Anne O'Brien - The King's Concubine

‘There was … in England a shameless woman and wanton harlot called Ales Peres, of base kindred … being neither beautiful nor fair, she knew how to cover these defects with her flattering tongue …’

—A historical relation of certain passages about the end of King Edward the Third and of his death

‘It is not fitting that all the keys should hang from the belt of one woman.’

—The Bishop of Rochester

‘… no one dared to go against her …’

—Thomas Walsingham, a monk of St Albans

ANNE O’BRIENtaught history in the East Riding of Yorkshire before deciding to fulfil an ambition to write historical fiction. She now lives in an eighteenth-century timbered cottage with her husband in the Welsh Marches, a wild, beautiful place renowned for its black-and-white timbered houses, ruined castles and priories and magnificent churches. Steeped in history, famous people and bloody deeds, as well as ghosts and folklore, the Marches provide inspiration for her interest in medieval England.

Visit her at www.anneobrienbooks.com

Also by

ANNE

O’BRIEN

VIRGIN WIDOW

DEVIL’S CONSORT

This is a work of fiction. References to historical events, real people or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II B.V./S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

HQ is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

Published in Great Britain 2012.

HQ

1 London Bridge Street

London

SE1 9GF

© Anne O’Brien 2012

Fleur Adcock, Poems 1960-2000 (Bloodaxe Books, 2000) reprinted

with kind permission of the publisher on behalf of the author

Map and Family Tree acknowledgement Orphans Press Ltd

ISBN 978-1-408-96981-6

Version: 2019-04-12

Table of Contents

Cover ‘There was … in England a shameless woman and wanton harlot called Ales Peres, of base kindred … being neither beautiful nor fair, she knew how to cover these defects with her flattering tongue …’ —A historical relation of certain passages about the end of King Edward the Third and of his death ‘It is not fitting that all the keys should hang from the belt of one woman.’ —The Bishop of Rochester ‘… no one dared to go against her …’ —Thomas Walsingham, a monk of St Albans

Praise ‘There was … in England a shameless woman and wanton harlot called Ales Peres, of base kindred … being neither beautiful nor fair, she knew how to cover these defects with her flattering tongue …’ —A historical relation of certain passages about the end of King Edward the Third and of his death ‘It is not fitting that all the keys should hang from the belt of one woman.’ —The Bishop of Rochester ‘… no one dared to go against her …’ —Thomas Walsingham, a monk of St Albans

About the Author About the Author ANNE O’BRIEN taught history in the East Riding of Yorkshire before deciding to fulfil an ambition to write historical fiction. She now lives in an eighteenth-century timbered cottage with her husband in the Welsh Marches, a wild, beautiful place renowned for its black-and-white timbered houses, ruined castles and priories and magnificent churches. Steeped in history, famous people and bloody deeds, as well as ghosts and folklore, the Marches provide inspiration for her interest in medieval England. Visit her at www.anneobrienbooks.com Also by ANNE O’BRIEN VIRGIN WIDOW DEVIL’S CONSORT

Title Page The King’s Concubine Anne O’Brien

Copyright This is a work of fiction. References to historical events, real people or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental. All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II B.V./S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher. This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. HQ is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd Published in Great Britain 2012. HQ 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF © Anne O’Brien 2012 Fleur Adcock, Poems 1960-2000 (Bloodaxe Books, 2000) reprinted with kind permission of the publisher on behalf of the author Map and Family Tree acknowledgement Orphans Press Ltd ISBN 978-1-408-96981-6 Version: 2019-04-12

Dedication For George, who managed to live comfortably for a year with both me and Alice Perrers. As ever, with love and thanks.

Acknowledgements ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS All my thanks: To my agent Jane Judd who appreciated the possibility of Alice Perrers as an unconventional heroine. Her advice and support, as always, are beyond price. To Jenny Hutton and the HQ team. Their guidance and commitment were invaluable in enabling Alice Perrers to emerge from infamy. To Helen Bowden and all at Orphans Press who come to my rescue and continue to create masterpieces out of my genealogy and maps. To Phia McBarnet who patiently introduced me to the benefits of social media and set my foot on the steep learning curve.

Prologue Prologue ‘TODAY you will be my Lady of the Sun,’ King Edward says as he approaches to settle me into my chariot. ‘My Queen of Ceremonies.’ And not before time . I don’t say the words, of course—I am, after all, a woman of percipience—but I think them. I have waited too many years for this acclaim. Twelve years as Edward’s whore . ‘Thank you, my lord,’ I murmur, curtseying deeply, my smile as sweet as honey . I sit, a cloak of shimmering gold tissue spread around me, to show a lining of scarlet taffeta. My gown is red, lined with white silk and edged in ermine: Edward’s colours, royal fur fit for a Queen.