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Queen's Ransom |
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 Queen's Ransom byFiona Buckley Scribner 348 Pages, 2000 ISBN 0684862670 Reviewed by Marion E. Cason Fiona Buckley brings back Ursula Blanchard for another Queen Elizabeth I's Court mystery. Ursula Blanchard, Lady of the Presence Chamber in Queen Elizabeth's Court, has a special mandate from Sir William Cecil, Secretary of State, to spy on behalf of the queen. The period is the 1560's. The French civil war is heating up between the Catholic Church and the Protestants called Huguenots or heretics. Ursula needs a break from spying for the Queen. She agrees to go to France with her father-in-law Luke Blanchard who wants her to help him escort his ward Helene back to England. Before they leave for France, the Queen requests that Ursula deliver a secret message to France's queen mother and regent, Catherine de Medici. Ursula has the protection of the Queen and their trip should be safe. Meanwhile, the conflict between the two religious groups turns ugly and travel in that country becomes risky. The trip proves to be challenging and frightening when Ursula finds they are being followed, lied to and misguided. In that period women were expected to be demure, and simply to run their husband's household. Here is Ursula spying for the Queen and using her quick mind to recognize sticky situations. She is quite outspoken at times. The men in her entourage find her stubborn, yet very determined to carry out her assignments. They respect her and go to great lengths to carry out her wishes, even jeopardizing their own lives. Queen's Ransom is full of intrigue, rich in description and fun to read. Buckley draws you in to that period so you vicariously experience all the discomforts and difficulties Ursula experiences. |
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