The Astrologer's Daughter. Paula Marshall

lady had said, but would not judge any man because of it.

      After that, Barbara Palmer spoke of this and that to Kit and to Celia. Celia could not remember afterwards what she had said, only that it was light and jeering, that she was half warning Celia and half derisive in the warning. At length she dismissed them both, almost regally, to Celia’s amusement. The King’s whore thought that she was half a Queen, was her unkind and shrewd judgement on the lady, which would have surprised the lady and Kit both by its worldly wisdom.

      ‘So,’ said Kit, taking her arm and leading her down to where the ducks swam and the Thames ran in the afternoon sunlight. ‘What do you think of the lady? She seemed somewhat affrighted at you. Not unnatural, perhaps, for her hold on the King’s majesty is not quite as sure as it was—although being something of a shrew she may often cow him, rather than woo him.’