The great cream-hued chariot bearing Katherine rolled past the Mall and up to the palace.  The sleet was falling rapidly and the wind blowing such a gale the sound of the coach was not heard by the Duke, as he paced his chamber.  She was trembling and eager, and heard not the admonitions of Janet and Angel to mind the ice-clad step that was let down.  She was expectant and eager to see her spouse; but she stood within her apartment and Janet was loosening her capes when the Duke came bounding to her side.  He took her in his arms and gazed and gazed, and they minded not the presence of the two nurses, who on a sudden became busy unpacking her Grace’s chests.  He kissed her until her face was rose-red, and she was drunken with love.

When Lady Constance heard that Katherine had arrived, she became very impatient to catch one glimpse of her.  She had heard many things about the young wife, and she had her suspicions and upon them she formed a plan to throw a taunt upon her Grace, bringing both Monmouth and Cantemir into the case.  She resolved to make Katherine as unhappy as possible.  She scrupled at nothing.  Now the fair Constance prided herself upon being a prisoner of the King; but she was not so certain of his favour that she dare make one single open move against Katherine.  She must taunt her in secret; but how to do this was puzzling, for she kept her apartment, partly from fatigue after her long ride, and it may be from a disinclination to go abroad.  So she bided her time and ungraciously as she saw the popularity of the noble woman grow and grow; she was fast becoming a great favourite.  Indeed, she was constantly visited by the King and Queen, and the greatest ladies of the Court.  The Queen had grown very fond of her, spending hours in her company and oftentimes taking her for a walk or ride.  Before the Duchess had been within the Palace a month, she was imitated in every way.  Great ladies became so familiar, they would take up her articles of the toilet and copy the manufacturer’s name.  They in a short time were using the same concoction of rouge and perfumes.  Their maids must learn what Janet did for her mistress in the way of baths, for “never was there such healthful and dainty complexion.”  And when the Duke began buying cocoanuts by the wagon load at an enormous expense, and ’twas known that her Grace drank the milk of it by the quart, the King’s cellar became too small to hold the quantities that were brought to the ladies of the Court.  And ’twas said many of the young fops also used the milk for their complexion.  Constance had not yet ordered any of this fruit, but she ascertained where the Duke’s were kept and how it might be possible to obtain a few of them for an object that was at least original.  Before, however, she resorted to the arts of chemistry, there was an opportunity to give the Duchess a thrust.  Two great chests were being unbound in the corridor just outside of her Grace’s door.  Constance