Courting Her Highness : The Story of Queen Anne

A private battle rages at court for the affections of a childless queen, who must soon name her successor—and thus determine the future of the British Empire. It is the beginning of the eighteenth century and William of Orange is dying. Soon Anne is crowned queen, but to court insiders, the name of the imminent sovereign is Sarah Churchill. Beautiful, outspoken Sarah has bewitched Anne and believes she is invincible—until she installs her poor cousin Abigail Hill into court as royal chambermaid. Plain Abigail seems the least likely challenger to Sarah’s place in her highness’s affections, but challenge it she does, in stealthy yet formidable ways. While Anne engages in her private tug-of-war, the nation is obsessed with another, more public battle: succession. Anne is sickly and childless, the last of the Stuart line. This final novel of the Stuarts from Jean Plaidy weaves larger-than-life characters through a dark maze of intrigue, love, and destruction, with nothing less than the future of the British Empire at stake. "It's the beginning of the eighteenth century and William of Orange is dying. Soon Anne is crowned queen, but to court insiders, the name of the imminent sovereign is Sarah. Beautiful, outspoken Sarah Churchill had bewitched Anne through the auspices of the Duke of Marlborough, Sarah's husband and perhaps the greatest military genius England has ever known. Sarah believes she is invincible, and she is, until she installs a poor relation of hers into court as royal chambermaid. Plain Abigail Hill seems the least likely challenger to Sarah's place in her Highness's affections--but challenge it she does, in stealthy yet formidable ways. While Anne engages in her private tug-of-war, the nation is obsessed with another, more public battle: succesion. Anne is sickly and childless, the last of the Stuart line. This final novel of the Stuarts weaves larger-than-life characters through a dark maze of intrigue, love, and destruction, with nothing less than the future of the British Empire at stake"-- Provided by publisher Two sisters change the course of a nation by forsaking the King—their own father. England is on the verge of revolution. Antagonized by the Catholicism of King James II, the people plot to drive him from the throne. But at the heart of the plot is a deep betrayal: the defection of the daughters James loves, Mary and Anne. Both raised Protestant according to the wishes of England, the sisters support Protestant usurper William of Orange, Mary's husband, who lusts after the British crown. Passive Queen Mary is subservient to her husband's wishes, while Anne is desperate to please her childhood friend Sarah Churchill, a bold and domineering woman determined to subdue Anne, the queen-to-be, and rule England herself.Intrigue and political drama run high as the sisters struggle to be reconciled with each other--and with the haunting memory of the father they have exiled. Two sisters change the course of a nation by forsaking the Kingtheir own father. England is on the verge of revolution. Antagonized by the Catholicism of King James II, the people plot to drive him from the throne. But at the heart of the plot is a deep betrayal: the defection of the daughters James loves, Mary and Anne. Both raised Protestant according to the wishes of England, the sisters support Protestant usurper William of Orange, Mary's husband, who lusts after the British crown. Passive Queen Mary is subservient to her husband's wishes, while Anne is desperate to please her childhood friend Sarah Churchill, a bold and domineering woman determined to subdue Anne, the queen-to-be, and rule England herself. Intrigue and political drama run high as the sisters struggle to be reconciled with each other--and with the haunting memory of the father they have exiled. England Is On The Verge Of Revolution. Antagonized By The Catholicism Of King James Ii, The People Plot To Drive Him From The Throne. But At The Heart Of The Plot Is A Deep Betrayal: The Defection Of The Daughters James Loves, Mary And Anne. Jean Plaidy. The Story Of The Daughters Of James Ii.--cover. Includes Bibliographical References.