March, 1588. With England in a state of high alert as King Philip of Spain amasses a vast fleet of warships ready to invade, Queen Elizabeth and her advisors seek a possible alliance with the Duke of Parma, Governor of the Netherlands. But their plans suffer a major setback when one of their most reliable spies is found murdered in the Hertfordshire countryside, shot dead by a crossbow bolt as he was transporting secret correspondence between the queen and the duke.
The queen’s half-sister and occasional secret agent, Ursula Stannard, is happy not to be involved for once. But when Ursula’s ward Mildred elopes with the handsome yet mysterious Berend Gomez, Ursula is forced to follow the pair to Brussels, where she finds herself plunged into a hotbed of intrigue and rumour at the Duke of Parma’s court, a place where no one is to be trusted.
Can Ursula rescue Mildred, effect an alliance with the duke, and stay alive in the process? The future of England depends on it. (NetGalley synopsis)
I have read all of the Ursula Blanchard series, which means that I have grown attached to many of the characters. Christopher Spelton is one that, I agree with Ursula, got away from her but continues to hold a special place in my heart. Therefore, I cried at Christopher’s loss.
I also understand Ursula. She is tired of “hearing the cry of the wild goose” as she puts it. However, she cannot ignore the plight of her half sister, Queen Elizabeth. I think Ursula and Elizabeth have had such lack of familial ties while younger that they cling to each other in a way that makes England stronger. It is one theme that I enjoy in this series. Elizabeth is strong but not heartless. She knows that she is England, that all of the people are England, and Ursula, though she is a woman, understands that more than the males.
But along with the “goose cry”, Ursula seems to attract strays. In many of the books, she takes in hand a young girl, sometimes a young boy but mainly girls, that the parents have either ignored or are unable to care for. In this novel, Ursula is still dealing with young Mildred. I find this both compassionate but annoying. Each young girl Ursula cares for is ignorant of the world or silly in love with everyone. I find this repetitive. I would like to see Ursula take in a young girl who is just like her, and falls in love with Ursula’s son Harry. Then the series could follow as if Ursula is the true spymaster, a counterpart to Lords William Cecil and Francis Walsingham.
I love this series so much. Not just for the mysteries and adventures, but for the descriptions of everyday life. I love hearing Ursula’s worries and feelings for the different strays and her children, as well as the individuals working at her estates.
Overall I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.
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