gad..I've seen some 'historical' movies(in the Silohette Romance sense, maybe..;) on the Sci-fi channel, which had an element of truth..enough to hold the bodice-ripping together..
Seen a picture of 'ol Vlad tsepesh's castle (ironically, I've never been closer than Athens or Istanbul..go figure), it's seen better days.
I don't know that mistresses were that unusual back then; the order of the Garter (as I understand it) came about from a 'fashion disaster' by a mistress of one of the English Kings..;)

I wish I'd said that.. The Staircase Wit

anahl nathrak uth vas betude doth yel dyenvey..;)