Love Honour And Royal Blood

The author will have a riot on her hands when people reach the last page of this book - readers will be so anxious for the second book in the trilogy to be published.' Gloria McAuley, the first person ever to read this book If Chaucer was your brother-in-law; William Wycliffe your good friend; and the most powerful man in England - John of Gaunt, the great Duke of Lancaster - was your lover . . . what would your life be like? Katharine de Roet is one of the most enigmatic women in history; and yet she sat at the centre of some of the greatest changes the world has known. Intrigue, betrayal, and intimate connections with some of the greatest minds of not just her own times, but of all recorded history, was the daily stuff of her life. But for all that, the essence of Katharine's life was a love story, and the story of John of Gaunt and Katharine Swynford is truly one of the great love stories of history. At the age of seventeen Carol Sargeant read Anya Seton's lovely novel 'Katherine' and was so moved by it that she started a 30 year research project to answer a single question. The question was 'what really happened'; what is John of Gaunt and Katharine Swynford's story? If Katharine had not said yes to love, the Tudor dynasty would not have existed, George Washington would not have been there to fi ght for American independence, and Alfred Lord Tennyson would not have written his famous poetry. And that is just the story of some of her descendants. More important is the story of the woman and the world she knew."

This is the story of John of Gaunt and the impact that he had not only on his own times, but on the history of the western world as well. Seldom does one man impact so much. It is the time when parliamentary democracy was being forged in the 'Good Parliament' (against the duke of Lancaster's strenuous opposition). When the 'Back to the Bible' philosophy that would lead to the Protestant Reformation was being shaped by John Wycliffe (and spread under the sheltering influence of John of Gaunt's arm). Fourteenth century England was where a man took a stand and the world changed directions. It was also the time when Katharine Swynford's brother-in-law, Geoffrey Chaucer, was painting the word-pictures of his times that endure to this day. 'Although Book Two in the trilogy is about John of Gaunt, and covers the years of his separation from Katharine, I never lost Katharine. I always knew where Katherine Swynford was, and what she was thinking'. Readers Focus Group In many ways the history of both England and America has depended on the decisions John of Gaunt made, and the actions John of Gaunt took during his life time. For more than six centuries, the royal families of England (Lancaster, York, Tudor, Stuart...) have descended from him, and no fewer than six U. S. presidents (including George Washington and James Monroe) would descend from the love affair John of Gaunt had with his beautiful enigmatic mistress, Katherine Swynford, the woman history has forgotten The love affair that changed the world has largely been overlooked, even though not only kings and presidents can be traced back to John of Gaunt and Katharine Swynford, but also the very first seeds of the Protestant Reformation can be tracked to John of Gaunt's door and the support the mighty Duke of Lancaster gave to John Wycliffe. This is the story of what happened behind the scenes. It covers the actions of a small group of men who formed a Lollard (Protestant) underground which changed both the history of the western world and Church History. It was a period in history where the Wycliffe Bible, the Blackfriar's Council, and the formation of a Lollard underground involved both John of Gaunt and Katharine Swynford in extremely dangerous times. Love, Honour and Royal Blood also brings to light John of Gaunt's relationship with the two principal players in this great drama of church history: John Wycliffe and William Courtenay (Archbishop of Canterbury). The cultural revolution which swirled around John of Gaunt, his relative Geoffrey Chaucer, his friend John Wycliffe, and the love of his life Katharine Swynford, is the untold story of the 'Back to the Bible' theology which changed the world and started the Protestant Reformation. This is John of Gaunt's story.

'The author will have a riot on her hands when people reach the last page of this book - readers will be so anxious for the second book in the trilogy to be published. Gloria McAuley, the fi rst person ever to read this book If Chaucer was your brother-in-law; William Wycliffe your good friend; and the most powerful man in England - John of Gaunt, the great Duke of Lancaster - was your lover . . . what would your life be like? Katharine de Roet is one of the most enigmatic women in history; and yet she sat at the centre of some of the greatest changes the world has known. Intrigue, betrayal, and intimate connections with some of the greatest minds of not just her own times, but of all recorded history, was the daily stuff of her life. But for all that, the essence of Katharine's life was a love story, and the story of John of Gaunt and Katharine Swynford is truly one of the great love stories of history. At the age of seventeen Carol Sargeant read Anya Seton's lovely novel 'Katherine' and was so moved by it that she started a 30 year research project to answer a single question. The question was 'what really happened'; what is John of Gaunt and Katharine Swynford's story? If Katharine had not said yes to love, the Tudor dynasty would not have existed, George Washington would not have been there to fi ght for American independence, and Alfred Lord Tennyson would not have written his famous poetry. And that is just the story of some of her descendants. More important is the story of the woman and the world she knew."

