After watching the Trooping of the Colour yesterday, I went into the garden. The 'Lychnis Coronaria' was in bloom, carmine flowers surrounded by grey silky leaves. Deeply beautiful.

With Royalty and beauty on my mind, Ireturn to the story of Lucy Walter, mistress of the future Charles 11. Lucy has become Colonel Robert Sydney's lover and they are in Holland, with the English court, which is in exile:

It was July, 1648. An air of serenity hung over The Hague, finding an echo in Lucy's heart.Robert Sydney pleased her well.

'I have money to spend, servants to command. Civil war may rage in England but it does not concern me one iota',Lucy remarked to her godmother.

The older woman smiled. Evidently, Lucy was blooming. 'I think you might be content to remain in Holland forever, Lucy'.

The following day, when she was dressing, Lucy made her mind up. She had to tell him soon.

Already,her linen flax dresswas pulling tightly against her round little belly. She embraced her body, protecting the new life growing within her.

That night, when Lucy wasbrushing her hair and her lover lolled on a lace pillow watching her, their eyes met.

'Robert, I have something to tell you'.

Hisheart leapt, but he would not betray his hopes yet. Instead, he asked, teasingly,

'Are you going to say you no longer love me?'

For a moment Lucy did not understand his joke. 'I love you to distraction', she protested, though this was not strictly true, for Lucy was capable ofgiving and receiving love, while still keeping her heart for herself.

'Whatever you have to tell me, whisper it in my ear, Lucy, that we two alone will share your secret.'

And so, with her lips pressed against his ear, Robert Sydney learnt that Lucy bore his child, duein thespring of the following year.