Name
Given at Birth: Mary Eliot
Name
Given at Birth: Mary Eliot
Nicknames: My name is Mary Eliot, but there are few that call me by that name now. I was very inexperienced when first I came to service, and made many mistakes that tried my lord's infinite patience. His Grace had a mind to visit the marketplace early one spring, and as we made our way through the crowds I became separated from him. I thought surely I woulddie from anxiety, when I heard his voice from afar crying "L Eot! L Eot!" I followed the sound of his voice and soon found him, safe in the booth of a tulips seller from Holland. I have been L Eot ever since that day. It is pronounced quite differently from my given name. Sometimes my lord will tease me and call out my name in crowded places, as if he has lost me, even though he knows I am never far enough away to warrant shouting.
Hometown or where you were born: Outside of London, on my father's estate
Current Residence: With his Grace Leopold Bloom, the Duke of Middlesex, at Pink Hall, outside London.
Age: 26
Class: Upper Middle, by the Grace of God.
What do you do, your main function in life/society: Stated simply, my function in life is to make certain my lord wants for nothing. I manage his household and look after his business affairs, and accompany him when he travels. It is a strange position for awoman to be in, but the Lord has placed me here for a reason.
Have you ever gone skinny-dipping / do you know how to swim: No, I cannot swim. We girls were never permitted to bathe out of doors. My brother could swim, of course, and would come in bragging with tales of mermaids and pirates and gold littering the bottom of the pond. We girls were very gullible to believe there were pirates and a ship on our little pond, but still I remember crawling into bed at night between my sisters, and praying to God to protect us from the pirates outside our window.
Do you make fun of people: Nay, that is improper and would reflect poorly upon my family and upon my lord.
Favorite Color: My favorite color is blue. It is the color of service and loyalty.
Have you ever committed or been convicted of a crime: One whose days are spent in service and whose nights are spent justly sleeping does not have time to commit crimes, orto be convicted of them.
Closest friends/How did you meet:
- I am quite close to Raoul, servant to Fraydrick Doublet, the Baron of Carisbrooke. Our lords were in constant company during my first years of service, and I learned much from her. She is clever and caring and my true sister in service, and I do mourn the fact that she will not be with us during the Harvest Festival this year. I must at this time mention His Honor the Baron, though he would be appalled if he knew I counted him among my friends. Sometimes he even dances with me, or plays the recorder while I sing! His sincere affection for my lord has won him a place in my heart.
- We recently accepted Elizabeth Lloyd into service. She is from a Canterbury family that my lord was once acquainted with. She had a spark of intelligence most unbecoming in a scullery maid, so I've kept her close and am teaching her all that I know. I am very proud of her progress and will betaking her with us to Canterbury this fall, and it is my ambition to prepare her for service as housekeeper in a fine household. She is a bit defiant at times, but has an quick smile and a kindly way, so it is difficult for me to scold her.
- I must admit that I am fond of the beautiful and witty Duchess of Chantilly, and of her silly manservant Bernardo. I fear for his future, though, as he has been neglectful of her of late and was forced to follow behind with the extra baggage. I doubt even that he will be here in time for the Harvest Festival! I am especially afraid for Bernardo's future after Lloyd and I show Her Grace what it is to be served by dutiful and loving servants.
- Of all the people in the world, I love my lord more than any other. He is the finest man in the land, and to serve him is to nourish my heart. My last task in the evening is to burn a small candle for his sake, and kneel and pray that God will grant him continuedhappiness and peace.
One Pillow or two: I have a small bolster kept to benefit my health, but nothing more. His Grace has so many pillows that I believe he sleeps almost sitting up. Sometimes I wonder how he sleeps at all, with all those pink and green pillows in the bed. We have a closet at Pink Hall devoted to them. He doesn't enjoy change, so when we take one or two of them to clean, we must replace them with their twin from the closet. Once, while my master's friend Cordelia Pave' was visitng, someone thought it would be amusing to replace one of His Grace's pink pillows with one of coral! The young chambermaid did not notice, and let it lie on his bed. There was such trouble at the end of the day! I had to tear the house apart looking for the missing pillow. . . and strangely enough, the culprit had switched it with one of the Duchess of Chantilly's pillows. . . and left it lying at the bottom of her trunk. . . underneath the nearly immovable rumpof Bernardo, who kept insisting, "non, non, L Eot, petite bebe, c'est ne pas un pillow there! Madame would never. . . "
Pets: God's teeth, no! What would I do with a pet? I'm quite busy managing the household staff. I have no time for such things. Of course there are hunting dogs kept should ever a guest wish to hunt, and good solid mousers in the stables, but I would not consider these pets.
