This was a nice change in the series. Ursula is getting tired of intrigue and the fact that her spy work is not only keeping her from her husband, but also eroding her belief in her own goodness. At the end of the last book (and really, why are you reading this one if you didn't read that one), she gave yew poison to a condemned man to allow him to die at his own hand rather than be hanged. This is understandably weighing on her mind, so that she doesn't want to let herself even visit her daughter, for fear that she's becoming corrupted and it will rub off.Meg is so often relegated to nothing but a plot device or a strong inconvenience that can be used by Ursula's enemies, that sometimes I really wish there just wasn't a daughter at all. An ailing parent would do the same trick. But to fix this retroactively would require her death or estrangement, which would definitely send Ursula into a BSOD of depression, which would not make for good reading. So... stuck with this absentee daughter.Summarising the plot is actually hard if you've read the whole book. Spoiler-free, Ursula's father-in-law from her first marriage (is there any shorthand for such a relative?) Blanchard, needs to travel to France to collect and ferry home his ward, a girl who is to marry Ursula's cousin, Edward Faldene. He asks Ursula to come along as a female chaperon for the girl. As further encouragement, the Queen gives Ursula a letter that must be delivered to France's queen mother.Along the way, Ursula can't help but ask after the welfare of her husband, which brings her into contact with him, but (view spoiler)[also nearly gets him caught. Blanchard's men were ordered, by Cecil, to use Ursula as bait and capture Matthew. (hide spoiler)]
This is the third in the Ursula Blanchard series, but the first of the books for me and I have to say that I enjoyed the story very much, although how realistic it was considering that we are talking about the1500s ...What I can believe is the palace intrigue and the intolerance of Catholic vs. Lutheran religions. Both made a good counterpoint to the main story and the conflict Ursula has when her servant is falsely accused and has to rely on a ransom to do justice. I also can believe a woman being conflicted between her country and her husband. In fact, I can't wait to read the first two in the series to find out how she married a French Catholic! It should prove to be quite good reading as I'm sure the other books following will do as well.
What do You think about Queen's Ransom (2001)?
(3.5 stars) The third book in the Ursula Blanchard series sends Ursula off to France on two missions: to act as companion to the ward of her first husband's father after they retrieve her from a convent, and to convey a secret letter to Queen Catherine de Medici offering Queen Elizabeth's support in negotiating with the Huguenots. Before she leaves, Ursula is part of the entourage for Elizabeth who is working to support her political position by showing a display of her wealth to the Spanish ambassador. Ursula is keenly aware of some of this treasure, as her first husband was deeply involved in its procurement. She is surprised to find that part of the last shipment is missing and is likely still in the Netherlands, hidden in a warehouse. Ursula's journey is not without incident, and an innocent inquiry about her estranged husband leads to some dire consequences. Ursula meets an old nemesis, and also becomes entangled in a trade dispute that has deadly consequence for an agent of England. When she finally reaches Paris, a betrayal lands them all in peril and Ursula must put on a brave face to go on a risky venture. If she survives, Ursula must decide where her loyalties lie, with her husband or with her queen.
—Michelle
Elizabethan sleuth Ursula Blanchard crosses the Channel in her third adventure, braving war-torn France to carry a private letter from Elizabeth to Catherine de'Medici. Religious hysteria, an accusation of murder, and a malicious priest land Ursula's faithful maid Dale in prison and Ursula scrambles to rescue her, struggling at the same time to rescue her own future with her estranged husband Matthew. Ursula might love Matthew, but his Catholic faith keeps leading him into plots against the Queen; and Ursula must decide once and for all if she will choose love and war-torn France, or duty and peaceful England. Her choices are sometimes bleak - and I love a heroine who can struggle with the eternal head-or-heart dilemma, and go with her head. The ending of this one may surprise you.
—Kate Quinn
