The Lady of Misrule
As seen:
By Suzannah Dunn
avg rating
1 review
I saw her file it away: a good Catholic girl come to supervise her in her detention. Every girl in England, now, under the circumstances, made sure to be a good Catholic girl. Except her, of course. And, if only she knew it, me.
Escorting ‘nine days queen’ Lady Jane Grey across the Tower of London from throne room into imprisonment is Elizabeth Tilney, who surprised even herself by volunteering for the job. All Elizabeth knows is she’s keen to be away from home, she could do with some breathing space. And anyway, it won’t be for long: everyone knows Jane will go free as soon as the victorious new queen is crowned. Which is a good thing because the two sixteen-year-olds, cooped up together in a room in the Gentleman Gaoler’s house, couldn’t be less compatible. Protestant Jane is an icily self-composed idealist, and catholic Elizabeth is… well, anything but.
They are united though by their disdain for the seventeen-year-old to whom Jane has recently been married off: petulant, noisily-aggrieved Guildford Dudley, held prisoner in a neighbouring tower and keen to pursue his prerogative of a daily walk with his wife.
As Jane’s captivity extends into the increasingly turbulent last months of 1553, the two girls learn to live with each other, but Elizabeth finds herself drawn into the difficult relationship between the newlyweds. And when, at the turn of the year, events take an unexpected and dangerous direction, her newfound loyalties are put to the test.
TweetReviews
Lady Jane Grey has been proclaimed queen but mere days later she is imprisoned in the Tower of London. In these turbulent times the young queen and her companion have a window onto the inner courtyard of the Tower of London while the unrest of these uncertain times passes them by. The telling of the long days of her imprisonment is well crafted. Recently married to Dudley, the youngest of a noble family, Jane absorbs herself in her books while Elizabeth Tilney looks on. Elizabeth has volunteered for this job as a solution to her own problems but she struggles to understand both Jane and their situation. Elizabeth befriends Dudley while Jane studies. What eventually happens is both unexpected yet inevitable. If you like the detail put into history you will enjoy this read.
