Crown Of Vipers

by Constance Jagodzinski

All Christendom envied King Henry II of England, Duke of Normandy, Toulouse, Maine, Anjou and Aquitaine. He ruled an empire that dwarfed all others. Men and rulers coveted his queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, the former Queen of France, the wealthiest, most beautiful and formidably intelligent woman in the known world who promptly presented Henry with lusty sons that ensured the succession. While Henry and Eleanor were the perfect dynastic pairing of brilliance and ambition, he loved another woman who was unlike his queen in every way. Lady Rosamunde Clifford was the youngest daughter of one of Henry's most powerful barons. Gentle and exquisitely fair, Rosamunde chose to become a nun. Their paths crossed for the first time when she was a mere child and Henry was already a young, vigorous king who had just subjugated Wales. Earl Clifford's plans for his daughter were of no consequence to Henry; he would have her and let the world be damned! Henry's long absences tested their love through the years as he dealt with tumultuous uprisings, bitter legal battles with Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, once his dearest friend. Yet a greater danger festered which could destroy everything Henry worked to Queen Eleanor's building wrath. Like all noble wives, Eleanor ignored her husband's myriad infidelities, but Henry's devotion to Rosamunde challenged Eleanor's crown. This she would not tolerate. To rid herself of Rosamunde, Eleanor must first deal with Henry. Did she dare?

363 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 16, 2014

Reviews

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

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