A Day In The Life Of The Duke Of Suffolk

TEAM BRANDON

A Day in the Life of the Duke of Suffolk

This is the story about The Day in the Life of the Duke of Suffolk. Thanks to everyone who participated in creating this wild and adventurous day!

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE DUKE OF SUFFOLK TALE 7am: Charles Brandon opens his weary eyes towards the rays of sunlight coming through a lavish room. Charles sees his shirt draping from the end of the bed and notices the rest of his items laying on the floor beside of him. Suddenly, a woman sighs. Charles turns beside of him and sees a peacefully sleeping mysterious woman, but Charles doesn't have a clue who it may be. "Oh no", he thinks to himself, "I did it again." Charles gathers his clothing and hastily puts them on. He scampers through the room grabbing his boots and trying not to wake the woman. Just as he exits the room, a happy woman approaches him. "Charles," she begins, "Where did you go last night? You said you were going to get us more wine, but you never came back." Charles, speechless at first, takes a breath. "Something came up." All of a sudden the door opens behind him. The mysterious woman from before exits wearing only a bedsheet and comes behind them. "Charles, you left your dagger." The happy woman looks at Charles for a moment and then pushes his aside. "Who are you?" The mystery woman smiles, forces the dagger into Charles' hand, and comes nearly face to face with the other woman. "Obviously, I mean more to him than you or else you would be with him." The happy woman chuckles. "He told me he loves me." The mystery woman pushes the happy woman. "I don't think so." The two women begin to fight, pulling each other's hair and wrestle to the floor. Meanwhile, laughter roars nearby. Charles turns to see Compton and Knivert laughing so hard, they're nearly in the floor. "I told you, Charles," Knivert begins. "Eventually, it would catch up with you." Charles continues to walk as Knivert and Compton point and laugh. 8am: While Compton and Knivert decided to make a little wager on which girl was guna win the fight, Charles made haste down the corridors to meet up with King Henry in one of his private chambers. He remembered that today the King was guna have the astrologist come over and read people's fortunes. Charles never was a believer in that sort of things but he thought he could get a good laugh at what the astrologer would come up with for his predictions. As the guards opened the door for Charles to Henry's chamber, he saw the King sitting at a table with a strangely dressed middle aged woman whom he had to guess was the astrologer. Charles could tell that the King was enjoying what his future held for him as the astrologer was reading the cards. Henry looked up to see Charles standing at the door and invited him to come in. Charles made his way to Henry. The King introduced the astrologist to Charles, she stood up from her chair and bowed down "Good morning, Your Grace, I am Madam Nostradama" she said. "It's a pleasure to meet you Madam" Charles replied back. Henry then told Nostradama "Oh, did you know that Charles isn't much of a believer in astrologers? He thinks their a bunch of fakes" and laughs. Nostradama then looks at Charles and asks "Is that true Your Grace? You don't think that i could possibly tell you your past, present or future?" Charles replied back with a stern "No." "I believe that only God knows that, and no one else." Nostradama then sits back down and motions for Charles to take his seat and say "Well, then I guess you won't mind if I read what today is guna bring you then. But you don't have to take my word for it." "I am actually looking forward to what you will tell me my day will bring madam" Charles says challenging her. He then sits down. Madam Nostradama then gathers her tarot cards and asks the Duke to shuffle the cards in his hands. Charles does so, then hands the cards back to her. She separates the cards in 2 piles and picks out 3 cards from the top of 1 of the pile of cards and lays them on the table. She flips the 3 cards over showing their tarot pictures on top and Madam Nostradama gasps! She looks at Charles then she looks back at the cards. Charles looks at her and asks "So what does it show?" Madam Nostradama replies back "You know what? Your good Your Grace" and starts gathering up her cards quickly and placing them in her satchel and gets up and tells the King "Peace!" and starts walking fast towards the chambers door. Henry and Charles both look confused at one another. Henry then asks Madam Nostradama "What's wrong???!!! Why are you leaving in such a haste? You haven't told Charles his fortune!" Madam Nostradama stops and turns around and says "Let's just say that today is guna be one of those bad days for the Duke and leave it at that..." The Duke then laughs and replies "So your saying im guna have bad luck today? That's a joke! Bad luck is just something superstitious people say." Madam Nostradama walks towards where Charles is still sitting at and tells him up close "If I were you, I would just stay in bed for the rest of the day because you will bring bad luck to anyone around you. And from what i know your bad luck already caused a stir amongst some females earlier. So your bad luck is already beginning!" Charles just stayed silent as Madam Nostradama looked sternly at him knowing that what she said was actually true! Just at that moment, the thick iron chandalier that was hanging from above came crashing down on the table barely missing the King and the Duke. At that same moment, Madam Nostradama just walks straight out of the room trying to avoid the 'bad luck' Duke. Charles and Henry just sit staring at the broken table in front of them. While the King's servant's run to Henry making sure that he's ok and isn't harmed. "Oh ****!" Charles says quietly to himself. 