Lorna watched her new servant depart, considering Mary Parkinson for just another moment, ere returning her attention to other matters.   And<span style="font-style: italic">not</span>her penance in progress; no...finishing<span style="font-style: italic">that </span>was merely a matter of some discipline, and invested time.<br/><br/>No...it was more<span style="font-style: italic">relevant</span>things which were at the fore of her attention.<br/><br/>Such as whether or no she would be giving Theodore a gift.  And, if so,<span style="font-style: italic">what.</span><br/><br/>She'd conceived several ideas, thus far...but, nothing that would really achieve any worthwhile effect.   Other than observing propriety, and playing along with her role of repenting adulteress.<br/>That was important...but, not<span style="font-style: italic">too</span>much so.  Completing her penance was enough, she reckoned.   Going further might even be construed as kissing the royal rear;  though not by Theodore himself.  He knew her better.   But, there were others who might see it that way.   And it would not serve her, going forward from here.    That sort of thing engendered no respect amongst the peerage.<br/><br/>She arose from the table, and turned to gaze from the windows, once again.   Yes...the new year was almost upon them all.   And, with it, a time for new resolutions.<br/><br/>And as Lorna Shaw looked and thought, for some little while, at least two of those began to carefully take form.