REBELLIOUS GRACE

Another demonstration that it takes a clever person to survive as Henry VIII’s jester.

Fond as he is of King Henry, Will Somers is well aware of the king’s character flaws, especially noticeable now that he’s taken Jane Seymour as his third wife. Will, who’s adept at coaxing Henry out of foul moods, has also shown considerable aptitude in solving murders, but he must walk a fine line. He loves his wife, Marion, the illegitimate daughter of Lord Heyward, but is also the lover of Nicholas Pachett, Lord Hammond, a secret that could destroy them if it got out. The country is divided along religious lines. Henry’s let his daughter Mary, beloved of the Catholics, return to court, and Elizabeth, the Protestants’ favorite, is soon to arrive. Will gets involved in another murder when Jane Foole, the queen’s fool, tearfully tells him that she saw the murdered Geoffrey Payne, a member of the queen’s household, dug up and disemboweled. Will can hardly refuse Henry’s request to find the killer. Tasked with the unpleasant job of viewing the body, he notices that Payne’s throat was slit in an unusual manner. Deducing that the killer was covered in blood, he searches for a stained shirt and finds one with part of an initial embroidered on the cuff. Marion, whose embroidery skills are unparalleled, thinks this work was done by the queen. Jane Foole, who loves to play with the queen’s jewels—especially a favorite brooch that’s gone missing—knows more than she’s telling. The jewel provides a clue for Will, who must be exceedingly careful in a court where he’s not universally beloved.

A compelling series of puzzles set against the glories and dangers of the Tudor court.