Favorite Type of Music: Something quiet, played upon the harp or perhaps the lute. Loud noises bother me so.
Hobbies/Pastimes: When I was younger and lived at home, I enjoyed playing games with my sisters. Now I have little time for such things. One of our favorite games was taraccho, and of course we did our share of embroidering and singing. So much singing, in fact, that today I'd rather hear the sound of a man's voice.
Personal Hygiene: I bathe every third day, and more often when I need it. My lord is very sensitive to suchthings, and would no doubt lose some of his skill as florist should we at home assault his sensitive nose with nasty odors. We were all nearly ruined last Spring, when Mistress Borden's Troupe Festivale came and performed for His Grace during the Easter feast. One of the gypsies, Sapphira, I think it was, earned some extra coin from the footmen by telling fortunes, and foretold that they would catch the sniffles if they worried overmuch about washing their feet. So they did not wash their feet all that spring! The odor was terrible. I had no idea what was causing Pink Hall to smell so foul, and His Grace was forced, for the good of Crown and Country, to retreat to Carisbrooke until the problem was resolved. Our good servant Francis eventually overheard his fellow footmen discussing the issue, and forced them out into a summer rain with soap and brush until they were clean. Of course they all caught colds from that. The gypsy Sapphira is hailed as a genius now by theservants at Pink Hall, and they are eagerly awaiting her next visit. I think I shall have to find them extra work to do next time the Troupe Festivale is near.
Favorite Food: I'm particularly fond of sweet things. Cakes and such. His Grace is fond of them also, and for that I am grateful.
Are your parents alive, do you get along with them: Nay, they are with the Lord. My elder brother manages my father's estate and business now.
If your parents are dead, when and how did they die: Alas, they did fall victim to the milk-sickness last year.
Favorite place to relax: I don't relax. I work or I sleep. Were I to relax, though, I believe I would do as his Grace does, and visit the meadow or walk through the gardens.
Favorite Holy Day / Why: My favorite Holy Day is Easter, a time of rebirth and renewal. Every spring we decorate the house with flowers and vines and beautiful things of that nature, and on Easter noblesfrom near and far come to celebrate the season with us. His Grace hires musicians and dancers from that gypsy Boleyn, and we have games and dancing and entertainments of all sort. It's quite a mess to clean up afterward, and I'm not certain that the clergy approve, but it all makes for a very nice picture indeed, and his Grace usually comes out of the business with two or three new clients.
Favorite Drink: Spiced wine on a winter's eve! It warms the soul.
What's your bedtime: I seek my bed after my lord has taken his, and after I have made certain that all is well in the house. Household meeting must be attended and doors must be barred and windows shut and silver locked away. Most certainly I do not go to sleep at a normal hour. Sometimes it is very late, in fact. I have attempted to stress to his Grace the importance of a good night's rest, but he seems to think that sleeping late into the day is more conducive to health and harmony, and thereforedoes not seek his bed until late in the evening. We spend a fortune on candles.
What, if anything, do you usually wear on your feet: Sturdy leather shoes.
Are you married or single: I am very single. I have four older sisters, and my parents exhausted their social connections in marrying them off. In fact, my sister Margaret is married to the brother of one of Queen Elizabeth's ladies-in-waiting! We are very proud.
Do you have a family / who are they: My father, William Eliot, was a wealthy merchant and landowner, and a knight of King Henry. Father was also a shrewd businessman. My mother Anne, no less shrewd, managed a large household and the virtue of five girls. My sisters, Margaret, Anne, Catherine, and Roberta have all made good marriages and have sons aplenty. My brother Edmond manages my father's estate and business.
Favorite Entertainment: I do enjoy a good dance. I hear that the court may dance this year at theHarvest Festival, and I am looking forward to it very much. His Grace is a fine dancer, and was asked to lead the court dance at the Queen's coronation feast. It is always a treat to watch Goldiana lead her dancers at the Maypole every fall in Canterbury. It is quite charming to watch them, dancing and laughing, with ribbons in their hair.
Favorite Subject in School or Chore growing up: I have always enjoyed embroidery. I have not had much chance to work at it since coming to service.
Least Favorite Subject in School or Chore growing up: My sisters and mother delighted in instructing me in proper deportment. They were always very critical and I used to wish I were a boy, so that I could be off with my father and brother and away from them.
Favorite Sport: Sometimes we will go and watch nobles play at tennis. I enjoy that.
