Book of the duchess: Jacqueline's humiliation

Number 22: Michael humiliates the duchess by refusing her an interview in revenge for the way she has humiliated him

The plot episode 21 (summarised from the text of Lorna’s novel)

Rather than acquire the ducal coronet, Michael took the title 'Ducal governor’. In this position he had ample opportunity to ‘repay’ Duchess Jacqueline, now his prisoner.  Some believed her unfit to rule. Others, however, thought that she would agree to constitutional reform now that Guillot had fled.

Raoul was in this latter group. It was Marguérite who had convinced him of Jacqueline’s good character. It was also in Raoul’s interest that Michael understood that Jacqueline had been working for him - rather than against him - all along. This was because Marguérite made it clear that Raoul’s proposals of marriage would always be refused unless and until there was a fair settlement between Michael and Jacqueline. (In fact, Marguérite was secretly hoping for the enchanting possibility that these two might marry and lay to rest the long history of strife between the two ancient families of the duchy.)

For the time being, there was stalemate between Michael and Jacqueline.

Lorna’s remarks

I am beginning to think that Michael is a nasty young man, and certainly this is one of the nastiest, and most annoying pictures we have had yet. It is more worthy of suppression than number 13, and has not even the virtue of movement as the previous one had.

No, there is nothing to be said for this. The background - an intentional copy of number 17 - is a badly painted copy, the figures are poor, and the sentiment stagey. If I was not being honest I should do away with it.

And look at Raoul’s apologies for legs. Yes it is Raoul, with the face of a school girl and legs of a puppet.

A comic touch, if that was needed further, lies in the disapproving glance of the man at arms with the spear. Quite right my good man, such goings-on!