The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr (2) (Ladies in Waiting)

What she sees in secret, she may not tell. The author of "To Die For" returns to the court of Henry VIII, as a young woman is caught between love and honor. Mistress Juliana St. John is the lovely, forthright daughter of a prosperous knight in Marlborough. Though her family wants her to marry the son of her father's business partner, circumstances set her on a course toward the sumptuous but deceptive court of Henry VIII and his last wife, Kateryn, or Katherine Parr. Sir Thomas Seymour, brother of the late Queen Jane and hence uncle of the current heir, Prince Edward, returns to Wiltshire to tie up his business with Juliana's father's estate and sees instantly that she would fit into the household of the woman he loves and most wants to please, Kateryn Parr. Julianas mother agrees to have her placed in the Parr household for "finishing" and Juliana goes, though perhaps reluctantly. For she knows a secret. She has been given the gift of prophecy, and in one of her vibrant visions she has seen Sir Thomas shredding the dress of Lady Elizabeth, the king's daughter, while it was still on her body, to perilous consequence. As Juliana accompanies Kateryn Parr to court, Henrys devout sixth queen raises the stakes for all reformers. Support of firebrand Anne Askew puts the queen and her ladies in life-threatening jeopardy, as does the queens desire to influence her husbandsand the realmsdirection and beliefs. Later, without Henrys strong arm, the court devolves to competition, duplicity, and betrayal. The risks could not be higher as Juliana must choose between love and honor, personal fulfillment and sacrifice. As Juliana learns the secrets of King Henry VIII's court, she faces threats and opposition, but ultimately her course is driven by a final kept secret about her own life that will upset all she thought she knew and once held dear. With a secret threatening to escape her lips at any moment, Juliana St. John is caught between love and honor as she takes on her new life as a mistress to household of Sir Thomas Seymour in the second novel of the Ladies in Waiting series. What she sees in secret, she may not tell. Mistress Juliana St. John is the lovely, forthright daughter of a prosperous knight’s family. Though all expect her to marry the son of her late father’s business partner, time and chance interrupt, sending her to the sumptuous but deceptive court of Henry VIII. Sir Thomas Seymour, brother of the late Queen Jane, returns to Wiltshire to conclude his affairs with Juliana’s father’s estate and chances upon her reading as lector in the local church. He sees instantly that she would fit into the household of the woman he loves and wants most to please, Kateryn Parr. Juliana’s mother agrees to have her placed with Parr for a season and Juliana goes, though reluctantly. For she keeps a secret. Juliana has been given the gift of prophecy, and in one vibrant vision she has seen Sir Thomas shredding the dress of a highly born young woman, while it was still on her body, to perilous consequence. As Juliana accompanies Kateryn Parr to court, Henry’s devout sixth queen raises the stakes for all reformers. Support of firebrand Anne Askew puts the queen and her ladies in life-threatening jeopardy, as does the queen’s desire to influence her husband’s—and the realm’s—direction and beliefs. Later, without Henry’s strong arm, the court devolves to competition, duplicity, and betrayal. The risks could not be higher as Juliana must choose between love and honor, personal fulfillment and sacrifice. Ultimately, her course is driven by a final kept secret, one that undoes everything she thought she knew.