In a haunted Welsh castle, buried secrets and simmering treason ignite a dangerous game of power, love, and survival beneath King Henry VII’s watchful eye. After the tragic death of Prince Arthur in Wales, the land finds itself in turmoil. Set among the ancestral castles of monarchs, with whispers of healers and witches, this installment uncovers political intrigue, religious pressure, and the secrets surrounding Lady Anne Tyrell. History bends in the shadows of Ludlow Castle.
My Kick-Ass Back Cover Description:
In the shadows of a Welsh castle, secrets buried with a lost prince begin to stir.
In the wake of Prince Arthur’s death, Wales stands on uneasy ground. King Henry VII rules with a firm hand, but tensions simmer beneath the surface, especially in the rugged hills near Buckingham’s estate, where grief, guilt, and whispers of treason threaten to erupt.
Lady Anwen cannot forget what she endured… or what she did. After killing Lord Meuric’s son in self-defense on a lonely road, she was imprisoned and tormented in his castle. Now free but deeply scarred, she lives in seclusion, unable to bear a man’s touch. With the help of a mysterious local healer, branded a witch by some, Anwen begins to learn the art of healing… and the power of secrets.
Meanwhile, Anne Tyrell, widow of the executed traitor Sir James Tyrell, faces the slow erosion of everything she once held dear. Once the lover of Sir Thomas Lovell, the king’s feared enforcer, she now lives under royal disfavor, stripped of influence, her estates in jeopardy, and her past a danger she dares not speak aloud. Her husband’s execution by Lovell’s own hand haunts them both, binding them in guilt and silence.
As the autumn joust approaches, Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, senses growing unrest. The villagers chafe under Lord Meuric’s brutal overseer, Beynon, and rebellion feels close. When Lovell arrives unannounced in search of a hidden traitor, the balance shifts dangerously, and not everyone will survive what’s coming. When thousands gather for the tournament, superstition and suspicion collide. A child searches the castle ruins for the bones of a forgotten maiden, and what he finds could shatter the fragile peace.
Set in a haunting Welsh landscape during a dangerous time in history, this richly layered Tudor-era mystery blends political betrayal, forbidden love, gothic suspense, and historical intrigue. Perfect for readers who enjoy Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir, and emotionally charged historical fiction with a dark edge.
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The Story Behind the Story
I got stuck for a while on what my second book should be, since I wanted to continue on with Catherine of Aragon at the English court, but as I revised and redrafted, I realized this book needed to wrap up some of Margaret Pole’s plot lines from the first installment and foreshadow later events in her life. I also wanted to explore more of her deep love for her husband, Richard. So, I forbid the English court farewell and went back to Wales, to follow up on the fictional story of Lady Anwen, set against a tournament of skill on Buckingham’s estate.
Held prisoner for months without a trial, tormented by Lord Meuric’s guards, and suffering from what we would now call post-traumatic stress disorder, Anwen seeks to heal her shattered heart and nerves by learning herbalism. I found it fun to research the techniques she would have used, the herbs, medicines, ways of doing things, and to have her story unfold against several historical events and tensions, both invented and real.
Henry VII’s court was precarious after the death of Prince Arthur. He had tried to establish a secure dynastic line with a Spanish marriage, but some thought Arthur’s death was a divine judgment for him executing Margaret Pole’s brother. Henry kept a tight watch over all of his nobles, trying to sniff out traitors, but it became an uncertain time, since no one knew whom to trust, or where his harsh eye would fall next.
Once again, Sir Thomas Lovell is a main character in this book, in which he softens a little (or maybe our perspective of him shifts?). Bringing him into it let me explore what befell the Tyrell family after James’ death, his confession to murdering the Princes in the Tower, what it meant to be under a royal attainder, and the abuse of Tudor power-grabs. An interesting dynamic formed between Anne and Lovell, full of shadows from their past.
And, of course, my vivid imagination soon ran away with me and created sinister midnight meetings, atmospheric pouring rain, diabolical intentions, nests of traitors, and even a mystery surrounding the bones of a lost lady, who may or may not haunt the estate. Interwoven are my own thoughts about healing from trauma, and how forgiveness is a gift you give yourself more than for the other person.
