Quotes from Philippa Gregory

Why are you storing forbidden books?' I cried out in frustrated anger. 'Why store John Dee's books for him?' His face was gentle. 'Because all books are forbidden when a country turns to terror.

The truth is the last thing that matters, she said. And you can believe one thing of the truth and me: I keep it well hidden, inside my heart.

I will try to remember this day, and you looking like a child, a little lost among all these clothes. I will try to remember that you were innocent of any plotting; that today at least, you were more a girl than a Boleyn." ?

Celia had ordered his favourite meal of wild duck cooked in limes, and I advised that we eat without him and save his portion for him to dine later. 'He

You are a son of Melusina," I say, trying to smile. "You sound like her when she had to be free to go into the water.

Queen Katherine had been born a princess. From the moment she could talk she had been taught to guard her tongue. From the moment she could walk she had been taught to step carefully and speak kindly to both rich and poor, for you never knew when you might need both rich and poor. Queen Katherine had been a player in a highly competitive, highly wealthy court before Anne had even been born. Anne

You are lucky in your looks," she says. "Your mother was always a beauty and you are very like her: fair, slender, skin like a rose petal and that wonderful hair, gold and bronze all at once. Undoubtedly you will have beautiful children. I suppose you are still proud of your looks? I suppose you are still vain?" I

We are joint heirs,' I said in a sharp undertone. 'The land will always be partly mine.' Richard smiled, a smile like midsummer skies. 'I shan't regard it.' He said sweetly. 'And you don't know the law, my clever little cousin. If they commit you to an asylum, you are disinherited at once. Did you not know that, my dear? If you go on with your seeings and your dreamings, you will lose everything.

I have loved you for years," she cried after him. "I gave my womanhood to you. Tell me, in what way have I offended you? What have I ever done which was displeasing?

She had not thought that the ghost of her husband would come early—in life he was always late for everything

I tried! God knows, Henry! I tried! I bore you a son, that he did not live was no fault of mine. God wanted our little prince in heaven; that was no fault of mine." The

And he'll be remembered as a wife killer, Will predicted. And everything else about him that was so brave and loyal and true will be forgot. They will forget that he brought peace and prosperity to the country, that he made an England that we all could love. All they will remember of him will be that he had six wives and beheaded two of them.

You have to keep him coming forward," she said. "Keep him coming forward but never let him think that you come forward yourself. He wants to feel that he is pursuing you, not that you are entrapping him. When he gives you the choice of coming forward or running away, like then—you must always run away." The

But don't run too fast," my sister warned. "Remember he has to catch you.

I know I am a better woman than her. She's ice and ambition, and she would see you on the gallows before surrendering her ambition. And I know that in me he has a lover who loves him for himself. But Anne has dazzled him, and dazzled the court, and dazzled even you.

What's your family?" he demanded through clenched teeth. "Boleyn." "What's your kin?" "Howards." "What's your home?" "Hever and Rochford." "What's your kingdom?" "England." "Who's your king?" "Henry." "Then serve them. In that order. Did I say the Spanish queen once in that list?" "No." "Remember it." I

A title like 'the Lady,' for those who are too mealymouthed to call a whore a whore.

scowling with worry. "Come at once, he's

Every day I dance attendance on one sister or the other and play pander to the king. Every day I deny my own desire, my own passion, I deny my own soul! I make my life a secret to myself. Now you come.

It might be that marriage was not the death of a woman and the end of her true self, but the unfolding of her. It might be that a woman could be a wife without having to cut the pride and the spirit out of herself. A woman might blossom into being a wife, not be trimmed down to fit.

It is always harder to make time for the truly precious experiences; there is always the ordinary to do." "To

She dropped to the stool before the little looking glass, rested her head on her hands and stared at herself. "He's in love with me," she said. "He's mad for me. I spend all my time bringing him close and holding him off. When he dances with me I can feel his hardness like a codpiece. He's desperate to have me.

And nobody in this world will ever call me Mrs. Fool.

God has not given this false marriage his blessing. Every year he has turned his face from me and I should have seen it earlier. The queen is not my wife, she is Arthur's wife.