Later

I was so excited about going to Anet and seeing dear Diane again that I forgot to tell you even more exciting news. Before my uncles left, it was decided that I should have my own household! When talk first came of this a few months ago, I was nervous. I thought it meant that I would never be able to see the royal children. That I would have a house or château apart, I mean, rather like Diane de Poitiers. King Henry is always refurbishing a new château for her. She is with us only sometimes. But this is not the same. It really means that I shall have my own domestic staff, and it shall be paid for by the treasury of Scotland. My uncles think that I am treated shabbily or, more to the point, that Queen Mother treats me so. But I am told that there is a good chance that I can add not only a laundress but also an usher of the chamber. This will help me greatly in planning entertainments. And I certainly intend to do so. I am going to give my own petit bals and lots of hunting weekends and dinner parties. And I’ll get to decide on everything from food for the dinner parties to the decorations. I must hire a good pastry chef. I think I shall give some skating and hawking parties, too. I hope my mother will allow me to choose Master Rufflets as my usher. For although he is quite ancient, he is kind and good. In fact I named my falcon after him – I just dropped the t. So the bird is Ruffles.