The King’s Mistress

The King’s Mistress
Gillian Bagwell

In the prequel to her first novel, The Darling Strumpet, Gillian Bagwell takes the reader on an adventure filled with danger, bravery, and a love that knows no bounds.As a gentleman’s daughter, Jane Lane leads a privileged life inside the walls of her family’s home. At 25 years old, her parents are keen to see her settled, but Jane dreams of a union that goes beyond the advantageous match her father desires.Her quiet world is shattered when Royalists, fighting to restore the crown to King Charles II, arrive at their door, imploring Jane and her family for help. They have been hiding the king, but Cromwell’s forces are close behind them, baying for Charles’ blood – and the blood of anyone who seeks to help him. Putting herself in mortal danger, Jane must help the king escape to safety by disguising him as her manservant.With the shadow of the gallows dogging their every step, Jane finds herself falling in love with the gallant young Charles. But will Jane surrender to a passion that could change her life – and the course of history – forever?The unforgettable true story of Charles II’s escape, retold for a modern, female audience. Perfect for fans of compelling historical fiction such as Philippa Gregory and Elizabeth Chadwick.

Copyright (#ulink_1065793d-e739-5421-b446-279aca093a09)

This novel is entirely a work of fiction The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

AVON

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First published in the U.S.A. by Berkley Publishing Group, an imprint of Penguin Group (U.S.A.) Inc., New York, NY, 2011

Published by HarperCollinsPublishers 2012

Copyright © Gillian Bagwell 2011

Gillian Bagwell asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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HarperCollinsPublishers has made every reasonable effort to ensure that any picture content and written content in this ebook has been included or removed in accordance with the contractual and technological constraints in operation at the time of publication

Source ISBN: 9781847562593

Ebook Edition © July 2012 ISBN: 9780007443314

Version 2018-07-23

This book is dedicated to the memory of

Khin-Kyaw Maung

I miss you every day.

and

Ross Ireland

You left us far too soon.

Table of Contents

Title Page (#u0a78e4a5-2be3-5d93-99e8-c55cd84efeae)

Copyright (#u0cd9d598-a87f-50f2-ae57-52e7f74007e3)

Dedication (#uac609ffa-eabe-57e5-8764-98f132eeb4f5)

Map (#u820ad7aa-0624-5087-a53c-3995c6be11ac)

Chapter One (#u3f3f9b81-acc2-5865-8370-4f7055c82372)

Chapter Two (#u18a8e259-e46d-5fb0-ad3b-c2705039f9b7)

Chapter Three (#u586bb4ea-2f51-505b-a475-743d3b3d2f72)

Chapter Four (#uea9ffd99-f3e0-59df-9147-f36d81d23001)

Chapter Five (#u71a6a5ce-4b5e-55ef-99b0-599ef582ba08)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty (#litres_trial_promo)