The Jewels of Warwick

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

SUMMARY

 

 

REVIEWS

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

 

COPYRIGHT

 

 

PROLOGUE

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

 

CHAPTER TWO

 

CHAPTER THREE

 

CHAPTER FOUR

 

CHAPTER FIVE

 

CHAPTER SIX

 

CHAPTER SEVEN

 

CHAPTER EIGHT

 

CHAPTER NINE

 

CHAPTER TEN

 

CHAPTER ELEVEN

 

CHAPTER TWELVE

 

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

 

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

 

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

 

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

 

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

 

CHAPTER NINETEEN

 

CHAPTER TWENTY

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

 

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

 

CHAPTER THIRTY

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

 

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

 

CHAPTER FORTY

 

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

 

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

 

MORE TITLES BY AUTHOR

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY

 

 

The saga of the Yorkist royal family, first seen in
Destiny Lies
Waiting
and
Thy Name is Love
, continues in the
glittering world of Tudor power politics. The "Jewels" are two
sisters, Topaz and Amethyst Plantagenet, both driven by strong
passions, and most dangerously of all, descendants of Richard III,
who lost his life and kingdom to Henry Tudor, Henry VII, the future
father of Henry VIII.

 

 

Topaz always felt she was the rightful queen, and would have been,
had her father been declared Richard's heir and the crown not been
usurped by the Tudors. Her whole life begins to center around her
obsession to win her crown of destiny, no matter what the cost.

 

 

Amethyst too is lured by the court through her love of music, caught
in a glitter spider's web of intrigue in which one wrong word can
mean death, and Henry VIII's displeasure even more of a torment than
his love…

 

 

As the Jewels of Warwick struggle to come to terms with their
family's grim legacy, Topaz and Amethyst discover that life, love
and destiny hold many temptations, and many strange twists of
fate... "So you have not become betrothed since we last met?" the
King asked suddenly.

 

 

Amethyst didn't want to change the subject; she would rather have
talked about music all evening. But of course, this was part of his
imposing job also; to secure the marriageability of the kingdom's
young maidens.

 

 

"Nay, Your Majesty," she answered frankly. "Several gentlemen have
courted me, but none have yet sparked my..." She struggled to find
an appropriate word.

 

 

"Passion?" he suggested silkily.

 

 

Her eyes rounded. "Heavens, no! I was alluding more to...interest,
Your Majesty. Passion I've yet to encounter."

 

 

"Perhaps here at court, then, you will find a suitable
parti
.
I assure you, there are many young gentlemen worthy of your rank
and...interest, as you say."

 

 

"I doubt it not, Your Majesty." But how could she even look in the
direction of a mere earl or duke when in the presence of the
handsomest and most vibrant man she'd ever met, who loved music even
more than she, who just happened to be king?

 

 

"Do you care to continue our musical interlude during your visit to
court?"

 

 

"Aye, Your Majesty, there is nothing I would like better!" she said
with naïve honesty.

 

 

He gazed down at her for a time as if trying to make up his mind
about something of the gravest import. At last he broke the silence.
"Very well, then, meet me in my receiving chamber following Vespers
tomorrow. It is where my attendants meet to pass the time, and from
there we shall find a quiet, private corner in order to play music
together. I trust that suits you, Lady Amethyst."

 

 

"Aye, it sounds grand." Making music with the King again—she
believed something like this happened only once in a lifetime, not
twice! "I shall be there, Your Majesty." She curtseyed.

 

 

"Very well, I shall see you then."

 

 

Then she remembered. "Oh, but my lute has not yet arrived with my
baggage, your grace."

 

 

"Never you mind, Lady Amethyst," the King replied, touching her
cheek with his fingertips ever so gently. She shivered at the
unexpected meeting of their flesh. "All the necessary instruments
will be provided."

 

 

 

REVIEWS

 

 

"Anyone who enjoys
The Tudors
will love
The Jewels of
Warwick
and
The Crown of Destiny
, featuring the
further adventures, loves and passions of Henry VIII, his wives,
mistresses and enemies. Civil war threatens as rivals plot to remove
Henry VIII from the throne and end the Tudor dynasty before it ever
has a chance to flourish. Topaz Plantagenet aspires to be the first
Queen of England, a Yorkist queen, determined to right the wrongs
done to Richard III and the rest of her family. While many seek to
claim the throne, Amethyst, her sister, finds herself unexpectedly
claiming the King's attention–and heart. Suspenseful, clever,
sensual, I can hardly wait for the next book in the series."

