CHAPTER X
TIMES OF QUIET
IT was now a time of some content and happiness for Catherine. The power of Lady Castlemaine, so broken by Charles's infatuation for Frances Stuart, still languished. Charles's adoption of two mistresses could not cause Catherine the anguish his attachment to "The Lady" had done. Both were women of low origin, and were kept more or less in the background. Miss Strickland, with other writers, has made the mistake of imagining that because Nell Gwynn was sworn to the post of Lady of the Privy Chamber, she was thrust upon the suffering Catherine.[1] This was not the case. The appointment was merely given in form, to allow her to draw her salary, but she was never admitted to Whitehall, nor had she ever apartments, which were always granted to the Ladies of the Bedchamber.
In the spring of 1668 Catherine once more believed herself about to become a mother. Charles again showed signs of reformation, supped with her every night, and no one dared so much as whisper of a divorce. Lady Castlemaine, it is said, threw her influence unexpectedly into the scale against Buckingham and others to prevent the chance of the King being free to re-marry.[2] In May poor Catherine was again dis-
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