Leaving France behind to become Queen of England, Eleanor of Aquitaine has a new cast of enemies―including her own husband, in the next book by New York Times bestselling author, Elizabeth Chadwick Ever since her marriage to Louis VII of France was annulled, Eleanor has more than fulfilled her duty as Queen of England―she has given her husband, Henry II, heirs to the throne and has proven herself as a mother and ruler. But Eleanor needs more than to be a bearer of children and a deputy; she needs command of the throne. As her children grow older, and her relationship with Henry suffers from scandal and infidelity, Eleanor realizes she must take the crown for herself if she ever wants to become the powerful woman she's destined to be. But even a queen must face the consequences of treason... Chadwick's meticulous research portrays the Middle Ages and Eleanor with depth and vivid imagery unparalleled in historical fiction and captures readers in a web of intrigue they won't want to escape. In the second book in the Eleanor of Aquitaine trilogy, a royal marriage where love and hatred are intertwined and a battle for power fraught with deception create a riveting story of medieval fiction sure to mesmerize. The Eleanor of Aquitaine Trilogy: The Summer Queen (Book 1) The Winter Crown (Book 2) The Autumn Throne (Book 3) "A fabulous, engrossing and rollicking read that takes the reader into the very heart of the Angevin royal court with all of its schemes, plots and drama... This is a brilliant book and a veritable treat for fans of historical fiction – Elizabeth Chadwick’s writing creates a vividly compelling and richly flamboyant Medieval world that readers can really immerse themselves in." ― Madame Guillotine "Elizabeth Chadwick still manages to weave a gripping story which I found unputdownable. Her characters, both the real and the imagined minor ones, live and breathe and have distinct personalities of their own... Highly recommended." ― Historical Novel Society "Moving, touching and historically accurate – a marvelous read for Chadwick fans. 4 1/2 Stars" ― RT Book Reviews “A star back in Britain, Elizabeth Chadwick is finally getting the attention she deserves here,”― USA Today . Chadwick is the bestselling author of over 20 historical novels, including The Greatest Knight , The Scarlet Lion , A Place Beyond Courage , Lords of the White Castle , Shadows and Strongholds , The Winter Mantle , and The Falcons of Montabard , four of which have been shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Awards. 1 Westminster Abbey, London, December 1154 At the precise moment Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury, placed the golden weight of a crown on Alienor's brow, the child in her womb gave a vigorous kick that resonated throughout her body. Clear winter light rayed from the abbey's Romanesque windows to illuminate the Confessor's tomb in the sacrarium and cast pale radiance upon the dais where Alienor sat beside her husband, the newly anointed King Henry II of England. Henry gripped the jeweled orb and the sword of sovereignty with confident possession. His mouth was a firm, straight line and his gray gaze purposeful. In the mingling of gloom and light, his beard glinted copper-red, and he exuded all the glow and vigor of his twenty-one years. He was already duke of Normandy, count of Anjou, and consort duke of Aquitaine and had been a force to be reckoned with ever since leading his first battle campaign at the age of fourteen. The archbishop stepped to one side, and Alienor felt the full focus of the congregation strike her with the intensity of a fixed beam of light. Every bishop, magnate, and English baron was gathered to bear witness, to pay homage, and to usher in an era of peace and prosperity during which the wounds suffered by decades of civil war might be healed by the young king and his fertile queen. An air of anxious optimism filled the air. Everyone was eager to seek favor and advantage from their new sovereign. In the months to come, she and Henry would have to pluck the jewels from the piles of common stones and discard the dross. This was the second time Alienor had worn a crown. For almost fifteen years she had been queen of France until her marriage to Louis had been annulled on grounds of consanguinity. The latter had been a convenient box in which to conceal the true reasons for parting, not least that she had only borne Louis two daughters of their union and not the all-important sons. That she was more closely related to Henry than to Louis gave Alienor cause for sardonic amusement. Money, influence, and human imperatives always spoke more loudly than conscience and God. In two years of marriage with Henry, she had produced one healthy son and expected another child before winter's end. Henry rose from King Edward's carved throne, and all knelt to him and bowed their heads. He extended his hand to Alienor, who sank in a curtsy, her silk skirts a flood of gold around her feet. Henry r