9am: Satisfied that the King is unharmed, the servants return to their duties leaving Henry and Charles alone with a rather tense and awkward silence. "Well..." Henry begins, rising from his chair, "I'm sure you're right...never can trust those astrologers...don't know what they're talking about..." He edges towards the door, "...I mean...that chandelier was pretty old... it's been ready to drop all week..." the King chuckles weakly. "Anyway... best be off...country to run... you know how it is." Charles barely manages to catch the end of Henry's sentence as he bolts for the door, knocking two servants out the way as they try to clear up the mess. With a rather despondent sigh, the Duke rises from his chair and leaves the room, paying little attention to the various servants desperately trying to keep out of his way. Surely things won't be that bad he thinks to himself and deciding he needs cheering up, Charles heads off to see where Knivert and Compton have got to, confident they'll laugh at his so called future and write it all off as nonsense. Just as he turns the corner, he spots his two friends at the other end of the corridor. Both of them have their backs to him and seem to be discussing their wager from earlier this morning. From their conversation, Charles gathers that it was Knivert who won the bet and is ready to interrupt with a suitable taunt at Compton's ability to have lost 6 bets in a row now when they both turn around. Once again Charles finds himself faced with an uncomfortable silence. "Hello, Charles," stammers Knivert as both he and Compton begin to back away. It appears that despite his sudden urgency to address matters of state, Henry had managed to fill the two men in on the Duke's misfortune, and now they clearly thought the bad luck might be catching. Charles continues to move towards his friends determined to make light of the situation when a deafening smash stops him in his tracks. It seems that one of the windows has broken. The reason for this is currently embedded in the wall two inches from Charles Brandon's head. Apparently, the nobleman practicing his archery this morning needs to work on his aim. Catching the eyes of his friends Charles nods in acceptance as both Compton and Knivert move as quickly as they can in the opposite direction, muttered goodbyes just about reaching his ears. Deciding he should try to get out of the palace in an attempt to put as much distance as possible between him and his bad luck, Charles heads to the stables. What he finds doesn't really improve his mood. His favourite horse needs re-shoeing and the blacksmith is stuck on the other side of London. There is only one other horse in a fit condition to ride but this one doesn't seem to like the Duke. As he approaches with one of the stable boys, the animal bolts, catching the boy with one of his hooves. Perhaps it will be safer if I just stay here, Charles thinks to himself and decides to head back to his chambers. As he steps through the courtyard, it appears his bad luck really is only just beginning. The heavens open, and within seconds he is drenched head to foot. The usual fifteen minute walk back to his chambers turns out to be far more interesting today. The Duke manages to trip himself up four times, falls up the stairs twice and literally runs into a young woman who just happened to be carrying a jug full of wine. Finally reaching the corridor for his rooms, the dripping, wine covered Charles Brandon resolves to stay in his chambers all day hiding from whatever else is in store for him. As he reaches for his door handle he sees a sudden flash of light from within his room. Closing his eyes and gritting his teeth he enters, preparing himself for whatever could be waiting for him inside. 10am: As Charles opens the door, he barely opens his eyes enough to see the palace designers hanging new curtains. The light shines so bright it's nearly blinding. The head designer turns to Charles. "Sir, may I help you?" Charles rubs his head. "Could you possibly come back later? I need some rest." The designer comes nearly face to face with Charles. "Sir, I am here on orders of the king. I think YOU need to come back later." Charles sighs, smiles like the gentleman that he is, and turns away. He exits the room and thinks, "What else could go wrong today?" Charles turns the corner to see the mysterious woman from earlier this morning. She has an odd look on her face. "So Charles, how has your day been?" Charles stops and sighs. "Sorry about this morning." The woman stands closer to him and rubs her finger down his chest. "If you return to see my mother today, tell her that I said hello." Charles pulls back, confused. "Your mother?" Charles thinks for a moment. Who is her mother? The woman strolls away. "Are you still skeptical, Charles?" As the woman leaves his sight, a cold streak shoots through his body. Her mother was the Madame Nostradama. "I'm never drinking again, " Charles mumbles to himself. 