To Shield The Queen is an Elizabethan mystery but unlike my previous read (The Poyson Garden) the detective here is one of the queen's lady's in waiting. Ursula Blanchard is a young widow, when she finds herself almost destitute after the death of her husband a post is found for her as lady in waiting to the queen thanks to the fact that her own mother was fulfilled that same role for queen Anne Boleyn.When Ursula arrives in court it is common knowledge that the Queen and Robert Dudley, her Master of the Horse are romantically linked. Nothing inappropriate has happened but they do spend a lot of time together and since Dudley is married there is a lot of gossiping going round. Ursula is adjusting to her new duties and its obligations when Dudley, with the Queen's accent, asks her to go to his wife, Amy Robsart, and assure her that he is not trying to harm her as she, and half the court believes.Ursula manages to gain Amy's trust and tries to convince her but the truth is that a few weeks later Amy Robsart is found dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs. Ursula suspects murder but unable to prove it she directs her efforts to find the killers of her trusted servant John instead. While she follows the killer's trail and uncovers a plot against the queen she ends up finding out exactly what happened to Amy.I really enjoyed reading about Ursula, she was an intelligent and strong willed woman, forced to make her own way in the world to support herself and her young daughter, but still a woman of her time with the restrictions and limitations of the period. Then I really liked that there's a true sense of history. In fact it almost feels like Buckley used the historical facts we know and believably connected all the dots, explaining what we do not know, it's always nice to have an author filling the "holes” of history so well. And then I really enjoyed the subplot and how the political and religious unrest also played a huge part in this story.I can't wait to find out what happens next both to Ursula Blanchard!Grade: 4.5/5
This story introduces readers to Mistress Ursula Blanchard, who has recently lost her husband (and the love of her life) to smallpox during the new reign of the young Queen, Elizabeth Tudor. Left virtually penniless, and with a young daughter to support, she has been selected to become one of the new Queen's ladies-in-waiting. Ursula's mother was once kind to the Queen's mother, Anne Boleyn, and a kindness is not forgotten at this royal court. To supplement Ursula's meager income, the Queen's Secretary of State (William Cecil) has entrusted Ursula with a delicate task to assist the dying young wife of Robert Dudley (the Queen's Master of the Horse). But unknown to all, a hidden plot unfolds that will bring suspicion near the throne and tragedy into Ursula's life while developing talents she didn't know she had. The book grabs the reader from the first page with fleshed-out characters and detailed descriptions of life in rural England. Looking forward to the next in the series!
What do You think about To Shield The Queen (1998)?
Authors, please don't include children in your stories if they might possibly be put in some kind of danger. I worried about that little girl through half the book. My heart is still hammering.I seem to be on an Elizabethan Mystery Kick, reading several different takes on the royal household in a short period of time. Buckley, at least, is presenting us with a female "detective" that almost makes sense for the era she's living in. How does she spend her time? She sews, embroiders, and acts as a
—Marfita
Although still married to Amy, Sir Robert Dudley is courting Queen Elizabeth. This does not sit well with members of the court, nor those in the kingdom still wanting to bring back their “catholic” monarchy. Enter Ursula Blanchard, a newly widowed young mother in dire straits needing to financially look after herself and her daughter. She takes a position as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth and ends up caring for Amy Dudley, in order to dispel rumors that Dudley is slowly poisoning his wife to free himself for Elizabeth. Treachery and murder abound and Ursula finds herself in the role of investigator, sadly, to the detriment of her own love life.This is a well written book that will appeal to readers of historical fiction, especially fans of Phillippa Gregory and Arianna Franklin.
—Christine
I am a big fan of historical books, especially when real people appear. I probably would have been completely at sea concerning Elizabeth’s affection for Dudley and why that was such a bad thing had I not inadvertently stumbled onto a PBS documentary on them a few months earlier. The court politics are a little heavy at times, but entirely tolerable, and not really all that terribly important to understanding the overall plot. Once again I fell totally in love with the most unlikely character. I was disappointed when Wilton died, but at least Brockley is as likeable as he was.
—Janet
