I am pleased to welcome Carol McGrath back to my blog today to share an extract from her latest novel, “The Queen’s Sister.” I would like to thank the Coffee Pot Book Club and Carol McGrath for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.

Extract from Chapter One 

We ride into the courtyard, myself, my lady, Madeleine, two female servants, and my six guardsmen. Stable boys come racing over the slippery cobbles to help with our horses. I had ridden most of the way north, sheltering from bitterly cold, harsh winds wrapped within my canvas cape and fur-lined gown, my underdress the warmest wool kirtle I could find in my travelling box.  My lady-in-waiting, at nineteen, only a few years older than I, sat for most of the journey in a wagon, with two servants and my travelling chests. 

A tall woman, wearing a sensible, plain gown and a coif covering a glimpse of grey hair on her brow, hurries from the porch to greet us. She is followed by a bustling, rotund man of a similar age, his kindly crinkly face creasing into smiles. My lady attendant drops a curtsey to her, and the middle-aged woman does the same to me. There is a rattling, noisy activity behind me as my luggage is unloaded from the wagon and my guard dismounts, their horses neighing and stamping the ground, puffs of steam billowing from nostrils. 

I assume the woman is the housekeeper. A ring of keys hangs from her belt. Seeing my glance at these, she speaks. ‘I am Mistress Eugenia Buxton, your housekeeper, and my husband is Master William Buxton, steward of Kexby.’ 

Master William steps forward and bows. Rising, he glances up and sniffs the bitter air. ‘My lady, welcome. Come away inside out of the bite.’ 

‘Hurry, Lady Elizabeth,’ his wife says. ‘Your messenger came in good time. There’s been a hot supper ready since he told us of your imminent arrival, and a warm chamber too. The manor has not had a mistress for many years, and the Cardinal, though much-loved here in the countryside, only visited Kexby on an odd occasion.’ She crossed herself, presumably because Cardinal Wolsey had died disgraced, on his way to London from York many years before. Hurrying me towards the door, she adds, ‘But rest assured, we have done our best to look after it all.’ 

‘I thank you.’ I turn to her husband. ‘Do you have accommodation for my household guard, Master Buxton?’ 

‘The manor has a substantial guard house beside the stables. It’s warm and comfortable. We can send meals over to them unless you prefer otherwise.’ 

‘They will eat in the hall with the rest of the household,’ I say at once. Master Buxton calls instructions to the boys minding the horses, and we all process through the enormous porch into the hall. The first thing I notice is the crackling, spluttering fire blazing in the hearth. A cloth-covered table is placed at the upper end. Another solid oak table is placed lengthwise. On either side, benches are squeezed against it.  I observe that a door along the wall opposite the fireplace must open into a screen passageway.   

Mistress Eugenia ushers myself and Madeleine to the top table, which is set with silver and generously laden with food – crisped small fishes, winter salads, pies, cheeses, meat,s and mountains of bread rolls on platters. As I take my seat, as if from nowhere, the manor’s population appear in the hall to take up places along the board. They appear awed by my presence and are quiet as they squeeze along benches to make room for the six soldiers who will remain with me for my stay in Kexby. Master William Buxton, I see, is already conversing with my sergeant and draws him to sit at the high table with us. A white-robed priest, who I am told is Father Adolphus, blesses the supper. Warmed wine smelling of spices is poured for those of us seated along the top board. Napkins are placed over our shoulders by servants, and we break bread. Determined not to appear greedy, I manage to avoid falling upon the food before me, though I am hungry as a half-starved beggar. I force myself to eat daintily as I politely converse with the housekeeper. 

‘I expect you observed a quiet Christmastide, my lady,’ Mistress Eugenia says. 

Blurb:  

A mother, a wife, a woman of substance… 

At nineteen, Elizabeth Seymour is already a mother, has been recently widowed, and has seen her Queen, Anne Boleyn, lose her life. Against the wishes of her father, she heads North, away from Wulf Hall and the court in London, to Yorkshire, determined to establish a new beginning as a landowner and businesswoman. As her family in Wiltshire curry favour with King Henry, aided by Thomas Cromwell, Elizabeth makes Kexby Manor her home, finding loyalty among her people there.

Soon, news comes to Elizabeth of the King’s desires for her sister, Jane, and while her brother, Edward, encourages her own betrothal to Gregory Cromwell, son of Thomas. It is a happy second marriage for Elizabeth, but it brings unwanted involvement in the dark plots and secrecy of the court, while in the wider country, changes in religious practice threaten to alter the traditions and values of all she has known…

THE QUEEN’S SISTER vividly imagines the story of the woman possibly portrayed in Hans Holbein’s beautiful painting ‘Portrait of a Lady,’ and is a colourful, meticulously researched novel of Tudor life behind the scenes.

What readers say about Carol McGrath’s novels:

‘Another beautifully crafted, well-researched work of historical fiction from Carol McGrath.’

‘Brimming with intrigue, tension and adventure, The Lost Queen is a powerful Medieval tale full of atmosphere, danger and emotion, and transports the reader to another world.’ 

Buy Links: 

Universal Ebook Link: https://books2read.com/u/bzExAq  

Universal Paperback Link: https://geni.us/queenssister  

Author Bio:  

Following a first degree in English and History at QUB, Carol McGrath completed an MA in Creative Writing from The Seamus Heaney Centre, Queens University Belfast, followed by an MPhil in English from the University of London. She is published by Headline.  

The Handfasted Wife, first in a trilogy about the royal women of 1066, was shortlisted for the RoNAs in 2014. The Swan-Daughter and The Betrothed Sister complete this highly acclaimed trilogy. Mistress Cromwell, a best-selling historical novel about Elizabeth Cromwell, wife of Henry VIII’s statesman, Thomas Cromwell, was republished by Headline in 2020. The Silken Rose, first in a Medieval She-Wolf Queens Trilogy, featuring Ailenor of Provence, saw publication in April 2020. This was followed by The Damask Rose. The Stone Rose was published in April 2022. The Stolen Crown 2023 and July 2024, The Lost Queen about Berengaria of Navarre and The Third Crusade. The Queen’s Sister, sequel to Mistress Cromwell, sees publication in June 2026. 

Carol writes historical non-fiction as well as fiction. Sex and Sexuality in Tudor England was published in February 2022 by Pen & Sword. She speaks at Conferences and gives interviews. 

Find Carol on her website: www.carolcmcgrath.co.uk. 

Subscribe to her newsletter via her website (use the drop-down on her website Home Page). 

Author Links: 

Website: www.carolcmcgrath.co.uk  

Twitter / X: https://x.com/carolmcgrath  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarolMcGrathAuthor1  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carol.mcgrath.58/  

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/swanneck.bsky.social  

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carol-mcgrath  

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Carol-McGrath/author/B00D0K5YI0  Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6942793.Carol_McGrath