 

 

— Evelyn Trimborn,
Italian Interlude, Harlequin Hearts

 

 

"History makes its mark on the Earl of Warwick's daughters, but they
make a mark on history by becoming an integral part of Henry VIII's
life. Following their imprisonment and their father's execution,
Topaz, Amethyst and Emerald Plantagenet follow their unique
destinies as the Yorkist Saga continues in this third book in The
Yorkist Saga.

 

 

"Driven by unquenchable hatred, Topaz plots to dethrone Henry, the
man she feels has usurped the throne that should have been hers.
Though she marries a kind and gentle man, she never gives up her
obsession. Eventually, she leads an ill-fated rebellion and a
conspiracy against Henry.

 

 

"Totally unlike Topaz, Amethyst is fascinated with the young king
and eventually gains a place in his court as part of the King's
Musick. Her beauty catches Henry's eye and she becomes his mistress
long before Anne Boleyn comes to court. She remains his steadfast
friend and confidante through all his marriages. But while
Amethyst's love for the king is powerful, it's not as potent as her
love for the one man absolutely forbidden to her.

 

 

"
The Jewels of Warwick
is a detailed portrait of Henry VIII's
reign as seen through the eyes, ears and emotions of three
remarkable women. Though fictitious characters, the Jewels'
experiences are probable, enabling Ms. Rubino free reign with
history.
The Jewels of Warwick
, Book Three of The Yorkist
Saga, presents interesting theories and some different pictures of
Tudor England that Anglophiles will find intriguing."

 

 

—
Romantic Times

 

 

"Another triumph. The story first started in
Destiny Lies
Waiting
and
Thy Name is Love
continues in this
suspenseful third volume. Excellent characterization, superb
research, this is historical fiction at its best."

 

 

— Sorcha MacMurrough, author of the Tudor romances
The Sea of
Love, The Faithful Heart

 

 

"I enjoyed this one as much as the first two books in The Yorkist
Saga, and that is saying something. Intrigue, mystery, and an array
of fascinating characters who jump off the page at the reader, this
is one novel sure to please all fans of the historical novel, and
anyone interested in the Wars of the Roses and the early Tudor
period."

 

 

— Jacinta Carey, author of
The Starbuck Saga

 

 

"Diana Rubino presents the court of Henry VIII in an informative and
interesting way and mixes the actual and fictional characters very
smoothly. A book you'll want to read more than once."

 

 

— Doris Love,
Romantic Times
Reader Review

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

 

Having lived in England for several years, I devoted much time to
researching my novels. My membership in the Richard III Society,
with access to its library and the invaluable assistance of its
Research Officer, has given me an additional wealth of material.

 

 

My publication credits include stories in
Espionage and Fiction
Writers Monthly
, among other periodicals. I also served as
Editor/Staff Writer of a Washington D.C. trade association in the
late 1980s. I am a current member of Romance Writers of America.

 

 

At the time I wrote this novel, back in the 1990s, I never could
have imagined a television series like
The Tudors
. I hope
readers will keep this in mind as they read this novel, rather than
compare the two and find my interpretation of "historical events"
lacking in some way.

 

 

Also keep in mind that the show is not strictly historically
accurate either (including the delicious but totally physically
incorrect casting of Jonathan Rhys Meyers as a petite, dark-haired
and very buff Henry), but certainly makes for great drama.

 

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright the author 1999

 

Second Edition 2011

 

Third Edition 2012

 

 

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or by any information and storage
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright
owner.

 

 

Under the 1988 UK copyright laws, the author asserts the right to be
identified as the creator of this work.

 

 

Published by HerStory Books

 

New York, New York

 

http://HerStoryBooks.com

 

 

 

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Happy Reading!

 

 

PROLOGUE

 

 

The Tower of London, 1499

 

 

Sabine shivered violently. The dampness chilled her bones through
the threadbare shawl. Clasping her daughter's tiny hand, she climbed
the winding stone steps of the Bell Tower. Weak light spilled from
arrow slits cut into the wall.

 

 

When they finally reached the top, they huddled within an alcove.
Sabine warmed Topaz's fingers with ragged breaths.

 

 

The slam of a door crashed and echoed like thunder. They jumped,
startled.

 

 

The scraping of chains over the floor grew closer. Two burly guards
emerged from the shadows, dragging a prisoner. Bleeding from his
mouth, he whimpered in pain.