Status Updates From Dangerous Lady (The Marwood...

'The pride and stoicism of a woman against whom time had turned. A woman who had once been the glittering jewel of the court, with all lying before her, and the hopes, certainties and dreams of youth. The years had surprised Catherine, creeping up behind the young queen who had danced at Henry's side, who shared his bed, bore his children and seen all but one die.'

'Thomasin disliked the thought of being observed and spoken about. “I detest causes and factions. I do not wish to choose between anyone; I go where I am invited and I am grateful.”
“And that generous attitude will get you far, my lady, but where you go, and who you go with, will be taken as an endorsement.”
Thomasin fell silent.'

'"But the choice is clear, surely,” Rafe replied. “The queen is old; no matter how pious and worthy she may be, her court is quiet and dull, and the king will soon set her aside. She will be queen no longer, but Anne will. You would be following a misplaced loyalty if you went anywhere else.”
Something about his words needled her, not least because there was truth in them. “But it seems so unkind.”'

'Thomasin felt an acute sting of pain. Although she was new to court, and new to the ways of the world, she felt strongly that Anne Boleyn should not be there, in the other half of the gallery occupied by the queen, as if she was herself entitled to the space, by blood. And she saw that, although Catherine did not move an inch, she was aware of Anne's presence, painfully aware.'

'Catherine of Aragon was standing by the table. By all definitions, she was a tiny woman, shorter even than Thomasin, and clearly, she had once been a beautiful woman with her round face and red-gold hair, but years of childbearing had made her stout.
Nothing, though, not even the ravages of time, could detract from the regality of her bearing. As they knelt low before her, Thomasin could feel her presence'

'She thought of the woman last night, the one they called Anne Boleyn, dancing so seductively, using her power over the king. Anne had once been here, waiting to be admitted to the queen's chambers, respectful, dutiful, wishing to serve the lady within, the lady whom she now mocked with every twist and turn of her enchanting head. Was it the king's love that had so emboldened her?'