I’d write to my brother or sister, or turn to prayer. [She just knows he’s going to say something about that, so she moves along quickly.]

There were also periods of time where I was permitted to host my former step daughters as guests, which was much appreciated—- Mary was only a year younger than me, and we always got along quite well, until her own assent to being Queen— then she was much too busy. And Elizabeth was the closest thing to a daughter I was permitted. They would come separately, for a few weeks stay each time. Good company makes all the difference.