The Queen's Pawn A historical novel of the legendary Eleanor of Aquitaine and the one person she loved more than power-her rival for the throne. At only nine, Princess Alais of France is sent to live in England until she is of age to wed Prince Richard, son of King Henry II and Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Alais is an innocent pawn on the chessboard of dynastic marriage, her betrothal intended to broker an uneasy truce between the nations. Estranged from her husband, Eleanor sees a kindred spirit in this determined young girl. She embraces Alais as a daughter, teaching the princess what it takes to be a woman of power in a world of men. But as Alais grows to maturity and develops ambitions of her own, Eleanor begins to see her as a threat-and their love for each other becomes overshadowed by their bitter rivalry, dark betrayals, conflicting passions, and a battle for revenge over the throne of England itself. |
Contents
A STOLEN SEASON | |
THE LARGER WORLD | |
PRINCE AND TROUBADOUR | |
A BALANCE OF POWER | |
A ROSE WITHOUT THORNS | |
A STABLE HAND | |
THE LIONS | |
THE KINGSJEWEL | |
TO DANCE WITH THE KING | |
A CROWN OF FLOWERS | |
A LETTER | |
ANOTHER GARDEN | |
TRUTH TELLING | |
WINDSOR | |
QUEEN OF SPIES | |
LOSS | |
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Common terms and phrases
Amaria Anjou Aquitaine arms asked beautiful beneath beside betrothed Bijou blue bowed breath brought caught chair cheek child close court curtsied dance daughter Deptford door dressed drew Eleanor Eleanor of Aquitaine eyes face father father’s fear felt Fontevrault gaze goblet gold gown hair hall hear heard heart held Helene’s Henry Henry’s high table honor keep king’s kissed knelt knew ladies laughed leave letter lips little princess looked lord king Louis Majesty Marie Helene marriage men-at-arms Mother moved mulled wine never night nunnery once pain prayed prince Princess Alais princess of France queen raised one hand remembered Richard Richard bowed rose scent silence silk smiled speak spoke stared stepped stood tears Thomas Becket thought tiltyard took touch trencher turned vellum Vexin voice waiting walked wanted watched wimple Winchester Castle Windsor Castle wine woman women wondered words young