The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels #13 : The Virgin's Lover (P)

Elizabeth I has finally ascended the throne of England, a crown she has schemed and fought for all her life. Surrounded by a council of advisers who doubt a young woman’s ability to rule, Elizabeth places her trust in one man: Robert Dudley, her closest confidant and oldest friend. But their bond is more than just friendship—it is a dangerous and undeniable passion.

In the quiet countryside waits Amy Robsart, Robert’s wife, a woman who shuns the intrigues of court life. She longs for the day her husband will return to her, but his ambitions tie him to the queen, leaving Amy to wonder if their love has any place in his future.

As the pressure mounts for Elizabeth to marry and secure her reign, her preference for Robert becomes unmistakable. Yet Robert is bound by his marriage, and Elizabeth faces the impossible choice between love and duty. What if the unthinkable happens?

Philippa Gregory masterfully intertwines passion, power, and politics in this mesmerizing tale of the Tudor court—a gripping story of ambition, betrayal, and the cost of desire in a country on the brink of change.