The old marchioness had him tracing down bed hangings and carpets for her. Send that. Be here. To her, all the world was a menial. If she wanted a lobster or a sturgeon, she ordered it up, and if she wanted good taste she ordered it in the same way. The marchioness would run her hand over Florentine silks, making little squeaks of pleasure. You bought it, Master Cromwell, she would say. And very beautiful it is. Your next task is to work out how we pay for it.
by Hilary Mantel
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The old marchioness, a figure of privilege, had her servant, Master Cromwell, handle all her demands, from bed hangings to luxurious carpets. She treated everyone around her as if they were there solely to serve her desires. Whether she craved gourmet delicacies or sought beautiful fabrics, she expected her orders to be fulfilled without question. Her pleasure in beautiful items was evident, as she delighted in the textures of Florentine silks, taking them for granted.

For her, beauty and quality were commodities to be acquired at will. As she admired a piece Cromwell procured, she instructed him to consider how they would finance such indulgences next. This interaction portrays her sense of entitlement and Cromwell's role in navigating her extravagant wishes, highlighting a dynamic where personal desires overshadow practicality, encapsulating the complexities of their relationship in a world where social hierarchy defined one's actions and responsibilities.

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