"England, 1605
Anne of Denmark, Queen of England, gives birth to her daughter, her first child since coming to England in 1603 when her husband James succeeded to the English throne. Although they would have preferred a son, both parents are pleased, and their courtiers are thrilled with the birth of the first royal child on English soil in nearly seventy years.
The Scottish family has been welcomed by the English and the reign has started out well, despite tension between the Catholics and the Protestants.
Although Anne has enjoyed the opportunities in England for promoting her artistic interests, she feels inferior to James, and finds satisfaction in rearing her children, in particular her eldest son Henry.
Anne is determined to bring about an engagement for him with the Spanish infanta. But with anti-Catholic sentiment on the rise, it is not the wisest match.
Anne becomes pregnant again, but the news is clouded by the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot, aimed at the destruction of the royal family. The impact on James is enormous, and Anne worries for their family.
Can she secure a suitable match for Henry? Will her children survive? Or could the Stuart reign already be doomed to fail?"
"A game of succession has begun . . .
England, 1565
Queen Elizabeth Tudor is wary of the cousins. Ever since the ill-fated Lady Jane Grey nearly wrested the throne from her family, Elizabeth has been keen to ensure the fate of England doesn't land in Grey hands.
She has banished Catherine Grey from court, along with her two children, but her unwed sister Mary remains at Whitehall Palace as one of Elizabeth's courtiers.
Mary has ambitions for her family and she realizes she may be the only one who can continue the bloodline, seeing as Catherine's marriage has been deemed illegitimate. She does not want to waste any time in bearing children, as she is worried her scoliosis may make pregnancy difficult, so she begins to search for a suitable husband at court.
But while she does so, she finds out that her cousin, Lord Darnley is scheming to marry the widowed Queen Mary Stuart. If that marriage goes ahead, Darnley's child may have a strong claim to the throne, which increases Mary Grey's ambition to have an heir of her own.
As the game of succession intensifies, will Mary Grey see her family name rise to victory, or tumble into obscurity . . . ?"
"With an ageing childless queen on England's throne, the search for an heir intensifies . . .
Scotland, 1594
Nineteen-year-old Anne of Denmark, Queen of Scotland, is thrilled and triumphant at the birth of a healthy baby boy, destined to reign as King of Scotland and, possibly, England.
But Anne's enjoyment of maternal glory quickly fades as her husband King James, fearing his son will be politically manipulated against him as he was against his mother, the deceased Mary Queen of Scots, removes the child permanently from her care. Outraged, Anne tries to regain control of her son, initiating a bitter marital struggle which sours what had been a loving and harmonious marriage.
Anne is haunted by the giant legacies of Mary Stuart and Elizabeth Tudor on the thrones of Scotland and England, and is determined to make her own mark. And central to that ambition is securing the succession to the English throne from her husband's cousin, the elderly and childless Queen Elizabeth.
Can Anne regain favor with the Scottish King? Will they join forces to secure the English throne?
Or will this daring Queen of Scotland fade into obscurity . . . ?"
"England, 1558
Sixteen-year-old Catherine Seymour has always idolized her elder sister Jane. As a child was groomed to be queen, to marry her cousin King Edward, and since his death she has been determined to restore her family's claim to throne.
After spending time at Queen Mary's court, Jane has now returned home to Hanworth Park to the delight of Catherine and their brother Ned. To their surprise, Jane brings with her Lady Catherine Grey, sister of Jane Grey, the ill-fated nine-day queen, and heiress to the throne after Princess Elizabeth.
Jane confides in Catherine that she aims to bring about a betrothal between Lady Grey and Ned, so that their brother and his children have a chance to lay claim to the throne.
But everything changes when Mary suddenly dies, and Elizabeth succeeds as queen. Luckily, Elizabeth's succession proves advantageous for the Seymour family. Jane is chosen as a lady in waiting and immediately becomes a favorite.
Can Jane still bring her plan to fruition? Will it mean betraying the new queen?
Or will rumors of a romance between Queen Elizabeth and one of her courtiers change everything for the Seymour sisters . . . ?"
"England, 1553
As she is seventh in line to the throne, sixteen-year-old Lady Margaret Clifford knows her marriage should be an important one. Which is why she is shocked to learn her father has agreed to entertain a proposal from a mere knight.
Sir Andrew Dudley is a court favorite and joins the ranks of the Duke of Northumberland's family who are attempting to secure politically advantageous marriages. With the boy-king Edward VI failing to secure a marriage of his own and produce an heir, it is clear the Dudleys are plotting a path to the throne.
All is flung into turmoil when the king dies and the attempt to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne is foiled. Instead, Catholic Queen Mary takes the throne and Margaret is sent to court.
Margaret is relieved that Sir Andrew's proposal is off the cards, though she is still keen to secure herself a match. But first she must win the favor of the new queen. And with Queen Mary fearing rivals to her throne, that is not an easy task . . .
Can Margaret steer clear of the political machinations at Court? Will she strengthen her ties to the English throne through marriage?
Or will she meet the same fate as her poor cousin, Lady Jane?"
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