@coquettisms
– “ If I hadn’t witnessed it for my own two eyes, I would scarcely believe it myself ! ” Catherine recounted the tale with amusement glittering in the depths of her raven eyes. She turned toward the woman beside her as the faces of court blurred by in their swift strides – both shorter and younger than the nimble Catherine, the marchioness could envision Octavia as being the sort of woman who delighted in swords, not pearls ; ale, not fine wine, the heartier the better. There was something in the manner in which she carried herself that was entirely unlike the other, often prissy, women present at court, and Catherine relished the diversion. She certainly made a welcome change from women such as Alastrine Seymour. “ Queen Claude of France strapped onto the back of a horse using nothing but a scarf whilst her royal husband rode on into a mass of well-wishers and standard bearers. Oh, to be young and in Paris again – have you ever been ? ‘Tis a marvelous place, full of wondrous things that we do not oft take advantage of here in England. ”