February 19, 1554

The ballet is over. I did quite well for missing so many practices when I was sick. Diane de Poitiers clapped loudly. The Queen looked quite pleased. She had made up many of the steps and the King was very enthusiastic, clapping harder than anyone else. His sister Marguerite de Valois was also in attendance, and she and the King both praised Queen Catherine. I must say the Queen did seem to shine and was as close as she can ever get to beauty and resplendence. There is a rumour that she is expecting again. She is always most happy when she is with child. That is why I suppose she is with child so often – at least seven times since I have come to live here – once with twins but they died as infants. I think it is the one thing that she knows she can do for the King that Diane cannot. Diane is too old to have babies, but she is not too old to be beautiful. But the King paid most attention to the Queen. I think that is how it should be, even though I don’t like the Queen very much. In public I believe he should pay the most attention to the Queen. The four Marys and I discuss this endlessly.