Eleanor didn’t know the meaning of the word “enough.” Wanting more than what she is given was always her priority. That’s why in the England of the 1400’s, the young woman who had been promised to a nunnery since birth, tricked her father on her mother’s deathbed to secure a place at court as a lady-in-waiting. There she knew her destiny would be fulfilled when she caught the eye of a noble lord, married well, and lacked for nothing-wasn’t she more beautiful than any of the other ladies, bested only by Queen Catherine of France, herself? She found that she was not in service to the Queen, but instead to Lady Jacqueline who had petitioned the king to send an army to aid her in recovering her lands stolen from her by her French husband and uncles. Eleanor was despondent. She had no choice but to follow her Lady as Jacqueline negotiated with the King of England for troops to help accomplish her mission. Luckily for Eleanor, Lady Jacqueline was an extremely unusual woman who treated her almost as a friend, rather than as a servant, and taught her how to be self-sufficient and fight for what she wanted. She was able to consult with the palace’s wise woman Mistress Jourdemayne, midwife and dispenser of herbal cures, who assured her that she would eventually possess a well-born husband and riches beyond her wildest dreams. She also found a tantalizing Welsh lover at Queen Catherine’s court.
When the English king died on a French battlefield, Henry, the baby Catherine had while he was away, was next in line to the English throne. His brothers became Protectors of the Crown, and one of them became Lady Jacqueline’s second husband. When Lady Jacqueline and Humphrey, her new husband, rode out with the troops to claim her lands, she found that the inhabitants did not want to switch allegiances to her or have a prolonged fight to win back her rights. Caught between the French and English, Lady Jacqueline stayed with the English army at her ancestral palace while her new husband came back to court in England to prepare for a joust that would settle the land dispute, and Eleanor went with him. She was tired of the gossip and ill feelings of the Queen’s other attendants, and manipulated Humphrey into finding her a husband. After the Welshman begged off, she persuaded Humphrey to denounce Jacqueline and marry her instead. With Henry prepared to assume the throne as he got older, Humphrey had no chance of wearing the crown, but their son might achieve it if Henry died. Eleanor seemed unable to conceive and the son she craved was not materializing-but there were other, darker ways to fulfill her heart’s desire…even if it involved necromancy and witchcraft to achieve it.
Gregory is known for her historical novels about women of the English courts. She poses herself a real challenge on this one-create a story featuring three historic women of the fifteenth century who were lightly mentioned in various manuscripts, but had almost no reliable information on which to base their characters. While the British and French history is indisputable and Lady Jacqueline, Eleanor Cobham, and Mistress Jourdemayne did exist, it was up to the author to flesh out their stories. Through most of the book their tale was told in an unhurried way, but as the noose got tighter, the story picked up the pace towards a harrowing ending. For those who enjoy English history or just want to read about strong women of a different age who wanted more than what was expected of them, this is a fascinating novel.
Reviewed by Donna Ballard
October 20, 2026
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