Anne O'Brien
A child bornÂ in the plague year of 1348, abandonedÂ and raised within the oppressive walls of a convent, Alice Perrers refused to take the veil, convinced that a greater destiny awaited her.Â Ambitious and quick witted, she rose above her obscure beginnings to become the, ,infamous mistress of Edward III. But always, essentially, she was alone...,Â Early in Aliceâ€™s life, a chance meeting with royalty changes everything: Kindly Queen Philippa, deeply in love with her husband but gravely ill, chooses Alice as a lady-in-waiting.Â Under the queenâ€™s watchful eye, Alice dares to speak her mind.Â She demands to be taken seriously.Â She even flirts with the dynamic, much older king.Â But she is torn when her vibrant spirit captures his interest...and leads her to a betrayal she never intended.Â In Edwardâ€™s private chambers, Alice discovers the pleasures and paradoxes of her position.Â She is the queenâ€™s confidante andÂ the kingâ€™s lover, yet she can rely only on herself.Â It is a divided role she was destined to play, and she vows to play it until the bitter end.Â Even as she is swept up in Edwardâ€™s lavish and magnificent court, amassing wealth and influence for herself, becoming an enemy of his power-hungry sonÂ John of Gaunt, and a sparring partner to resourceful diplomat William de Windsor, she anticipates the day when the political winds will turn against her.Â For when her detractors voice their hatred,and accusations of treason swirl around her,threatening to destroy everything she has achieved, who will stand by Alice then?, Includes a readers guide
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The King's Concubine