Her parents were Anne Hester and Robert Bickerton, Gentleman of the Wine Cellar to King Charles II of England.

She met Howard when he was heir presumptive to his unmarried brother Thomas and became his mistress.

[1] Upon his brother's death in 1677, Howard succeeded to the dukedom and made his marriage to Bickerton public, though it may have taken place a year earlier, with the Duke's children by Lady Anne Somerset protesting against the marriage.

The family quarrel became so bitter that the Duke went abroad for a time with his new wife.

John Evelyn had a very low opinion of her: on a visit to the Duke not long before the latter's death he wrote uncharitably:[2]"Went to visit the Duke of Norfolk and to know whether he would sell me any of his cartoons and other drawings of Raphael and the great masters.