I'm curious, how does your "common sense" arrive at this conclusion? Are you basing it on something specific?
Keep in mind that a monarch couldn't really do anything in secret. There were eyes and ears everywhere, and everyone talked. The very fact that there was "speculation" meant that people were watching carefully for any crack in the facade or any hint of scandal. Little or nothing would have escaped detection by the hundreds of people at court every day. My "common sense" tells me its far more likely Elizabeth remained a virgin as claimed than that she got away with a clandestine sexual relationship.
I agree. But I believe she nursed Robert Dudly, where there others present? He was Master of the Horses, were there private rides? What happened when she was a ward of Kathrine Parr? Seymour woke Elizabeth in the mornings, were they alone? She kissed Seymour (I beieve was caught), anything more?
I know there was little privacy, one of the reasons I think she eas a virgin, but still there were opportunities.
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