In public, Hannah is the Queen's Fool, but in private their relationship is much more intimate. What is your take on this relationship and how it evolves over the course of the story?? And how is it different from the relationship that Hannah forms with Elizabeth??

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Stacey

The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls. ~ Elizabeth Cady Stanton

As I stated in the first thread....I had a really hard time believing that a "Fool" could be that intimate with royalty. However, it is very touching that Queen Mary had someone that she felt she could trust...not just another person who was "out to get her".

Hannah is just infatuated with Elizabeth and her beauty, I don't think she had any special ties to her at all, she was loyal to the Queen. But is was hard for her not to be drawn in by Elizabeth's aura. As it was with everyone in the kingdom it seems.

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Stacey

The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls. ~ Elizabeth Cady Stanton

I feel like Queen Mary trusted Hannah, almost like a daughter, in the beginning. I also believe that Hannah tried really hard to be loyal to her, but there were a few times she spied on her too. I agree with you about Hannah and Elizabeth. Hannah just seemed to be fascinated with her.

I think Hannah truly respects and loves Mary. I, too, think she was infatuated with Elizabeth.

I have a hard time putting my arms around the idea that this common person, with an unknown and foreign background at that, would have been allowed that close to the Queen of England. But, maybe I just don't understand the times.