**This is an Elizabeth is not a Bennet Story** This story starts with one of King George III's sons marrying the love of his life secretly. The woman is a daughter of an Earl. After more than a year of marriage, all of the time with his beloved wife spent at her estate of Netherfield Park in Hertfordshire, the Prince reveals his marriage to his father hoping the elapsed time will protect them. The King orders his son to leave the lady and plans to have the marriage annulled. The King was at least convinced by his son not to annul the marriage, so instead he orders a speedy divorce. The reason was NOT that the lady was unsuitable, the opposite was true, but for political reasons, the King has promised his son's hand to a European princess to strengthen alliances for England. It saddens the King to do so, especially as this son is one he is very close to, knowing he is breaking his son's heart the King forces the divorce as the other country in question is one England sorely needs as an ally. In the meanwhile, the lady had become best of friends with Mrs. Francine Bennet of Longbourn. They met not many months after Jane was born, shortly after the lady moved into Netherfield Park. When her devastated husband informs her of the forced divorce, his wife does not inform him she is with child to try not hurt him more than he has been already. It so happens Fanny Bennet is also pregnant with her second child at the same time. Due to the ignominy of divorce and worried about the social ramifications coupled with making assumptions about what the royals would expect of them, the lady's family cut ties with her when she needs her parents more than ever. The only one she feels she has left is Fanny Bennet. A few other friends write but the broken-hearted lady is not ready to accept their overtures and respond yet. As both ladies near their confinements Thomas Bennet is called away-for what he tells his wife-is to assist his good friend from Cambridge, the Earl of Holder, in Staffordshire. He is actually investigating ways to break the entail on Longbourn. Fanny moves into Netherfield to be with her best friend during their confinements along with 2-year-old Jane. Before the final confinement, her brothers, Phillips, the solicitor, and Gardiner, the man of business are summoned. Phillips draws up a will for the lady and Gardiner is given management of her fortune. Just in case the worst happens, the lady writes a number of letters, among them one to her unborn child, one to the Prince, one to Bennet, and one to her parents as she has a plan in the event of her death. The best friends go into labour within hours of each other. Fanny delivers a stillborn son and some hours later, her friend delivers a healthy baby girl, who is the legitimate daughter of a Prince, making her a Princess. The friend has complications of birth and will not survive long. She implores her best friend-her sister of the heart-to take her daughter and raise her as her own and she will claim the dead baby son. Fanny cannot deny her friend her dying wish. The Lady names her baby Elizabeth after her grandmother. The lady charges Fanny with waiting until she feels Elizabeth is ready, to reveal her birth right to her, explaining her reasons for waiting. Other than a few small bequests to some, the lady's last will bequeaths her child all of her worldly possessions, including an enormous fortune and Netherfield Park on reaching his/her majority of 21. When Bennet returns he is introduced to, and falls in love with, his second daughter. Jane and Lizzy are both loved equally by their parents. The story looks at how the Bennets' lives are different with a much different Fanny than canon. Also how will Elizabeth and the world around her react to the news when her true heritage is revealed. The Bennets meet the Darcys and Fitzwilliams much earlier than in Miss Austen's masterpiece.

'Do not feel guilty that you do not love me like her. Our union will be another story. Fleance. I will be a good wife and an excellent queen.' Fleance is the new king of Scotland, but he is the ruler of a divided nation. According to his advisors he must marry a woman from a royal bloodline to strengthen his position. It seems that Rachel, sister of Fleance's dead friend King Duncan will be the next Queen of Scotland, although Fleance cannot forget Rosie, his first love. But when Rachel is abducted, Fleance's position becomes even more dangerous and a bloody civil war seems inevitable. Love and duty collide in this gripping tale of valour and betrayal. The epic story that began with Banquo's Son continues.

'Do you think that fate controls our lives or that we have the freedom to choose our own path?' For Fleance, the only son of Banquo, Thane of Lochaber, the time has come to make a choice. Since his father's brutal murder ten years ago, he has hidden in the woods of Northern England, keeping his identity a secret from all. Now Fleance must unmask his enemies and discover why he is plagued by his father's ghost. But everything in life has a price. Fleance must sacrifice his love for Rosie and journey back to his homeland if he is to find the answers and fulfil his father's dying wish. The choices he makes will change his life forever while the secrets from his past threaten to bring down the throne of Scotland. An epic tale of love, loss and revenge set amidst the turmoil of Scotland after Macbeth.

The first ever comprehensive history of the queens, princesses and ladies of the Tudor family. Always more than mere foils of men, these Tudor women are fascinating in their own right.