—GEOFFREY CHAUCER, Troilus and Criseyde, II, 764–70 • 1356 • ON THE day the dowager queen was to depart, I awoke feeling sick to my stomach. Gwen suggested I ask Dame Tommasa to take my place in the hall, but I feared I might insult the dowager queen should I fail to bid her farewell. As it...
Joan was laughingly showing Bella what was wrong with her form, bending her wrist as the princess had done, then straightening the wrist to show her how much steadier it would be. Bella whined that she hadn’t the strength. “That is the purpose of practice, to build strength,” said Efa, nodding he...