The Virgin Queen's Daughter

by Ella March Chase Narrated by Rosalyn Landor

Overview

Tucked away in the country estate of her beloved father, Lord Calverley, young Nell de Lacey feeds her hungry mind with philosophy, language, and studies of science. Her mother, once a devoted lady-in-waiting to Henry VIII's last wife, Katherine Parr, would rather her daughter stop dabbling in the grand affairs of men and instead prepare for her eventual duties as a wife.

But Nell's heart yearns for something more, and a chance meeting with Princess Elizabeth, then a prisoner of the Tower of London, pushes her closer toward finding it. Now, years later, Nell's chance arrives when she is summoned to serve as a lady-in-waiting to the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth.

But a lingering rumor about nine unaccounted-for months in the Virgin Queen's past reignites when the flame-haired Nell-a mirror image of Her Majesty both physically and intellectually-arrives at court. Quickly she catches the eye not only of the cunning Elizabeth, but of those who would see the queen fail.

Engrossing and enlightening, The Virgin Queen's Daughter brings to life one of the greatest mysteries of one of the greatest monarchs.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Tudor intrigue inspires yet another historical romance in this story of a willful girl who discovers she is the Virgin Queen's illegitimate daughter. Five-year-old Elinor (Nell) de Lacey is the apple of her scholarly father's eye, and while the two are visiting the Tower of London, Nell makes a childish attempt to rescue Princess Elizabeth. By the time Nell turns 16, Elizabeth is queen, Nell's father is dead and Nell, over her mother's objections, heads to court. In short order, she's exposed to the court's conspiring and cajoling, seducing and betraying, plotting and protecting. A symbol of that world, Lady Jane Grey, haunts Nell as she uncovers the truth about her birth while trying to resist the charms of Sir Gabriel Wyatt. When Nell arouses Elizabeth's suspicions and possibly her wrath, Baroness de Lacey, once a lady-in-waiting herself, returns to court to prove the power of a mother's love. While Chase is no Philippa Gregory, her novel should still be manna for fans of Tudor romance infused with interludes of torture and head-rolling between the dance lessons and marriage rumors. (Dec.)

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From the Publisher

If Elizabeth I had a daughter, Nell is surely what she must have been like—brilliant and daring, risking everything for the right to fully exercise mind, heart, and spirit.”
—Donna Cross, international bestselling author of Pope Joan

“Beautifully written fiction with a fascinating hook.”
—Karen Harper, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Boleyn

“An absolutely wonderful read.”
—Michelle Moran, national bestselling author of Nefertiti

“The Virgin Queen’s Daughter is both gritty and glittering, revealing the sharp blades beneath a silken court. I finished it in a day—well, two, if you count the five minutes past midnight!—and enjoyed it immensely.”
—India Edghill, author of Wisdom’s Daughter

“A fresh and fascinating new glimpse of the infamous Tudor clan. An unforgettable story full of rich characterization, palace intrigue, and the perilous, often heartbreaking reality for those whose lives depend on the whims of queens and kings.”
—Susan Holloway Scott, author of The King’s Favorite

“Ella March Chase is a master storyteller. She spins a rich tapestry of history and fiction, weaving all the vibrancy of the Tudor court and the quest of a strong, unforgettable woman into a mesmerizing tale.”
—Susan Carroll, author of The Dark Queen

“A feast for all of those fascinated with the life and loves of Queen Elizabeth I.”
—Judith Merkle Riley, author of The Serpent Garden

“The Virgin Queen’s Daughter is a beautifully written book with vividly drawn characters and a fabulous plot. I didn’t want to put it down.”
—Diane Haeger, author of The Perfect Royal Mistress

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169092929
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	12/30/2008
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

Chapter One
(Continues…)

---

Excerpted from "The Virgin Queen's Daughter"
by .
Copyright © 2009 Ella March Chase.
Excerpted by permission of Crown/Archetype.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

---

Videos