Most Humiliating Moment: His Grace invited many important and wealthy people to dinner oneevening, and I worked very hard at making certain the household ran smoothly. Everyone has a task and those tasks must be overseen by either the butler or the housekeeper, and the butler and housekeeper report to me. I should have paid more attention, for when the third course was presented I was dismayed to find that the staff had mistaken my order to work greens from the garden into a salad, and had instead taken clippings and refuse from my master's work earlier in the day! His Grace knew, of course, but none of the guests noticed, praise God. It was terrible. That was early in my employ, and I have learned much since then, but never seen my lord eat salad.
Proudest Moment: His Grace sometimes says he would be lost without me. That is always my proudest moment, not because I think it is especially true, but that he cares enough for me to say so. Of course I should never mention this to others, as it would be entirely improper.
CraziestPerson or silliest you know: Those Doublet twins are the silliest people I know. It is fashion and fun for them, always. They keep their servants hopping mad, always with bizarre demands and fits of fancy. I am often glad that my lord is as grounded as he is. But then again, he is very English, and they are more than a little French. The Duchess is dripping with jewels, literally, and sometimes will lose them. I'm always looking out for them, and Bernardo has secretly given me a supply to keep with me always, so that, should I be unable to find a specific bauble in the dirt and water between here and France, I have a quick replacement. It is not a lack of wits that keeps Her Grace from realizing the difference between the lost bauble and the found, just an over-abundance of jewels!
What do you look for in the opposite sex: I never have time for looking. My father's intention was that his Grace would look for me, though I don't believe that will happenanytime soon.
In our Hierarchical Society everybody has somebody "over" them, Who is your immediate "overlord" My lord is Leopold Bloom, Duke of Middlesex and Florist to her royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth. My father did some service for him at one time, and thought very highly of him. When Father realized he could not marry me off, he sent me to his Grace, and knew that I would be well taken care of, if I kept my place and served him well.
Favorite Sport to watch: I enjoy watching tennis. Sometimes the servants will play at bowls on the lawn, on festival days. That is not often, though, as we generally have work to do.
Do you remember your first kiss: Aye, stolen by some wandering minstrel in the garden. Pray don't tell anyone. I don't encourage kissing amongst my servants, as it leads to bad behavior and skipped chores.
Do you keep in touch with your childhood friends: Aye, unfortunately. My sisters delight in writing meand telling me how fortunate they are to have husbands of good name and property, and children. They know not of what they speak, for I consider myself the fortunate one. Their husbands are boorish and their chilren naughty, and I have been many places in service and met many people.
Where is your favorite "Vacation" spot: His Grace's favorite vacation spot is in the south of France. We go there often. I don't have a favorite vacation spot of my own, though if I were a lady of money and leisure I would travel there.
Have you ever been overseas: Yes, his Grace's travels take him many places overseas, and often I accompany him. Recently we traveled to the Orient, and my lord came back with many a strange and wonderful flower. I am anxious to see if they will grow here in England. We were almost lost in the Orient, for we relied on the Earl of Brighton's gifts of translation and direction. It was lucky that we crossed paths with Belladonna Boleyn andher caravan. They brought us home safely, for a small fee, of course.
Do you have Dirt/Mud floors or Stone: My lord's floors are of the finest material available. I believe it is pink granite, I know not. I am more concerned with its current condition than its make. I have a maid whose entire purpose is to keep that floor beautiful.
What is your bed made of: My little bed is made of ropes and straw. I have a very small room in Pink Hall, near enough to that of his Grace's so that I would hear should he call.
How many people sleep in your bed: I sleep alone, as my bed is very small. The other servants are required to share, of course. One person in bed is a waste. Better to pile them up and save room and materials.
10 Things Everybody Should Know About Me:
1. I work very hard for my lord, and less so for others.
2. I have become trusting of the Boleyn family, as they often provide service and help tomy lord, though I watch them closely when they are about.
3. I am very fond of his Grace and care very much for his well-being. I do not appreciate jokes made at his expense, even if they are made by his friends.
4. I look forward to seeing the royal court at the Harvest Festival this year. My highest aspiration is that they should someday visit Pink Hall, to the honor of my lord.
5. I am never tempted when others try to buy my service, or offer me places in their households.
6. I enjoy young children and wish that our paths crossed more often.
7. I am very proud of my position and my household.
8. His Grace is good to me, and sometimes allows me to eat from his plate. This is not stealing, as others seem to think. It would do him no service were I to faint from hunger.
9. Fraydrick Doublet's servant Raoul is a special friend of mine, as we have been through much together.
10.I try and laugh at least a hundred times a day. Keeps a body healthy.