Anne O'Brien - The Queen's Choice

ISBN: 978-1-474-03253-7

THE QUEEN’S CHOICE

© 2016 Anne O’Brien

Published in Great Britain 2016

by HQ, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

Version: 2019-04-12

Acclaim for the author ANNE O’BRIEN Acclaim for the Author ANNE O’BRIEN Dedication Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Epilogue Also by Anne O'Brien Extract ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS WHAT INSPIRED ME TO WRITE ABOUT JOANNA OF NAVARRE? AND AFTERWARDS IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JOANNA OF NAVARRE QUESTIONS FOR READING GROUPS About the Author About the Publisher

‘The author a compulsive storyteller.’

– Sunday Express

‘If you enjoy Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir,

you will love Anne O’Brien.’

– We Love This Book

‘This book has everything – royalty, scandal, fascinating

historical politics and ultimately, the shaping

of the woman who founded the Tudors.’

– Cosmopolitan

‘One of the best writers around.’

– The Sun

‘Flawlessly written.’

– Birmingham Post

‘Another excellent read from Anne O’Brien.’

– The Bookbag

‘One of Britain’s most popular and talented writers

of medieval novels.’

– Lancashire Evening Post

‘A must-read for any historical fiction fan.’

– The Examiner

‘Her writing is highly evocative of the time period…

O’Brien had produced an epic tale.’

– Historical Novel Society

‘Anne O’Brien’s novels give a voice to

the “silent” women of history.’

– Yorkshire Post

‘Brings the origins of the most famous royal

dynasty to vibrant life.’

– Candis

‘I was keen to see if this book… lived up to

the hype—which it did.’

– Woman

To George, as always with my love, and thanks for

allowing me to fill the house with music and songs

of courtly love from the medieval troubadours.

As Joanna might have sung to Henry:

‘To you, sweet good-natured one, have I give my heart. Never shall it be taken from you.’

Jehan de Lescurel d.13o4

Who ever lov’d, that lov’d not at first sight?

Christopher Marlowe 1564-1593: Hero and Leander

Forasmuch as I am eager to hear of your good estate…I pray you, my most dear and most honoured lord and cousin, that you would tell me often of the certainty of it, for the great comfort and gladness of my heart. For whenever I am able to hear a good account of you, my heart rejoices exceedingly.

Written at Vannes 15th February 1400: the duchess of Brittany to King Henry IV

(The wives of powerful noblemen) must be highly knowledgeable about government, and wise…

Christine de Pizan: The Book of the City of Ladies c. 1405

Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

Exodus 22.18

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page ISBN: 978-1-474-03253-7 THE QUEEN’S CHOICE © 2016 Anne O’Brien Published in Great Britain 2016 by HQ, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental. By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher. Version: 2019-04-12

Acclaim for the Author ANNE O’BRIEN Acclaim for the author ANNE O’BRIEN Acclaim for the Author ANNE O’BRIEN Dedication Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Epilogue Also by Anne O'Brien Extract ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS WHAT INSPIRED ME TO WRITE ABOUT JOANNA OF NAVARRE? AND AFTERWARDS IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JOANNA OF NAVARRE QUESTIONS FOR READING GROUPS About the Author About the Publisher ‘The author a compulsive storyteller.’ – Sunday Express ‘If you enjoy Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir, you will love Anne O’Brien.’ – We Love This Book ‘This book has everything – royalty, scandal, fascinating historical politics and ultimately, the shaping of the woman who founded the Tudors.’ – Cosmopolitan ‘One of the best writers around.’ – The Sun ‘Flawlessly written.’ – Birmingham Post ‘Another excellent read from Anne O’Brien.’ – The Bookbag ‘One of Britain’s most popular and talented writers of medieval novels.’ – Lancashire Evening Post ‘A must-read for any historical fiction fan.’ – The Examiner ‘Her writing is highly evocative of the time period… O’Brien had produced an epic tale.’ – Historical Novel Society ‘Anne O’Brien’s novels give a voice to the “silent” women of history.’ – Yorkshire Post ‘Brings the origins of the most famous royal dynasty to vibrant life.’ – Candis ‘I was keen to see if this book… lived up to the hype—which it did.’ – Woman