– Did the rain pour in your ears? – Lady Jane wrinkled her face. – Yes, the king is here! With his whole household! He is here, and you dare to turn up covered in mud! Or is it cow dung?

– It's only mud, Mother…

– Mary! – Lady Jane shouted loudly before her daughter had finished speaking. – Mary! Where does that lazy girl go?!

– I am here, my lady! – An old maid, with strong, rough, man-like hands and a face covered with deep wrinkles, slipped quietly into the chamber like a mouse.

– Fetch some water and wash that pig. Hurry up! – Lady Jane ordered, with her eyebrows pushed up to the bridge of her nose, and was out the door in a moment.

– You must greet them in such a manner that they will then recognise your face in the thousands of others. It is said that since the King's infatuation with Anne Boleyn, he, and his wife… How shall I say it softer… He has not been to her bedchamber for two years and spends all his time with his favourite…" Lady Gilda Norton said in a loud whisper as she helped her daughter change her wet dress into a magnificent, newly made, blue silk gown adorned with white pearls.

– Tighten the kirtle, mother… Yes, that's it, my waist should be as thin as a butterfly's waist and my breasts high and full of nectar," Alienor interrupted her mother: while Lady Gilda was dressing her to attract the attention of royalty, the girl was carefully combing her wet hair with a wide wooden comb. Fortunately, the hot fire of the fireplace by which the ladies were standing was able to dry Alienor's white curls almost completely. – But you are right, mother: all England knows about His Majesty's infatuation with Lady Anne Boleyn… What is there to know! All of Europe! The Queen's nephew must be furious, knowing the disdain in which her husband and half the royal court treat her!

– Not only him, but the whole of Spain is buzzing like a beehive! Henry had never missed an opportunity to bed young beauties before, but always returned to Catherine. But Anne Boleyn is different. She's been poisoning his mind for years now, and it's unheard of! He's never held on to the hem of the same lady's dress for so long.

– Then there is something special about this woman," Alienor concluded in a deep voice. – I do not pity the Queen one bit: she is older than Henry, and she has not brought him an heir, and he needs one. Not only the King needs him, but all England needs him!

– Hush, my love, keep your tongue! – hissed at her daughter Lady Norton and pulled so hard on the lacing of the kirtle that she even exhaled – so tight it was tightened. – Catherine is a great woman! Her parents are Isabella and Ferdinand! When she was young, Henry was delighted with her beauty and married her, despite neither the warning of his stern grandmother nor the displeasure of the court…

– You said it yourself, Mother: "When she was young!" – giggled the girl, setting aside her comb and straightening the folds in the hem of her rich dress.

– 'But you never saw her once; how can you laugh at her? – Lady Norton grumbled unhappily. – I saw her in the hall, and even dared to say a word to her, and she answered me so affectionately… Catherine is still beautiful, and her bearing is so majestic that you will know without a word that the Queen of England stands before you. She is beloved by the people, as is her daughter Mary. And mark my words, my dear: Anne Boleyn will not win the battle for Henry's heart. He will return to his lawful wedded wife's bedroom and conceive a son with her.