11am: As Charles is slowly walking through the corridor trying to think what to do next after discovering that the mystery woman is in fact Madame Nostradama's daughter, he hears a bunch of the servants chatting about the sudden guests that will be arriving soon in court today. "Queens from a land across the ocean" as they referred to them. Charles listened as he heard one servant say that "the Queens are the most beautiful in all the land. Each Queen more beautiful then the next. Not only that but their Highnesses are also have been said to be some sort of magical Queens as well." At that moment Charles knew that this was his chance at breaking his "Bad Day curse". With a smile of hope, the Duke continues on his way through the court hoping that nothing would shatter or fall on him until then. 12pm: Charles stands just behind Henry as the entire court waits to greet the strange Queens. Henry explains how an alliance with them is most favourable and suggests Charles meets with them in private to discuss the possibility, providing the Duke with just the opportunity he needs to find a way to break his curse. The sound of approaching footsteps catches everyone's attention as the guests arrive, and one by one the Queens enter the throne room and stand before the King of England. "Your majesty" they say, perfectly in sync as they curtsey together in a way Charles quickly decides they must have practiced. There appear to be 12 in total but the Duke decides he cannot be sure that he hasn't missed a few standing near the back. "My ladies" Henry replies bowing his head slightly, "We hope you will enjoy your stay in England, later on tonight there will be a banquet in your honour but for now, the Duke of Suffolk here will show you all to your rooms." So with a nod from Henry, Charles takes the hand of the closest Queen and leads them through the palace to their chambers. Once inside, the Duke is quick to bring up the King's plans for an alliance which all the Queens wholeheartedly agree is in everyone's best interests. The discussion allows Charles to get a closer look at these foreign visitors and he soon realises that the rumours were true, these women are all extraordinarily beautiful and there is little doubt that they will be able to help him. Deciding that he'd be better off approaching the subject of the curse at a more appropriate time, perhaps when they'd had a bit to drink first, Charles bid the Queens goodbye and says he looks forward to being able to dance with them at the feast. However, as he turns to leave, the Queen closest to him catches his arm to stop him, "Now my dear Duke" she says, "What would you like us to do about your little problem?" Astonished that they already know his predicament, Charles is steered into a chair and forced to explain the whole situation hoping that finally someone will be able to break the curse. 1pm: As Charles explains his situation to the Queen, she chuckles. Charles stops suddenly and leans toward her. "What is so funny?" The Queen lifts the veil that covered her face. Charles is mesmerized by her beauty and so awestruck that he is speechless. "You remind me of my younger brother," she whispers. "He was in a similar situation not long ago." Charles relaxes a bit but is still tense over the situation. "Let me share a secret with you, Duke. This bad luck is a series of coincidences. Yes, you made a mistake and broke someone's heart, but the rest of the events seem to be happenstance." Charles laughs at her comment. "That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Do you mean to tell me that this bad luck is all in my head even though I have proof that it is not?" The Queen regains her posture. "Charles, you have the power to change the rest of your day. What happens to you is not your fault, but how you react to what happens is what matters the most. Now, come with me." The Queen extends her hand. Charles rises to meet her and can't help staring into the eyes of the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. "We may miss the mid-day feast if we do not hurry, Mr. Brandon." Charles smiles. "Of course." Charles escorts the beautiful Queen down the corridor. He can't help thinking of how he would love to spend more time with her. Perhaps she would be staying a while at court. As the love struck Duke continues to escort her down the hall, Madame Nostridama appears as from nowhere. She passes him, staring into his eyes the entire time with an incredulous look. "Remember, Charles," he says to himself, "this bad luck is all in your head." Relieved, Charles peeks behind him, but Madame Nostridama has gone. The Queen rubs Charles' arm. "It's all in your head, Charles." 2pm: As Charles and the Queen enter the feast, the Duke realises that all the other queens managed to get there before them, “that’s odd, I’m sure we left first,” he thinks to himself. However, Charles is far too relieved that he no longer has to worry about all the bad luck to dwell on such a matter. There are more important things to think about- like how he can somehow spend much more time with this beautiful woman. Henry beckons Charles over so he reluctantly leaves the new object of his affection with her fellow Queens and heads over to see what the King wants. “Well, what did they say about the alliance?” asks Henry. As Charles is about to reply that everything went really well and they agreed to the terms set by the King he is struck with sudden inspiration. “Well,” Charles begins, “they seem to be in favour of the idea, but want to work out the details before they fully commit to the agreement.” Henry accepts Charles’ answer and seems untroubled that the deal is not already done. Taking his chance Charles asks, “Would you like me to continue the negotiations?” Henry agrees and, glad to have found an opportunity to make his move, the Duke goes to sit by the Queen. Taking the empty seat, he turns to explain that the King wants to work out a few details of the alliance when he realises that this is not the Queen he was talking to before but one of her fellow rulers. As he’s about to look for his Queen, the woman next to him turns around and catches his eye. Charles gasps at the beauty of the woman, all thoughts of the first Queen leaving his head- this is the one he wants to spend more time with. The Queen on the other side of him asks “Charles, what did the king want?” Turning to answer her, he is struck by the incredible beauty of this woman. Charles stops and looks around at all the Queens- “They are all so beautiful,” he thinks, “How am I supposed to choose between them?” 3pm: 4pm: 5pm:

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