num_pages: 26
description: SHORT STORYBarbara Villiers Palmer is one of the most famous courtesans in history. Mistress to Charles II and mother of five of his children Lady Castlemaine's notoriety is legendary. This is the story of her namesake and grandmother Barbara St.John Villiers. The apple did not fall far from the tree. Barbara St.John Villiers has always despised her sister Lucy and when Theo Howard Earl of Suffolk fell in love with her Barbara thought she'd die of jealousy. Instead she decided to get even by befriending someone even more scandalous than herself Theo's sister Frances Howard Countess of Somerset. Unfortunately Frances was then imprisoned in the Tower of London accused of murder and Barbara had to find a way to turn this to her advantage - and continue her vendetta against Lucy. When I wrote The Lady of the Tower the story revealed itself in the narrative of my ancestress Lucy St.John. But as with all novels other characters appeared and their voices grew strong and insistent demanding their own story be told. This novellete is Barbaras counterpoint to chapter thirty-one in the novel in which Barbara manipulates Theo and his sister to gain much for herself. A counterpoint is a melody played in conjunction with another or an opposing viewpoint in an argument. Our lives are complex and each one of us carries within us a counterpoint to anothers story. Here is one to Lucy St.John the lady of the Tower
language: None
title: Counterpoint: Barbara, Lady Villiers
publisher: Falcon Historical