Mary of Bethlehem bezoar stone— a hard, stonelike object from a goat’s stomach, used by Elizabethans (unsuccessfully) to cure poisoning birch— to beat (birch twigs were often used) blackwork— black embroidery on white linen Board of Green Cloth— the main administrative body for the Court. It deal...
Our dalliance must be at an end for my revered parents would never countenance that I should so disparage myself as to wed a man of lesser breeding and wealth. Sarah, Lady Bartelmy I squinted at the ys—and sure enough, they had no curly tails. “This is a forgery, too,” I declared. “But the pearl ...
Our dalliance must be at an end for my revered parents would never countenance that I should so disparage myself as to wed a man of lesser breeding and wealth. Sarah, Lady Bartelmy I squinted at the ys—and sure enough, they had no curly tails. “This is a forgery, too,” I declared. “But the pearl ...
These are the kinds of names that would have been used in plays and masques of the time. The fancy names were inspired by the hugely popular romantic novels of the period. These stories usually featured knights in armor rescuing damsels in distress. So the names and terms used in Conspiracy are b...
I can’t believe all that has happened since last I wrote in my daybooke! I must begin at the beginning and try and keep it all straight in my head, because if ever there was a perfect new case for Her Majesty’s Lady Pursuivant, this is it! Shortly after I’d finished my last daybooke entry, Mrs. C...
That’s what Mrs. Champernowne said when she gave it to me for my New Year’s Gift—and that I could make one of my beautiful embroideries for its cover, which I shall do, because I like making pictures with stitches. But why should I drone on like Lady Hoby about Improving Passages and Sorrowful Me...
He was known as Henry VII. He had two sons, Arthur and Henry. Arthur died while still a boy, so when Henry VII died in 1509, Elizabeth's father came to the throne and England got an eighth king called Henry—the notorious one who had six wives.Wife number one—Catherine of Aragon—gave Henry one dau...
I joined him and he told me that he had discovered who is sleeping in the room above the Banoo's. It is three of her pages: Anoosh, Faruk, and Babak. Surely one of these must be the thief!And I have made a plan to find out which one.First I thought about the three pages. Two are young and thin. E...
I am just writing in my daybooke at the Workroom, while I wait for Mrs. Champernowne to help Lady Sarah with the Queen's robes—they have to be arranged perfectly for the portraits. The Queen is busy with the Scottish Ambassadors again, and thankfully, we have all been given this morning free. Mar...
The Queen was not pleased by my news, but she was relieved that we at last seem to be nearing the truth. She called the Earl of Leicester in, since John was one of his henchmen. I told the Queen and the Earl everything I had worked out. I had brought Ellie with me as a witness—and she had the sto...
Mary, who had been squeaking about how I mustn’t open the Queen’s letter, peered over my shoulder and read it, too. “So! It is confirmed!” she gasped. “What’s ’appening?” asked a croaky voice from my bed. “What are you doing, Grace?” “It seems Lady Sarah has eloped with Captain Drake,” I told Ell...