelena’s life. it cannot touch her here, in the sunlight, hands braced on the sill, opening her eyes at long last to cast a smile at the other person occupying the hallway.   “but never mind all that, i suppose.  the library will have to satisfy me.”

        “ it would most certainly take a week at the very least, quite a long journey to take in search of romance and intrigue, no? ” jaqueline’s own legs had barely ceased their shaking from her voyage from france, she did not yet wish to think of the journey home to her beloved france, and although she was not particularly a bad sailor she would often find it took a while to adjust no longer swaying back and forth once on dry land. or perhaps that was merely discomfort in being surrounded by such foreign land and people.

        “ i confess that i am not familiar with english theatre, i hear they are most fond of portraying their own victories and if that is to be the case i would sooner recommend the arduous journey to paris. ” humour rolled from her tongue, a smile accompanying a curious tilt of her head as fingers laced together and hands rested against the parisian fabric on the front of her gown. “ as the kingdom is in mourning i imagine the library will be much more satisfying for you, if not more entertaining. are the celebrations of the king’s late grandmother’s life not to your liking? ”

[romelzacarnes]

‘Humble and penitent’ be damned. 

[fulviaesque]

jodie comer, 27, jacqueline de longwy.❝ ⤚⟶ ENGLAND, 1458… can’t you see JACQUELINE DE LONGWY, the COUNTESS OF PENTHIÈVRE from FRANCE coming this way? they are at best AMIABLE, and at their worst INTRANSIGENT. whilst residing in england, their ambition is to SUPPORT THE CROWN AND NOBILITY OF FRANCE. SHE seems to remind everyone of JODIE COMER & IMMACULATE WHITE MARBLE STATUES LINING A BRIGHT ROOM. ❞ penned by BEE; GMT, SHE/HER, 23.

The name of ‘de Longwy’ was a noble and respected one in both the courts of Lorraine and France and it was into this family that Jacqueline de Longwy was born in the year 1431. As the daughter of Jean III de Longwy, seigneur Givry, Raon and Admiral of France, and Bonne de la Trémoille, a former lady-in-waiting to the Queen of France, much of young Jacqueline’s life was spent visiting French Court and bearing witness to both politics of the social and official varieties; the latter usually being heard by young Jacqueline pressing her ear to the door whilst her father spoke business.

As the children grew up, Jacqueline and her two brothers, they came into their own and each found their positions slowly but surely. Her brothers took up taking care of their father’s lands whilst the title of Admiral took up a great deal of his time and Jacqueline spent many of her days at court. From her mother, she learnt the art of surviving the world of the nobility with everything from poetry and courtesy to dancing and casual conversation while her father never truly intended to teach her anything. Not intentionally at least.

Politics was not a game for woman and nor had it ever been, but that was not to say that some women did not find their way to understanding it. From the moment Jacqueline realised that her world revolved around the worlds of these men and their politics she took an interest. It began by talking with her brothers, visiting them at their family home or on their estates, and taking an interest in their lives and current conflicts. Then she would offer her opinion. Opinions would turn into suggestions and before she knew it they took her word rather seriously, her ideas were taken under consideration, and soon she found she had a way with political words.

From her brothers to her father and even to her friends, Jacqueline never fully immersed herself in politics for knowing she would never be widely taken seriously or ridiculed for it, but her words run beneath the surface and both parties benefit from it. Those she sides with find themselves with a hidden weapon of sorts, a wise one at that, and she gains favour and advantages in return. The same goes for her marriage. Whilst it was not a love match, it was solely put together for political purposes, Jacqueline now has her own title and estate as well as the life she loves so dearly at court. 

* Jacqueline’s main alliance lies with France and the crown, any other relationships are to be discussed and plotted. *

[anneboleyns]