Himself he led his boldly handsome favourite by the
hand into his wife's presence, before the whole Court assembled,
and himself presented her to Catherine, what time that Court,
dissolute and profligate as it was, looked on in amazement at so
outrageous a slight to the dignity of a queen.
What followed may well have exceeded all expectations. Catherine
stiffened as if the blow dealt her had been physical. Gradually
her face paled until it was grey and drawn; tears of outraged
pride and mortification flooded her eyes. And then, as if
something snapped within her brain under this stress of bitter
emotion, blood gushed from her nostrils, and she sank back in a
swoon into the arms of her Portuguese ladies.
Confusion followed, and under cover of it Charles and his light
of love withdrew, realizing that if he lingered not all his easy
skill in handling delicate situations could avail him to save his
royal dignity.
Naturally the experiment was not to be repeated. But since it was
his wish that the Countess of Castlemaine should be established
as one of the Queen's ladies--or, rather, since it was her
ladyship's wish, and since Charles was as wax in her ladyship's
hands--it became necessary to have the Queen instructed in what
was, in her husband's view, fitting.
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