& @thunyielding
Visions of Amy Dudley were ever-present in Meg's mind, swimming to and fro with such urgency that it was difficult for her to think of anything else. Through one innocent, rather pleasant conversation, Meg had grasped on to a suspicion that she was soon convinced must be true: the Countess of Leicester was with child. She did not know if the Earl even knew of this news but that mattered not - gossip traveled quickly in William's court, and if Meg had inkling of what was transpiring, soon others would know it as well. There was one thing she was certain of - the princess must be informed at once, before she could hear the news through cracks in the walls or whispers on the dance floor.
Meg entered the princess' chambers quietly, pressing a palm flat against the door to click it into place before she turned to take in the room. Bess was standing in a circle of her ladies, each holding a garment or undoing a lace, preparing the princess for bed; it took a village to make certain that everything was done correctly - the various pieces of her gown folded or hung according to her specifications, shoes placed back in their spot, jewelry removed and stored, long red mane carefully brushed and plaited. Only when Elizabeth was satisfied could her bed be turned down and her ladies released to tend to their own nightly routines.
Without saying a word, Meg crossed to the bevy of woman and reached to untie the string of jewels around Elizabeth's neck; she moved around the princess to her dressing table and carefully picked up the jewelry box, a family heirloom that once belonged to her grandmother, Elizabeth of York. Deft fingers opened the lid and presented the box to the departed queen's namesake, so she might place her earrings inside. As she did so, Meg caught her eye, casting a look upon her that required no words to convey their meaning - what Meg had to say was for Bess' ears alone.
