A new take on past events.

[Mrs K. Saunders]

"What you suggest sounds wonderful regarding the bonnet and capelet, please could you arrange that for me?"

Katherine considers Valentina's mood. She wonders whether she should be more explicit with her intentions now. I may as well she thinks, no time like the present.

"Miss Audley, you no longer need to act the patient saleswoman with me, as I said I did not come here initially to shop. I came here to speak with you , firstly to thank you and secondly to get to know you and for you know me properly. There is no need to pretend that you think my husband's social skills are only suffering owing to fact he is an Elder. He has no social skills and he cares very little about others opinions. I am not like that, I do care. I am truly a diplomat and hate discord of any kind. It causes me much turmoil that the court of Bristol would think ill of me. I can completely understand that you would previously not wish to try to convince Bristol out of their poor opinion of me. I would like you to know who I am and not the wife or childe of Jackdaw that you suppose me to be. I am changing and with that I wish to renew all relationships and start afresh. What do you think? Is that possible? For a start please call me Katherine."

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina leans back thoughtfully, quirking an eyebrow in surprise.

She wonders if someone has changed their look and is pretending to be Katherine, or if perhaps Katherine has been mentally altered in someway. Other possibilities are that Katherine is after information and has decided this is the best way to get it. She wouldn't be wrong though, would she? Or that she's been paid a boon to act as a friend for some as yet unfathomable reason.

So, when faced with a new situation what do you do? Proceed with caution and learn as much as you can girl. The voice advising her, as ever, is Andrew's. She wonders if she'll ever stop being reminded of him.

"I am... Amenable to starting again, though for now I would prefer to keep things on a more formal level, Mrs Jackdaw." The tone is open, but cautious and somewhat curious.

"Let us begin entirely from the beginning, as though we have not met at all, if we are to begin again."

[Mrs K. Saunders]

She nods and Katherine rises from her seat. She moves to stand in front of Valentina. She does a small curtesy and holds out her hand in greeting

"Mrs. Katherine Jackdaw, very pleased to meet you. I have heard a great deal about your amazing creations."

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina has risen as Katherine did and so she is able to make her own bobbing curtsey in response.

"Miss Valentina Audley. I'm delighted to make your acquaintance Mrs Jackdaw."

She shakes Katherine's outstretched hand politely.

[Mrs K. Saunders]

Katherine considers what she wants out of the following discourse whilst she settles herself back down on the seat.

"Please Miss Audley tell me a little about yourself. You are linked to Bristol in someways is that correct? I have only been in Bath for the last 9 months or so, formerly being from Cardiff."

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina smiles demurely. Diplomacy is a business she excels in.

"I live in Bristol Mrs Jackdaw. I have done for a little while now. I was a resident of Aquae Sulis before that meaning I am well placed to serve Her Majesty, Prince Dyonisia as the Bristolian Envoy in Aquae Sulis. When I am not working for My Lady, I run my little business, The Sliver Thimble."

All true, all accurate so far as it goes. So much left unsaid, but of course, that's how diplomacy works isn't it?

"What of yourself? Did you come to Aquae Sulis for any particular reason?"

[Mrs K. Saunders]

Katherine steels herself for this line of questioning. It is fine, she has had nearly a year to come to terms with it all.

"As you are most likely aware, Cardiff has become an unsafe place for a Camarilla vampire and my husband, Elder Jackdaw, was already located here in Aqua Sulis. Therefore it seemed right and proper to move here to join him. Though I am only at the start of my career, in comparison to you, I am a diplomat and envoy. I have formed official connections between Bath and Southampton, and I am in correspondence with other domains. You know it seems to me that we could help each other in furthering diplomatic relations throughout the South and South West of England? I would like to meet properly with members of the court of Bristol at some point. My attendance at the recent ball was very marred by misunderstanding and an unfortunate dress, I would like to rectify that."

[Valentina Audley]

Aha! So there's what she wants is it? Valentina smiles sweetly, thinking rapidly. At least this time round Katherine was showing proper respect and she did appear to be learning. And it would be useful, to have news from Southampton and perhaps other places. That said, Dyo had been deeply unimpressed by the purple and it would take a lot of work to get Katherine made into an acceptable person. So, caution is still the way to go.

"I believe I briefly met Southampton's envoy at the last Aquae Sulis Elysium. A Miss Caru, no?"

She pauses thoughtfully.

"I do not think Bristol will be entertaining again for a little while, though I suspect some of the court may visit Aquae Sulis in the not too distant future. I must admit I am unsure who though!" She smiles in a friendly manner.

[Mrs K. Saunders]

"Yes, you are correct Caru is the name of the Southampton envoy that the Prince of Southampton sent in appreciation of my visit to his domain... of course the Sheriff visited us too. Hopefully there will be a very fruitful relationship between the two Cities.

She smiles at the news that some members of the Bristol Court maybe visiting Bath soon.

"I am briefly visiting Bristol in the next few weeks but I will have very little opportunity to socialise. I look forward to welcoming them to Bath. Will you be joining us at the next Elysium?"

[Valentina Audley]

Valentina smiles and lightly replies "Oh, I expect so darling, assuming of course that My Lady deems it advisable."

"What brings you to Bristol so soon after the ball Mrs Jackdaw?" She sounds politely curious but not especially bothered.