The Queen's Lady (2011)
Eve Edwards
Grade: B-
Genre: YA historical
Source: NetGalley
The recently widowed Lady Jane, Marchioness of Rievaulx is Queen Elizabeth's new lady-in-waiting. While she had nothing but a daughterly love for her elderly husband, Jane's three step-sons loathe her and can't wait to play on the fact that her marriage was never consummated. On her late husband's advice, Jane escapes to London to take up her new role which carries with it the protection of the Queen.
What Jane isn't banking on is that James Lacey is back in London. She's loved him for years, even when she was engaged to his older brother Will, the Earl of Dorset. Jane hasn't had any contact with James for six months, but her feelings remain unchanged. James - not so much. He's recently returned from Europe with his manservant Diego, where he was a spy for the English. He's still traumatised by what he witnessed and overcome with guilt that he couldn't do anything to prevent the terrors committed against women and children. With true brotherly loyalty, he's somewhat bitter towards Jane for her broken engagement with his elder brother. What he doesn't know is that Jane knew that Will was in love with her childhood friend Ellie and broke her engagement with Will so that he and Ellie could be happy. A right martyr.
