In The Shadow - стр. 5

Brigid was a dutiful and diligent daughter, but Sir Richard and his wife Jane always found something unkind in her, always found faults in her. Thank God she was beautiful, so beautiful that in this region she was called "The Flaming Rose", she seemed to have inherited the legendary beauty of Elizabeth Woodville, but even this did not save her from the ridicule and rude remarks of her parents: why do they need such a beautiful daughter, if they can not put her in the bed of the king and through her to achieve the former wealth and return what he took from them?

– Make her clean, and let her put on her best dress," said Sir Richard to his wife, without even dignifying his daughter with a glance. – And hurry up: the King must see her in all her glory! For who knows if he may suddenly decide to travel onwards? That Henry is so unpredictable! – He hurried out of his daughter's chamber, remembering to slam the door loudly.

– The King? – Brigid asked incomprehensibly, looking up at her mother.

– 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!