Elizabeth was frantic. Her hair had been without the special paste that changed its color from gray to silver-gilt. Roseanna knew how important it was to Elizabeth that she retain her youthful appearance in the King’s eyes. She had been through so much, and though the fine lines left by her suffering could not be erased, there was something that could be done about her gray hair. Roseanna persuaded the nun to loan her the nun’s habit and slipped quietly from the imprisoning rooms of their sanctuary to the bustling London streets, where throngs were gathering to welcome the King. She found an apothecary shop, bought the necessary ingredients for the Queen’s hair dye, and hurried back to Westminster. When she returned she found that the guards at the doors had been replaced by loyal King’s men and that there had been no real need for the disguise. She rushed her purchases into the skilled hands of Lady Margery, who had already washed the Queen’s hair to ready it for the paste. Before Roseanna had time to change her garb, the King strode into the apartments and boomed in his large voice to bid them bring forth his son.
